425 This Is My Way (2/2)

The bald opposing player was about to make a move, and another figure clad in blue and black also rushed up. They looked like they were going to double-team him and try to intercept the ball to fight back. There's no time to consider, just do it!

Cambiasso's toe tips were very close to the football. He did not poke directly at the football. Instead, he went around to the side of the ball. In that way, when Wood kicked the ball out, it would naturally be intercepted. But he overlooked something.

English boy, your show time is over… Huh?

Wood did indeed kick the ball aside when Cambiasso made it look like he was going to steal. But it was not a rush to thrust the ball before a breakthrough, but a direct pass! And, most importantly, the one thing that Cambiasso did not expect was that the football drilled through in between his legs! In order to successfully intercept the ball, Cambiasso spread his legs apart widely, but he did not expect to open a path for Wood instead!

But in the crowded penalty area, who did he pass the football to?

”Albertini!”

Nottingham Forest's number 4 suddenly appeared in the middle of the defensive line, and because there was no Inter Milan player dedicated to marking him, he received George Wood's direct pass!

The Inter Milan players had never imagined that Albertini would suddenly appear here, and much less thought that George Wood, who had never performed well in offense, could pass such a piercing shot!

Albertini extended his foot to take the ball and then simply turned. He could already see the goal very clearly. He could see the goalkeeper Júlio César's mixed expression of alarm and astonishment plainly.

You didn't think of this, did you, Inter Milan boys?

Nice work, George! I knew you could do it!

”Don't let him in, block him!” Materazzi shouted as he rushed up. They were now in the penalty area. He definitely would not use a foul to stop the shot, but he believed that he would be able to obstruct Albertini's goal if he leaned against him. He remembered very clearly the sight of Albertini holding his knee in the front field while gasping for breath. With this level of physical strength, he just had to exert a little impact, and that could cause him to miss the shot.

I can't run anymore, and I don't have the strength to return to defend. I've not been substituted because my manager and teammates trust me. Before this game, Chief said that he would let me play the entire game. I can't end the game without showing any results.

Materazzi, when I played in San Siro, you were still a kid in some low-level team. I'm the master here!

I'm Demetrio Albertini. This is my way!

Albertini swung his leg to shoot, and Materazzi bolted to block with his leg raised high. But he missed his target because it was just a feint. The Nottingham Forest's number 4, once Inter Milan's number 4, overly lifted his leg, and then buckled down. He flashed past Materazzi, but Samuel also rushed over. Looking at his appearance, it seemed that as long as Albertini lifted his leg again, he would have the opportunity to kick the football out.

But Albertini would not give him the chance. He raised his leg to directly shoot into the goal!

The football flew between Samuel and Materazzi. It was not fast, and not very powerful, but it was sudden enough! It flew in an arc and bypassed Júlio César's hands. Then it went downwards, drilled into the goal, and hit the net.

”A terrific goal!”

”Oh my god! Nottingham Forest scores an equalizer at the last minute!”

”GOOOAL!”

”Demetrio Albertini, the Nottingham Forest captain, captures the city of Inter Milan!”

”Nottingham Forest strikes back, and they've won! Two away goals! Two!”

Twain rushed out of his seat. He repeatedly waved his fists vigorously and showed off at Inter Milan's home ground.

Albertini found it hard to suppress his inner excitement. He turned and ran towards Wood. He hugged him and then excitedly pulled him down to the ground.

”Thank you, George! Thank you!”

”Beautiful job, captain!” Eastwood sprang forward as more of his teammates leaped forward and stacked on top of one another. Even the veteran, Edwin van der Sar, came running from the goal post and jumped up while he waved his fists.

”George Wood's assist was a complete surprise. Look at the excitement of the Forest team. It's as if they have already been promoted. Two away goals are enough to make the English players leave Italy with a smile.”

The boos, abuses, and roars in the Meazza stadium were gone. Only the singing voices of the two thousand English people rang out in the stadium. The storm was over, and that small boat was still floating. The sun was shining on the boat after the storm had passed.

”We are the best team in England! We are the best team in the world!”

They were such arrogant lyrics, but looking at the scene on the field now, no one would think of the word ”arrogant.”

They had really done it.

They had equalized the score with Inter Milan! Two away goals were worth thousands!

Mancini's face was ashen, and his lips were white from biting. He seemed to be able to foresee what situation he and his team would face in England a week later.

Oh, f**k… Son of a b**ch!

※※※

The Nottingham Forest players' crazy celebration required the referee's intervention so that the game could continue. But with less than two minutes left, it was pointless.

After Inter Milan kicked off, it was a long shot to the front field, in hopes that the Recoba would be able to receive the ball. But the kick used too much force, and the ball flew directly out of the sidelines. They handed over the possession of the ball in vain.

What happened next was simple. Albertini returned to the backfield and used his technique and experience to keep the football firmly at the Forest team's feet. He was not in a hurry to kick forward. He slowly whiled away the remaining time.

When the referee blew the whistle at the end of the game, the Nottingham Forest players held their arms aloft and celebrated on the field while the Inter Milan players slung back to the locker room with their heads lowered. For decorum's sake, Mancini had to come up to shake hands with Twain.

”Congratulations, Mr. Twain.” Despite being dissatisfied with the score, Mancini still congratulated Twain with a smile on his face.

Twain obviously knew that Mancini's smile was forced and that he would not be in the mood to smile with this outcome. Therefore, he tactfully gave a short and simple reply and the two men parted. Mancini was interviewed by several reporters in the mixed zone, and then he hurried away.

On the other hand, Twain went onto the field to celebrate the ”victorious draw” with his players.

Albertini led the players to thank the English fans who had traveled from afar. George Wood was next to him.

He thought of the last goal. I really did not expect Wood to send out that kind of shot. Was I dreaming?

But regardless of the process, the outcome was still a good thing. He got the desired results, so he did not care too much about how Wood had achieved that pass.

Watching the celebrating players, Twain did not want to disturb them, so he turned and walked towards the players' tunnel.

The inside of his pocket vibrated. It was his cell phone. He put it on vibrate during games.

There were two text messages. The first one was sent by Clarice Gloria.

”The game was a success, and that last goal was perfect. Thank you for your support and cooperation these days, Mr. Twain. May you go even further in the Champions League.”

Twain replied with one sentence: ”I want to thank you too, Miss Gloria.” Then he looked at the next message.

It was not a text message, but a multimedia message.

Appearing on the screen of Twain's cell phone was a selfie.

Shania stood in front of the camera with a happy smile and made a peace sign with her hand. Behind her was the jam-packed Meazza stadium stand. On the far end was a grandstand in a sea of red, which was the assemblage of Nottingham Forest fans.

Twain looked up and turned his eyes to the stands. The fans were already leaving. He could not find Shania in the mass of people in the stands.

But it did not matter.

The important thing was that Twain had had faith that Shania would come, and Shania had come.