528 We Can Win (2/2)

Mourinho looked at Bale running onto the field. The figure evoked unpleasant memories for him. The play that made the kid famous was him scoring a winning free kick in the final moments of that game against his team.

Gareth Bale was a full-back who was stronger in offense than defense. The reason that Twain brought him on was obvious — to step up the offense.

Mourinho was not afraid of Twain stepping up the offense. On the contrary, he was afraid of Twain strengthening his defensive force and hunkering down, but as long as Twain planned to come out attacking, Chelsea would have a chance to score.

With twenty minutes left in the game, let's see who will score first!

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After Bale came on, the Forest team's left flank offense was boosted. Makelele immediately felt the pressure of two against one.

When he guarded Wood, Bale always rushed up from behind. Was he supposed to drop Wood or ignore Bale?

It was a dilemma.

When he decided to keep an eye on Wood, Wood passed the ball to Bale who plugged in from behind. Bale easily broke through after the pass. If it were not for Terry, van Nistelrooy would have headed the ball again.

Twain broke the initial balance on the field with this move. And if Chelsea did not adjust their defensive strategy, their right flank would be thrown into disarray.

Mourinho had to give up the idea of a heavy-handed defense on the left flank and restored the defensive line to its normal state. Now the best defense was not to put more efforts in the rear defensive line but to seize the time to launch more attacks. They had to use a strong offensive to push the Forest team formation back so as to play down the threats from the Forest team.

Just as Mourinho had previously thought, it was not about whose defense was more robust but whose offense was sharper in the final moments of the game.

”After Gareth Bale came on, he effectively strengthened the Forest team's offense on the left flank. But there are disadvantages too. As a result, their defensive power is weaker. Wood needs to juggle between offense and defense and the two full-backs also have to frequently assist. I think the opportunity that Chelsea is waiting for has finally come.”

That was what the Chelsea players thought, too.

They stepped up their offense. Drogba, Shevchenko and Robben all got the chances to shoot. It was different from the first half. There was a lot of empty space in the Forest team's defensive line that could be exploited. The defense around them was not as tight as it used to be.

Edwin van der Sar threw out the opponent's threatening shots twice in a row and shouted anxiously to the teammates that pressed ahead. ”Pay some attention to the defense! You must come back after you go up. If you can't come back, then don't press up!”

Twain certainly saw the situation. Chelsea's offensive strategy was fierce in response to the Forest team's adjustment.

He got up from the coaches' area and walked to the sidelines to yell towards the field. ”Chimbonda, go back to defend!” After Bale went up, it was risky to have just two full backs in defense. He wanted Chimbonda, who was stronger in defense, to run back and strengthen the defense to contain Chelsea's attack.

”Wood! Go back to the middle!”

Now the formation of both sides had returned to normal. It was pointless to let Wood go to the left flank again since it would hinder the movements and areas of activity for Bale and Ribéry. It was a good choice to let him go back to stabilize the defense.

The Forest team's difficulties were eased after the return of both Wood and Chimbonda to the defensive line. Chelsea was still constantly seeking an attacking opportunity and did not retreat just because the Forest team had stepped up its defensive power.

There was little game time left, and they were more anxious than Nottingham Forest. If they ended up with a score of 1:1 at home, it would be a big blow to their confidence for the second leg of the away game.

They had to win, even if it was just a score of 2:1.

George Wood's brief performance in the offense was over and he was back in the defense work that he did the best, which was to build a wall in front of the penalty box and in the middle of the field for his teammates in the rear.

The Chelsea offensive intensified, and the Forest formation was slowly pushed back. Soon the situation became like how the game had started: the Forest team playing their most handy defensive counterattack.

Twain did not yell on the sidelines. He just let them defend and counterattack. This was purely the players' decision which they made according to the situation on the field. It was like second nature. When the other side's attack was ferocious, they would unconsciously withdraw to lure the other side out. Then they would suddenly hit their opponent's back and settled the fight decisively.

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Mourinho brought off Ballack and brought on Joe Cole to boost their possession rate in the midfield. He could tell that everyone was currently in a hurry to attack and was playing with agitation. Impatient for results, they were not very effective. The midfield made too many mistakes, which only wasted time and opportunities.

Joe Cole could slow down the pace by taking more balls after he went up and his skills could also help Chelsea ease the way in the midfield again.

Hopefully, that was the case.

Joe Cole's first pass took the football straight out of the sidelines. The commentator defended him by stating that he had just been brought on, so he had not warmed up yet and was not quite comfortable with the atmosphere of the game. After all, the game had now entered the white-hot stage.

Everyone believed it. A minute later, Joe Cole took the ball but because he held on to it for too long and was tentative, he was knocked to the ground by George Wood. While he earned a free kick in the front field for Chelsea, he squandered a better chance.

”Joe Cole hasn't quite got into the game yet.” The explanation was feeble.

Chelsea's free-kick was not good either. The pass was capped by Piqué after it got in. Wood managed to grab a header again in a scramble with Makelele, and he headed the football forward.

As the defensive set piece was at the back, there were not many Forest players in front at this time. There was only one player.

Van Nistelrooy came back to form the human wall because he was tall, and Eastwood received Wood's header.

”This is Nottingham Forest's chance to fight back! But Eastwood lacks support without any teammates around him. He's cutting across as he dribbles... Carvalho is close at his heels.”

Wood saw the situation and only hesitated a little before he ran forward.

After only taking two steps, he was overtaken.

Franck Ribéry and Gareth Bale seemed to be in a hundred-meter race. Both men frantically charged forward, tearing past Wood.

Wood looked at the two men's backs and slowed down. But it was only for a moment. He changed his mind again and accelerated again to run after the two men.

”Four against three!”

Not counting the goalkeeper, Chelsea's backfield had only three defenders. Nottingham Forest managed to put four players to attack in the shortest possible time. The situation was very bad for Chelsea.

Mourinho nervously stood up from his seat.

Carvalho did not know what was going on behind him. He just knew that he could not allow Eastwood to dribble. He continued to press on to push him into the corner flag area. This way, his attack would be considered unsuccessful.

”Watch for Wood!” Terry roared loudly.

George Wood's active performance in the offense for this game had managed to attract a lot of attention to him. The Chelsea players wondered what kind of terrifying shot this monster was going to launch again.

When Eastwood dribbled the ball near the end line, he did a breakthrough feint. He swayed to open up a gap and he did not hesitate to pass!

It was not an easily seen aerial ball. Instead, it was a fast rolling ground ball!

Terry was getting ready to defend against George Wood. Everyone almost focused their attention on this eye-catching guy. Ribéry charged in from the side and scared all the Chelsea people out of their wits.

”Franck Ribéry... did not get it!” Ribéry swung his foot towards the football but did not manage to kick the football during his sprint, and the football escaped through his legs.

The commentator wanted to say that it was an amateur blunder, but he did not have the time to make such a lament before he saw a red figure appear on the path of the football behind the crowd at the back corner of the goal.

Čech had already fell to the ground because of Ribéry's first shot. He had made a move to save, but the football had not come. Instead, the goal behind him was wide open.

It was Gareth Bale's chance.

Bale kicked and the football hit the inside of his foot. It changed direction and easily flew into the goal in front of him.

This was his first Champions League goal.

”Nottingham Forest's counterattack has finally paid off! Gareth Bale! Nottingham Forest now leads Chelsea by 2:1 in their away game!”

Twain took the lead and rushed out of the technical area with his arms raised in celebration. This was the crucial goal that could determine which team would make it to the Champions League final.