Football singularity-Chapter 694 GOAL!
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[24/01/2021 | Puskás Aréna, Budapest | 22:00 CET]
[UEFA Champions League Round of 16 - 1st Leg | Bayer 04 Leverkusen vs Manchester City]
(FWEEET!)
[46’]
Leverkusen kicked off the second half, immediately working the ball backwards to settle nerves. Schick laid it to Wirtz, who played it square to Demirbay. The holding midfielder took two touches before launching it long toward Bailey on the right wing.
"Second half underway in Budapest," Tyldesley’s voice carried over the broadcast. "Both managers will be looking to make adjustments. Can City find the breakthrough, or will Leverkusen continue to frustrate them?"
Bailey controlled the long ball with his chest, but Cancelo was immediately upon him, not giving him time to turn. The Jamaican winger played it back to Frimpong, who had pushed up in support. The right-back’s cross was aimed toward the penalty spot, but Dias read it perfectly, heading clear with authority.
[51’]
City came out much calmer in the second half, their passing crisper as they worked through the German side. Guardiola had clearly made tactical adjustments during the break, and it showed in the quality of their possession. Foden drifted more centrally now, creating overloads in midfield, while Sterling pushed higher and wider on the right.
In the 53rd minute, Bernardo Silva received a back heel pass from Rodri just outside Leverkusen’s penalty area. His first touch was exquisite, taking him away from Amiri’s press. He played a quick one-two with Gündoğan, then threaded a pass through the narrowest gap toward Jesus.
Jesus took the pass in stride, his eyes flickering between the approaching defender and the goal. He couldn’t risk taking too many touches; the last thing he wanted was to give the Leverkusen defence a chance to regroup. Instead, he opted for a quick shot, unleashing it from just inside the box. The ball curled nicely but struck the far post, bouncing out at an awkward angle.
As the ball latched onto the post and rolled away, Bernardo threw his hands up in frustration. "Ah, come on!" he muttered, feeling the familiar sting of missed opportunities.
[58]
On the field, the intensity ramped up. Leverkusen quickly snapped into action, their counterattack fast and aggressive. Wirtz took the ball at the halfway line, dribbling through the city of blue shirts. He had pace, but Ruben Dias clamped down on him, matching his stride as they approached the box.
Wirtz attempted to shift left to get a shot off, but Dias stuck close, forcing him to retreat. The German teenager didn’t panic as he managed to create enough separation to send a pass wide into the feet of Rakim on the left flank. The winger deftly brought the ball under his control, peeling away from Walker’s marking.
He rounded past the City full back and charged up the flank, but Walker recovered quickly, showcasing his chase-down ability. He tried to create some separation as they approached the byline, trying various skills, but the Englishman stuck to him tightly. Left with no option, he forced a cross from the side of the box, but Walker stretched his bout out, managing to clip it with his studs, changing its trajectory.
The ball skimmed along the ground, taking a tricky curve, skipping over Dias’ outstretched foot. Schick couldn’t reach it either as the ball took an awkward bounce, bouncing against his shin. "Ederson, what reflexes!" Tyldesley roared as the Brazilian reacted quickly, pouncing on the ball that was blasted to the bottom left corner. "The Brazilian is keeping City level with another brilliant save!"
[63]
Guardiola made his move. The fourth official’s board went up: Kevin De Bruyne and Fernandinho on for Bernardo Silva and Aymeric Laporte. The Belgian midfielder—arguably City’s best player—had been rested for the first hour. Now, with the match still goalless, Guardiola was unleashing his trump card.
"Here comes Kevin De Bruyne," Drury noted. "Fresh legs, world-class quality. This could be the moment that changes the match."
In the 65th minute, De Bruyne’s first involvement was immediate and ominous. He received from Gündoğan just inside Leverkusen’s half, opened his body with one touch, and fizzed a diagonal pass toward Sterling on the right flank. The ball arrived with pace, forcing Sinkgraven to retreat hurriedly.
Sterling took it on the run, cut inside, before a defender could get close, and he cut a pass back into De Bruyne’s continued surge. The Belgian hit it first time from twenty-five yards, the strike clean and venomous, flying to the left side of the goal. Lomb reacted late but well, springing to his left and parrying it away with strong wrists.
"KEVIN DE BRUYNE ANNOUNCES HIMSELF!" Tyldesley exclaimed. "That is exactly what Guardiola was looking for!" The rebound was scrambled clear by Tah, who threw his body in front of Jesus before the Brazilian could pounce.
[72’]
In the 72nd, the Wirtz found himself surrounded—Gündoğan behind him, Fernandinho closing from the side, De Bruyne tracking back. The triangle of sky blue converged like predators sensing weakness. But the seventeen-year-old didn’t panic.
His first touch was a deft drag-back that took him away from Gündoğan’s lunge. His second was a quick pass into Demirbay’s feet, who had dropped deeper to provide an outlet. The German midfielder took one touch forward, drawing Fernandinho toward him, then played it wide to Rakim on the left.
Rakim received it on the half-turn, already aware of Walker’s position. The City right-back stayed tight, low stance, ready to explode either way. Rakim feinted inside once, twice, then knocked the ball down the line with his nifty left-footed reverse elastico, and accelerated hard.
Walker matched him stride for stride, shoulder brushing shoulder as they approached the edge of the box. Rakim slowed abruptly, chopped the ball back with the outside of his right boot, cutting inside behind the Walker, whose momentum carried him forward. The full back tried to grab him, but the German phenom slapped his hands away and nudged the ball forward as he took aim.
He moved to curve the ball inside as Schick got loose, charging into the box, drawing Fernandinho. But Rakim pulled the ball inside, charging into the box as the French centreback moved to cover Schick. Almost as if tapping into a state of ultimate instinct, he sped up, nudging the rolling ball into the air as he vaulted over Walker’s slide tackle.
Without losing momentum, he trapped the falling ball with the top of his boot, letting it drop perfectly into his stride as Ederson surged off his line, arms wide, body making himself big. For a split second, the air in Budapest seemed to slow. Dias was scrambling back toward the goal line. He saw Fernandinho sliding across, desperate to intercept the shot as Rodri and Gündoğan surged into the box to block off all the passing options.
He didn’t hesitate, but instead of blasting it, he delicately lifted the ball with the outside of his left boot—just enough. The chip arced gently upward, floating over Ederson’s outstretched gloves as the goalkeeper sprawled beneath it. Time resumed as the ball kissed the underside of the far right crossbar and dropped over the line.
The net rippled in tune with the heartbeat of the Leverkusen contingent who had silently stood in anticipation. "GOOOOOAAALLLL!" Tyldesley bellowed, voice cracking. "RAKIM REX! A MOMENT OF ABSOLUTE BRILLIANCE IN BUDAPEST!"
"I’ve heard Bosz describe him as a clutch player, and I can see why." Drury followed, in excitement. "They needed a goal, and he dances through the best defence in England and thrads the ball into the back of the net. Cefs Kiss."
[Bayer Leverkusen 0-1 Manchester City — Rakim Rex 72’]
[78] 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺
From the restart, Bosz made three changes, bringing on Diaby, Wendell and Aránguiz for Bailey, Sinkgraven and Amiri. Their formation naturally changed to the familiar 4-2-3-1 with Schick, who had been struggling as a false nine, moving up to the lone striker position. Wirtz moved in line with Rakim and Diaby on the flanks, while Demirbay and Aránguiz played as holding midfielders.
Their pressing style became more aggressive over the next ten minutes, preventing City from comfortably settling into their passing system. In the 78th, Diaby, Schick and Wirtz managed to corner Joao Cancelo, who received a hasty pass from Fernandinho. He tried to hastily turn away, but Diaby managed to poke at the ball that was slightly loose, exploding forward to keep a hold of it.
He kept the ball in play with a deft touch, cutting it back inside before it could cross the line. He immediately looked up, spotting Wirtz making a run toward the top of the box. His pass was weighted perfectly, bypassing De Bruyne’s attempted interception. Wirtz took it in stride, his first touch taking him past Gündoğan’s challenge with only Ruben Dias to beat.
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To Be Continued...
