Chapter 168: Penalty Shootout Part 2
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Walker saw Twain stand up and walk towards him. He knew it was time for him to work, so he took over the list from Twain's hands and walked to the middle of the players, to explain the list of appearances and some things to take note of. Twain and the entire coaching team were well-prepared for the penalty shootout.
They had studied the videos of all the Middlesbrough players' penalty kicks, that is, if the player had played a penalty kick in a game. In addition, they also studied the Australian, Schwarzer's, who was the Middlesbrough main goalkeeper's habits in regards to his saving penalty kick shots. These were all passed onto the players during the usual training. Now, he just repeated it, to remind them to pay attention.
Twain had already gone back to the technical area for a drink of water. After using his voice to shout so many words, his throat must be very strained. Tony's voice was now hoarser than it had been when they first worked together. This was because they repeatedly roared on the sidelines, in the locker room, on the training ground, and so on.
Walker could also clearly feel the excitement of the players, especially when he was pointing out the things to take note of to the players, who were like the manager, eager for the championship trophy, and hungry for glory. After all, these were the players trained by Tony Twain.
His work went well, and the players were called by the referee. The penalty shootout was about to begin. Walker did not feel even the slightest bit of "nervousness" from these players. Instead, they only seemed to exude immense confidence. He looked at Twain, who was gulping down water, then laughed and said, "Tony, we can win!"
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Wood, who was not good at shooting, was placed at the bottom of the list, at the eleventh spot. The goalkeeper, Darren Ward, was even placed a spot before him. He had wanted to stand outside the crowd in order to watch the penalty shootout that seemed unrelated to him, but Wes Morgan pulled him in.
Then, two arms, each from a different person, hung over his shoulders, as all of them hugged the shoulders of their teammates next to them and stood side by side. They used this approach to convey trust and courage to each other, proving that they were a team that could not be defeated.
In the middle of the wall, Wood was a little overwhelmed at first. But, he soon felt that, in such an environment, it felt very awkward for his arms to still hang by his side, so he simply followed the others, placing both his arms over the shoulders of his teammates' shoulders on both sides. Then, he watched the first penalty player from the team, Kris Commons, step forward.
The Cardiff Millennium Stadium, which could accommodate seventy-five thousand spectators, was suddenly silent, with everyone nervously watching the square in front of the South Stand. Kris Commons was one of two best players in the team's penalty practice, and the other was the Romani player, Freddy Eastwood. Therefore, Tang En arranged for him and Eastwood to appear first and last respectively, like bookends. Kris Commons would shoot the first penalty kick, and Freddy Eastwood would kick the fifth.
In addition to having excellent penalty kick techniques, these two penalty players must also have outstanding psychological qualities. If the opening shot was unsuccessful, it would affect the performance of all the players thereafter. Once again, Tang En demonstrated his unquestionable attitude by entrusting the heavy responsibility to Commons, who had only joined the team during the winter transfer.
Commons placed the football carefully on the penalty spot, then withdrew from the penalty area, his eyes locked on the Middlesbrough goalkeeper Schwarzer. He was not afraid to look directly at the goalkeeper, because those tricks were ineffective on him now!
He never regretted coming to the Forest team, and he did not want to be just a transient player in this team. He wanted to make his mark on the Forest team's honor list, and to become a star player of the Forest team. This was the perfect stage to do so!
"The first player to come up for Nottingham Forest is Kris Commons, who has just moved from Stoke City. This transfer deal cost Manager Tony Twain three hundred thousand pounds, and now it's time to show everyone if that three hundred thousand pounds is well-worth the money spent!" the commentator was getting the crowd's excitement at peak.
Pop!
"A long distance ... powerful run-up! A shot to the goal! The ball is in! Kris Commons! He withstood the pressure of the first penalty kick, and fooled Schwarzer! An energetic volley from the middle!"
A great cheer erupted in the stands, where the Forest team fans gathered. Below the stands, though he was not as excited as the people around him, Tang En brandished his clenched fist.
The Forest team got off to a good start, and now, the pressure was on Middlesbrough. McClaren's first appointed penalty player, Mendieta, had the best penalty kicks in the team. So, it seemed when he brought him on, McClaren had already made plans to play a penalty shootout with the Forest team.
Mendieta was experienced. Such a penalty kick was not difficult for him, and he also shot the ball into the goal easily. It was the Middlesbrough fans' turn to cheer. After a battle round of penalty kicks, they equalized the score with the Forest team at 1:1.
Next, the players from both sides did not make any mistakes, and the cheers rang out in the South Stand and the North Stand correspondingly. After four rounds of penalty kicks, the score was tied at 4:4.
Tang En was well-prepared for this penalty shootout, and it appeared that Middlesbrough was no soft touch either. The fifth player to appear from the Forest team was Freddy Eastwood. If he did not shoot the ball in, the pressure would completely shift to the goalkeeper, Darren Ward, which would be dangerous for the Forest team. He had to enter this penalty kick to the goal, so the pressure would be shifted to their opponents, and not his teammate.
"Freddy Eastwood .... he was just an amateur player, selling used cars three months ago, and now, he's standing in front of the penalty kick at the Millennium Stadium, readying for a crucial penalty kick."
Martin Taylor spoke out loud Eastwood's inner thoughts at this moment. Three months ago, he did not know if he would be able to play professional football again at all, and now, not only had he received a professional contract from Nottingham Forest, but he had also come to stand on the field of the EFL Cup final, as a key player for this important penalty kick!
Once again, he recalled the future that Manager Twain had promised him. Before the EFL Cup semi-final, he had said that they would definitely win that match. As evidence that he did not lie, it turned out that they had won the game, and that they had also made it to the finals.
It sounded like a fairytale story, but it really happened. Since that game, Eastwood no longer doubted this manager's words. He always seemed to have a mysterious power, as if he could really see the future.
He said, "We can win! And we will win!"
So..... We can really win, and we will win!
Tang En had no idea what Eastwood was thinking now. He stared at the Romani Gypsy's back, his fists clenched. His body even slightly trembled involuntarily. This was a critical moment, and his heart was beating faster and faster ... Damn it! Why hasn't the referee blown the whistle yet?!
Just as Tang En was grumbling, the referee finally blew the whistle, allowing the penalty kick. Standing in front of the ball, Eastwood took a two-step run, then swung his leg and kicked!
Schwarzer judged the direction correctly, but Eastwood's shot was trickier than he'd imagined! The football swiped across the turf, brushed past the goalpost, and rolled into the net!
"What a beautiful corner! Freddy Eastwood! He scored the crucial goal!" Andy Gray yelled amidst Forest fans' louder voices at the Millennium Stadium. It was a cathartic goal, and Eastwood deeply knew it. After scoring the goal, he stood on the same spot, leaned back, and raised his head to roar at the sky, which led to all the Forest fans in the stands, following suit, letting out a long howl skyward at the same time. That force, it was enough to make any opponent tremble in fear!
Differing from the excited players and fans, Tang En was extremely tense before the goal was shot in. But when Eastwood really kicked the ball in, he only just swung his fist hard, and there was no other exaggerated display of emotion, because he knew Middlesbrough had another player, and that the game was not yet over.
If the opponent also scored, then the penalty shootout would continue, except the rule would change to a sudden-death penalty, which was even more brutal. The psychological pressure on both teams' players would also be far greater.
What was in his favor, was that Eastwood had withstood the pressure of being the fifth penalty player and had scored a goal. Now the enormous pressure had shifted to the last Middlesbrough player, Massimo Maccarone.
Italians ... They've never been good at penalty kicks ...
The Forest fans were making an enormous ruckus, hoping to create more pressure on Maccarone. But would it go their way?
This was a critical moment. Although the key to determining their fate was not in Tang En's hands, this was the moment that would truly define it. Thus, this was his most intense moment.
He felt the time was at a standstill, and all the voices in his head were gone. Only his heart was still beating. The sound of his heartbeat reminded him that he was still alive, and not a hollow shell.
His heartbeat was getting faster, almost bursting, till he could not withstand the tremendous pressure coming from his left chest. He could not even complain about the opponents delaying their shot, because he was afraid that, once he opened his mouth, he would explode due to the pressure!
Will this be my first championship? Will this be the starting point of a path full of glory and trophies? Will this... be my destiny?
Suddenly, a crisp whistling sound rang out in his ear, as if it was the sound of nature. Then, he saw Maccarone do a quick sprint, then vigorously kick the football, which shot into the sky!! Over the beam!! Flying--straight--into--the--stands!!!
Seemingly quiet just a moment ago, the stadium suddenly erupted in massive cheers, as if barrels of gunpowder had been detonated, and the earth-shattering sounds came roaring towards Tang En.
Boom!
"Maccarone overshot the penalty kick! The League One team, Nottingham Forest, has won the championship! They are the English Football League Cup champions for the 03 to 04 season!! Fourteen years later, this Red Forest tapped into what they used to be best at, and finally returned to the spotlight. Welcome back, Nottingham Forest! Congratulations to the EFL Cup Champions!!"