When playing football, you should call it GOAT.

Chapter 256 When the KOP is Silent

On May 3, 2005, the second leg of the Champions League semi-final was held at Anfield Stadium, Liverpool's home ground.

Chelsea defeated Liverpool 2-0 at Stamford Bridge in the first leg, giving them a two-goal advantage.

The day before, Benitez stood in the press conference room next to Anfield Stadium, calmly telling the packed reporters: "We knew exactly what kind of team we were facing. Chelsea proved throughout the season that they are the most formidable machine in England, and Mourinho has built a near-perfect team. Especially in the first leg, Roy showed us what top-level finishing ability is with two cold-blooded goals."

"But right now, this is Anfield. On this pitch, we've created so many incredible nights. A two-goal deficit might seem insurmountable to most, but Liverpool is no ordinary team. Tomorrow night, from the first minute to the ninetieth, we will fight with our lives on every second. Chelsea's players may be stronger and faster than us, but they won't have as much conviction as we do."

"I understand mathematical probability, and I know our opponents' form. They have the most solid defense in the entire Premier League, and Roy's explosiveness is enough to destroy any defensive system. But football is never a game of theory. When the Kop sings, when our players put on that red jersey, miracles can happen. We respect Chelsea's strength, but we are not afraid of challenges. Anfield has witnessed too many seemingly impossible comebacks in the history of the Champions League, and tomorrow night, we will continue to write that story."

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard also said: "Biscan's injury is a blow, but we are fortunate that Hamann is back and he will build a wall in midfield. Everyone knows how difficult the task is, but everyone is ready. At Anfield, we never give up. Being two goals down is not the end of the world. We believe in our strength and in the power of this stadium. The game will be tough, but we are here to create these kinds of comeback moments."

The lights of Anfield Stadium illuminated the night sky.

In the KOP stands, the fans stood in neat rows, their red scarves fluttering in the night breeze.

The deep strains of "You'll Never Walk Alone" rose slowly from the stands, gradually engulfing the entire stadium.

The singing grew louder and louder, and the chorus of tens of thousands of people caused the stadium floor to tremble slightly.

A red wave surged in the stands as fans raised their hands and swayed from side to side to the rhythm.

The 0-0 score on the scoreboard stood out starkly against the backdrop of the singing, but the fans in the Kop stand continued to chant at the top of their lungs.

The song pierced the May night sky, reaching the players' tunnel, the locker room, and the ears of every viewer watching the game on television.

This is Anfield's tradition; this is the soul of Liverpool.

On such an important night, the fans used their songs to tell the players on the field that the entire stadium was with them.

The singing lasted for a full three minutes, only gradually stopping when the referee blew the opening whistle.

But everyone knows that such singing could be heard again at any time, as long as the competition requires it.

As the players from both teams stepped onto the pitch, English journalists jotted down their observations in their notebooks: Chelsea players, holding a two-goal lead, appeared relaxed, while Mourinho's pre-match declaration, "We will play ninety minutes, score one or two goals, and then begin preparing for the final against Milan," made the Blues seem even more determined to win.

The whistle of Slovakian referee Lubos-Michel pierced the night sky, and the match officially began.

On the sidelines, most of the reporters had already prepared headlines: "Chelsea take another step forward, the treble is within reach."

The evening breeze in May carried the shouts of the fans across the stadium that had witnessed countless legends.

At this moment, Chelsea are just 90 minutes away from their first-ever Champions League final.

With Duff sidelined due to a tendon injury, Robben's recent injury woes and inconsistent form, and the Dutch winger's clear statement in the last league match that he did not want to start, the team's situation has become more complicated.

Mourinho made tactical adjustments for this match.

Robben was relegated to the bench, while Joe Cole was given the starting right winger position.

In the 3rd minute of the match, Xabi Alonso was closely marked by Lampard near the center circle.

The Spaniard deftly slipped away with his left foot, then looked up and saw that Riise on the left wing had already started his run.

A precise 30-meter long pass bypassed Chelsea's midfield defense, finding the Norwegian full-back making a run forward.

When Riise chested the ball down, Maicon had already moved forward to block him.

Without hesitation, the Norwegian immediately passed the ball back to Traore, who had made a run into the box.

Chelsea's right winger Joe Cole rushed back to cover, but he was too late; Traore had already delivered a low cross.

Gerrard, positioned at the edge of the penalty area, feigned to receive the ball but cleverly let it slip past him.

This feint fooled Makelele, who was about to pounce on the ball.

The ball came to Luis Garcia on the right flank. The Spaniard feigned a cut inside, forcing Abidal to lose his balance, but then suddenly passed the ball to Finnan who had made a run into the box.

At that moment, Chelsea captain Roy's voice echoed throughout the half: "Thiago, cover on the right! Maintain spacing!"

Under his command, Mendes quickly moved to the right flank to cover, forming a pincer attack with Maicon.

Meanwhile, Carvalho moved forward to block Finnan's cross.

Finnan, under pressure, chose to pass back, and Hamann, following up, adjusted his position and suddenly delivered a lobbed pass over the top.

Baroš successfully broke the offside trap, but Cech decisively rushed out and punched the ball away from the danger zone before the Czech striker could touch it.

Gerrard and Carvalho battle for a high ball on the edge of the penalty area.

The Portuguese center-back managed to head the ball, but was knocked down by Gerrard upon landing.

Alonso quickly moved in to control the second ball, and Makelele immediately applied close pressure.

Before losing his balance, the Spanish midfielder flicked the ball with his toe into the open space on the left flank, where Riise quickly made a run to receive it.

At the same time, Alonso, who had just completed the pass, was brought down by Makelele's foot retraction and clutched his ankle in pain.

Riise dribbled the ball to the wing, observed for a moment, and then tried to send a diagonal cross with his right foot.

Maicon tracked back in time, jumping up and using his back to deflect the ball towards the sideline at the moment of the cross.

But the Norwegians reacted quickly, getting there first to tip the ball back into play just before it went out of bounds.

After a brief adjustment, he launched another long pass, this time the ball arcing towards the far post.

"Riise's long pass into the penalty area! The ball arced high and flew straight to the penalty spot! Chelsea's penalty area was in chaos! Terry and Carragher were locked in a tight battle, while Carvalho was outmaneuvered by Baros!"

"Look at this header! It's Baroš! The Czech striker leaps from the edge of the box amidst three defenders! He gently taps the ball with his forehead, changing its direction and sending it flying towards the left side of the penalty area! Abidal desperately chases back and jumps! The French defender loses his balance in the air!"

"Danger! The ball wasn't headed far enough! Gerrard is lurking at the second ball! Chelsea goalkeeper Cech is still adjusting his position! This position—"

Gerrard seized the opportunity and calmly headed the ball on from ten yards out.

The ball arced through the air, past Cech's save, and nestled precisely into the far corner of the goal.

“杰拉德头球！！！GOAL！！！！！比赛第5分钟，杰拉德精妙的头球吊射！！皮球划过完美弧线直挂死角！！！切尔西门将切赫没有扑到！！！利物浦1-0领先，总比分追至1-2！！红军吹响了反击的号角！！！”

This header was extremely difficult to execute. Although the Chelsea goalkeeper stretched out his arms and barely managed to touch the ball with his fingertips, he could only watch helplessly as it fell into the goal.

The moment the ball hit the net, Anfield erupted in deafening cheers.

The scoreboard then changed, Liverpool took a 1-0 lead, making the aggregate score 1-2.

Benitez leaped wildly from the bench, clenching his fist and shouting towards the pitch, while Mourinho remained silent with a serious expression, and the Liverpool players swarmed towards Gerrard.

Chelsea captain Roy stood on the grass with his hands on his hips, discussing attacking tactics with his teammates Lampard and Drogba.

Roy, hands on his hips, quickly said to Lampard and Drogba:
"Frank, we need you to pull the formation to the right flank and draw Alonso out. Didier, mark Hyypia and don't let him pass the ball out easily."

He pointed to the space just outside Liverpool's penalty area, his voice steady:

"Their right flank defense is weak, and Finnan is pushing too high. After the kickoff, quickly switch the ball to Joe Cole. Didier, watch out for the near post, and I'll be there for the far post."

"If we lose possession, we must immediately retreat and defend. Don't let Gerrard get the ball easily. Makelele will protect the middle, and the three of us must maintain our triangular formation during counter-attacks."

After saying that, he patted the two men on the back, and the three of them quickly spread out to prepare for the kickoff in the center circle.

Roy added one last thing: "Slow down the pace, don't follow their crazy running, play our way."

A thunderous roar suddenly erupted from all four stands of Anfield Stadium.

The fans in the KOP stands began to chant "Jer-La-D" rhythmically, each chant accompanied by the stomping of thousands of feet.

They then began singing "Fields of Anfield Road," their hoarse voices interspersed with whistles.

Die-hard fans held up a banner they had prepared beforehand, which read "1984-2005, 20 years of waiting".

The East Stand responded with synchronized applause and chants: "Liverpool! Liverpool!"

The sound of the entire stadium crashed against the grass like a tidal wave. Joe Cole, pale-faced, glanced at the stands behind him. The whistle blew again, and Drogba passed the ball to Roy.

After Roy received the ball on the right side of midfield, Luis Garcia immediately moved inside to cover and double-team Gerrard.

He made three small changes of direction in a row, first feinting to the left and then suddenly cutting to the right, shaking off two players in a very small space and passing the ball to Abidal who was making a run down the left flank.

The French full-back received the ball and immediately played a through ball forward, which passed by Finnan's side.

Roy sprinted after the ball, engaging in a fierce physical battle with Finnan near the sideline.

The Irish defender tried to push him out of bounds with his shoulder, but Roy stumbled a couple of steps before regaining his balance and hooking the ball back with his toe before it went out of play. He then swept a low cross into the penalty area.

Joe Cole, who was following up at the far post, failed to control the ball and was decisively intercepted by Traore.

At this moment, Liverpool's midfield triangle of Hamann, Alonso, and Gerrard completely severed the connection between Lampard, Thiago, and Makelele through extensive overlapping runs.

Carragher stayed close to Drogba, using tough marking to limit the Ivorian striker's turning space.

Despite Chelsea's attempts to break the deadlock through Roy's individual brilliance, none of the Blues' other attacking players were able to get into the rhythm of the game.

"The game has reached the 31st minute, and Chelsea's attack is still only relying on Roy's individual ability to hold on! Look at this time, Roy dropped back to the midfield line to receive Makelele's pass. Hamann immediately stepped up to interfere, but Roy made a beautiful turn and evaded the German defensive midfielder's pressing!"

"Roy dribbled forward, facing a double-team from Luis Garcia and Gerrard, he changed direction twice in quick succession, and in a tight space, passed the ball to Abidal who had made a run down the wing! But Abidal's cross was blocked out of bounds by Finnan."

"Chelsea's attacking organization clearly had problems! Joe Cole was completely invisible on the right flank, making two mistakes in receiving the ball, which were easily intercepted by Traore. Lampard and Thiago were completely locked down in midfield by Xabi Alonso and Gerrard. Liverpool's midfield trio, through their well-coordinated runs and precise positioning, completely cut off Chelsea's passing lanes!"

"Drogba was isolated and helpless in the attacking third, with Carragher and Hyypia marking him closely, and the Ivorian could barely get any decent passes. Although Roy could create threats with his individual ability, Benitez's tactical setup was too targeted. Whenever Roy got the ball, two Liverpool players would immediately close him down, forcing him to make tough runs."

Chelsea's attack is mired in a quagmire! Mourinho looks grim on the sidelines. No matter how strong Roy's individual ability is, he can't single-handedly break through Liverpool's meticulously arranged defensive system! The game remains deadlocked, but the Blues' attack clearly needs to make changes.

In the 37th minute, Roy received a pass from Abidal on the left sideline. Facing Finnan's challenge, he suddenly made a shoulder drop and a step-back feint, then flicked the ball towards the byline with his left foot and instantly accelerated!
Finnan was completely thrown off balance by the realistic feint and staggered as he turned to chase after it.

Hamann quickly closed in to cover, but Roy made a sudden stop with his left foot, cut inside, and then turned with his right foot, leaving the German midfielder empty-handed!
At this moment, Gerrard rushed in from the middle to block him. Roy calmly flicked the ball with the tip of his right foot amidst the three-man encirclement. The ball slid past Gerrard's side, and he himself nimbly went around to the other side, completing a wonderful "passing man and ball"!
After breaking into the left side of the penalty area, Roy made a slight adjustment and curled a beautiful shot with the inside of his right foot, sending the ball straight into the far corner of the goal!

Dudek made a desperate diving save, barely managing to touch the ball with his fingertips and tip it over the crossbar!
An exclamation erupted at Anfield Stadium, followed by applause from Liverpool fans who were still shaken by the experience.

This attack fully showcased Roy's individual abilities.

He dribbled past three players in a tight space, and his final shot was absolutely brilliant, but Dudek's heroic save kept the goal intact.

Lampard took a corner kick from the left, and the ball spun towards the edge of the six-yard box.

Roy suddenly made a run to shake off Carragher's marking, leaped high, and headed the ball toward the far post of the goal.

Drogba won the second ball in the scramble, but the Ivorian striker's volley missed the mark and went wide of the goal line.

Liverpool goalkeeper Dudek breathed a sigh of relief and quickly positioned the ball to prepare for the goal kick.

Chelsea's carefully designed corner kick combination created an opportunity, but ultimately failed to capitalize on it due to a poor finishing touch.

In the final stages before halftime, the game became completely deadlocked.

Chelsea controlled possession, but struggled to break through in attack.

Roy made several attempts to break through on the left flank and create scoring opportunities, but Liverpool's defense was impenetrable.

Finnan and Hamann's coordinated defense made it difficult for him to cut inside, and his crosses were repeatedly cleared by Carragher and Hyypia.

Drogba was isolated in the middle, and the midfield connection between Lampard and Thiago was completely cut off by Gerrard and Alonso.

Joe Cole was practically invisible on the right wing, making hasty decisions on several occasions when he received the ball.

Mourinho's team has been unusually stuck in an attacking stalemate, unable to execute their usual fluid passing game.

Liverpool, on the other hand, displayed an amazing fighting spirit.

Despite being technically inferior, the team made up for the gap with their relentless running.

Baros relentlessly pressed Terry and Carvalho, while Riise and Luis Garcia constantly sprinted back to defend on both flanks.

Every confrontation saw Liverpool players leaping to block, and every aerial duel was accompanied by the dull thud of muscles colliding.

When the referee blew the halftime whistle, the score remained 1-0.

Chelsea players walked briskly toward the dressing room with their heads down, while Anfield fans paid tribute to their home team with thunderous applause.

This formidable Blues team, coached by Mourinho, encountered its fiercest resistance tonight in the Merseyside.

The locker room door slammed shut, and Roy ripped off the captain's armband and threw it onto the bench.

"Is this your attitude? We played like a bunch of haphazard soldiers!"

Makelele tried to smooth things over: "They were running so fast, and we're still leading on aggregate."

Joe Cole was wiping his shoes in a corner, while Lampard was putting an ice pack on his ankle. He had been injured and had insisted on not having surgery in order to wait for this game.

But Roy directly named Lampard, even though he wasn't the worst-performing player.

"Frank."

The moment Lampard looked up, he met Roy's cold gaze.

Those eyes held no encouragement, no understanding, only an undeniable scrutiny.

Lampard even detected a hint of disdain in his voice, as if silently questioning: Is this the level of England internationals?
“In the first half, you covered less ground than usual and had three fewer counter-attack opportunities, but you didn’t make the runs in time. Alonso and Gerrard easily passed the ball to you several times, and you didn’t make a single effective interception.”

Roy's tone was very firm, and Lampard was a little taken aback.

Terry and Joe Cole were also a bit annoyed, and Roy continued, "Frank, I know you've been pushing management to sign Gerrard. Did you think he'd come to be your deputy?"

The locker room suddenly became eerily quiet.

“Look at their performance today. He covered every inch of the pitch in front of Hamann and Alonso, made three successful interceptions, and even scored a goal. Do you think José would leave such a player unused? Your imagined midfield duo simply doesn’t exist. Gerrard will only come to do one thing: replace the guy who’s afraid to pass the ball forward.”

Lampard's face instantly turned ashen. He abruptly stood up from his seat, staring intently at Roy, his voice laced with suppressed rage: "Roy."

This simple name contains so much unspoken meaning.

Warning, anger, and the embarrassment of being publicly humiliated.

The air in the locker room seemed to freeze, and everyone unconsciously held their breath.

Terry instinctively took half a step forward, seemingly preparing to intervene.

Roy did not back down. He calmly met Lampard's gaze, his eyes showing neither provocation nor apology, only a cold professional rationality.

After a few seconds of silence, he slightly raised his chin: "Did I say something wrong, Frank?"

"The score is 1-2 now, and we are indeed still in the lead. But think about it carefully. What if we can't extend our lead in the second half and Liverpool scores another goal? If this score holds until the end, we will be dragged into extra time, or even a penalty shootout."

"Imagine taking a penalty at Anfield with tens of thousands of fans in red jerseys booing you, the stands full of waving red flags, and the Kop standings making a huge commotion to disrupt every Chelsea player who steps onto the penalty spot. In that environment, even the most composed striker will shake."

"And have you thought about the consequences of being eliminated? The whole of English football will say that Chelsea was overturned by Liverpool. The Milans are already preparing to face us in the final. They are studying our tactical videos and discussing in the locker room how to limit Roy, Drogba and Lampard. Then suddenly they find that we are going home, and we are replaced by Liverpool, whom they look down on."

"A team with a stronger roster on paper being eliminated due to its own complacency will become a laughing stock. Elite teams don't win because of their reputation, but because of their professional attitude of giving their all every minute."

Roy's cold laugh sounded particularly jarring in the heavy atmosphere.

He glanced around at his silent teammates in the locker room, his voice laced with cold sarcasm: "I've already lifted the Champions League trophy. Even if we don't reach the final this year, my career won't lack this honor."

"But what about you? Frank, John, Didier?"

His gaze swept over Lampard, Terry, and Drogba. "Are you all still waiting for your first time?"

Roy continued, "Liverpool won't show you any mercy, and neither will Milan. The opportunity is right in front of us. Either we fight hard today and score one or two more goals—defense alone won't work—we need to leave Anfield with a victory, or..."

"Either you wait to be laughed at by the whole world for failing at a crucial moment once again."

He turned and walked towards the locker room door, finally saying, "The choice is yours. Don't let yourself regret it."

Just four minutes after the restart of the game, Chelsea suffered a major setback.

Lampard received the ball in midfield and was immediately double-teamed by Hamann and Alonso. His hasty pass was intercepted by Gerrard.

As the England midfielder stumbled and fell, he saw Roy sprinting back from ten meters away.

Liverpool's counter-attack was lightning fast.

Riise received the ball on the left wing and quickly cut into the penalty area, delivering a low cross to Gerrard once again.

The Red Army captain skillfully chipped the ball over the top with the outside of his right foot, and Baroš sprinted forward to volley it from 7 meters out with his right foot.

Cech collided with the Czech striker as he rushed out to make a save, and the ball bounced towards the six-yard box.

In the chaos, Luis Garcia got to the ball before Terry could clear it and volleyed a shot from 4 meters out with his left foot.

The ball struck Terry's thigh and deflected towards the goal. Although Abidal dove to hook the ball away with his right foot, Slovakian referee Mitchell pointed to the center circle without hesitation.

He determined that the ball had crossed the goal line completely.

Anfield erupted in cheers. The Kop stand burst into deafening applause, and the Liverpool players embraced each other wildly in celebration.

Benitez simply sat back down on the bench, while Mourinho remained standing on the sidelines, arms tightly crossed over his chest, mechanically chewing gum, his eyes fixed on Terry and Cech, who were still protesting.

The scoreboard then updated to 2-0, making the aggregate score 2-2, and Chelsea's Champions League campaign suddenly became precarious.

"My God! Anfield is boiling! Luis Garcia!!! An unbelievable goal!!! Liverpool have scored two goals in quick succession, leveling the aggregate score at 2-2!!!"

"This is the magic of Anfield!!! This is the never-give-up spirit of the Reds!!! From 0-2 to 2-2, Liverpool used a frantic pace and unwavering belief to push Chelsea to the brink!!!"

"Luis Garcia!!! The Spanish magician has once again created a miracle in the Champions League!!! Mourinho's team must now regroup, or their Champions League dreams will be shattered in this boiling red fortress!!!"

Chelsea had just tried to reorganize their attack when Liverpool's midfield pressing came in like a tidal wave.

Lampard was closely marked by Hamann when he received the ball in midfield and hastily passed it to Thiago, but as soon as Thiago touched the ball, Alonso made a fierce tackle and dispossessed it!
Liverpool's counter-attacks are lightning fast!

Alonso quickly passed the ball to Gerrard, who dropped back to receive it, and Gerrard made a diagonal pass to Riise on the left wing.

The Norwegian full-back passed the ball directly back to the center, and Luis Garcia skillfully let it pass, allowing the ball to roll to Xabi Alonso's feet!
The Spanish midfielder made a slight adjustment, and with five meters from the edge of the penalty area, unleashed a long-range shot!
The ball hurtled towards the top right corner of the goal like a cannonball! Cech dived to make the save, but the angle was too perfect, and the ball slammed against the underside of the crossbar and bounced into the net! 3-0! Liverpool take a 3-2 lead on aggregate!

Anfield erupted in celebration, with Liverpool players going wild, while Chelsea players stood there, looking bewildered.

Before they could recover from the previous goal, Liverpool's attack came down like a storm!

Mourinho looked grim on the sidelines, while Benitez remained calm, but the cheers from the Kop said it all.

Liverpool are just 40 minutes away from the Champions League final!

"Steven Gerrard!!! Luis Garcia!!! Xabi Alonso!!!"

The ground at Anfield trembled, and the roar of 50,000 people turned into a torrent of sound. The song "You'll Never Walk Alone" was suddenly replaced by an impromptu, sarcastic rendition: "Where's Roy? — At Gerrard's feet!"

The waves of people rising and falling in the KOP stands resembled a red tsunami.

Roy waved futilely near the sideline, directing runs, his shouts completely swallowed up by a chorus of taunts, "Mourinho – how does it taste like a loser?"

Even the usually tough Makelele stood blankly at the edge of the penalty area, the French defensive midfielder's head hanging low, looking particularly lonely amidst the sea of ​​red flags.

Mourinho remained on the sidelines with his arms crossed, but the frequency with which he chewed gum betrayed his inner anxiety.

Behind the away team's bench, Liverpool fans imitated the Portuguese's usual arm-raising and shouting gestures, each exaggerated fist-waving causing even louder laughter.

The 3-0 score on the electronic scoreboard was like a red-hot iron, stinging the eyes of every Chelsea player.

In the 68th minute, Chelsea midfielders passed the ball around looking for an opportunity, and Makelele passed it to Roy.

Facing Finnan's close marking, Roy twisted his left foot and suddenly made a light feint, pretending to cut inside, which tricked Finnan into losing his balance!

Roy then flicked the ball with his right foot and accelerated to make a strong breakthrough from the outside!

The continuous changes in direction and rhythm caused Hamann, who was trying to cover, to miss his target.

Roy dribbled into the penalty area, and Carragher rushed forward to block him.

Just when everyone thought he was about to shoot, Roy suddenly flicked his ankle and delivered a subtle outside-of-the-foot diagonal pass to the edge of the six-yard box!
Drogba arrived in a flash and unleashed a powerful right-footed shot!

But Carragher chased back desperately and made a flying tackle to block the ball out of bounds! The Ivorian striker fell to the ground and raised his hand to ask for a penalty, but the referee Mitchell decisively waved his hand to indicate that it was a penalty.

The game continues!

Anfield erupted in deafening singing:

"You said you wanted to win the Champions League for London! Not this year! Because we have four stars!"

No amount of money can buy you a championship! The Champions League trophy is destined to be out of your reach!

The red wave in the Kop stands rose and fell with the singing, while Roy simply walked into the penalty area expressionlessly and reached out to help Drogba up.

Mourinho angrily pumped his fist in protest on the sidelines, but the scoreboard still coldly displayed Liverpool 3-0 (3-2 on aggregate).

Chelsea's Champions League dream is being slowly swallowed up by the clamor at Anfield.

In the 70th minute, both sides made substitutions.

Benitez made the first change, replacing the exhausted Baros with Cissé to maintain the attacking momentum.

Mourinho, on the sidelines, finally made his move.

He substituted Gudjohnsen for Thiago Mendes to add a focal point in the attack.

At the same time, Robben was brought on to replace the lackluster Joe Cole, in an attempt to open up a breakthrough on the flanks.

Robben had just stepped onto the grass when Roy strode over.

The Dutch wingers were astonished to find that their captain, who had been fighting for seventy minutes, showed no signs of fatigue in his eyes, but rather burned with an almost ferocious fighting spirit.

Despite being behind and almost completely overwhelmed by Liverpool's relentless pressure, Roy did not give up.

He grabbed Robben's shoulder, his voice low and hoarse, yet carrying an undeniable sense of authority:

"Aryan, can I count on you?"

This is not a question, but a command.

Robben didn't answer, he just nodded vigorously.

Roy released his grip, turned, and ran back to his spot, his silhouette appearing particularly lonely under the glaring lights of Anfield.

At this moment, Chelsea's overall tactics were almost ineffective, and the players' confidence was shattered by Liverpool's relentless attacks.

But Roy is still fighting.

Robben took a deep breath and looked at the churning sea of ​​red in the Kop stand.

He knew that in the next twenty minutes, he would either become a legend or a laughingstock.

In the 72nd minute, Lampard crossed the ball from the left wing to the right side of the penalty area. Drogba made a run but miscontrolled the ball, which went directly out of bounds.

Liverpool then substituted Kewell for Hamann, who had been battling throughout the game, to maintain midfield dynamism.

In the 74th minute, Gudjohnsen delivered a through ball from the left flank, and Roy received the ball on the left side of the penalty area, calmly cut past Carragher, and then took a shot.

Hyypia quickly made a powerful block, and the ball bounced back into play.

Chelsea reorganized their attack, Abidal passed the ball back from the left, and Robben unleashed a powerful shot from the edge of the box, the ball grazing the crossbar and flying out.

Mourinho made another adjustment, replacing Maicon with Huth, in an attempt to increase the team's ability to win headers from set pieces.

In the 77th minute, Traore delivered a low cross from the left flank, and Cissé attempted a header from the edge of the six-yard box, but the angle was too straight and Cech easily caught it.

In the 82nd minute, Roy broke through Finnan on the left wing and crossed the ball.

Drogba misjudged the header at the near post, and the ball grazed Traoré's leg before sliding past the goal.

Liverpool then substituted Núñez for Luis García, the goal scorer.

In the 85th minute of the match, the fervor at Anfield reached its peak.

First, a fan wearing a red jersey suddenly jumped down from the Kop stand. He spread his arms and rushed towards the goal, landing directly on the net on the Liverpool side, gripping the net ropes tightly with both hands.

Security personnel surrounded him from three directions, grabbed his arms, and dragged him out. As he was being pulled off the field, the fan turned and shouted towards the Chelsea goal, "You're doomed!"

Less than ten seconds after the referee signaled the resumption of play, another figure jumped over the advertising boards from the main stands and rushed onto the field.

The fan waved a red Liverpool scarf and ran wildly across the pitch like a matador, even deliberately crossing diagonally past the Chelsea penalty area.

He was surrounded and blocked by the fourth officer and security personnel, but he skillfully dodged two attempts to shoot him. Finally, he was tackled to the ground by three security guards in front of Roy.

Throughout the event, the KOP stands erupted in a tsunami of cheers, with some singing "You'll Never Walk Alone" and others rhythmically stomping their feet to create a roar.

As the second fan was being escorted off the field, the home team's spectators suddenly made a provocative throat-slitting gesture at Mourinho, which enraged the Chelsea coaching staff.

Referee Mitchell had to go to the sidelines to communicate with both coaches, interrupting the game for four and a half minutes.

The bright red "3-0" numbers on the electronic scoreboard continued to flash amidst the commotion, just like the burning passion of the Liverpool fans.

Benitez took the opportunity to explain the defensive details to Riise.

In the 89th minute, Liverpool launched a quick counter-attack. Cisse cut inside from the left and fired a low shot that went just wide of the near post, passing through Carvalho's legs.

When the fourth official raised the electronic board indicating five minutes of added time, a huge chorus of boos erupted throughout Anfield.

Fans in the Kop stand waved their arms angrily, believing the referee was biased towards Chelsea.

But Abramovich on the sidelines had no time to pay attention to any of that; he stood in the stands with his hands clenched into fists.

The Russian tycoon's temples throbbed.

He could clearly hear the violent pounding of his heart in his chest, a feeling like someone was drumming between his ribs.

This man, who was once invincible in both the business and football worlds, is now experiencing the fear of losing control for the first time.

"Score! We must score!"

Abramovich murmured unconsciously, his eyes fixed on the court.

Those star players who receive exorbitant weekly wages from him, those world-class players who are hailed to London by his private jet, are now unable to organize even a single decent attack.

The terrifying average of 2.7 goals per league match in the past became the sharpest irony under the night sky at Anfield.

"Score a goal! You have to score for me!"

Abu's lips trembled slightly as he murmured the same sentence repeatedly, almost pathologically.

His voice was low and broken, as if squeezed out from between his teeth: "Goal! You have to score! You absolutely have to score! Roy, you fucking score!"

“Гол.забейтеженаконецэтотчертовгол” (Goal! Why don't you score a damn goal?)

He suddenly roared in his native language, startling the bodyguard behind him who took a half-step forward.

Abu's eyes were bloodshot, but his pupils were unusually bright.

His business rivals were familiar with that look; it was the same look he gave at the negotiating table in the Siberian oil fields during the 1997 oil crisis.

He won the entire Yukos oil company back then, and now his bet is the dignity of a £300 million football empire.

In the third minute of stoppage time, Roy was fouled again while dribbling past defenders.

Chelsea are awarded a free kick, 30 yards from the goal.

As Roy stood in front of the ball, the clamor of Anfield seemed to fade away instantly.

He took a deep breath, ran up, swung his leg, and curled a ball with the inside of his right foot. The ball soared into the air like a cannonball, spinning sharply as it headed straight for the top right corner of the goal!
Dudek lunged sideways, barely managing to touch the ball with his fingertips!

"boom--!"

The ball slammed into the junction of the crossbar and the post, and was eventually cleared by a Liverpool defender who was still in shock.

Mourinho on the sidelines suddenly clutched his head.

Chelsea fans collectively buried their heads in their hands and sighed, while Liverpool fans erupted in wild cheers, as if they had just escaped a disaster.

Abramovich erupted in rage in his box, slamming his fist against the glass and roaring at the stadium below:

"Aren't your free kicks supposed to be very accurate?!"

"Mr. Roman?"

The assistant carefully handed over the satellite phone; "A call from Moscow."

"Go away!"

Abramovich slapped his phone away, his eyes fixed on the field.

"Chelsea's last chance! Corner kick!! The game has entered the final seconds, and this could very well be the Blues' last hope tonight!"

The commentator's voice suddenly rose, carrying a tense, suffocating quality.

"Who could have imagined that this seemingly invincible new Premier League powerhouse would stumble like this at Anfield tonight? They've been unstoppable all season, yet they've all gone silent on this crucial Champions League night! Except for Roy!"

"But football is never a one-man show. No matter how valiant he is, he can't withstand the impenetrable wall built by the entire Liverpool team!"

"Lampard takes a run-up – corner kick delivered!!"

The ball pierced the crimson night sky of Anfield, plummeting towards the penalty area where life and death hung in the balance.

Carragher and Carvalho clashed fiercely near the penalty spot, leaping up at the same time and colliding their shoulders hard!
Carvalho barely managed to glide on the ball, slightly changing its trajectory.

Roy activated in that instant!

He first pretended to back away, then suddenly stopped and ran away from Gerrard. Alonso grabbed his jersey, but Roy twisted his body and broke free!
The ball bounced perfectly to the edge of the six-yard box, and Roy didn't even wait for it to hit the ground before tensing his right leg muscles and unleashing a powerful volley!
Dudek was caught off guard!
The ball was moving too fast, and the Polish goalkeeper instinctively raised his hand to block it, but his palm was not fully open yet.

The ball slammed heavily into the front half of his palm, deflected, and then strangely crossed the goal line!
Anfield fell into a sudden, deathly silence.

Roy didn't celebrate; he just stared intently at the ball, which was still spinning in the net.

The linesman hesitated for a second before slowly and firmly raising his flag!

The goal is valid!

"Goal! Goal!!! Roy!!! Oh my god!! I love this French kid!!!"

Abu's face turned bright red, and he slammed his fist hard against the glass of the private room.

He stared intently at Roy, who was sprinting and celebrating on the field, and roared at the top of his lungs, "See that?! That's the player I want!!"

His voice was hoarse, but he was still roaring: "Give him a raise! Give him a raise right now!! I want him to stay at Chelsea for life!!!"

The staff nearby tried to calm him down, but Abu wouldn't listen. He just kept pounding on the glass, repeating over and over, "I knew it! I knew he wouldn't let me down!!!"

Finally, he sat down, panting heavily, his hands still trembling, but a near-grotesque smile appeared on his face.

This goal is worth 300 million pounds.

The electronic scoreboard showed Liverpool 3-1 Chelsea (3-3 on aggregate, Chelsea on away goals).

"A game-winning shot!! A game-winning shot!! A game-winning shot!!"

The singing from the Kop stand abruptly stopped, replaced by a roar erupting from the Chelsea substitutes' bench.

Dudek knelt before the door line, looking at his hand that couldn't be fully extended, as if looking at a traitor.

This is football.

Ninety minutes can bring silence, but just one second can bring a dying person back to life.

Liverpool kicked off in the final moments of the match.

Gerrard had just passed the ball to Alonso when Lampard suddenly intercepted it and passed it to Roy in the center circle!
Roy dribbled forward, looked up to observe, and suddenly unleashed a precise lob pass that bypassed Liverpool's defense.

After losing possession, Gerrard knelt on the grass, watching in astonishment as Roy delivered a lobbed pass. The ball gleamed under the lights as it streaked across the sky, while Robben surged ahead, leaving Traore, who had been running the entire field, nearly cramping up as he started to move.

The Dutch were so fast, so incredibly fast.
Robben made a lightning-fast diagonal run down the right flank!

He received the ball and had a one-on-one opportunity, but Hyypia desperately chased back.

Robben made a powerful shot, but at the moment of contact with the ball, he deftly cut the ball off, and Hyypia slipped and fell to the ground!
Dudek left the goal, and Robben calmly cut inside and took two steps to adjust.

Left-foot shot to the far corner!

The ball arced past Dudek's desperate save and crashed into the net!
The score is now set.

Liverpool 3-2 Chelsea (3-4 on aggregate)

The Blues have completed an epic comeback!

"Unbelievable! Absolutely unbelievable! Chelsea pulled off an incredible comeback from the brink of defeat at Anfield! In the final two minutes, the duo of Roy and Robben shattered Liverpool's Champions League dreams in the most brutal way!"

"Liverpool players collapsed on the pitch, they were just 120 seconds away from the final! But this is the Champions League! The cruelest and most beautiful temple of football! Roy proved in the most blue-blooded way: money can buy stars, but it can't buy a heart of steel like this!"

"Congratulations to Chelsea on reaching their first Champions League final! The London night will be ignited by blue, while the red tears of Merseyside will forever etch this tragic May night of defeat! Friends, this is football!!!"

"It breaks your heart, but it will be unforgettable for the rest of your life!"

"The Premier League's last hope! They are about to embark on their journey to Istanbul! This historic city straddling Europe and Asia, the 'capital of the world' in Napoleon's eyes. At the top of this city that has witnessed the glory of the Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman Empires, the Blues will face their ultimate battle to be crowned the kings of Europe."

“Nothing is more fitting to prove our greatness than conquering our opponents in Constantinople and lifting the Champions League trophy. From Stamford Bridge to the Bosphorus, Chelsea are just one step away from making history.”

(End of this chapter)