THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME
chapter-222

The match restarted with the sound of the referee's whistle. Strømsgodset's kicked off proceedings following Rosenborg's goal celebrations.

Kristin grew more confused as she watched the Rosenborg players gradually settle back into their half and concentrate all their efforts on defense. They were obviously the stronger team and had the initiative since they were one goal ahead. But to her dismay, they let the Strømsgodset players continue attacking them like they were the weaker team for the next twenty minutes. They were clearly following Mourinho's infamous tactic of 'parking the bus' — which the 'special one' had employed against Ronaldinho's Barcelona. It was the sort of football Kristin did not enjoy.

"It seems Coach Johansen has directed his players to focus on defense while remaining compact as a team," she heard Anne Rimmen, the commentator, say. "The Troll Kids are now playing with nine men in front of the goal whenever they're without possession."

"Only Nicki Nielsen, the number-9, is staying forward waiting for an opportunity to counterattack. However, he has barely gotten on the ball since all the action is taking place in Rosenborg's half."

"What a strange tactical approach we're seeing from Coach Johansen, despite his team having a more versatile squad!" She continued. "It seems he's letting the opponents dictate the tempo! Harald, please enlighten us. What's your take on Coach Johansen's defensive strategy?"

"Well," Harald, the pundit for the day, said after clearing his voice. "Coach Johansen is intent on emerging out of this fixture with the three points to take his team to the top of the table. But to achieve that, he has to tackle the problem of his team conceding needless goals. What we're seeing on the pitch at the moment is his solution to the problem."

"By focusing on defense, his players have managed to weather Strømsgodset's constant barrage of attacks without conceding for the past twenty minutes. That probably wouldn't have been the case if most of his players moved forward to attack as usual. That would have left gaps in the defense, possibly allowing the boys from Drammen to score."

"If the Rosenborg players manage to maintain their focus and discipline throughout the game," he continued, "then they'll surely emerge as victors. It won't even matter if they don't score another goal."

"Let's wait and see how the match develops," Anne Rimmen said in her vibrant voice. "But for now, it's Strømsgodset dictating the proceedings on the field of play. Stefan Johansen, the May player of the month, has just received the ball in defensive midfield. He drives forward, trying to penetrate Rosenborg's half for the umpteenth time during the first half. But, oh my! He has met a roadblock in the form of Zachary Bemba, the young Rosenborg number-33..."

Kristin's whole attention was on the field of play at that moment. She watched with undivided attention as Zachary closed down on Stefan Johansen quickly — and slid in to tackle the ball off his feet. She couldn't help but wince since she thought that he'd committed a foul. His tackle seemed on the verge of being reckless. She assumed that he was perhaps starting to get frustrated by Rosenborg's continuous lack of possession.

But a moment later, she let out a pent-up breath and relaxed. The referee had not blown his whistle, meaning Zachary had either not committed a foul or escaped the penalty.

Her heart began racing as she watched Zachary pick himself from the ground with the swiftness of a cheetah. Without wasting a second, the young Maestro quickly unleashed a through-pass to the right-wing — seemingly to no one in particular.

"Oh, my!" She heard Anne Rimmen, the commentator, yell as the cheering rose to new heights all around Lerkendal. "Zachary Bemba has initiated a Rosenborg counterattack after successfully dispossessing Stefan Johansen, the Strømsgodset defensive midfielder. Tobias Mikkelsen, Rosenborg's right-winger, manages to connect with Zachary's through pass on the right flank. His pace is incredible. It's Rosenborg on the counter..."

Kristin could not help but jump up from her seat as she heard the commentary. She could not remain seated since the Rosenborg fans in the row in front of hers were already on their feet, craning their necks to get a clearer view of the counterattack. She had to follow suit to avoid missing the first captivating gameplay from Rosenborg in over twenty minutes.

"Oh, my goodness! Tobias Mikkelsen manages to skip past Jarl André Storbaek's sliding tackle. He's dashing along the touchline and spearing deeper into Strømsgodset's half."

Anne Rimmen, the commentator, continued describing the thrilling action on the field of play. Kristin watched Tobias bolting along the touchline with the ball with a hundred percent focus. He seemed intent on keeping the Rosenborg counterattack alive. However, just as he'd started cutting into the pitch — heading towards the box, he was closed down by Jörgen Horn, the Strømsgodset center back in shirt number-5.

However, Tobias didn't try to dribble past the tall defender. Instead, he passed the ball towards the middle to find Nicki Nielsen, the Rosenborg center forward, who'd long escaped from his marker.

Nicki received the ball mid-sprint, skipping past a sliding tackle by Abdisalam Ibrahim, the Strømsgodset midfielder, who had tracked back to defend. Without a pause, the number-9 unleashed a backheel pass back into the midfield before any other opponents could surround him.

The center-forward had passed the ball without looking. That evoked a wave of excited cheers from the fans around Kristin. But she didn't join in on the excitement since all her attention was still on the field of play.

Zachary met Nicki's backheel pass without slowing down in the slightest. He didn't even attempt to control the ball. Instead, he simply kicked it into space — just behind the Strømsgodset defensive line on the right flank. Once again, it looked like he was passing to no one in particular.

But a moment later, Kristin saw Tobias Mikkelsen dash past Jörgen Horn, the Strømsgodset center back, and connect with Zachary's well-timed pass. Without wasting a second, the right-winger bolted into the box and let loose a right-footed shot that homed into the top right corner. It was a close call. The effort had just barely sailed past the outstretched hand of the goalkeeper.

"GOAAAAAAL...."

Kristin shouted along with the rest of the fans as they celebrated Rosenborg's second goal. Her heart was racing just from the memory of the lightning-fast counterattack. The way Zachary, Tobias, and Nicki had linked up to create the goal was magical.