THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME
chapter-633

The counterattack was on, and Zachary's heart thumped against his chest like a drum as he charged ahead. His eyes were fixed on the other side of the pitch, but he couldn't ignore the looming figure of Jo?o Moutinho, the Portuguese central midfielder, who had positioned himself to stop his advance.

As Zachary approached, Moutinho advanced with the same intensity, ready to initiate a tackle. But Zachary remained calm and collected. He executed a dazzling step-over, leaning his body to the left as if he were going to break through that direction. Moutinho mirrored his movements, leaning in the same direction, his eyes fixed on the ball.

But what Jo?o Moutinho didn't realize was that the slight shift of Zachary's body was just a feint, a clever trick to throw off his opponent's judgment. As Moutinho leaned in, Zachary took advantage of the opportunity and shifted his center of gravity. In a split second, he burst forward from the opposite direction, leaving Moutinho behind and pushing the counterattack to the next level. A triumphant smile curved his lips as he sprinted forward, his eyes fixed on the box as he swiftly approached the final third.

Meanwhile, the crowd roared as they witnessed a three-vs-two scenario unfolding on the field. Zachary was flanked by his teammates, Nicolas Pépé on his left and Gervinho on his right, both sprinting forward in unison, ready to pounce. Meanwhile, the opponents were in a desperate struggle to keep up, with only Cédric Soares and Rapha?l Guerreiro barely scrambling back to halt the attack.

Zachary remained composed as he took in the situation, his mind racing with possibilities. He played the ball to Nicolas Pépé on his left, who deftly passed it back as he charged past the Portuguese right-back, Cédric Soares.

As Zachary completed the sprint past Soares, the crowd was on the edge of their seats, captivated by his movements, which were a blur of grace and agility. He used his lightning-fast reflexes and cunning strategy to position himself for a possible goal, causing Portugal's final defender, Rapha?l Guerreiro, to become visibly agitated. Guerreiro clearly panicked, and as Zachary stepped into the box and prepared to take the shot, the Portuguese defender launched a sliding tackle, aiming to stop him in his tracks. But Zachary refused to be intimidated. He stood his ground, knowing the referee's watchful eye would catch any foul play.

Zachary's mind raced as he tried to outsmart his opponent with another step forward, but Guerreiro's tackle caught him by surprise and swept him off his feet. Zachary hit the ground with a sickening thud, and the stadium fell silent as the crowd gasped in horror, waiting to see if he would get up.

Just as things seemed bleak, the whistle sounded, and the referee rushed over without hesitation. He checked on Zachary before dramatically awarding Ivory Coast a penalty. But that wasn't all – the referee also pulled out a red card and brandished it in Guerreiro's face, sending shockwaves throughout the stadium. It was a clear and decisive call, as Guerreiro's careless foul had robbed Zachary of an obvious goal-scoring opportunity from inside the box. However, the Portuguese players and coaches were furious with the decision and started protesting. But the referee, being firm and just, waved them away while calmly noting the incident in his small book.

—–

"Wow, we have got some real action happening here!" exclaimed Vicki Sparks, the commentator, with a hint of excitement in her voice. "We are just 11 minutes into the game, and it's already a nail-biting thriller."

"Hold your breath, folks! Rapha?l Guerreiro, the Portuguese left-back, has been given a red card for committing a last-man foul within the box. With only ten players left on the field, Portugal is now under immense pressure."

"And the drama doesn't end there! Ivory Coast has been awarded a penalty kick and an opportunity to take the lead in this high-octane match. Martin, what do you think about the referee's decision?"

"In my opinion, it was the right call," commented Martin Keown, the co-commentator. "Rapha?l Guerreiro committed a foul in the box, which denied Zachary an obvious goal-scoring opportunity. I must emphasize that Guerreiro's sliding tackle was a risky move that backfired. This unfortunate incident could have easily been avoided if he had exercised some bit of patience. But let's be fair. It's tough to keep your cool during the heat of the game! It's what makes football thrilling!"

—–

Back on the pitch, Zachary had already finished getting first aid from the medics. There was still some slight pain affecting his calf, but it was minor, and he could run it off as the game progressed.

His only focus was now on the penalty, which he had chosen to take himself after discussing with his teammates. The pressure was high, but he knew he had to make this shot count, especially since goal-scoring opportunities were always rare when playing against great sides like the Portuguese football team.

With his heart racing and his mind focused, Zachary took a deep breath and prepared himself for the critical moment. He placed the ball on the penalty spot and took a few angled steps back. The crowd was silent as they watched him, waiting with bated breath.

Ignoring everything around him, he cast a fleeting glance at Rui Patrício, the keeper, taking in his position and body language. Then, he took another breath and focused all his attention while waiting for the referee to blow the whistle.

The tension levels skyrocketed as the referee finally blew the whistle. Zachary sprang into action, jogging confidently towards the penalty spot. He paused for a split second, taking one final glance at the keeper before striking the ball with all his might.

As the ball soared through the air towards the top right corner of the goal, the fans held their breath in anticipation. It was a shot of perfect precision, and it was evident that Rui Patrício had no chance of stopping it. The spectators watched in awe as the ball thudded into the back of the net, and the stadium erupted into a chorus of cheers and applause. It was a truly spectacular moment.

—–

Portugal 0 : 1 Ivory Coast —–

The words on the stadium's jumbotron immediately changed to show the new score. Zachary had done it! He had converted the penalty and given his team the lead during the 13th minute of gameplay. It was a moment of pure joy and triumph, and Zachary couldn't contain his excitement. He raced to the touchline, sliding on his knees for a few meters to celebrate the goal. The African fans in the stands went wild, blowing their vuvuzelas, chanting his name, and cheering him on. It was another moment he would never forget.