THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME
chapter-634

Explosive flames of excitement engulfed the stadium when Zachary's incredible celebration set the field ablaze. The Ivorian players and substitutes hurried to the touchline, embracing Zachary with bear hugs and high fives while cheering with all their might. In response, the African fans in the stands roared with thunderous applause as if they were longing to rush into the field and be part of the electrifying festivities.

But the celebrations were cut short by the sudden yell from Maxwel Cornet, one of the substitutes. He had an important message from the coach. "Guys!" he said, trying to grab everyone's attention. "Now that we're in the lead, the coach wants us to work hard and avoid conceding a goal until half-time. We must play as a team, work harder off and on the ball, and give our best shot. You can do it, guys! And if you can't, I'm still waiting on the bench to take any of your positions."

The field players acknowledged the coach's words. But they couldn't resist snickering at Cornet's joke about taking their position on the pitch. With the referee already urging them to return to the field, the Ivorian team exchanged a few words of encouragement before rushing back to their positions, ready to continue the game. The shrill sound of the referee's whistle soon reverberated throughout the stadium, cutting through the electric atmosphere of the game. The players of both teams charged forward, their movements sharp and precise as they battled to gain control of the ball. The air was thick with tension as each side tried to assert their dominance, but as the minutes ticked by, it was soon apparent that Portugal's red card had already changed the game's momentum.

With only ten players left on the field, Portugal struggled to keep up with their Ivorian opponents. Their movements were slower, and their passes lacked their usual precision. William Carvalho and Joao Moutinho, the two midfielders, played it safe most times, opting for safer passes instead of daring, riskier ones. They struggled to get the ball to their forwards, leaving Gon?alo Guedes and Christiano Ronaldo stranded and isolated for long periods.

Moreover, as the game heated up, the stakes got higher. Portugal's coach, Fernando Santos, had to make a tough call and substitute Jo?o Mário, a winger, with Mário Rui, a left-back. The hope was to bolster the defense and mitigate the impacts of the red card.

But the substitution did little to improve the situation, and as the end of the first half approached, Portugal's fatigue became more apparent. It was a tense and nerve-wracking few minutes for the Portuguese fans watching, as their team was forced to play defensively, with their Ivorian opponents controlling the pace for the first time that evening. On Ivory Coast's side, Zachary was already on fire, his stamina seemingly endless as he ran around the pitch, exchanging precise passes with his teammates. As if that wasn't enough, he would sometimes rely on his SS grade spatial awareness and risk assessment to spot any gaps left behind by the struggling Portuguese side before using his terrifying passing skills to deliver a sudden defense-splitting pass forward.

The crowd was on the edge of their seats, cheering loudly as he once again executed his magic during the 43rd minute. With a burst of energy, he received a pass from Serey Dié, spun around Jo?o Moutinho, and raced ahead, leaving everyone in his wake. The stadium erupted with thunderous applause as he speared deeper into Portugal's half, leaving the opposition scrambling to catch up.

He swiftly approached the final third of the pitch with remarkable speed and agility, evading a sliding tackle from an opponent and gracefully snaking his way around William Carvalho. He then remained focused and determined to create another opportunity for his team despite the presence of two towering figures – José Fonte and Pepe, the two center-backs – who had already positioned themselves to stop his run.

Moving at a lightning pace, he spotted Wilfried Zaha about to race past Mário Rui, the substitute left-back, and into an unmarked pocket of space on the right wing. In a flash, he knew this was his chance to make something happen and solidify his team's advantage.

With precision and skill, he held onto the ball, drawing in the opponents until the very moment when Zaha was just about to rush into an offside position. Then, with lightning speed, his boot deftly dug under the ball, lifting it and sending it soaring high into the air, over the heads of all the defenders, with a graceful arc that left them all standing still. The crowd's deafening roar filled the stadium as the ball flew toward its target. With astonishing speed and agility, Zaha leaped forward and skillfully controlled the ball with his chest before deftly maneuvering it down the field. Zaha charged towards the box, eyes fixed on the prize, waiting for the right moment to make his move. Suddenly, he precisely passed the ball toward the area, sending it skimming along the ground like a guided torpedo.

Like a bolt out of the blue, Gervinho, the Ivorian center-forward, sprang into action, already having outmaneuvered the Portuguese defenders. He surged forward with incredible velocity, his quick movements making it appear like he was gliding across the field. With a deft slide, he met the ball perfectly, tapping it with just the right amount of force into the back of the net.

The Ivorian fans in the stands erupted in cheers as Gervinho jogged toward the touchline to celebrate his first goal of the 2018 World Cup. However, his joy was short-lived as he suddenly halted halfway through his celebration. The referee had raised his arm and pointed to his ear, indicating that a VAR check was needed.

The jumbotron immediately flashed the words "Checking Goal" and "Possible Offside" as the Video Assistant Referees got to work. The tension was palpable as everyone waited with bated breath for the decision. And then, in just a few seconds, the verdict was in – the goal was canceled! The referee was not even sent to the pitch-side monitor.

A brief replay on the jumbotron showed that a small part of Gervinho's foot had been offside, and the Ivorian players and fans were crestfallen as their joy quickly turned to frustration. It was a moment that would be etched in their memories forever – the moment when VAR intervened and denied them another goal in a heated game against Portugal.

The match resumed with heightened anticipation soon after, but the remaining few minutes of the first half were relatively uneventful. As a result, the score remained 1-0, with Ivory Coast leading, as the players walked down the tunnel for the half-time break.

Fernando Santos, the coach of Portugal, made another substitution and brought in Bruno Fernandes to replace Jo?o Moutinho. This tactical move soon proved to be advantageous for the Portuguese. With Fernandes joining the team, they were infused with a sudden burst of liveliness and enthusiasm in the first few minutes of the second half.

Despite being a man down, the Portuguese players upped their game and started linking up with each other through their seamless passing. Bruno Fernandes was at the center of it all, running all over the pitch and tackling to gain an edge for his side. Everyone could feel his dominating presence on the pitch as he exhibited his remarkable abilities and skills.

Bruno Fernandes also unleashed a few defenses-splitting passes to his teammates, particularly to the team's star player, Cristiano Ronaldo. Although Ronaldo tried his chances from outside the box twice, he unfortunately missed the target on both occasions.

As the game gradually progressed towards the last quarter of an hour, Portugal increased their attacking efforts, scrambling to equalize the score against Ivory Coast. They put up a brave fight, persistently pushing forward with all their might, but the Ivorian defense remained resolute against their persistent attacks. With each passing minute, the game became more intense and the stakes higher.

The Ivorian players, aware of the danger posed by Portugal, adopted an aggressive approach, pressing high up on the pitch and disrupting Portugal's attempts to build up their play from the back. But even then, the Portuguese still created some clear-cut chances, but fortunately for the African fans, Ivory Coast's defense remained solid and unyielding.

As the game entered its final stages, the tension in the stadium reached a new fever pitch, with fans of both teams on the edge of their seats, anxiously hoping for a positive outcome. The Portuguese fans were praying and balling their fists, urging their team to score, while the Ivorian supporters were nervously holding their breath, hoping their side would hold on to their lead.

Having sensed the pressure, the Ivorian players redoubled their efforts, determined to protect their lead at all costs. With every passing moment, they defended as if their lives were on the line, working hard on and off the ball despite having the numerical advantage.

Their relentless hard work eventually paid off, and they managed to maintain their 1:0 lead until the final whistle sounded after six agonizing minutes of added time. It was their second win of their World Cup campaign, which immediately put them firmly at the top of the Group B table with six points.

As the final whistle blew, there was an explosion of joy and excitement among the Ivorian players. They couldn't contain their joy and started running around the pitch, hugging each other and celebrating their hard-earned victory. It was a moment they would cherish for a long time, a testament to their hard work, dedication, and team spirit.