THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME
chapter-653

653 A Shocking Turn of Events

England looked visibly shaken by the early setback and were eager to reclaim their composure. Harry Kane restarted the game and passed the ball back to Jordan Henderson, who immediately sought to reestablish control.

The England players built up from there, and for the next few minutes, they worked tirelessly, trying to rebuild their rhythm. They passed the ball around the back and midfield, hoping to set the tempo and regain control. The Ivorians, however, remained relentless in their press. Zaha followed Zachary's advice to the letter and hounded Harry Maguire and John Stones, the English center-backs. His off-ball runs were relentless. They repeatedly forced the English defenders to play quicker than they were comfortable with.

But that was not all, as Zachary, Serey Dié, and the newly introduced Cheick Doukouré were also working hard in midfield. They ran at the English midfielders like mad, giving them no seconds on the ball. They high-pressed like there was no tomorrow and ensured that ‘not a single' England player had the time to make any crucial decision that could hurt Ivory Coast.

With their backs against the wall, the English players quickly adapted their strategy, shifting to aggressive wing-play tactics. Kieran Trippier and Ashley Young began making daring runs down the flanks, sending cross after cross into the box in search of their star striker, Harry Kane. However, the Ivorian defense remained resolute and well-organized. Serge Aurier, Eric Bailly, and Lamine Koné were as tenacious as ever at the back. They repeatedly thwarted these attempts, keeping Kane under tight surveillance and clearing all the dangerous balls.

As the game reached the 29th minute, a significant shift in momentum occurred. England earned a corner kick after a relentless attack. The anticipation around the stadium mounted as Ashley Young stepped up to take the corner. His delivery was precise, and he sent the ball spiraling into the crowded Ivorian box with a nasty curl. What followed was a fierce aerial battle. Players jostled and leaped, hoping to connect with the incoming corner ball. But it was Cheick Doukouré, the recently introduced defensive midfielder, who rose highest. Towering over three English players, Doukouré headed the ball with a commanding presence, sending it flying out of the danger zone.

The ball soared beyond the box, finding Salomon Kalou lurking on the edge, who deftly chested it down. With Jesse Lingard closing in, Kalou turned smoothly, leaving the English midfielder in his wake. He spotted Zachary Bemba running into an unmarked pocket of space outside the eighteen-yard box and played the ball to him.

Zachary's heart raced as he received the pass. He knew this was a golden opportunity to extend their lead. Without hesitation, he began his daring run through the middle. His movements were graceful yet rapid, a blur of orange slicing through the white shirts of the English midfield press. He danced past one player, then another, his speed, agility, and side-steps leaving them in his wake. With the pitch now opened up, he swiftly advanced the counterattack, his long strides eating up yards of space by the second.

The crowd's roar grew louder as Zachary approached the edge of the box. He could almost taste the goal, but then, out of nowhere, Kyle Walker lunged in with a ruthless sliding tackle. The contact was hard, sending Zachary tumbling to the ground. Cries of dismay erupted from the Ivorian bench and their fans. The referee wasted no time, blowing his whistle and pointing to the spot of the foul. He reached into his pocket and produced a yellow card for Walker, much to the dissatisfaction of the English supporters.

Zachary lay on the ground for a few seconds, catching his breath and assessing the damage. Thankfully, he was unhurt. He got to his feet, brushing off his teammates' concerned glances. The free-kick spot was just twenty-eight yards out—an excellent position for a set-piece specialist like Zachary. His Dead-Ball Specialist Juju could be put to use again.

He blocked out everything around him and placed the ball carefully, his mind focused and clear. The wall of English players lined up, and Jordan Pickford, the English goalkeeper, positioned himself, eyes locked on Zachary. The tension in the stadium was mounting, but Zachary was as calm as ever. His SS+ Composure and Mental Strength kept him above all the pressure as his similarly highly-graded Tactical Awareness and Risk Assessment attributes helped him assess the situation before him.

Having studied the goings on in England's box, Zachary took a deep breath, his eyes scanning the goal. He had practiced this countless times. He knew he had to make this opportunity count, as a one-goal lead was precarious against a team as formidable as England. He took a few steps back, then ran up and struck the ball with precision and skill honed over thousands or even ten thousands of times on the training ground. His Dead Ball Specialist Juju, combined with his SS-graded game intelligence, all worked like a charm, and the ball soared over the wall, curling towards the top right corner.

Pickford dived, his fingertips grazing the ball, but it wasn't enough. The ball kissed the underside of the crossbar and nestled into the back of the net. For the second time that night, the stadium fell silent for just a moment in awe of Ivory Coast's efforts. And then, just as abruptly, the African fans erupted into thunderous cheers, vuvuzelas blowing and chaotic dances filling the stands.

Ivory Coast had stunned England again and doubled their lead to 2-0 during the 32nd minute. Zachary's teammates swarmed him, their joy unrestrained. They almost couldn't believe they were already leading by two goals against one of the best teams in Europe after just over half an hour of gameplay.

On the sidelines, Coach Hervé Renard pumped his fists in the air, his tactical decisions paying off. The commentators were also in awe. "What a sensational free-kick by Zachary Bemba! Ivory Coast has doubled their lead, and it's that man again making the difference! Ivory Coast is now 2-0 up against England. This is incredible!"

"The precision, the confidence—Zachary has been nothing short of spectacular during this World Cup campaign," another commentator added. "He has done it again tonight, and England has a mountain to climb now."

The celebrations eventually ended, and as the players reset for the restart, Zachary's mind was already on the next play. There were still many minutes of the game on the clock, and he knew they couldn't afford to relax, not even for a second. His focus was unwavering, his desire to help Ivory Coast reach the World Cup final driving him forward.

As they retook their positions, Zachary yelled and encouraged his teammates to stay focused and keep pressing hard. The game was theirs to win, and with each passing minute, the dream of reaching the World Cup final would grow closer to reality.