THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME
chapter-654

654 The Usually-Notoriously Tricky 2-0 Lead

The intensity on the pitch was mounting with each passing second as the semi-final between Ivory Coast and England continued in the Luzhniki Stadium. The scoreboard showed 2-0 in favor of the Ivorians, thanks to Wilfried Zaha's opportunistic brilliance and Zachary Bemba's sensational free-kick. However, England's determination was unwavering, especially with the match still in the first half. They weren't ready to surrender.

In the 36th minute, England prepared to launch another offensive. John Stones initiated the move, passing to Jordan Henderson. Henderson, with a quick glance up, found Dele Alli. Alli did not waste any time and played a swift pass to Jesse Lingard. Lingard felt Zachary closing in and, after a single touch, released the ball to Kieran Trippier on the right wing.

Trippier, known for his speed and daring runs, raced down the touchline. Adama Traoré, Ivory Coast's left-back for the day, sprinted forward to intercept. But Trippier executed a slick one-two with Raheem Sterling, and they seamlessly cut into the pitch, leaving Adama in the dust. Sterling, now with the ball, dribbled past Lamine Koné with ease, leaving the Ivorian center-back in his wake. As he entered the box, the cheers from the English fans reached a fever pitch.

The English fans could almost smell the goal coming as Sterling raised his leg to unleash a shot. But just at the last moment, a silhouette slid in, blocking the ball and sending it out for a corner kick. The hero was Serge Aurier, whose timely intervention saved the day.

The pressure on Ivory Coast continued mounting. England quickly set up for the corner, and Kieran Trippier sent in a curling ball, creating chaos in the box. Bodies clashed, and the uncertainty about who would come out on top was all around the danger zone. Eventually, Harry Maguire towered over everyone and got the decisive touch, heading the ball toward the inside of the right post. Time seemed to slow as the ball flew through the air, destined for the back of the net. But before it could cross the line, Serge Aurier was there again, intercepting and booting it away from the danger zone.

The ball soared high and landed out of play on the left touchline for a throw-in. The African fans sighed with relief while the Ivorian players exchanged high-fives, celebrating their defensive effort. But Zachary couldn't shake off his worry, as a 2-0 lead was usually notoriously tricky. If England managed to pull one goal back, the momentum could shift dramatically. The English team would be invigorated, believing they were within striking distance of a comeback. Zachary knew they had to maintain their solid defense and prevent England from scoring for as long as possible. But that wasn't enough. They also had to continue looking for opportunities to launch counterattacks on England's defense and force the opponents to feel some pressure. And if possible, they had to score another goal to seal the deal.

As the game resumed, the tension in the stadium remained electric. England, increasingly desperate to claw their way back, pressed harder. Their passes were crisper, and their runs more aggressive. They showcased the English attacking game, pushing all the Ivorians, except Wilfried Zaha, into their half. They were going all out to find a way back into the semi-final.

On the other hand, the Ivory Coast players remained vigilant, aware of the stakes. They were disciplined as they formed neat defensive lines with their 4-2-3-1 formation as they defended. And just like that, the minutes ticked by with England dominating possession, but the Ivorian defense, led by Serge Aurier and Eric Bailly, stood firm.

In the 39th minute, another English attack began, prompting more cheers from the watching crowd. Henderson, always reliable, played a long ball to Raheem Sterling. Sterling controlled it expertly and sprinted down the right flank. Cheick Doukouré rushed out of midfield to stop the attack, but Sterling had other plans. He sent in a dangerous cross aimed at Harry Kane. The English striker leaped, but Eric Bailly rose higher, clearing the ball with a powerful header. The just-cleared ball fell to Jesse Lingard, who unleashed a volley from a few yards outside the box. The shot was fierce, curling dangerously towards the inside of the left post. But Sylvain Gbohouo, the Ivorian goalkeeper, made a spectacular save, diving to his right to palm the ball away.

The England faithful and players groaned with frustration, lamenting yet another missed chance. Their dismay was mounting as they could see the clock ticking away, yet their team was still trailing by two goals.

Meanwhile, the Ivorians regrouped quickly, with Sylvain Gbohouo yelling and shouting words of encouragement to his teammates. He urged his teammates to stay composed while holding their lines and seizing any counterattacking opportunities that came their way. The game was far from over, and every second counted.

Minutes ticked by, and as the half-time whistle approached, England threw everything they had at the Ivorian defense. Trippier and Young continued their relentless runs, and Henderson and Alli pushed forward with intent. But the Ivorian defense, bolstered by their midfield, remained unyielding.

The 44th minute eventually arrived, with the Ivorian players ‘very much' looking towards the half-time break. But it was then that another shift in momentum occurred as Sterling found himself in a promising position just outside of the box after receiving a pinpoint pass from Harry Kane.

In a flash of brilliance, Raheem Sterling dribbled past Cheick Doukouré and Lamine Koné before pulling the trigger from the edge of the box. His technique and accuracy rang true, and for a moment, the ball looked destined for the inside of the far post. But it then curled slightly and smashed off the post before rebounding into Sylvain Gbohouo's waiting hands.

It was another missed chance, with the goalpost doing the work this time!

The Ivorians sighed with relief as Sylvain Gbohouo restarted the gameplay with a long goal kick. Midfielders geared up to meet the ball and win the advantage for their teams. But right then, the referee blew the whistle, signaling the end of the first half.

It was time for the half-time break, and the Ivory Coast players headed off the pitch while still leading England 2-0 in the World Cup semi-final. Relief washed over them as they made their way to the dressing room, and as they arrived, they exchanged high-fives and fist bumps before settling down to quench their thirst.

Hervé Renard, their coach, quickly took center stage. "Well done, everyone," he began, his voice steady but intense. "You handled the first half brilliantly, and we're leading England by two goals. But remember, we can't afford to be overly conservative in the second half. Keep defending strongly, but look for opportunities to break past England's defense. We need to make them feel threatened."

The players nodded, absorbing his words, and Renard continued with a few more encouraging remarks. He urged them to remain disciplined, play as a team, and play their hearts out on the pitch. He then gave a few personal instructions to some of the players before eventually sending them back to the pitch. The second half began soon after, and England resumed their relentless pursuit of a goal, pushing forward and launching attack after attack. The Ivorians defended tenaciously, thwarting most of the offensives. But as the minutes ticked by, exhaustion began to set in, leading to occasional mistakes.

Sylvain Gbohouo, Ivory Coast's goalkeeper, remained a fortress, comfortably saving every shot that came his way. He was now the acting captain in the absence of the injured Gervinho. His team spirit was evident for anyone watching as he did his best to keep Ivory Coast in the lead time after time.

The England coach, Gareth Southgate, was not satisfied with what he saw. Determined to change the course of the game, he brought on Marcus Rashford and Jamie Vardy, replacing Kyle Walker and Raheem Sterling. His intent was clear. He wanted to strengthen England's attacking power and get one goal back before it was too late.

The substitutes stepped onto the pitch, and England's offensive intensified. They pushed harder, searching desperately for a breakthrough. The Ivorian defense held firm, but the pressure was mounting. Eventually, in the 72nd minute, Marcus Rashford, with his lightning speed, glided past Cheick Doukouré, looking to pull the trigger from outside the box. Cheick Doukouré, hot on his heels, attempted a sliding tackle but caught Rashford instead. The referee's whistle pierced the air, awarding England a free-kick just outside the box and showing Doukouré a yellow card.

The anxiety levels around the stadium immediately skyrocketed as Marcus Rashford and Kieran Trippier stood over the ball. The English fans roared, sensing a crucial moment. Ivory Coast's players formed a wall, their faces etched with determination. Gbohouo positioned himself, his eyes locked on the ball, ready for whatever came next.

Seconds ticked by, and all of a sudden, the cheers in the stadium subsided. Kieran Trippier stepped up, his eyes focused and unwavering. He took a deep breath and then a few steps forward, striking the ball with the inside of his boot. His set-piece skills were squeaky clean, and the ball curved around the wall, heading for the top corner. Gbohouo leaped, hoping to save the day again, but his outstretched glove was nowhere near the ball. The net bulged, and the stadium erupted in cheers. England had pulled one back, making it 2-1 during the 73rd minute.

The English players didn't celebrate but rushed forward to pick the ball from the back of the net. Their actions conveyed their intent. They didn't want to waste any time. They wished to restart the game as soon as possible.

Zachary could feel the momentum shifting as he retook his position, looking to restart the game. What he had feared had happened, and England had gotten one goal back with almost 20 minutes still on the clock. He knew they were in for a fight, so he rallied his teammates. "Stay focused! We still have the lead. Defend with everything you've got, and let's look for our chances on the counter!"

His teammates acknowledged his advice as they also retook their position. Their eyes were brimming with spirit, and they would do whatever it took to maintain their lead until the final whistle.