THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME
chapter-655

The game restarted at the Luzhniki Stadium with Ivory Coast holding onto the delicate 2-1 lead against England, keeping the crowd in suspense. The Ivorians, keen to protect their advantage, immediately tried to dominate possession, passing the ball around and attempting to run down the clock. But the English players, rejuvenated by their recent goal, were relentless. They swarmed the Ivorians like vampires after smelling blood, pressing high and hard, leaving no time for leisurely play.

Even the English forwards—Harry Kane, Jamie Vardy, and Marcus Rashford—joined the effort, running tirelessly to win back possession. England was going all out, and their persistence paid off when they forced the Ivorians to play a high ball towards England's territory. Harry Maguire was calm and collected as he received the long ball and controlled it perfectly. He passed it to Jordan Henderson, who in turn found Dele Alli. The game intensity suddenly shifted, and the English midfielders began to build their attack methodically, moving the ball with purpose and patience. They didn't force anything for the next few minutes. Instead, they linked up with short passes, playing the ball from touchline to touchline as they searched for opportunities to break Ivory Coast.

A momentary calm settled upon the field as one team defended while the other moved the ball around without launching deadly offensives. But as the game clock neared the 80th minute, the intensity rose again as England shifted gears. Marcus Rashford suddenly sprinted down the left wing, combining seamlessly with Ashley Young. The two exchanged quick one-twos, skillfully bypassing Serge Aurier and cutting into the pitch. They advanced towards Ivory Coast's box like predators closing in on their prey. Eric Bailly rushed to intercept them, but the ball was played to Rashford once more. The angle was tight, but Rashford still pulled the trigger and unleashed a powerful shot, aiming for the inside of the near post.

Unfortunately for England, Sylvain Gbohouo, Ivory Coast's vigilant goalkeeper, was ready. He dived instinctively, blocking the shot with his chest. The ball rebounded off him, landing dangerously in front of the goal mouth. Jamie Vardy, the ever-consummate poacher in the box, reacted with lightning speed, sliding in to tap the ball into the net. But Serey Dié, having tracked back with determination, reached the ball first and booted it away from danger.

The ball soared through the air, evading several English players who lunged to intercept it before landing on the other side of the box. The Ivorians breathed a sigh of relief, but the respite was brief as the danger was still at large. England regrouped quickly, launching another wave of attack. Kieran Trippier picked up the loose ball and, with a quick glance up the field, sent a curling cross back into the box. The ball arced beautifully, heading straight for Harry Kane.

Kane, positioned perfectly, went into action, rising above the defenders and connecting with a powerful header. The ball rocketed towards the top corner, but Gbohouo, in an incredible display of reflexes, stretched to his full height and tipped it over the bar. The stadium erupted in a mix of groans and cheers—England's near-miss had the fans on the edge of their seats.

The resulting corner was taken quickly by Ashley Young. The ball whipped into the box, causing chaos as bodies clashed and scrambled for strategic positions in the danger zone. Fortunately for the Ivorians, Eric Bailly towered over everyone and got his head to it first to clear the immediate danger. The ball flew out towards the right touchline, where Wilfried Zaha picked it up and began to sprint down the wing, initiating a counter-attack.

The English midfielders and defenders scrambled to get back as Zaha, with blistering pace, darted past one English player, then another. The roar of the African fans reverberated as he showcased his class and surged forward like a tsunami.

Finally, as he stepped into England's half, he looked up and spotted Zachary making a run down the center. With a perfectly timed pass, Zaha fed the ball to Zachary, who controlled it expertly and charged towards the box. The Ivorian fans cheered with renewed energy, sensing another chance to extend their lead.

John Stones, England's steadfast center-back, was quick to react, though. He swiftly closed the distance, determined to stop Zachary and thwart the counter-attack. Undeterred by the approaching defender, Zachary executed two swift step-overs, momentarily confusing Stones. Seizing the moment, he accelerated, attempting to rush past the English defender.

But Stones didn't relent since allowing Zachary through could spell the end of England's World Cup hopes. His mind was already made up, and as Zachary surged forward, Stones twisted around and latched onto Zachary's shirt, pulling with all his might. Zachary felt the tug but remained focused on the goal, determined to push through. He just needed to get past Stones, and then, he would only have one more English player and the keeper to beat.

The crowd's roar reached a crescendo as Zachary tried to power forward, but Stones was relentless. He grabbed Zachary's shirt, holding on for dear life and refusing to let go. The relentless pull finally succeeded in dragging Zachary to the ground. On cue, the referee's whistle pierced the air, signaling a free-kick for Ivory Coast and a yellow card for John Stones.

Zachary picked himself up, a mix of frustration and determination in his eyes. He had been inches away from a potential game-clinching goal, only to be thwarted by a foul. The free-kick awarded was a good 35 meters from the goal. It just felt like a poor consolation. But there was no time to dwell on missed opportunities. The game was still on, and the stakes were higher than ever.

Zachary focused on the task at hand, preparing for the free-kick. As he assessed the situation, Zaha, Eric Bailly, and Nicolas Pépé approached him, eager to discuss their strategy.

"How do you want to take this?" Bailly asked, his voice steady but tense.

"It's too far out," Zachary replied, glancing at the distance between him and the goal. "Let's go with a simple chip into the box. You guys can try to go for the ball and score."

Zaha shook his head, a determined glint in his eyes. "No, Zach. You should try your luck and go directly for the goal. We can't commit too many players forward. If we miss, we'll be inviting a counter-attack from England."

Zachary considered Zaha's suggestion. It was risky and bold, but he trusted the power of his leg and the unpredictability of football. Maybe a miracle could happen. "Alright, let's do it," he agreed. "I'll go for it."

He backed away from the ball, making some distance for a more powerful run-up. As the referee finally blew the whistle, signaling the restart, Zachary took the longer-than-usual run toward the ball. He caught it square with the upper toe area of his boot, unleashing his Missile Launcher Juju.

The ball rocketed off his foot, zigzagging unpredictably through the air. Jordan Pickford, England's goalkeeper, barely had time to think or react. The ball blasted into the back of the net with a resounding thud, sending shockwaves through the stadium.

For a moment, the stadium was stunned into silence. The fans, players, and everyone else watching seemed frozen as they processed what they had just witnessed. Zachary had converted a free-kick from over 35 meters out with a long-range missile, scoring Ivory Coast's third goal during the 84th minute.

The silence was quickly shattered by the roar of the Ivorian fans. They erupted into wild celebrations, their vigorous cheers echoing through the stadium as the commentators excitedly announced the goal and Zachary's heroics.

Fueled by adrenaline and excitement, Zachary sprinted toward the sidelines to celebrate with his coaches and teammates. Zaha approached him with a wide grin, a look that said, "I told you so."

"See? I knew you could do it!" Zaha laughed, slapping Zachary on the back.

Zachary chuckled and high-fived him. "Thanks for the push, Zaha. I couldn't have thought about trying if you hadn't made the suggestion."

As he celebrated with his teammates, Zachary felt pride and determination welling up in tides within him. They were now leading 3-1, and as long as they maintained their composure and avoided mistakes, they were on their way to the World Cup finals.