Football singularity

Chapter 741 In Spectacular Fashion

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[2021-04-20 | Allianz Arena, Munich | 20:30 CET]

[Bundesliga MW 30: FC Bayern Munich 1 vs 0 Bayer 04 Leverkusen]

(FWEEET!)

[45’]

Leverkusen kicked off the second half, with Schick tapping it back to Amiri. The midfielder immediately played it wide to Rakim on the left, and the teenager didn’t hesitate. He took one touch, eying the approaching Müller, faked a pass into the middle, but ended up dragging the ball up the flank, exploding forward.

Kimmich immediately moved to shut him down before he could cross into the final third. The midfielder didn’t dive, staying on his feet as he measured the winger’s moves, looking for a chance to pounce. While he was patient, Rakim’s right foot suddenly dug under the ball, sending a sudden chipped through ball over the midfielder and the last line of defence.

Süle, who had his attention split between watching Schick and the play unfolding on the left wing, was late to react. He belatedly tried to jump into the air but couldn’t get enough height, and the ball sailed past him. Patrick Schik, who had been ready, couldn’t miss the opportunity and darted into the box.

Still, the angle was awkward, and he had to half-turn his upper body to let the ball drop in front of him. "Patric—Manuel Neuer a daring save." Derek Rae exclaimed as the German number one jumped out headfirst, punching the ball out before it could drop in front of the Czech Striker.

"Phenomenal goal keeping," Robson added as the ball pinged out of the box amid the cheers of the home fans. "Wait a moment—Baumgartlinger on the volley!"

"Ohhhhh, a shot into the stratosphere, what a wasted opportunity." Rae voiced as manager, Bosz could be seen shaking his head in disappointment in the technical area. "He will want to forget that one quickly—He was simply too eager."

[52]

Bayern, despite being a man down, quickly settled after that early attack. Kimmich and Goretzka moved methodically, moving the ball around, making up for the missing man. Müller also played deeper, fully embracing a three-man midfielder system, pinging the ball around the Leverkusen side.

One thing the German giants do well is play keep away with the ball, and that quality was clearly on display here. The visitors, who had been as energetic as in the first half, found themselves in a quagmire as the home side continued to push, pull back, and shift sides, frustrating them to no end. In the 53rd, Diaby, who had gotten frustrated at the situation, found himself dragged too far forward, creating a massive hole behind him.

Baumgartlinger also found himself drawn forward, and that proved to be a mistake, as Kimmich, who received the ball from Davis immediately, struck. He dribbled forward, his legs quickly eating up yards, drawing black shirts towards him. His sudden breakthrough acted as a signal, and the boys in red immediately sped forward in waves.

Demirbay moved to intercept him at the halfway line, but the Bayern man by-passed him by, exchanging a quick one-two with Müller. Frimpong moved forward to intercept him, but the midfielder released a pass forward to Lewandowski before he got the chance to interfere. Lewandowski received the pass with his back to the goal, Tapsoba immediately pressing against him.

The Polish striker used his strength to hold him off, then laid it wide to Sané, who had drifted forward from midfield. The German playmaker took one touch, drawing Wendell toward him, then played a diagonal pass back to Müller at the top of the box. Müller controlled it with his chest, dropping the ball in front of him as he shaped to shoot, drawing Tah forward.

He didn’t shoot, though, choosing instead to slip a pass to the overlapping Alaba on the right. The Austrian fullback struck it first-time with his left foot, sending a low cross skimming across the six-yard box. Lewandowski had already begun his run, peeling away from Tapsoba, but Hradecky read it perfectly. The Finnish keeper dove forward, smothering the ball before the striker could reach it.

"HRADECKY AGAIN!" Derek roared. "The Finnish international is keeping Leverkusen in this match! That’s world-class goalkeeping!"

"But look at Bayern," Robson added. "Even with ten men, they’re creating chances. That’s the sign of a champion team—adapt, adjust, and keep fighting."

[58’]

Hradecky didn’t remain on the ground, jumping up in an instant, racing to the edge of the box. He cocked his arm back like a handball player, causing his muscles to tense. He found his target in an instant, catapulting his arm forward, the tension leaving in stages all the way to the tips of his fingers, guiding it to the left, flanking.

The chphere shot forward, cutting through the air in a parabola, locking onto the area where Rakim was sprinting towards. It looked like it would drop just out for a throw-in at the halfway line, but the winger jumped forward with his left foot stretched into the sky. Flicking the ball back before it could exit the field, he landed and immediately exploded after the ball.

Goretzka, who had been closest to the onset of the counter, had immediately begun his pursuit. Seeing the loose ball, he didn’t hesitate, sliding forward, determined to clear the ball. His studs tore up dirt as he closed in on the ball, but Rakim got a moment earlier, lifting the ball over the outstretched foot.

He vaulted over him, stumbling slightly, but used a hand to brace himself and push back up. "Rakims is through, and the counter is on." The moment he was back upright, he latched back on the ball and immediately charged forward.

As it was a counter, Bayern didn’t have many players back, and with Rakim being a speedy player, he was unstoppable once he saw daylight. Still, his actions to keep the ball in play and get past Goretzka gave Alaba hope of catching up, but he wasn’t young anymore. The Alaba who played as a fullback and the one who plays centre back were completely different players.

One was young, energetic, and agile; the other was more composed, slower, and stronger. So despite hustling back the moment Rakim was through, he turned on the afterburners, charging into the final third. Süle, who suddenly found himself as the last man, charged from the side looking to make a stop.

The German international was experienced and smart—he didn’t dive in; instead, he sidestepped, trying to shepherd Rakim wide. But Rakim didn’t slow down. Instead, he cut from the inside, targeting the defender’s left foot, and dropped a shoulder to cut across from him. He forced a reaction from the defender as his right foot flashed towards the ball.

Boateng, who had been tracking to block the area behind Sülewas also drawn forward but realised a second later he had made a mistake. The winger performed a quick elastico, stabbing the ball past the defender’s left and exploding after it into the box. Neuer tried to rush out, sliding on his knees to make the stop, but the winger dropped his left shoulder trying to fake out the keeper before his right foot connected with the rolling ball.

The strike was velvet soft, the ball leaving his foot with a light spin, flying into the air behind Neuers’ outstretched hand. It curved toward the far right side of the box, unobstructed, despite Davis’s desperate attempt to make a sto. He was too late, and the soft thud of the ball stealing into the back of the net resonated in the almost still stadium, breathing life back into it.

"GOOOAAALLL!" Dereck Rae exclaimed, mirroring the excitement of the few Leverkusen fans travelling. "Rex sniffed out a chance and made it happen in spectacular fashion."

"What a frightening winger, that’s four players he’s left completely helpless to stop him," Ronson added as the visitors celebrated at the corner flag. "The worrying part is the fact that none managed to get close to make a stop, probably worrying about drawing another foul."

[Bayern Munich 1-1 Bayer 04 Leverkusen — Rakim Rex 58’]

On the Bayern bench, Flick stood with his hands on his hips, jaw clenched. He barked something at his assistant, gesturing toward the pitch. The discussion between them looked heated, but they quickly reached a consensus as players on the bench began to move.

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TO BE CONTINUED...