Charlie Adam's shot was not only powerful but also incredibly precise, aiming for a nearly impossible angle.
Courtois gave it his all, stretching to make the save.
But sadly for Chelsea, no miracle happened this time.
The ball soared past him and into the back of the net.
The score now stood at 3–2.
Coach Mark's tactics were beginning to pay off.
Stoke City had managed to reduce the deficit to just one goal.
After the goal, every Stoke City player erupted in celebration.
The team swarmed around Charlie Adam, cheering and reveling in the beauty of his strike.
With the match restarted, Stoke City's confidence visibly grew.
Their players worked even harder, believing that they could still turn the game around.
From the very first moments after the restart, Stoke City's players pressed Chelsea aggressively across the pitch.
On the sidelines, Coach Mark was animated, directing his players with exuberant gestures.
He demanded relentless pressure on Chelsea's defense, urging his team to seize every opportunity.
It must be said: Stoke City's players displayed remarkable fighting spirit.
In the midst of a physical battle in midfield, they showed no hesitation in their challenges, exhausting every ounce of energy.
Their effort paid off.
Stoke City successfully won possession in midfield, sparking another counterattack.
This time, the ball found its way to midfielder Charlie Adam once more.
Just as he prepared to deliver another dangerous pass, Kante appeared in front of him.
As Chelsea's midfield enforcer, Kante understood the threat posed by Charlie Adam.
He knew that allowing Adam to complete a pass could lead to a clear scoring opportunity for Stoke's forwards.
In this critical moment, Kante executed a perfectly timed sliding tackle, one of the best of the season.
He successfully intercepted Adam's pass, halting the attack.
But Chelsea's relief was short-lived.
Although Kante disrupted the play, the ball deflected straight to Stoke City's other midfielder, Tom Edwards.
Wasting no time, Tom Edwards pushed forward with the ball, quickly advancing it into the front third.
Within seconds, he passed it off to Mame Diouf on the wing.
Mame Diouf's speed was electrifying.
As he sprinted down the flank, he created significant pressure on Chelsea's defense.
Seeing this, Chelsea's head coach Conte grew visibly anxious.
He rushed to the sidelines, shouting orders to his defenders, urging them to close down Diouf as quickly as possible.
At this critical moment, Gary Cahill stepped up.
Although Cahill's physical condition was no longer at its peak due to his age, his defensive experience remained invaluable.
With a single step, Cahill positioned himself in front of Mame Diouf, ready for a physical battle.
Despite his less-than-ideal fitness, Cahill's strength and timing were more than enough to handle the Stoke City forward.
As expected, the moment Cahill engaged Diouf, the latter began to lose balance and control.
Ultimately, Stoke City's attack came to an abrupt halt.
In the minutes that followed, Chelsea gradually regained control of the game.
Their players began dictating the rhythm once more, ensuring that Stoke City had fewer opportunities to threaten their goal.
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