Chapter 466: Should We Give It a Try?
The fifteen-minute halftime break passed quickly, and both teams returned to the field.
The Portuguese players had agreed to maintain an attacking mindset in the second half. As soon as the game resumed, they utilized their possession to push towards the opposing goal.
After a series of passes, the ball found its way to Bruno's feet. Instead of passing further in, as the Mexican defense was still solid early in the half, he opted for a long-range shot. It was a quality shot, on target, but the Mexican goalkeeper Ochoa made a great save to keep it out.
As Bruno had mentioned during halftime, Mexico's strategy for the second half was straightforward: attack.
After defending against this corner, they launched a fierce assault on Portugal's goal, aiming to score within the first five minutes of the half. Typically, the first five minutes of a half and the last five minutes of a game are the most likely periods for goals, as teams often lack full concentration during these times.
Mexico hoped to capitalize on this period to catch Portugal off guard. Bruno's earlier long-range shot, they believed, indicated a lack of unified strategy within the Portuguese team, suggesting some players were not fully focused.
In football, disunity and differing mindsets among players can lead to breakdowns in both offense and defense, making conceding goals more likely. Thus, Bruno's shot, instead of being a wake-up call for Mexico, was seen as an opportunity, and they pressed forward aggressively, seeking to score the go-ahead goal within the first five minutes of the half.
...
"Chicharito shoots—Patricio! A brilliant save! In these few minutes, Portugal looks a bit shaky, with Patricio being their standout performer. Portugal excels at attacking, and Santos' team should be using proactive offense to win," the Portuguese commentator criticized Portugal's passive play, expressing dissatisfaction.
In his mind, Portugal was a team that constantly attacked, seeking goals from the first to the last minute. This passive, defensive Portugal was unfamiliar and disappointing.
Meanwhile, Bruno was using these minutes to observe the changing dynamics on the field and analyze the likely developments. He noticed that his initial shot hadn't alarmed the Mexican players; instead, they felt more confident, pushing forward with their full-backs frequently joining the attack. Salcedo was somewhat restrained, but Layún was almost playing as a winger, staying forward to support continuous attacks.
This left many gaps in their defense!
...
In the 48th minute, Patricio securely caught Raul Jimenez's header. Remembering their halftime strategy to score early, he quickly got up and scanned forward. He spotted Bruno retreating while running forward, and their eyes met, understanding each other's intent.
Patricio didn't hesitate, throwing the ball forward. Bruno turned, facing the attacking direction, and controlled the ball perfectly. Without stopping to assess the situation, he charged forward with the ball.
"Bruno's on the move again! Portugal is launching an attack!"
Salcedo and Dos Santos positioned themselves defensively, with Salcedo in front and Dos Santos chasing from the side. Additionally, Mexico's center-backs Moreno and Reyes were still in position, making a solo effort difficult for Bruno.
Recognizing this, the Mexican players paid more attention to the wings, expecting a repeat of the first half's play where Bruno drew them in centrally before passing wide.
Salcedo glanced to the side to check the wing position, and in that split second, Bruno accelerated, pushing the ball forward and sprinting past Salcedo.
By the time Salcedo reacted, it was too late. He turned to see Bruno's back as he sped away.
"Stop him!" he shouted.
Dos Santos charged in, knocking Bruno down as he carried the ball forward.
The referee's whistle blew.
Mexico had fouled, giving Portugal a free kick from 38 meters out. Salcedo felt relieved, but Dos Santos received a yellow card for the foul, meaning he had to be cautious for the rest of the match.
Portuguese players were unhappy with just a yellow card, feeling Dos Santos deserved a red and to be sent off. They protested briefly, but the referee ignored them, urging them to take the free kick.
...
At 38 meters, it wasn't an ideal distance for a direct shot. Bruno, Ronaldo, and Nani stood over the ball, discussing their options.
"It's too far for a direct shot... I don't think I can score from here," Ronaldo admitted.
Known for his knuckleball free kicks, Ronaldo preferred distances around 20 to 30 meters. But 38 meters was almost 40, and from there, the goal seemed small, surrounded by defenders.
Even in his prime, hitting a powerful, accurate free kick from this distance was challenging. At 32, Ronaldo felt the difficulty even more.
Nani agreed, suggesting they reorganize their attack instead of shooting directly. But Bruno thought differently. Despite the distance, it was directly in front of the goal, offering a wide angle for a shot.
More importantly, Mexico's defensive wall was sparse, with only two players. They clearly didn't expect a direct shot from such a distance, underestimating its potential threat.
Bruno had scored from similar distances twice in the past year, giving him confidence.
"Should we give it a try?" he suggested quietly.
Ronaldo and Nani looked at the distance again but shook their heads.
Ronaldo said, "It's too difficult."
"I'll give it a shot," Bruno insisted.
"You?" They were surprised.
Bruno pointed to the flimsy two-man wall. "It's only 30-something meters."
They grinned at his casual dismissal of the distance as insignificant.
Seeing Bruno's determination, they agreed without argument. After all, Bruno had won the free kick himself.
"Nani, you go forward. Chris, you stay here to distract them," Bruno directed.
"Got it," they both agreed.
Nani moved forward, while Ronaldo stayed to feign taking the free kick.
...
"From 38 meters... Are they really going to shoot?" the Portuguese commentator wondered, seeing Ronaldo's stance.
"It's possible," the co-commentator replied. "Ronaldo has scored from around 40 meters before. A long-range free kick has an element of surprise because the defense doesn't expect a shot from there. If well-executed..."
Before he could finish, Bruno, standing far back, started his long run-up, about ten meters.
Mexico didn't anticipate a shot from this distance. Positioned almost at the midfield, few players would attempt a direct strike. Thus, their wall was merely symbolic, not intended to block a serious attempt.
As Bruno sprinted towards the ball, Ronaldo made no move. With full momentum, Bruno swung his right leg and struck the ball powerfully.
(End of Chapter)
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