Chapter 467: Attack!
Bruno put tremendous power into his kick, leaping into the air as if he was flying forward with the ball. The ball zoomed past the Mexican wall in less than half a second, brushing the players' hair as it flew by. Only then did the two Mexican players realize that Portugal was indeed going for a direct shot.
As Bruno shot, the Portuguese commentator stretched his voice, shouting, "Shot—!"
The ball flew straight and fast, heading directly for Ochoa's goal. Ochoa barely had time to react; the ball was already in front of him before his brain could command his body to make a save. It was too late.
The ball barely spun, whipping through the air and shaking just slightly, making it difficult to judge. By the time Ochoa moved, the ball was already over the goal line. When he fully extended his body for the save, the ball had already hit the net, akin to a cannonball breaching a wall. Ochoa fell dejectedly to the ground.
Realizing he hadn't touched the ball during the save, Ochoa knew he had failed. From the moment he underestimated Portugal's intent to shoot from such a distance, he had already lost.
...
Cristiano Ronaldo stood where the ball had been, motionless, his mouth slowly dropping open in astonishment. As an expert free-kick taker, Ronaldo understood the difficulty of that shot better than anyone. He wouldn't have relinquished the chance to take it if he had been confident. But Bruno had nailed it, delivering a stunning goal.
"GOOOOOOOOOOLOOOOOOOOOO!" the Portuguese commentator yelled, "It's a goal! What a beautiful direct free kick! Unbelievable! Thirty-eight meters! Bruno really did it! Portugal leads Mexico 2-1 again!"
Kazán Arena fell silent briefly. Both Mexican and Portuguese fans were stunned. When they realized what had happened, the Portuguese fans erupted in cheers while the Mexican fans groaned and held their heads in disbelief.
On the stands, Portuguese fans hugged each other, celebrating the goal that reignited their hopes for victory and the championship. Over the years, these fans had experienced many moments of joy with the team, especially last summer when Portugal won the European Championship. Those celebrations were still fresh in their minds, and now they might celebrate a Confederations Cup victory.
Although the Confederations Cup didn't have the same prestige as the European Championship, it was still a significant international tournament.
...
After scoring, Bruno ran towards the stands packed with Portuguese fans, waving his arms to amplify their cheers. As his teammates rushed over to embrace him, the fans' cheers grew even louder. Ronaldo and Nani, initially left out of the celebratory huddle, looked at each other, still processing their surprise.
"He really did it?" Ronaldo asked.
"He really did it!" Nani confirmed.
While the Portuguese players celebrated their second lead, Mexico's coach Osorio was furious on the sidelines.
"What were they thinking?! A two-man wall, and they weren't even standing together! Everyone lost focus! Completely unfocused!"
Osorio had been right that the first five minutes after halftime were prime for scoring. However, it wasn't his team that scored but the opponents.
Ochoa stood in front of his goal, looking helpless. The shot had been perfect, leaving him powerless. The team's overall defensive error led to this moment.
On the field, Mexico's captain Guardado shouted to his teammates, "Keep your spirits up! We can still equalize!"
But Bruno's powerful strike seemed to have left the Mexican players dazed, making it hard for them to respond to their captain's calls.
...
On the Portuguese bench, joy overflowed as everyone hugged to celebrate Bruno's goal. This strike served as a reassurance, calming any lingering nerves. More importantly, Santos saw that the team was in good shape and capable of scoring, a crucial factor for victory.
As long as Portugal maintained their ability and form to score, they feared no one, even if they faced France.
The Portuguese players' celebration was so enthusiastic that the referee had to intervene.
"Alright, gentlemen! Back to the game, the match isn't over yet!" the referee, with assistance from the coaching staff, urged the players back onto the field.
"Okay, okay, referee, we're going," Bruno responded, then gathered his teammates around him.
"Leading by one goal isn't enough, guys. Mexico is strong and capable of scoring. We must quickly establish an unassailable lead and remove any suspense from the match."
"What do you suggest, Bruno?" The team had grown to respect Bruno's insights, often considering him on par with their captain, Ronaldo.
"Attack! We must keep attacking and scoring. Only by increasing our lead can we feel secure."
"No problem! Attacking is our strength!" Nani shouted enthusiastically.
The referee approached again, urging them to restart the game.
"Alright, we're done. Thank you, sir!" Bruno assured him, signaling his teammates to spread out.
...
"Attack!"
"Score!"
Returning to the field, the Portuguese players clenched their fists, chanting. Every player had one thought: attack, score, end the game early, and enjoy the victory!
After the restart, Mexico aimed to equalize quickly, but Portugal's relentless attack overwhelmed their efforts. Mexico had considered that Portugal might have a surge in momentum after scoring but didn't anticipate such an intense onslaught.
Raúl Jiménez had just taken a shot, which Patricio saved. While Jiménez was still lamenting his missed opportunity, Patricio had already thrown the ball forward. Nani received it and passed to Bruno, who carried it forward, spotting an opening and threading it through the defense. Quaresma collected the pass, broke into the box, and shot narrowly wide, causing the Mexican players and fans to break out in a cold sweat.
This attack took less than ten seconds, exemplifying the typical Portuguese style: not defensive counterattacks, but rapid, forward-moving football.
...
Bruno had gradually adapted to this style over two years. While controlling the pace was essential, context mattered. Rapid forward play didn't mean sacrificing ball control.
The main difference between Portugal and Manchester United's style was that United often controlled the pace, waiting for defensive lapses, while Portugal continuously pressured the opposition, creating and exploiting defensive gaps aggressively.
Adjusting to this demanding style took Bruno two years, but he was now excelling at it. Under Portugal's fierce onslaught, Mexico's attack lost its edge, forcing them to fall back into a defensive stance, hoping for Portuguese mistakes during their relentless offense.
With Portuguese fans' songs echoing around the stadium, Portugal launched wave after wave of attacks against Mexico.
This match was indeed a clash between the strongest spear and shield, with Portugal's spear currently outperforming Mexico's shield. Portugal had scored twice and created numerous chances, while Mexico, faced with Portugal's unyielding spirit, struggled to maintain their defense.
(End of Chapter)
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