Chapter 509: Eyes Only for Victory!
Bruno didn't pass the ball to Mbappe; instead, he used his heel to flick the ball back to Harry Kane, who was retreating to support him. Then Bruno sprinted towards the penalty area.
Fabregas went to press Kane, planning to team up with Azpilicueta to trap and steal the ball, while Matic went to intercept Bruno. Such an obvious one-two play couldn't be allowed to succeed.
Kane indeed passed the ball to Bruno.
Matic was ready to tackle, but as he followed the ball with his eyes, he saw the white line beneath his feet. Bruno and the ball were both inside the penalty area. If he tackled and Bruno fell, it would be a penalty!
With this in mind, Matic didn't attempt to steal the ball but instead leaned into Bruno. He intended to disrupt Bruno, making it difficult for him to shoot or pass accurately.
He put all his weight into Bruno, which was a risky defensive move because it left him off balance. If Bruno made any unexpected move, Matic would be helpless.
Bruno didn't make any unexpected moves; he was indeed planning to pass. With Matic leaning on him, Bruno's steps were unsteady, his balance slightly forward, but the ball was behind him.
From this angle, Matic's defense seemed successful.
Yet, Bruno, in such a difficult position, quickly flicked the ball with his right foot to the left side of the goal!
"Bruno! Pass! Rashford!!!"
...
Bruno's pass was so unexpected and fast that Rashford wasn't prepared. He had assumed Bruno would shoot. When he saw the ball coming, he rushed to shoot but could only attempt a sliding shot. The ball hit his toe and went wide.
"What a pity! Manchester United had such good chances, but neither Mbappe nor Rashford capitalized!"
Seeing this, Mourinho on the sidelines jumped up and held his head in disbelief, feeling the missed opportunity keenly. Conte, on the other hand, was furious, yelling at his players on the field.
He thought his defense was well-organized, but Bruno, in such a tight spot, still managed to deliver a deadly pass. Bruno's knack for stepping up in crucial moments was admirable, though it frustrated Conte now.
By positioning himself closer to the penalty area and the goal, Bruno made it hard even to foul him without risking a penalty or a very dangerous free kick.
Knowing Bruno was one of the best free-kick takers in the world made fouling him even riskier. Besides Bruno, Harry Kane and Rashford were also competent free-kick takers.
Bruno's step forward was a small but significant move, potentially a big step towards Manchester United's victory in the match.
...
Delivering the ball to dangerous areas twice in a row boosted Bruno's confidence. It showed Chelsea's defense wasn't impenetrable, despite appearances. Another advantage for Bruno was that Chelsea players, wary of his passes, might focus on that rather than his shooting.
A player capable of both passing and shooting is challenging to defend against.
United's attack intensified. It was the 75th minute, and they needed a goal in the remaining fifteen minutes to avoid their first defeat of the season.
Bruno aimed for more than a draw; he wanted a victory. A win against a powerhouse like Chelsea would be a significant morale boost for the entire team.
In the 77th minute, United launched another attack, with Chelsea's defense ready.
Facing Chelsea's tight defense, Bruno, who had made some sharp passes, saw that Chelsea had raised their guard and slightly expanded their defensive zone to keep him from getting too close to the penalty area.
As Bruno approached the edge of the penalty area, about six or seven meters away, Lukaku rushed to defend him.
Bruno didn't hold onto the ball but passed it to Rashford nearby. Rashford, closely marked, didn't pass back to Bruno but to Kante behind them.
As mentioned before, wherever Bruno was, Kante was right behind him.
Kante, receiving the ball, sent a direct pass not to Bruno but to Rashford, who had moved back to support.
United's attack seemed to pivot away from Bruno.
But Rashford's back-pass quickly dispelled any doubts, as he used the outside of his foot to pass the ball to Bruno, who had moved up to the edge of the penalty area.
With Marcos Alonso in front of him and Azpilicueta not immediately closing in, as he was marking Harry Kane, Bruno found himself with an opportunity. He dribbled forward, making a motion as if to shoot with his left foot but suddenly switched to his right, creating space and shooting immediately.
Alonso reacted quickly, trying to block, but Bruno's shot took a slight deflection off Alonso's foot, altering its course slightly.
The ball flew past Courtois' fingertips and headed for the far post.
...
Courtois, as a goalkeeper, couldn't take his eyes off the ball. Alonso, after attempting to block, also watched the ball's trajectory.
Other Chelsea players, too, focused solely on the ball, neglecting the United players around them.
The commentator elongated his call: "Bruno... shoots!"
The ball struck the inside of the far post and fell just inside the goal line...
"Goal!!!"
Courtois fell to the ground, punching the turf in frustration. Alonso stood in shock, eyes wide in disbelief and despair.
"1-1! Manchester United equalizes!"
"Bruno's goal! His 18th in the Premier League this season! And against a strong team like Chelsea!"
"A brilliant setup, a brilliant goal! Bruno's performance is sensational!"
"Oh, Bruno! He pulled Manchester United back from the brink and pushed Chelsea off the cliff!"
...
United players rushed towards Bruno to celebrate, but Bruno, instead, grabbed the ball from the net and sprinted towards the center circle.
Seeing their teammate's determination, they rallied behind him. "The match isn't over; we need to win!" Bruno's gestures and shouts motivated them.
In the 77th minute, with Bruno's goal, United equalized.
This draw kept United's unbeaten streak in the league and all competitions intact and allowed them to stay atop the Premier League standings based on goal difference over Manchester City.
For Chelsea, the situation was dire. Falling behind by 11 points from the leaders with less than a third of the season played meant they were practically out of the title race.
Especially with both Manchester teams in top form, Chelsea couldn't afford any more slip-ups.
Conte, realizing the urgency, left his seat to instruct his players to press forward and attack. Though attacking might expose them to United's counter-attacks, not attacking meant certain defeat.
...
As TV replays of the goal continued, the match resumed.
Bruno quickly placed the ball at the center circle, eager to continue. Chelsea, sensing their urgency, quickly restarted the game.
Both teams were now racing against time.
Some observers were puzzled by United's urgency; they could have played for a draw, securing a point away at Stamford Bridge.
However, others saw this as a sign of United's ambition—they didn't want to share the top spot with City; they wanted to be sole leaders.
In reality, Bruno's quick restart wasn't Mourinho's directive but his own decision. Even Mourinho was slightly taken aback by Bruno's determination.
Mourinho soon understood; Bruno wanted to beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, especially after the humiliating 2-5 defeat there last season.
Conte didn't understand why United was in such a hurry but welcomed it, as Chelsea desperately needed more time.
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