Chapter 72: In the Extra Time (Semi-final: Part-III)
Sunday, April 18, 2010
FA Cup Semifinal: Crawley Town vs. Aston Villa
Extra Time:
The final whistle had blown, but the game was far from over extra time had begun. Under Wembley's bright floodlights, the worn-out pitch told the story of a hard-fought match, scarred by tackles and torn-up turf.
On one side of the stadium, 35,000 Aston Villa fans roared in unison, "Villa! Villa!" Their voices thundered through the stands, shaking the concrete. But the 5,000 Crawley supporters weren't backing down.
They rose to their feet, chanting back, "Red Devils!" Their anthem, "Reds to Glory, Wembley's Story!", echoed like a heartbeat in the cool evening air.
In the 92nd minute, Gabriel Agbonlahor broke free and let loose a powerful shot.
The crowd held its breath as the ball screamed just inches past the post.
Liam McCulloch was right on him his presence, his focus, like steel, may have been the difference.
