Chapter 89: FA Cup Final [4]
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Second Half
The referee's whistle blew at exactly 4:00 p.m. at Wembley. The match began under bright floodlights, making the field feel like a battlefield. The crowd roared—90,000 strong. Most of them were Chelsea fans, chanting "Chels-ea! Chels-ea!" in waves of blue. In one corner, Crawley's smaller but passionate group shouted back, "Craw-ley! Craw-ley!"
The field was slick with dew and sweat, the air filled with the smell of grass and tension. Max, Crawley's striker and captain, hovered near Chelsea's goal, determined and focused. Thiago sprinted down the right wing, his ribbon flying, full of fight. Luka held the midfield steady, remembering the plan he'd drawn on a napkin. Niels stood on the sidelines, wristband bright red, whispering to Milan, "They're frustrated. Now's our chance."