The roars rose and fell again from every direction!
The football was back in play at Selhurst Park!
And very soon—
Right after the second half began, the Norwich players sensed something was off!
Crystal Palace's previously scattered positioning…
Had now become unusually compact!
Their defensive setup was overwhelming.
The entire Crystal Palace team had fallen back—only Vaughan hovered near the halfway line.
Everyone else was defending deep!
Even Kai, who wasn't known for his defensive skills, had joined the defense.
Clad in their red-and-blue striped kits, the Crystal Palace players formed an impenetrable wall in their own half.
A chained defense!
The Norwich players were stunned!
Was this still the Championship—or had they wandered into Serie A?
The dense backline threw Norwich into disarray.
"Parking the bus in the Championship? Disgusting!"
Norwich's manager, Daniel, spat angrily.
But despite his irritation, he wasn't worried.
Crystal Palace were the ones trailing.
And for a team that's behind to park the bus? That's suicide!
"What the hell are you guys doing?? We're the ones behind!!"
"These bastards—do they all have crap for brains?"
"Holloway, I swear I'll kill you!"
The home fans were livid!
Parking the bus at home? Playing with six defenders while still trailing?
What was Holloway thinking?!
Was he declaring war on the home crowd?
Was he deliberately trying to disgust his own supporters?
On the sidelines, Holloway stood rigid, hands in pockets, enduring the wave of boos.
But inside, he was drenched in sweat!
He didn't even dare to imagine the outrage that awaited him after the match.
Yet—on the pitch!
Crystal Palace's increased defensive investment showed immediate results!
Norwich's signature wing attacks?
Neutralized!
In the first half, both of Norwich's goals had come from wing breakthroughs.
Now the flanks were silenced, and their striker Charles was suffering.
Trapped in a dense web of defenders.
He hadn't even touched the ball since the second half began!
"Increasing defenders—Crystal Palace really have smothered Norwich's offense!"
"But they're the ones losing!"
"They're still two goals behind! Even if Norwich don't score again, Palace will be humiliated at home!"
"What's the point of this?"
"Oh no… my God—wait!!"
The commentator suddenly cried out in shock!
On the pitch—
56th minute!
After failing to score for so long, Norwich had pushed their lines dangerously high.
Another fruitless attack—
Charles finally touched the ball, but before he could even line up a shot, Palace's defenders swarmed and blocked him!
Cleared from the back!
The ball soared high—McCarthy headed it toward midfield!
Kai received it on his foot!
He hadn't even turned yet—
But in that instant, as if blessed with a god's-eye view, he spotted the perfect opportunity!
He didn't hesitate.
A half-turn, and—
A long pass!
An unbelievable one!
Norwich's coach froze—Kai hadn't even looked up, and yet he released a perfectly curved pass while facing away from the target!
The ball launched skyward!
It roared past the halfway line, straight toward the final third!
Pirlo's "cruise missile" mode—activated!
The ball traced a golden arc through the night sky over South London!
It cut through the briefly-relaxed Norwich defense like a blade!
And plunged toward the front!
Vaughan took off in a sprint!
That pass—it was like it had locked onto his path with pinpoint precision!
Guided accuracy!
Right place, right time!
Vaughan didn't even have to break stride—he received the ball in full flow!
One-on-one!
The entire stadium held its breath.
One second later—
Whoosh!
The ball slammed into the lower corner of Norwich's goal!
GOAL!!
1–2!!
Crystal Palace had pulled one back in the second half!
They'd actually scored!
"Goal! Goal! Goal!!"
Vaughan roared to the heavens in pure rage and exhilaration!
He sprinted from Norwich's goal all the way back—to Kai's side.
In front of 30,000 fans—
He lifted Kai onto his shoulders!
On the sidelines, Holloway dropped to his knees, yelling uncontrollably!
The pressure finally released!
"That's it! That's it! Smash the damn ball into Norwich's goal!"
"What a beautiful long pass! What an unbelievable chance!"
"He really did it!!"
Next to him, Millen stood watching the players celebrating together on the pitch.
Tears welled up in his eyes!
"Kai! Our genius midfielder! This is the kind of player we've always lacked—someone who can unite the whole team!"
"He's a born leader—Mr. Big Heart! He's only 16! He's going to become a Crystal Palace legend!!"