"Referee, I think you'd better come and check on my teammate!" Terry shouted as he ran over.
The referee hesitated for a moment, listening to the deafening boos from New Manchester United's travelling supporters, before walking toward the near post.
Almunia's nose was bleeding where the Reading striker's boot had caught him across the face, leaving a clear red mark.
His hand had also been stamped on and was bleeding.
"Is this how you make decisions?" Terry roared.
"Isn't this obvious enough? My teammate has been injured like this, and you think he's the one who committed the foul? How can that possibly be a penalty?"
The referee stared blankly as Almunia was placed on a stretcher and carried away.
His gaze remained fixed on the injured goalkeeper, and he appeared lost in thought.
"I'm very sorry. I hope his injury isn't serious," the referee said indifferently before walking away.
Terry shook his head in disappointment.
Of course, he knew Almunia's injuries were unlikely to be serious. A few days of rest and treatment should be enough.
But that was not the point.
The referee had already sent off one New Manchester United player and awarded Reading two penalties in the first half.
Were they even being allowed to play the match?
"John!" Cassell called from the touchline.
He repeatedly gestured for the captain to calm down and instructed him to warn his teammates to remain composed and avoid doing anything reckless.
In the stands, Ethan clenched his fists and gritted his teeth.
He turned toward Walsh beside him.
"Andy, get the match footage afterward. Edit every incident together and prepare the most complete report possible.
"I'm sending it to the FA. I want this referee held accountable for every decision he's made!"
Walsh's eyes were also red with anger.
He nodded firmly.
...
Almunia's injuries were not serious, but his hand had been sprained, making it impossible for him to continue.
Cassell had no choice but to bring on New Manchester United's only substitute goalkeeper, Petr Čech.
This would be Čech's first competitive appearance for New Manchester United that season.
With Schmeichel's help, he pulled on the gloves Umbro's designers had custom-made specifically for him and Almunia.
"Petr, don't be nervous. Relax. It's only a penalty," Schmeichel said.
He felt Čech had been incredibly unlucky.
The youngster had not played a single competitive minute all season, and now his first appearance had come in such circumstances.
Schmeichel could not help feeling sorry for him.
"I understand, sir," Čech replied.
He took a deep breath and looked across the crowd.
Before long, he spotted Ethan in the stands.
Ethan was already looking at him and raised a thumb as though saying, You can do this.
Čech smiled and nodded.
The anxiety inside him immediately began to fade.
"The penalty will probably be taken by their number nine," Villas-Boas said as he hurried over and spoke quietly beside him.
"He's taken five penalties over the past two seasons, and every one has gone down the middle.
"He always uses a few feints before striking the ball, so don't let him fool you."
Čech nodded, took another deep breath, and slowly walked onto the pitch.
Behind him, Schmeichel and Villas-Boas both looked worried.
Knowing the taker's habits was one thing. Saving the penalty still depended on the goalkeeper's reaction under pressure.
Čech was young and inexperienced, and both men feared the occasion might overwhelm him.
"Good lad!" De Rossi said, embracing Čech as he came on.
"Come on!"
"Don't be nervous, Petr!"
One teammate after another encouraged him as he passed.
At Ethan's urging, the travelling New Manchester United supporters suddenly began improvising a Čech Song to lift his spirits.
Čech reached the goal, looked up at the crossbar, then glanced from side to side.
He bent his knees and clapped his gloved hands together firmly.
Reading's number nine stepped forward to take the penalty.
He was also the player responsible for injuring Almunia.
The striker stood over the ball with a relaxed expression.
He had scored all three of his penalties that season, deceiving every goalkeeper he had faced.
He believed this inexperienced substitute would be no different.
He took several steps back, then suddenly accelerated.
As he approached the ball, he made several subtle feints, trying to convince Čech that he would shoot toward one side.
Čech did not move.
He watched only the ball.
Then he stepped forward, dropped sharply, and blocked the penalty struck down the middle.
"Heavens! Oh, my word, he's saved it!" Scarlett shouted.
"Čech has saved the penalty!"
New Manchester United's travelling supporters erupted into their loudest cheers of the match.
At that moment, every Red Rebels supporter watching on television or listening on the radio must have celebrated just as wildly.
Čech had delivered.
He had saved Reading's penalty.
The moment he hit the ground, Čech sprang back to his feet like a cat.
He grabbed the ball in one hand and launched it powerfully upfield.
Only then did Reading's players realise they needed to recover defensively.
Drogba held off the defender behind him, controlled the ball with his chest, and laid it off to Senna.
Senna passed back to Essien, who immediately moved it on to De Rossi without taking a touch.
De Rossi lifted his head and sent a long pass forward.
Hleb burst through Reading's defence like a flash of lightning.
At the edge of the penalty area, he brought the ball under control, turned smoothly, rounded the onrushing goalkeeper, and rolled it into the empty net.
1-1!
Hleb spread his arms and ran wildly from Reading's half back toward his own.
When he reached the section containing New Manchester United's supporters, he dropped to his knees, raised both arms, and looked toward the sky as though praying.
The away end erupted like a volcano.
The supporters gave the Belarusian the loudest and most passionate reception imaginable.
Terry immediately turned and sprinted toward Čech.
"You little..."
He was so excited that he could barely speak.
"Čech saves the penalty, immediately launches the counterattack, and De Rossi assists Hleb for the equaliser," Scarlett said excitedly.
"What an astonishing turnaround."
Without even realising it, she had already become a devoted New Manchester United supporter.
"That was extraordinary determination," Martin Tyler replied.
"This team is unbelievably resilient.
"Even under such difficult circumstances, they never stopped looking for an opportunity to counterattack.
"They've been magnificent."
On the touchline, Cassell could not stop laughing as he embraced each member of the coaching staff behind him.
In the stands, Ethan sprang to his feet and celebrated alongside the jubilant supporters.
He knew Čech had announced himself.
The young goalkeeper had made a decisive contribution.
There was little time left in the first half, and play ended shortly after New Manchester United equalised.
Reading failed to create another meaningful attack before the whistle.
...
When the New Manchester United players entered the dressing room, Mourinho was waiting for them.
He looked around and saw that their spirits were high.
Clearly, equalising with ten men had filled them with confidence.
"Reading will attack with everything they have in the second half," Mourinho began.
"We have no choice except to defend and counterattack.
"So from the moment the second half begins, remember one thing.
"Defend.
"Defend with everything you have."
After a pause, Mourinho pointed toward the dressing-room door.
"The Reading players across the corridor must believe they have every possible advantage.
"They're at home, the referee is helping them, and they have an extra man.
"I can't think of any circumstances more favourable than that.
"So they expect to win. They believe they have to win."
"What about us?" Mourinho asked, pointing toward himself.
"We don't carry the same burden.
"A draw would be acceptable under these circumstances.
"But I don't believe any of you are satisfied with a draw, are you?"
"No!" the players answered together.
"Good. That's exactly right.
"In the second half, we're going to tell Reading something.
"You have home advantage. You have the referee's help. You have an extra man.
"So what?
"We are the Red Rebels, and we do not surrender.
"If you couldn't break us in the first half, you won't break us in the second!"
Mourinho spoke with fierce intensity.
He was still filled with anger and desperately needed somewhere to direct it.
"In the second half, I want a layered defensive structure.
"Abidal and Kolo Touré will drop closer to the penalty area, but that doesn't mean we're abandoning the flanks.
"Malouda, Hleb, the two of you will operate as wing-backs. Can you do it?"
Both players nodded.
"Terry will stay slightly deeper, allowing Abidal and Touré to step forward when necessary.
"That will give us greater depth in central defence.
"At the same time, De Rossi, Essien, and Senna will be better positioned to protect both sides."
"We defend first.
"If we can't score, then Reading won't score either.
"If we can hold them out for thirty minutes and let them attack us relentlessly for half an hour, they will make mistakes during the final fifteen."
"Believe me.
"If we survive those thirty minutes, they will make a mistake.
"They definitely will.
"And when they do, that will be our chance."
Mourinho then drew New Manchester United's defensive structure on the tactics board.
His most important instruction was to avoid unnecessary fouls, especially within 35 metres of their own goal.
He was not particularly worried about Reading's attacking play from open positions.
Set pieces were the real danger.
He also assigned each player a specific defensive responsibility.
Mourinho believed that if everyone completed his task, Reading would not score, no matter how fierce their pressure appeared.
Finally, he walked over to Čech.
Mourinho could ask nothing more from the young Czech.
He simply embraced him tightly and patted him on the shoulder.
"Well done, Petr.
"In the second half, do exactly what you did before.
"Treat it like a training match. It's nothing to be afraid of.
"Don't place pressure on yourself, understood?"
Čech nodded, his gaze firm.
"Don't worry, sir. I won't let them score again."
He remembered Ethan's words.
This was the opportunity he had been waiting for, and he had to seize it.
Otherwise, he had no idea when another chance might come.
He refused to remain on the bench forever, waiting helplessly.
He hated that feeling.
Mourinho nodded approvingly.
"Good. I'll be watching you from the stands."
As he spoke, he gave Čech a meaningful look.
(To be continued.)
◇◇◇
◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 200 Power Stones.
◇ You can read the ahead chapter on Pat if you're interested: p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves (Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)