[Ho-young's thunderous mid-range strike slices through the goal. Liverpool's solid defensive shield, once praised for its organization, has finally been broken by Real Madrid's overwhelming attacking power.]
[Once again, Ho-young delivers. That goal marks his sixth in the Champions League. He's now only two behind Lionel Messi, who has eight.]
Across the league, he was now tied for second place alongside Didier Drogba.
Within the team, he was leading the scoring chart.
However, Messi's performance had been so exceptional that most experts agreed it would be nearly impossible to overtake him.
But Ho-young didn't care about experts or their opinions.
'Victory comes first.'
Personal stats were important, but the team's results mattered more.
That was why he had no issue with Real Madrid taking a more defensive stance after scoring the opening goal.
As tempting as it was to go for more, it was wiser to conserve energy and focus on defending at this point.
The aggregate score was 4-1.
It was a highly favorable position, but there was no room for complacency.
'This is Anfield, after all.'
Anfield was just as unique and mystifying as the Bernabéu.
Especially when Liverpool played at Anfield, their fighting spirit surged.
In fact, Liverpool hadn't lost a single match at Anfield this year.
There was even a match where they came back from a 0-2 deficit to win 5-2.
If there was anything Real Madrid needed to be wary of, that was it.
[Real Madrid has gone into extreme defense, looking to secure the win.]
[We're past the 55th minute of the second half. It seems too late for a comeback. Even Liverpool, who once staged the 'Miracle of Istanbul' by overturning a Champions League final against AC Milan four years ago, seems out of time now.]
[Indeed. Real Madrid remains focused and doesn't let their guard down.]
It wasn't about time anymore, it was about ability.
Real Madrid wasn't defending because they couldn't attack.
They were defending because they didn't need to attack. If necessary, they could switch to offense at any moment.
They were prepared for every possible scenario.
[It feels just like the first leg at the Bernabéu, but the roles are reversed. Now Liverpool is knocking on Madrid's goal.]
[That's right. But if there's a difference, it's that Real Madrid had been sharp and creative, while Liverpool isn't managing the same.]
That was Benítez's biggest flaw.
He stubbornly stuck to his tactics.
His inconsistent squad management and baffling substitutions were being fully exposed today.
65 minutes into the second half.
Real Madrid had dropped into a five-back formation, pulling even their forwards into the defensive zone.
There were now 20 players packed into Madrid's half.
There was no way Liverpool's counterattacks, relying on exploiting space, could work.
Benítez tried his best, combining coordinated switching play and mid-range shots to break through, but Madrid wasn't passive either.
[Even Mascherano pushes up to the second line, doing his best. He dribbles outside the box, looking for a shooting angle.]
[He lays it off to Gerrard!]
[Gerrard, mid-range shot!]
As expected from a master of mid-range strikes.
Gerrard fired a threatening shot the moment he saw a brief opening.
But someone was standing firmly in the way.
Thud!
[Ho-young blocks it with his body! He throws himself to block Gerrard's shot with his side!]
[A split-second delay, and it would've been a goal. Reacting instantly was a game-changer.]
[Ho-young's defensive contributions shine again today. Is there another player this versatile in the world? Even Steven Gerrard has to take a step back in front of him.]
Perfect defensive positioning.
Superb anticipation.
That alone made Ho-young an asset in defense.
"Well done!"
Ramos ran up to him and gave him a powerful high-five.
"You okay?"
"It hurts a little, but I'm fine."
"Getting hit by Gerrard's shot, it's supposed to hurt. As long as there's no bleeding, you're good. Just hang on a little longer. They're already exhausted."
Ramos was right.
Liverpool, having burned through much of their energy in the first half, were visibly losing steam.
In contrast, Real Madrid's defense was running on momentum, showing a level of organization far superior to their previous matches.
Yet there was one man who refused to give up.
Steven Gerrard.
'We can do it. We can. We still can.'
Liverpool had already fallen behind in the Premier League race due to recent poor form.
Falling out of the Champions League on top of that was unthinkable.
His relentless efforts finally bore fruit in the 88th minute.
Thud!
[Gerrard and Torres finally connect!]
[But it's already too late. Even with generous stoppage time, 4 minutes is all that's left. Liverpool needs at least two more goals to complete a comeback.]
Liverpool's late goal didn't lead to a miracle.
The match ended without further changes.
The aggregate score was 4-2, with Real Madrid advancing.
And then.
"Fuck!"
"No way. This has to be a dream…"
Anfield was engulfed in despair.
At that moment, Ho-young successfully acquired the talent Sculpted Looks (A+) from Torres.
[Exclusive Trait Acquired: Sculpted Looks (S-)↑]
A face that stood out above all.
It was a highly satisfying outcome.
Even if he somehow failed as a footballer, starving would never be a concern.
Ten days later, on March 20, in the small Swiss town of Nyon, the quarterfinal draw took place.
<2008–2009 UEFA Champions League Quarterfinal Draw>
Their next opponent, FC Porto, was considered the weakest of the remaining eight teams.
Unless there was a major upset, the path to the semifinals looked smooth.
Reaching the semifinals would already fulfill their minimum objective.
March had been full of good fortune.
Coach Schuster could now afford to plan the schedule with more flexibility, focusing entirely on La Liga until the next Champions League fixture.
La Liga in April was heating up like the weather.
With the Champions League, Europa League, and relegation battles intensifying, each segment of the table was fiercely contested.
The top two were no exception.
Since late last year, Barcelona and Real Madrid had been battling fiercely for the top spot.
But the tides had turned.
Barcelona maintained a perfect record since the end of February, while Madrid was held to a draw at home against Atlético Madrid, falling two points behind in the title race.
Their shaky defense was to blame.
Cannavaro had returned from injury as a reliable reinforcement, but his poor condition prevented him from being the defensive anchor he once was.
Fortunately, Pepe's return to La Liga after a 10-match suspension brought some much-needed stability.
Regardless, the title race would ultimately be decided on May 2 during El Clásico.
The first leg of the Champions League quarterfinal was held on April 8 at the Santiago Bernabéu.
The opponent was FC Porto, who had defeated Atlético Madrid.
Though once Champions League winners under José Mourinho five years ago, they were now just one of Europe's respectable sides.
From the opening whistle, the match exploded with intensity.
Real Madrid, in top form, launched a relentless offensive under the roar of their home crowd.
In the first half alone, Raúl González scored twice.
In the second half, substitute Gonzalo Higuaín sealed the win with a goal of his own.
Towards the end, key players were brought off for rest.
Ho-young, who started as an attacking midfielder, recorded 1 assist and 5 key passes, earning the second-highest rating on the team.
The second leg was scheduled for April 15 at Estádio do Dragão.
With a 3-0 win in the first leg, Madrid rotated their squad heavily, fielding their Dutch contingent to give core players a break ahead of the remaining league matches.
Porto fought fiercely, but Madrid shut them down defensively, ending the match in a dull 1-1 draw.
With a 4-1 aggregate, Real Madrid advanced to the semifinals.
[It's been seven years. For the first time in seven years, Real Madrid has made it past the quarterfinals into the semifinals!]
[They've finally achieved one of their long-standing goals. But the real battle begins now. Only the giants remain.]
There would be no more easy matches.
Whoever the opponent, they were all considered title contenders.
The semifinal draw was held immediately after the quarterfinals concluded.
Real Madrid's semifinal date was set for Tuesday, April 28.
<2008–2009 UEFA Champions League Semifinal Draw>
Many hailed the Barcelona vs Manchester United matchup as the true final, excited at the prospect of seeing Cristiano Ronaldo face off against Lionel Messi.
Meanwhile, fans of Real Madrid and Inter shared a similar sentiment.
To sum up the matchup in one line:
[Italy's Best, Inter vs Spain's Best, Real Madrid. A clash of two sides desperate for Champions League glory.]
Both teams were dominant in their domestic leagues, but both had struggled historically in the Champions League.
That made this year's semifinal clash all the more anticipated.
In terms of firepower, some argued that Inter had the upper hand with their 'Adeltan' duo, Zlatan and Adriano.
Others believed Madrid's 'Jiu Line' was far superior.
In truth, the Zlatan-Adriano combo hadn't been particularly threatening this season.
But the real danger lay in the potential for their synergy to explode at any moment.
At that time, in Milan, Italy.
The Inter headquarters was split in opinion.
Some believed it was better than facing Ronaldo's United or Messi's Barcelona.
Others felt Ho-young's Real Madrid posed a greater threat.
"In any case, one thing's clear. They're not an easy opponent. Real Madrid has always been a perennial title contender."
"Exactly."
"So tell me, are you confident?"
Massimo Moratti, Inter's chairman and owner, turned to his manager.
The Inter coach, with striking silver hair, responded with steely eyes.
"This season, Inter will lift the Big Ears."
In other words, they would win the Champions League.
The Special One.
José Mourinho spoke with firm conviction.
(To be continued.)
◇◇◇
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