117.
[Complete win against ‘formidable enemy’ Manchester United. How long will Stoke City’s favorable performance continue? ]
[Sporting CP and Stoke City ahead of the second leg of the group stage. Fans focused on the first away match of the Champions League. ]
The league match against Manchester United ended in Stoke City’s complete victory.
And a few days later, Lisbon, Portugal.
Sporting CP’s home stadium, Estádio José Alvalade.
“KK! go up!”
“Move to Brian the Center!”
The second leg of the Champions League group stage was in progress here.
A match against a traditional European powerhouse. Expedition as well.
There is no such team among the teams participating in the Champions League, but this season was a meaningful match in many ways for Stoke City, the first advancing team.
‘Why?’
Hue the great ducks army admiral is coming for u all
Nevertheless, Jamie’s mind was full of other thoughts.
‘It’s not anyone else, why Robin?’
To be precise, it was full of worries about Robin.
Robin was the only sane person along with captain Oliver in the Stoke City squad, the den of lunatics. A person who plays the role of pointing out the truth even from a normal point of view in a situation where words and actions outside common sense are breathing naturally in all directions.
That’s why he looked visibly depressed for the past few days, and showed no reaction to the madmen’s crazy words and actions.
Jamie, who was worried about that fact, could not stand it and sneaked up to ask, but Robin only gave an ambiguous smile and avoided giving an exact answer.
‘Because retirement is approaching?’
Jamie recalled a reason. However, he shook his head internally.
Although Robin has a strong affection and loyalty to the team, it seemed that he would quickly accept and accept the reality even if he was nervous due to his personality.
“I don’t think it was because I was pushed out of the main competition. It seems that Robin has become completely detached in this part.”
Didn’t Brian, who is closest to Robin, say this?
‘Then what is it? An economic problem?’
Surprisingly, I thought that this might be the answer. It’s because there’s something I heard from Robin last time.
“Jay, you know we’re neighbors, right?”
Robin also lived on Fairbank Avenue, the street Jamie lived on, and half-jokingly, he once said that even in the same neighborhood, the houses in the same neighborhood were vastly different. Your house is for adults, but my house is at the level of a stable. I added that word.
‘No, no.’
However, Jamie had no choice but to shake his head internally again.
Beyond volunteering every week, it was Robin who donated most of the money except for living expenses. From what I heard, he donated a considerable amount to a relief organization just the other day. It didn’t seem like he would be crying all day because of financial problems.
‘Then what is it, a family problem?’
When the thought has flowed there.
“Jay!”
Harry’s cry brought Jamie to his senses. Immediately, the ball rolled under his feet, and Jamie turned to check the field information as soon as he touched it.
‘It’s still the same.’
Despite being at home, Sporting were completely locked in their own half and were not thinking of coming out.
This was also what Milo expected.
“In the beginning, maybe even lock it up for the full 90 minutes. Keating can try to attack by overlapping at times, but let’s not overdo it.”
This comment from Milo also had an effect on Jamie’s mind wandering.
However, no matter how much you hear the director say that, you can’t be carefree forever.
Jamie thought it was time to change the mood and stabbed KK, who was capable of long passes, with a pass. And I crossed the half line.
The pass to KK, not Keating, was meant to be caught off guard, and as Jamie intended, embarrassment was read in the eyes of the Sporting players.
KK, who has a good kick, could give long passes to any of the three: Keating now overlapping from the left, Damian capable of post play, kick specialist Brian, and ace Jamie.
‘What should I do?’
The same was true of Sporting’s defensive midfielder ‘Hui Pinto’.
Hui Pinto. A key player in the Portuguese national team and a defensive midfielder known for his rough play.
However, no matter how rough a player was, he wasn’t crazy enough to try to tackle someone without the ball.
He seemed to be contemplating whether to follow Jamie right in front of him or stick to Brian, who was moving to the penalty box arc.
Tuung. KK’s choice was Damien.
Hui Pinto’s head turned as he chased the ball. Jamie took advantage of that gap and infiltrated the place where Brian was originally standing.
Read from noble mtl dot com
Later, Hui Pinto turned his head again, but the ball had already passed Damien’s head and reached the point where Jamie was running.
‘I could catch the ball for no reason and get tackled.’
Knowing Hui Pinto’s playstyle, Jamie fired a direct shot.
pug. The ball made a heavy sound and went coolly toward the goal.
Caang! Then, with a cheerful sound, he hit the goalpost and was out.
[ Ahhh! ]
As a result, the Stoke City away supporters who were beyond the goalpost sighed.
“…”
The moment the ball hit his foot, Jamie, who was almost certain of a goal, looked at the ball rolling around with mixed feelings.
He couldn’t help but feel sorry for him. This is because the situation where the opponent has shrunk and the opening goal by surprise makes the subsequent game ridiculously easy.
‘It’s nothing special.’
Jamie let out a short sigh and turned around. Fortunately, Robin was no longer in his mind.
‘While the atmosphere has changed, let’s even score a goal.’
if u see this you eather reading in epub or from somewhere other than noble so just bear with it it may break the flow but nothing can be done sigh
Moments later, after catching the ball near the half-line, Jamie decided to go up one more time. Just then, as if reading his mind, Keating crossed the half line and began to rise.
Even if you allow a counterattack, Mario and Rice will cover it well. Jamie, who had confirmed the location of the two a while ago, moved forward without hesitation.
Immediately, a central midfielder bumped into the body, but Jamie spun around to avoid it and climbed straight up.
‘Ugh.’
Then, as we approached the arc of the penalty box, this time Hui Pinto came crashing into us roughly. I was annoyed at the standing tackle that went over my knee and almost came up close to my thigh, but Jamie immediately took control of his mentality and turned in the opposite direction.
If you try to tackle again in the current situation, it would be a 90%, no 100% foul. Huy Pinto may have known this, but instead of tackling, he tried to narrow the shooting angle by standing diagonally.
‘Once more?’
After moving toward the corner of the penalty box, shall we try to shoot by changing direction once more? After thinking about it for a while, Jamie changed his mind and stabbed an overlapping through pass to Keating.
Took. Almost as soon as Keating caught the ball, Brian penetrated the penalty box.
‘great.’
Is it because of Robin or just the Stoke City coaching staff? I thought that the overall Stoke City players were off the ball (movement without the ball).
‘ah.’
But that was for a moment, a few seconds later, Jamie had to change his mind. To be precise, I thought that even though off the ball increased, intelligence remained the same.
Keating passed to Brian who got a good move.
After catching the ball at the corner of the penalty box, Brian stepped back with his right foot as if he was about to shoot. At that time, Damian just infiltrated the goalpost with a defender.
Thanks to that, Brian’s shooting angle was opened.
Whether he shoots as it is or passes to Damien pretending to shoot, there is a high possibility that it will lead to a decisive opportunity.
However, Brian’s choice was Jamie.
‘You fool.’
In front of him, Hui Pinto is sitting there.
Jamie almost slumped forward and caught Brian’s pass. At the same time, from a diagonal direction, Hui Pinto pressed close.
The choice was not wide. Jamie tried to paint the upper body, but changed his mind and entered the penalty box with a McGeady turn.
“Ah-ah!”
Then, at the right timing, Hui Pinto’s tackle was backed up.
not caught Literally, my feet are slightly overstretched.
However, it was after the ball went out first. Also, the timing was perfect.
Beep.
As a referee, I had to declare a penalty kick.
[ eee-YEEA! ]
Stoke City away fans behind the goal stood up in unison and cheered.
**
Brian calmly succeeded in the penalty kick that Jamie had won.
Afterwards, Sporting, who allowed the opening goal, moved away from defense and actively tried to attack. However, they did not get a clear opportunity, and in the second half, manager Milo replaced Jamie and put in Ralph.
[ Ned Keating, are you going to go after yourself again? ]
[Oh no! Connect with Damian. ]
[Damien Manible······, shoot! ]
[ Ahh! It narrowly misses the goal post! ]
After that, Ralph harassed the Sporting defense from time to time with his vigorous activity, and Keating and Damian continued to fire threatening shots, but did not lead to a goal.
[Portuguese ‘traditional powerhouse’ was also destroyed. Brian Lekka scored a goal from a penalty kick that was like gold in an away game. ]
[The result of the match is 1 to 0, and the content of the match is 5 to 0. Stoke City, who drove Sporting throughout the game, centered on Jamie Lee. ]
In the end, the game ended with Stoke City winning 1-0 with no score change.
“…”
Shortly after, on the plane back to England.
Jamie, who deliberately sat next to Robin, was looking for the right moment to speak.
However, it was difficult to talk to him because Robin, unlike usual, put on his headphones and looked out the window.
‘Should I just ask him outright?’
I had such an urge, but I couldn’t execute it, and in the end, I arrived at Birmingham Airport without having a conversation.
Things were not much different on the bus from the airport to Stoke-on-Trent. Although he wasn’t wearing headphones like he was on an airplane, Robin kept his eyes on the window the entire time.
‘But why do you keep fiddling with your phone?’
I noticed this when I was almost at my destination.
‘Was Robin always like that? I don’t think it was?’
His gaze was fixed on the window, but he held onto his phone the whole time as if it were a talisman.
“I had a hard time getting on the plane and going back and forth to Portugal. Even if you don’t recognize it right away, your fatigue will build up without you realizing it. Everyone, don’t overdo it and get some rest.”
However, shortly after Jamie noticed this, the bus arrived at its destination, and head coach Nick said the team was disbanded.
“I’ve never seen Robin do that. Isn’t it strange?”
Back home, Jamie shared this with Hannah.
I didn’t mean to ask for an answer. Literally, the purpose was to share the daily life of the couple.
“It’s obvious.”
But what As if there was no easier problem than this, Hanna gave an answer with a clear expression and tone.
“yes?”
“It’s a woman’s problem.”
However, it was an answer of a kind that was not expected at all.
“Woman, a problem?”
Jamie had no choice but to ask in a daze.
