Chapter 89: FA Cup Final [4]
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."
Chelsea’s team was powerful Drogba dangerous up front, Lampard in control, Terry solid at the back, and Čech guarding the goal. Their fans roared, "Drogba’s king!" as the game kicked off and the stadium shook with excitement.
Chelsea pushed forward with precision, their passes cutting through Crawley’s defense like a machine. Lampard tapped the ball to Malouda, who sprinted down the left wing, tearing up the turf. His cross flew into the box like a whip. Crawley’s fans shouted, "Hold them, Craw-ley!" but Chelsea kept coming. Their supporters shook the stadium with chants of "London is blue!"
On the sidelines, Niels stayed calm, eyes locked on the play, yelling, "Keep it tight, boys! Lock it down!" Max challenged Terry, the two colliding shoulder to shoulder. Max growled, "You’re mine, mate." Thiago marked Ashley Cole closely, grinning, "Try me." Luka chased Lampard, sliding in with a clean tackle and muttering, "No way through."
The energy was intense every pass felt electric, every touch charged. In the Crawley corner, Ollie stood on his seat and screamed, "Max, fight!" A girl next to him waved a sign that read, "Thiago, spark it!" Her chant caught on, rising up to challenge Chelsea’s roar.