Chapter 32: A Big Win and the Troubles It Brings
Puel shook his head helplessly. At this stage of the match, there was nothing a coach could do to turn things around. Two goals down, one man short on the field—if they attacked, it would only invite more goals from the opponent. If they defended, they were already two goals behind. No matter what choice he made, the situation was dire.
But Mallorca had no intention of ending the game there. Two goals? That wasn't enough—not even close.
After congratulating Stankovic on his hat trick, the Mallorca players resumed their relentless attacks. Despite Stankovic's popularity within the team, no one wanted to see him hog all the glory. Now that he had his hat trick, it was their turn to shine. With Monaco down a man, it was the perfect time to hit them while they were down.
And so, embodying the spirit of "kick the dog when it's down," the Mallorca players pummeled Monaco's defense mercilessly. Meanwhile, Puel shouted instructions for his team to retreat and defend. Losing by two goals was still better than losing by more.
José subbed in two fresh defenders, replacing the fatigued fullbacks to prevent counterattacks. Then he stood on the sideline, shouting at his players to keep up the pressure. "One more goal, and we can seal this tie once and for all!"
Monaco endured over ten minutes of relentless bombardment but couldn't hold out.
Eto'o, who had drifted to the wing, received a pass from Ibagaza. He powered through the defense, reached the byline, and sent a cross into the box. Tristan rose high, outjumping Monaco's defenders, and smashed a header past Barthez. 4-1!
Tristan finally got his goal, and his stoppage-time header secured Mallorca's dominant 4-1 victory, effectively putting one foot in the UEFA Cup quarterfinals—a nearly perfect win.
On the sidelines, José pumped his fists emphatically. Mallorca's attacking line had been brilliant. Tristan scored, Stankovic netted a hat trick, and Eto'o, though he didn't score, showcased his speed and skill, winning two penalties and assisting Tristan's goal. He'd completed a "hat trick of assists," proving his value and role within the team, even if his explosive scoring ability hadn't fully emerged.