Conceding two goals in a row, the total score was equalized by River Plate, and the away goal advantage was gone. It really made everyone in the Hurricanes Athletic team a little confused.
Willard also felt quite troubled, but this was not the time to feel sad. Taking advantage of the opportunity when River Plate people poured out of the penalty area to celebrate, and his teammates were also near the penalty area, Wei, who was the captain of this game, Ladd clapped his hands to attract everyone's attention and shouted:
"Cheer up, everyone."
"The game isn't over yet."
“Now it’s just the aggregate score that’s been equalized.”
"We didn't lose."
"Don't think about the score, everyone, do your own thing first."
"Let's shrink the formation first and defend the first half. I believe the coach will make adjustments at halftime."
Everyone cheered up and prepared to compete again.
Then, Willard specifically said to Tulasa:
"Turaza, you have to defend more and help Gurmo Sotero guard the wings."
Turassa nodded to express his understanding.
Seeing Willard loudly boosting morale in the penalty area and arranging the next tactics, the fans in the stands also woke up from their depression and began to sing the team song of Hurricane Athletics, cheer for the team, and hope that the players Let's not give up, regain our strength, continue to play strongly under the leadership of Velarde, and defeat River Plate.
The more difficult the game, the stronger the opponent proves. If such a game is passed, the entire Hurricane Athletics team will have a huge improvement in terms of competitive status and psychological quality.
River Plate ended their celebration. After the game restarted, River Plate, which scored two goals in a row, attacked more fiercely. It was obvious that they hoped to take advantage of their hot state to continue scoring goals, directly overtake the total score, and also gain the advantage of away goals.
As for the Hurricanes Athletic Team, they did not lose their position due to conceding two goals in a row and compete with River Plate. Instead, under the command of Willard, they retreated decisively and began to set up a bus and iron barrel formation to defend.
Gurmo Sotero's wing has always been unstable. Now that the Hurricanes have shrunk their defense, with the help of Fabianesi, Velarde, Toranso, Lucas and others, they are finally Taking advantage of the numerical advantage, the defense was stabilized.
Facing the Hurricane Athletics' big iron barrel formation, no matter how good River Plate's technology is, they can only do nothing. After all, Velarde's own strong defensive ability and leader-level commanding ability, coupled with the intensive defense of shrinking the defensive line, prevented River Plate's skills, teamwork, etc. from being fully utilized.
As for attacking in the air, it's even more difficult. Although the ball can be hoisted into the penalty area, the probability of grabbing a header against the dense penalty area defense of Hurricanes Athletics such as Alan Velarde, Eduardo Dominguez, and Santiago Echeberria is not high. .
For the rest of the first half, the Hurricanes Athletics finally did not concede any more goals, maintaining the 2-2 total score until the halftime break.
After 1 minute of stoppage time, the referee blew the whistle to end the first half, and the two sides entered the halftime break with a total score of 2-2.
Entering the locker room, after all the players arrived, Mario Binco first bowed to everyone, and then said:
"I'm sorry everyone, I was careless."
"I thought that the score of 2-0 in the first round was enough to ensure that we would advance 100%. Therefore, regardless of the starting lineup or the pre-match training, I sent a bad signal to everyone, which caused the whole team to be a little careless. .”
"When I think about it now, I feel pathetic for my thoughts and actions."
"Facing a world-class club like River Plate, I feel like I'm winning with just two goals ahead. I don't know what's wrong with me?"
"Fortunately, the game is not over yet and we still have a chance to make amends."
"Mancinelli came on in the second half, replacing Guermo Sotero."
"Federico Bismara comes on for Lucas Villaruel."
"Alejandro Romero comes on, replacing Fabianesi."
"Because we underestimated the opponent and were careless, we were not prepared for overtime and penalty kicks."
"Moreover, after replacing three people, we have no room for substitutions."
"If something goes wrong in overtime, there won't even be a chance to make substitutions."
"So, everyone must go all out in the second half to win the game."
Having said this, Mario Binko specifically nodded at Velard: "Villad, Lucas has been removed. In the second half, you have to take on more offensive organizing tasks, and you must help the team score goals. Otherwise, we may really be eliminated.”
Willard nodded solemnly to express his understanding.
Of course he doesn't want to lose. This is not only related to his evaluation in the minds of European clubs and scouts, but also related to his future, as well as the bets of his girlfriend and father-in-law!
Therefore, after seeing the head coach finish speaking, Villard also stood up to boost morale and called on everyone to exert all their efforts in the second half and go all out to win this game.
Otherwise, they will become a joke to the whole world.
After all, after winning the game 2-0 away from home in the first round, there are really not many examples of being reversed by the opponent in the second round at home, and it is extremely rare. If that scene really happens, this game will definitely be covered by media around the world, and the Hurricanes will become famous in the world of football.
But this is not a good reputation, it is a laughingstock. Therefore, the Hurricanes have no retreat. Everyone must unite to win the river bed, win the game, and advance to the semi-finals in order to avoid becoming a laughing stock. At the same time, only after passing the river bed level can everyone truly have the ambition to win the championship.
Otherwise, if you can't even overcome today's difficulties, how can you talk about winning the championship?
After the head coach completed the substitution and Willard completed the morale boost, the fifteen-minute intermission time was basically over.
Soon, the second half of the game officially started.
"The second half of the game has officially begun."
"Hurricane Athletics made three substitutions at the beginning of the game and used up all the substitution quota."
"Gulmo Sotero and Lucas Villaruel, who performed poorly in the first half, were replaced and replaced by captain Mancinelli and the mature and steady Federico Bismara. This is about stabilizing the defensive line in the backcourt.”
"At the same time, Hurricanes Atletico also wanted to strengthen their attack, so they removed full midfielder Fabianesi and replaced him with the stronger Alejandro Romero."
"Obviously, it's about increasing the rhythm of the offense."
"This is a game that cannot be lost for Atletico Hurricanes. If they lose, they will become the laughingstock of the world."
"After all, there are really not many examples of leading a 2-0 away game in the first round and being reversed by the opponent in the second round at home."
"The Hurricanes Athletic Team has no retreat and must go all out to win."
"The same goes for River Plate, of course."
"If they can really make a comeback and eliminate the Hurricanes Athletic Team, they will also complete a super comeback, become famous all over the world, and greatly increase the possibility of winning the championship."
"It can be said that this game is an excellent test for the state and psychological quality of both sides. Whoever wins has a very high probability of reaching the finals and winning the championship."
