Chapter 379 Tactical Responses　　After conceding the first goal, the Benfica yers became more proactive in their approach to the game. They abandoned their ultra-defensive tactics and arrayed themselves into a 4-3-3 attacking formation. Before long, they startedunching continuous waves of attacks on Rosenborg''s defense by relying on wing-y tactics and defense-splitting passes through the middle.


    Benfica''s dominance soon exceeded expectations as the midfielders in red and white started feeding more balls to their three attackers. Eventually, their relentless efforts paid off, and during the 34th minute, they created their first clear goal-scoring chance.


    Enzo Pérez, one of Benfica''s central midfielders, linked up well with Miralem Sulejmani, Benfica''s left-winger for the night. The two yers exchanged a couple of one-twos on the left nk as they circumvented opponents and speared deep into Rosenborg''s half. Soon, they stepped past the border of the final third, and the ball naturally ended at Miralem Sulejmani''s feet.


    Miralem Sulejmani fed the ball past Tore Reginiussen, Rosenborg''s right-back, before beating him for pace. Then, when the passing angle opened up, he unleashed a curling cross towards the edge of Rosenborg''s box.


    A rare wave of silence soon swept across the stadium as the cross was on point and heading straight towards óscar Cardozo, the Benfica striker. Fortunately for the Rosenborg fans, Eric Bailly, one of Rosenborg''s center-backs for the day, leaped high and headed the iing ball away.


    However, Eric Bailly''s clearance wasn''t enough to calm the tense nerves of the Rosenborg fans as the ball traveled midair, heading straight towards Rodrigo Machado.


    The danger was obviously still atrge for team Rosenborg since Rodrigo Machado, Benfica''s right-winger, managed to control the ball just outside the box on the right nk. Before any opponent could close him down, he squared a pass into the middle to find André Gomes, Benfica''s midfielder.


    André Gomes didn''t even pause to control the iing ball. He just drew his leg back like a bow before swinging it down hard and fast to unleash a missile of a shot towards Rosenborg''s goal.


    TENSION!


    It was a tense moment for Rosenborg. The ball rose from the ground and zoomed towards the inside of the right post like a bullet. But once again, Rosenborg''s luck was incredible, and the effort bore no fruit.


    Daniel ?rlund, Rosenborg''s experienced and ever-reliable goalkeeper, executed an acrobatic dive and punched the ball to save Rosenborg from conceding an equalizing goal during the 35th minute. The Rosenborg fans around the stadium finally breathed sighs of relief as the ball crossed the line and bounced out of y.


    *FWEEEEEEE*


    The referee blew the whistle and pointed to the corner g.


    Most yers on the pitch immediately started swarming into Rosenborg''s box to ready themselves for the corner. And soon, chaos descended as some yers shoved their opponents away while others grabbed shirts while awaiting the corner kick.


    The referee soon stepped in and warned a few yers from both sides to calm things down. And finally, after a good one minute of tussling and hustling, the order returned to the box, and the referee immediately blew the whistle.


    Maximiliano Pereira, Benfica''s right-winger, took the corner kick and unleashed a lofted ball into the crowded area before Rosenborg''s goal. And it was at that moment the yers around and inside the box got into action. Some started running around to confuse opponents, while others leaped high to meet the iing ball.


    But at the end of it all, it was óscar Cardozo, Benfica''s center-forward, who came out on top. He escaped the harassment of one of the Rosenborg defenders before leaping high and nting a header towards the goal.


    But once again, luck still seemed to elude team Benfica, and óscar Cardozo''s header ended up smashing off the post before heading out of y for a goal kick. The striker had missed an opportunity to score an equalizer during the 37th minute. He could only nce skyward while shaking his head with regret.


    After wasting a few seconds, Daniel ?rlund, Rosenborg''s goalkeeper, took the goal kick, and the game continued. The Benfica yers continued dictating the tempo andunching endless attacks on Rosenborg''s box as they searched for the equalizing goal. They really showed the spirit of Portuguese attacking football during the next few minutes of gamey.


    Be that as it may, the Benfica yers didn''t manage to score no matter how hard they tried. Daniel ?rlund saved three of their shots on goal while the other attempts missed the target by mere centimeters. It was as if a powerful shaman had cursed them to remain goalless during the first half.


    The proceedings moved forward, and eventually, the first 45 minutes psed. To the relief of the many Rosenborg fans around the stadium, the referee immediately blew the whistle without adding a single minute of injury time. As a result, the yers could only match down the tunnel when the score was still 1:0 in favor of Rosenborg.


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    Coach Johansen was in a somber mood as he quietly watched his yers settling down on the benches around the dressing room. Even though his team was leading by a goal to nil, he was still tense and nervous. He feared that his team might concede a goal at any given juncture and lose the ticket to the Europa League finals, scheduled to be yed two weekster at the Juventus Stadium in Turin, Italy. So, the coach was eager to reorganize his team''s tactics during halftime so that his yers would put up a much more potent defensive disy during the second half.


    "Okay, guys," he said after the yers had settled down and hydrated themselves. "Luck was on our side during the first half, and we''re winning. But let''s not getcent since there are still 45 minutes of the second half remaining before the end of the game."


    "During thete stages of the first half, you all rxed a bit," the coach continued. "You did not work hard to tight mark and close down the opponents, and in so doing, you allowed them toe at us fiercely. I don''t know what caused you to lose concentration, but all I can say is that we were lucky not to concede a goal before halftime."


    The coach swept his gaze across his yers. "Do you guys wish to qualify for the final?" He asked in a loud voice.


    "We do, coach," the yers replied almost in chorus.


    "Do you dream about winning the Europa League?" Coach Johansen asked again.


    "We do, coach," the yers once again replied.


    "Excellent," the coach said, nodding. "Your objectives are simr to mine as I also wish to win the Europa League this year. But guys! I wish to remind you that no team can win a major European Trophy without a willingness to work hard and put everything into each and every game."


    "As the saying goes," the coach lowered his voice as he started pacing around the room, "A dream does note to reality through magic, but it takes sweat, determination, and hard work. So, when you''re on the pitch during the second half, remember why you''re fighting and sweating. Remember what you wish to aplish during every minute and every second of the game. Focus! Concentrate, and then remember to give your all for that dream of winning the Europa League. Guys, do you follow?"


    "Yes, coach," the yers replied, more or less in unison.


    "Do you guys follow?" The coach asked again in a louder voice.


    "Yes, coach," the yers yelled back.


    "Great," the coach said. "Now that we''re on the same page, I''ll go over the second-half adjustments. First and foremost, we''ll switch to a 4-5-1 formation and y a defensive game during the second half, meaning that the two nk yers will have to drop back and y as midfielders for the rest of the game. We''ll remain patient and weather Benfica''s attacks since we''re already ahead by a goal. In so doing, we''ll tempt Benfica to move forward and rx their defensive efforts. And when an opportunity arises, we counterattack and try to score. Are you guys with me?"


    "Yes, coach."


    "Excellent." Coach Johansen nodded and turned towards Zachary. "Zachary! The three opposing midfielders are zone-marking you once again during this game. So, as we talked about before, you must remain mobile on the pitch to render their efforts useless. You can switch into the wing and the defensive midfield positions more often. That way, you''ll force your opponents to leave their positions if they insist on continuing to mark you. The rest of your teammates can then utilize the gaps the opposing midfielders leave in midfield tounch counterattacks and possibly create goal-scoring chances. Do you follow, Zachary?"


    "Yes, coach," Zachary replied. "I understand."


    "Then, I''m d." Coach Johansen nodded and nced at his watch. "The fifteen minutes of halftime are almost over. So, it''s time for us to head back to the pitch for the second half. But, please remember to y as a team and remember to work hard for every moment of the game. As long as you can aplish that, we''ll be the victors tonight. Have I made myself clear?"


    "Yes, coach."


    "Excellent," Coach Johansen said, beaming. "Since everything is in order, let''s prepare and head back to the pitch."


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