Chapter 169: Cold and Tense Battle
As they woke up and enjoyed a simple breakfast, they took a few moments to stretch and get their bodies ready.
There was a quiet excitement building as they prepared to head to the stadium.
The walk to the stadium was quiet but full of energy, the crunch of boots on frost-covered sidewalks echoing softly.
Passing small groups of fans already on their way, everyone shared knowing smiles and exchanged hopeful glances.
The city seemed to hum with anticipation, every step bringing them closer to the heart of the day.
As soon as they stepped into the stadium, it hit them like a powerful wave chilly but full of energy.
This wasn’t the quiet, polite crowd they were used to in England. Instead, it was loud, fierce, and bursting with passion.
Everywhere they looked, fans were wrapped in red and white scarves, their breath forming little clouds in the cold air as they cheered and shouted together like one big, excited family.
The field itself was carefully kept clear of snow, feeling tough and solid under their cleats no soft spots to trip on, no room for mistakes.
It was like a perfect stage, sharp and ready for a game that would be just as intense and focused as the players on it.
The whole place buzzed with electricity, and you could feel how much this match meant to everyone there.
After taking in the electric atmosphere, the players started their warm-ups, moving carefully but with purpose.
They stretched, jogged, and practiced passing, their faces showing focus and determination.
You could tell they were getting ready not just physically, but mentally too preparing for every moment of the match ahead.
The excitement in the air seemed to fuel their energy, as they readied themselves for the battle about to begin.
Niels stood on the touchline, the cold seeping through his coat.
Every time he spoke, his breath puffed out in little clouds into the chilly air.
His eyes stayed fixed on the field, watching every move.
Not far from him, Rosenborg’s manager stood with his arms crossed a serious, weathered man whose stern expression felt like a quiet challenge, as if daring Niels to match his intensity.
The whistle blew, and the game kicked off with a focused, steady energy.
Crawley, following Niels’s careful instructions, didn’t rush at all.
Instead, they started with quick, precise passes along the backline, patiently feeling out their opponents.
In the middle of it all was Jamal Osei calm, steady, and in complete control, like the heartbeat of the team. His calmness stood out against the wild energy of the crowd around them.
The ball moved smoothly from Callum Haines to Liam McCulloch, then from McCulloch to Dev Patel, flowing in a slow, careful rhythm. Thɪs chapter is updated by ɴovel(ꜰ)ɪre.nᴇt
It was all planned to frustrate the other team, keep them guessing, and control the pace of the game.
Just like Niels had expected, Rosenborg was like a solid, disciplined wall.
They lined up in a tight 4-4-2 formation, their defense and midfield moving together like clockwork.
They didn’t rush or press high up the field.
Instead, they stayed patient, almost daring Crawley to make the first move.
It was like watching a cobra, coiled and ready to strike at any moment.
The first ten minutes felt like a careful game of chess.
Crawley kept the ball most of the time, but they couldn’t get into dangerous positions.
Every time they tried to move forward into the attacking zone, a solid wall of red shirts was waiting to stop them.
Dev tried hard to find space between the defenders, but he kept getting trapped nowhere near the confident player who had once torn apart the MK Dons’ defense.
It was like he was a shadow of his former self, struggling to break through.
Then, in the fifteenth minute, Rosenborg struck with a sudden burst of danger.
Their defense sent a long, daring pass that completely skipped over Crawley’s midfield.
It was risky, but it paid off.
Their winger, a flash of red and white, sped past Reece Darby who’d been caught a step too far up the field.
The winger took off toward the box, and panic rippled through Crawley’s defense.
Harry Thompson rushed in to cover, trying to stop him, but the winger was just too fast.
In a quick move, he passed the ball to his striker, who now faced Adam Fletcher one-on-one.
The striker fired a low, powerful shot that seemed sure to hit the back of the net.
But Adam, with lightning-fast reflexes, dove to his left and stretched out his arm, managing to deflect the ball.
It bounced off the post and flew out for a corner.
The stadium exploded with noise, little disappointment, and amazement as well.
It was a heart-stopping moment that reminded everyone just how high the stakes were in this game.
The corner came in, and Liam McCulloch, ever the leader, rose above the crowd and headed it away.
The danger was averted for now, but the message was clear.
They could not afford to make a single mistake.
After that close call, the match suddenly grew even more intense.
Both teams seemed to sense the danger, playing with sharper focus and urgency.
Crawley still held onto the ball, but now they did so with a new respect for Rosenborg’s deadly counter-attacks.
Dev, sensing the need to keep things steady, began to drop deeper into midfield.
By doing this, he drew defenders toward him, quietly opening up space for his teammates to make their moves.
It was a smart, calm adjustment one that showed just how much the game had changed in that moment.
In the thirtieth minute, Crawley created their best chance yet.
After a quick, clever one-two with Korey Henry, Dev found himself with some space just outside the box.
Without hesitation, he fired a low, powerful shot that cut through a tangle of legs and headed straight for the goal.
But a Rosenborg defender threw himself in front of the ball, making a desperate, brave block with his chest.
The ball bounced away, landing near Max Simons, who was ready to strike.
He swung his leg to take the shot but the goalkeeper, anticipating the moment, was already there.
With a swift dive to his right, he reached out and palmed the ball away, sending it out for a corner.
The crowd held their breath for a moment, a thrilling chance that came so close to turning the tide.
With only a few minutes left before halftime, the tension on the field grew even thicker.
Both teams pushed hard, knowing that the next goal could change everything.
Crawley tried to keep control, carefully moving the ball around, while Rosenborg stayed compact and ready to pounce on any mistake.
The cold air seemed to hold its breath along with the players, every pass and tackle feeling heavier, more important.
As the clock ticked down, neither side could find a breakthrough.
The half-time whistle blew, and the two teams walked off the pitch with the score still at 0-0.
The stadium was electric.
It was a physical and tactical battle, a stalemate between two forces with everything to lose.
The game was far from over.
The real test was still to come.