Chapter 363: Masterclass Performance
Bruno's defensive play earlier was one of the few highlights for Manchester United during this period. Mostly, United found themselves pushed back by a dominant Manchester City, relying on long balls to launch counter-attacks, often leaving only Ibrahimovic up front. Even Rashford and Rooney were forced to help in defense. Though United's pride made them reluctant to park the bus against their city rivals, they had no choice but to defend resolutely. After all, securing three points, even through scrappy means, was better than losing to their rivals.
City, meanwhile, mounted relentless attacks, buoyed by continuous cheers from their fans. Observing their attacking prowess, it seemed only a matter of time before City would score, as United could only defend and clear the ball long to relieve pressure.
Mourinho's side was indeed strong defensively, but he'd only been coaching United for two months. Though they were the only Premier League team yet to concede, fans weren't entirely confident in their defense holding up.
Eventually, City equalized before halftime. In the 41st minute, they orchestrated a successful attack. Sterling, tightly marked by Bruno, opted not to take him on directly. Instead, he passed the ball to David Silva, who then passed it to De Bruyne. This tactical shift caught United off guard. Expecting the attack to come through Sterling, they were surprised when the ball moved quickly to their right side and City's left.
Kolarov made an overlapping run, receiving a through ball from De Bruyne, entered the penalty area, and crossed. Iheanacho headed it back, and De Bruyne, in one swift motion, shot low into the bottom left corner. De Gea got a hand to it, but the ball deflected off his arm, hit the post, and went in.
"Goal!"
"GOOOOOOOAAAALLLLL!!! Yes! Manchester City! Kevin De Bruyne! He has equalized for City!"
"City have equalized! This goal comes at a crucial time, putting City back in control! The game is now level again, giving City a great chance to win!"
"This is a significant blow to Manchester United."
"Go, City! You are unstoppable!"
Commentators supporting United couldn't hide their disappointment: "Oh no! City have scored! De Gea nearly saved it, but it slipped through!"
"Kolarov...mark him, don't let him cross...De Bruyne! De Bruyne! Oh no! It's in...De Bruyne has equalized for City! United's lead is gone..."
In the commentary box, reactions varied widely. City supporters cheered and stood up, while United supporters slumped in disappointment. Neutral commentators, however, praised the goal, noting that it made the match more exciting. Neutral fans generally prefer closely contested matches, rather than one-sided affairs.
City fans in the away section of Old Trafford were ecstatic, chanting, "City! City! City!!!" In contrast, many United fans held their heads in despair. Despite their earlier fears, the reality of conceding was hard to accept.
Neutral fans admired City's play: "City are really strong! That series of passes completely broke through United's defense."
"Bruno can mark Sterling, but he can't stop the entire City team alone. It feels like Bruno is taking on City by himself!"
"If this were the United of Ferguson's era, this game would be over. Bruno's team would definitely win!"
While they had faith in Bruno, their confidence in the current United team was lacking.
City players celebrated, surrounding De Bruyne with high-fives and pats. Meanwhile, Bruno was rallying his team: "It's just one goal! We're still level! We're not behind, so there's no need to worry! The key now is to stay calm; there are only a few minutes left in the half. We absolutely can't concede again during this time!"
He clapped his hands and shouted to his teammates, trying to steady their nerves after conceding.
"This is Guardiola's team! This is Guardiola's football! So beautiful, so brilliant! Their passing left United's players completely lost, and breaking through the defense was inevitable!" A City-supporting commentator shouted in excitement.
City aimed to capitalize on their momentum and score again before halftime. If they could lead at the break, the second half would be theirs. After United restarted play, City pressed aggressively, sending at least two players to challenge whoever had the ball. Bruno was frequently surrounded by three.
Bruno's ball control shone under this intense pressure. When Iheanacho tried to steal the ball, Bruno shielded it, pulling it in front of him. When Sterling came from behind, Bruno leaned back against him, keeping the ball underfoot. Sterling's short legs couldn't reach the ball, but their goal was to stifle Bruno.
The third player, Fernandinho, abandoned his position to press Bruno, aiming to dispossess him and launch an immediate counter-attack. Losing the ball in midfield could be disastrous for United.
Fernandinho saw Bruno looking at Iheanacho and shielding the ball from Sterling, thinking he had the perfect opportunity. He rushed in, but Bruno suddenly jumped, using his left foot to flick the ball, then pivoted, using his right foot to drag the ball out of the trap.
Bruno escaped the three-man press and moved forward, drawing cheers from Old Trafford. Commentators from various countries praised the move.
"Brilliant!"
"Beautiful!"
"Incredible!"
"Wow! That was superb!"
Even Lineker couldn't help but praise: "An exceptional escape! Bruno showcased his technical skill, matching City's flair."
A French commentator exclaimed: "Zidane!!"
The move was reminiscent of Zidane's masterful control, a signature roulette, adapted perfectly to the situation. Bruno's use of this skill showed he was approaching mastery.
With the ball out of the trap, Bruno advanced. Silva and De Bruyne awaited him, while Fernandinho chased from behind. Seeing no clear passing options, Bruno realized the tight formations. City's press after kickoff left both teams clustered in midfield.
Bruno knew he had to maintain possession. Facing another three-on-one, he pondered his next move. Approaching Silva, he began step-overs, a simple feint, not expecting to shake Silva entirely but hoping to create space. His right foot faked outward but then sharply pulled the ball left, wrong-footing Silva and leaving him behind.
Having shaken Silva, Bruno continued his run, determined to lead another United attack.
(End of Chapter)
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