As the game restarted, Juventus maintained their relaxed rhythm, clearly dismissing Notts County's earlier goal as merely a fluke. To them, it was nothing more than a moment of carelessness—not a testament to their opponents' ability.
Even under Notts County's high press, Juventus showed little strain. Their passing remained confident, albeit slightly less fluid than before. After all, this was a squad featuring world-class players with extraordinary individual talent, able to create scoring opportunities with alarming ease.
But something had changed within the Notts County players. Knowing they had already conceded multiple goals, they chose to approach the second half with boldness rather than restraint.
Rather than sitting back and conceding defeat in anticipation of being overrun, they attacked fearlessly. For the players, this wasn't just Juventus' stage—it was their stage now.
For the first time in the game, Notts County began to play as though they had nothing to lose.
"Attack or be forgotten," David muttered to himself in the box, watching his players refuse to back down.
Surprisingly, the fans in the stadium began to notice the match shift. Instead of a defensive, low-block strategy typical of Serie A underdogs, Notts County pushed forward with reckless abandon. Even when being outmatched technically or physically, it was clear the players' hearts and confidence kept their efforts alive.
By the 20th minute of the second half, Juventus capitalized on a corner kick. Trezeguet scored with a powerful header, extending the lead to 4-1.
But Notts County wasn't done.
Just minutes after kickoff, Iniesta found space on the left flank, weaving through both Nedved and Thuram with deceptive ease. Daring and calculated, he delivered a perfect pass to the middle, where Meireles faked a shot, leaving the ball for Kuyt, who charged in from the back post.
With one confident poke, Kuyt sent the ball flying into Juventus' net.
4-2.
Kuyt erupted into celebration, roaring as he raised his fists high in the air. His teammates swarmed him, and even from a distance, David could see their raw emotion—passion, pride, and hunger.
David sat back, momentarily overwhelmed. His vision of what this team could become was no longer theoretical. It was real, tangible, and alive.
Notts County's players ran back to their positions with renewed determination, but their goal had shaken something loose in Juventus. For the first time, the giants realized they were dealing with a team that wasn't as easy to put away as they initially thought.
The Juventus players' casual demeanor was gone, replaced by serious, focused expressions.
All eyes on the field turned to the little Spaniard who had orchestrated the breakthrough—Andrés Iniesta.
After the kickoff, Juventus increased their tempo significantly, sensing the need to extinguish Notts County's momentum. Their attacks grew sharper and more ferocious as they looked to reassert control over the game.
But Low was prepared. Sensing the impending storm, he adjusted immediately, pulling Hübner off for Villa to add fresh legs and switching to a 4-3-3 formation that brought in Halil Altintop to fortify midfield.
With Alonso, Meireles, and Altintop forming a robust defensive wall in central midfield, Juventus found themselves colliding with a meat grinder every time they tried to build from the middle.
The battle intensified as the match turned into a war of attrition. Nedved and Edgar Davids tore into the midfield, but even Juventus' famed wild boars found it difficult to navigate through Notts County's swelling confidence.
For his part, Alonso quietly orchestrated Notts County's defense, reading plays before they developed and cutting off passing lanes with calculated precision. While Juventus still created chances, the margin for error had shrunk considerably.
In the 80th minute, as pressure mounted, Villa charged toward Conte, forcing the Juventus captain to hurriedly pass the ball to the flank. But Kuyt saw it coming, intercepting the pass cleanly and delivering it back to Alonso in one swift motion. Spotting an opportunity, Alonso launched a pinpoint long ball into the final third.
The ball sailed over Juventus' stunned defenders and landed gently at the feet of Iniesta, sprinting toward the penalty box. Thuram closed in fast, trying to press the young Spaniard off the ball, but Iniesta remained unfazed.
With one fluid motion, he shielded the ball with his body and executed a dazzling turn, leaving Thuram rooted to the spot like a training cone.
As Iniesta broke into the box, Fabio Cannavaro lunged to recover, but Iniesta flicked the ball over his outstretched boot. Buffon came rushing forward, but the Spaniard's deft strike sent the ball spinning into the top corner.
Goal.
The Alp Stadium went still.
For a moment, no one knew how to react. Even Iniesta himself froze, as if unable to believe what he had just done.
Then Villa grabbed him by the shoulders and began shaking him joyously, breaking the spell. The rest of the team quickly gathered in celebration as Iniesta stood there grinning shyly, humbled by the moment.
In the box, David's emotions boiled over. He leapt to his feet and pumped his fists skyward, his scream of triumph muffled only by the thick glass of the viewing area. This was why he believed in the team.
"This isn't just potential anymore," he whispered. "We're witnessing their transformation."
Juventus, however, was unimpressed. For them, it didn't matter how elegant the goal was. What mattered was the possibility that they could lose control of the match entirely.
The Zebras tightened their defense, realizing full well that the determined youth of Notts County had tasted blood.
With just ten minutes left on the clock, Notts County pressed relentlessly for an equalizer. Their coordination and energy reached new heights as they launched wave after wave of attacks.
Kuyt's through ball found Villa one-on-one with Buffon, but the striker's low shot was deflected wide by the keeper. Minutes later, Alonso's corner kick connected with Lescott, whose towering header smashed into the crossbar with a deafening thud. The sound echoed through the air, amplifying the tension.
Even though a draw seemed illusory, Notts County's players never gave up. They didn't just want to win—they wanted to prove themselves.
From the sidelines, Low stood with his arms crossed, his face unreadable but his voice stern as he barked final instructions.
In the box, David could barely watch, his arms tense and fists clenched. While logically he knew the scoreline didn't matter, he felt the importance of this game for the spirit of his team. To him, this wasn't a warm-up; it was their turning point.
Whether or not the scoreline changed, one thing was clear: Notts County was finding itself. A scrappy underdog had started its journey toward becoming a true giant.