THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME

Chapter 632 A Tense Opening Minutes

The Luzhniki Stadium was a sight to behold as the Portugal vs. Ivory Coast FIFA World Cup match was about to begin. The stands were a kaleidoscope of colors, with fans from both sides waving flags and banners, their faces painted in their respective team colors. Excitement and anticipation filled the air, and the stadium was abuzz with conversation.

The players from both teams had already taken their positions on the field, their expressions solemn and focused. The Ivorians were clad in their striking orange jerseys, which contrasted sharply with the Portuguese side's white away jerseys. The lush green turf was immaculately groomed and ready for the players to work their magic.

BBC One already had its commentators in the stadium, and everyone was prepared and ready for the game. Vicki Sparks, the commentator, surveyed the field with a smile. After a deep breath, her magnetic voice came alive as she launched into the match commentary.

"This is promising to be an epic showdown!" she exclaimed. "Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo is back and hungry for more victories. After scoring a sensational hattrick in the opening game against Spain, he's ready to make history by scoring the 85th international goal of his football career."

"But don't count out Ivory Coast's Zachary Bemba, the twenty-three-year football sensation," she continued. "He's just made his debut in the World Cup, and he's already making waves. He scored one goal and provided two assists in Ivory Coast's opener against Iran, and today, he's determined to leave his mark by leading his team to triumph over Portugal. It's going to be an unforgettable match!"

"I recall they were both contenders for the Ballon d'Or last year," added Martin Keown, the co-commentator. "Zachary played a vital role in helping Juventus win the Serie A and Champions League titles, but unfortunately, he missed a significant portion of the season and the AFCON due to injury."

"Cristiano, on the other hand, was the man who clinched the prestigious Ballon d'Or award after leading Real Madrid to the La Liga title and playing a crucial part in Portugal's UEFA European Championship victory. This time, I fear Zachary might miss out on the Ballon d'Or again if he doesn't help his team progress far in the World Cup."

"Zachary is an exceptional player, and it's a pity that he hasn't won the Ballon d'Or even once," shared Vicki, expressing her disappointment. "But anyways, let's focus on the game now! The referee is just about to blow the whistle, and the match is set to begin with Portugal's kick-off."

The atmosphere in the stadium was electric as the much-anticipated match kicked off. Portugal's players immediately took charge of the field, organizing themselves into a high-octane 4-1-3-2 formation. -----

The atmosphere in the stadium was electric as the much-anticipated match kicked off. Portugal's players immediately took charge of the field, organizing themselves into a high-octane 4-1-3-2 formation. William Carvalho and Joao Moutinho, the dynamic midfield duo, took up positions centrally, quickly moving around the pitch and exchanging rapid-fire passes to establish an electrifying tempo right from the get-go. The crowd was on the edge of their seats, eagerly anticipating what would happen next.

Despite the Ivorians' attempts to break out of their shell and win possession, the Portuguese showed no signs of relenting. They displayed an impressive variety of attacks, with Joao Moutinho eventually moving into more attacking spaces and often operating as high up the pitch as Ronaldo. The excitement levels in the stadium continued growing as Portugal dominated the match. Shortly, a thrilling moment of the game occurred during the 9th minute. The dynamic defensive midfielder, William Carvalho, abruptly upped his attacking rhythm and unleashed a sudden pass into the right wing. The ball flew through the air with incredible speed and precision, landing a few meters ahead of Bernardo Silva - the right winger with lightning-fast reflexes.

In an electrifying moment, Bernardo Silva charged ahead like a hawk swooping down for its prey. With incredible skill and finesse, he swiftly seized control of the ball and glided effortlessly down the right flank, leaving opponents in his wake.

Just as he was about to spear into the offensive third, Wilfried Kanon, the Ivorian left-back, rushed forward to stop the attack. Kanon angled his body perfectly to prevent Bernardo Silva from cutting into the pitch and threatening his goal.

However, Bernardo Silva was not one to be easily deterred. He played a series of one-twos with Jo?o Moutinho, who had just stepped out of the midfield to overload the wing. The two of them skillfully skipped past the hapless Ivorian left-back with ease, leaving him in their wake.

As Portugal kept pushing forward, the crowd's cheers grew louder and more intense, creating an electrifying atmosphere that put enormous pressure on their Ivorian opponents. Just then, the ball was played to Jo?o Moutinho again, who quickly smashed the ball, sending a cross towards the box from the right wing.

The tension intensified as the ball soared through the air, and everyone held their breath in anticipation, waiting to see what would unfold. Suddenly, Cristiano Ronaldo sprang into action. With a masterful feint, he outmaneuvered Eric Bailly, the Ivorian center-back, before accelerating into the box with a single-minded determination.

He took off from the ground and leaped into the air, aiming a powerful header towards the goal from the fringes of the penalty area.

As the ball shot forward, it seemed like it had a mind of its own, twisting and turning with a wicked spin. Everyone held their breath, wondering if it would find its way into the back of the net. But suddenly, a hand appeared out of nowhere, rising like a superhero's cape. The person in action was Sylvain Gbohouo, the brilliant Ivorian goalkeeper. With the speed of a lightning bolt, he lunged towards the ball and punched it away with an incredible dive, sending it soaring out of play for a corner kick. It was a moment of pure athletic brilliance that left many African fans on their feet, cheering and applauding.

Sylvain Gbohouo's voice boomed across the field as he rose from the green. "We need to stay focused, guys! Conceding a goal is not an option!" he roared. His teammates could feel the intensity in his words, and they knew they had to give it their all. "Bailly, keep an eye on that Christiano guy. Don't let him get even a single free header!" Sylvain continued. "Aurier and Kone, make sure you cover your teammates! And Serey Dié, fall back quickly and defend when we don't have the ball!" Meanwhile, excitement was building as both teams readied themselves for the corner kick. The Portuguese players were quick on their feet, taking up strategic positions, eager to connect with the incoming ball and score a goal. However, the Ivorians were not about to let that happen. They were determined to defend their goal with all their might and keep the score 0-0.

As the tension mounted, the crowd was on the edge of their seats, waiting to see who would come out on top in this nail-biting moment. But that was not all. The bench was also filled with substitutes, coaches, and the technical staff of both teams, who couldn't contain their anxiety.

The referee finally blew the whistle, signaling the Portuguese players to take the much-awaited corner kick. Bernardo Silva had been preparing for this moment, and with his eyes fixed on the ball, he waited patiently before swinging his leg and sending a cross towards the box.

The ball flew through the air with swift precision, causing the players of both sides to scramble around the box, eager to outwit their opponents. More tension filled the air as the Portuguese players leaped high, each determined to seize the opportunity and score.

Amid this chaos, Cristiano Ronaldo emerged as a winner, jumping forward with incredible grace to connect with the incoming cross. However, his rival Eric Bailly was not about to let him have an easy win. Bailly stuck to the Portuguese number 7 like superglue, engaging him in a thrilling battle of aerial superiority until Ronaldo missed the ball by mere centimeters, causing a collective groan from the crowd.

But the excitement didn't end there. The ball continued on its trajectory, bouncing towards the left wing, where Nicolas Pépé was strategically waiting. With impressive agility, he quickly chased after it, his eyes fixed on the ball as he brought it under control close to the touchline before it could move out of play. The cheers erupted again as the fans watched Nicolas Pépé strategically maneuver the ball and take off toward the other side of the pitch, leaving both opponents and teammates in the dust. In a flash, the Portuguese left midfielder, Jo?o Mário, charged forward to stop the attack, but Nicolas Pépé had other plans. Without hesitation, Nicolas Pépé cleverly squared the ball to Zachary, who had already started running in sync with him through the middle. The atmosphere in the stadium reached a fever pitch as Zachary received the pass around the center circle and continued his relentless run, his long strides devouring yards of space like a hungry predator. The African fans in the stands were on their feet, cheering and celebrating this magnificent display of skill and teamwork.

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