The Legendary Chairman Novel - Chapter 178
178 Again Against a Mortal Enemy, Derbyshire
The league’s third round was nine, with Leeds joining forces to face Derbyshire on the road.
The relationship between the two teams is one of fire and water. This is the second match between the two teams since the first round of the Champions League this season!
Before the first round of the match, Zhong Cheng, who was despised and looked down on by countless people, was called a madman by everyone. However, looking at Leeds United’s results, no one dared to mock Zhong Cheng as a lunatic anymore.
Now, he turned back to see what Zhong Cheng had said back then. It was really Tama’s turn!
Their Leeds United first-round win over Derbyshire and their Leeds United are indeed aiming for promotion. Was Zhong Cheng boasting at that time? It didn’t seem like it now. It was the truth!
Of course, many people would not think so. They would only think that Zhong Cheng was lucky.
Now, the Derbyshire people were holding high the banner of revenge, welcoming this match, they would shake off Leeds United, not only winning, but also cutting off Leeds United’s chances of advancement!
In the first leg of the match, Leeds United beat Derbyshire 3-1, and the Derbyshire people are still grumbling. Now that they had finally found a chance, they would definitely go all out to win Leeds United in this match!
Derbyshire head coach George Burleigh had the same idea. Actually, the main thing he wanted was not revenge, but the qualifications to upgrade.
Derbyshire are now ranked sixth in the Champions League and appear to be in the process of levelling up. But now their situation was terrible, The West Ham team behind them had the same score of 58 points, with Reading in eighth place with 57 points, Sheffield United in ninth place with 56 points, Stoke City in tenth place with 54 points and the Queen’s Park Rangers in eleventh place with two teams with 52 points behind 53 points and a team with 50 points.
These teams were eyeing and chasing after each other, and if Derbyshire made a slight mistake, they would be doomed. At this time, the Derbyshire team really couldn’t afford to lose. Their Derbyshire team would definitely win this match!
George Burleigh did not have that many ideas for this game. He only had one idea: to stabilize the current victory and not give other teams a chance to take advantage of it.
Before the match, George Burley told reporters: “We, Derbyshire, can’t afford to lose this match and we can’t lose!”
This showed the determination of the Derbyshire players. It was too difficult for the Leeds United to win this match.
–Division Line–
March 19, 2005, Paddy Park Stadium, Derby City, England.
Derbyshire played Leeds United, the current Champions League leader, at home in a crowded stadium, wearing white shirts to cheer for their team.
Derbyshire fans are holding back a fire in their hearts. They want revenge!
Before the game even started, the Derby sheriffs were berating Leeds United fans and venting their anger!
The Leeds United fans did not show weakness. After all, they were close enemies, so from the beginning, both sides frantically clashed with each other and were full of firepower.
Leeds United are wearing blue away shirts today, and their morale is also high because they will be able to get an extra place in the league as long as they draw.
The Leeds United players were very excited and happy.
However, before the game, Zhong Cheng had repeatedly stressed that the players of Leeds United should treat them with a calm mind and not pay too much attention to these things, putting too much pressure on him.
After all, there were still so many matches left, so Leeds United’s leveling up was absolute!
The Leeds United players nodded their heads tenderly to show that they knew. Although they were much more excited and impetuous than before in the game, the overall situation was not bad.
Therefore, Zhong Cheng didn’t make any movements when he was on the sidelines.
At the beginning of the game, Derbyshire used the advantage of their home court to attack Leeds United’s goal crazily. Today, they were really aiming for victory. This was because not only could Leeds United not afford to lose, they could not even draw. If they wanted to maintain their current position, they had to continue winning!
Therefore, the Derbyshire people were extremely crazy, like oestrus bulls!
The Leeds players gradually felt a bit of pressure. Their energy had been pushed into this match, and it made them lose their mood to think nonsense, causing the Leeds players to be even more involved in this match.
Seeing this, Zhong Cheng smiled faintly. The Derbyshire people had done him a great favor!
The match on the pitch was still going on intensely. It had only been ten minutes since the Derbyshire players had three threatening kicks on the goal. They were really too sharp today.
The Derbyshire fans were very excited as they sang the team song and cheered for their team. They seemed to have seen their favorite team score.
The Derbyshire fans were full of confidence, mocking and humiliating Leeds United fans from time to time, shouting, “My pride and indulgence …”
–Division Line–
Twenty minutes later, Leeds United only had two chances to retaliate, one unsuccessful and one less dangerous. On the contrary, the Derbyshire attacked sharply.
Now the Derbyshire fans are screaming with excitement: “Charge Derbyshire! Goal, we need to score, move forward!”
The Derbyshire fans were really crazy and shouted loudly.
Winger Paul Burting’s curved kick sent the ball straight into the middle of the line to center Grigoz Lasiak!
High center Grigoz Lasiak, who has only joined Derbyshire this season, has scored 15 goals this season and is the Derbyshire’s number one striker. Almost all the Derbyshire offensives were looking for him.
Grigoz Lasiak jumped high into the air, ready to shake his head and attack. However, the football was pushed out by Pique first. The football flew to Davis’s feet and Davis quickly pushed the football to the side.
Milner, who was on the wing, moved forward quickly after receiving the ball, but was instantly intercepted by Derbyshire defenders.
Milner smashed the ball sideways and gave up on his attempt to break through. With a long kick, he passed the ball to Huntelaar in front of him.
Huntelaar scored a great hat-trick in the last game, hitting the faces of many people who questioned him, making many people feel too embarrassed now.
Huntelaar held on to Michael Johnson behind him, heading back and heading straight for Modric.
Modric took advantage of the situation to move the football forward, then swung his leg and shot from a distance of 33 meters away from the goal. With a boom, the football flew into Derbyshire’s goal like lightning.
Derbyshire goalkeeper Lee Camp could only watch as football flew into the goal.
All the Derbyshire fans present were in a commotion. Their eyes were filled with disbelief. None of them believed that this was true!
The Leeds United fans cheered excitedly and took the lead!
–Division Line–
Twenty-five minutes into the first half, Leeds United scored with a counter-attack, leading home team Derbyshire.
Zhong Chengshi smiled faintly, then directly turned around and sat back in the coaching seat!
Yes, Zhong Cheng was almost always standing on the sidelines in the matches, rarely returning to the coaching bench.
The Derbyshire fans were extremely angry when they saw Zhong Cheng’s actions. Zhong Cheng, this damned fellow, simply looked down on them. This damned lunatic Luo Yazhi is arrogant, too crazy, damned trash, come on, fuck him, fuck damned Madman Loria!
The Derbyshire fans shouted and roared wildly, all aimed at Zhong Cheng.
On the pitch, the Derbyshire players were very nervous and anxious.
After conceding the goal, the Derbyshire players stepped up their offense and ferociously rushed towards the Leeds United goal, hoping to get the score back as soon as possible.
George Burley had no other choice but to attack again and again.
George Burleigh was on the sidelines urging Derbyshire players to keep attacking and try to level the score as soon as possible.
It was the winger and Paul Burting. His cross was more accurate this time, and he found Grigoz Lasiak in the middle. However, under Pique’s interference, Grigoz Lasiak missed the ball.
The Derbyshire fans were filled with regret. How many chances!
George Burley applauded immediately to encourage the Derbyshire players and hoped they could do more.
At this time, Zhong Zheng’s big foot directly pushed the football forward.
This was supposed to be a very ordinary goalkeeper’s big kick, but Zhong Zheng’s kick had crossed the entire Derbyshire line and landed on Huntelaar’s fast forward line.
Before the Derbyshire players could react, Huntelaar had already received the ball from goalkeeper Zhong Zheng.
The Derbyshire fans and players raised their hands to indicate that Huntelaar was offside, but the referee and linesman ignored it. It was a good shot and they saw it clearly.
On the sidelines, George Burley jumped up. Damn it, how could he be so careless?
Yes, the Derbyshire defenders were careless and gave Zhong Zheng a chance to assist.
Huntelaar sliced through the air, facing goalkeeper Lee Kemp. Huntelaar made a fake shot and knocked Lee Kemp out. He was empty-handed, 2-0.
In the first half of the game, Leeds United were already 2-0 ahead of Derbyshire. Derbyshire really couldn’t stop Leeds United now. It seemed that Leeds United’s qualification for an upgrade bonus was certain.
The Derbyshire fans were heartbroken. Many people cried on the spot!
After the second half of the match, Derbyshire did not give up. They attacked crazily, wanting to change this terrible situation, save the situation, and get back the chance.
However, the Leeds United’s defense was really too strong. The Derbyshire players had a lot of chances, but the threat was not big enough. The only two threats were from their high center Grigoz Lasiak. Unfortunately, his close-range header was blocked by Zhong Zheng.
Heddlestone did not perform well and was substituted in the 23rd minute of the second half.
Not long after Hurdlestone was substituted, Leeds United had another excellent opportunity to counterattack. Modric’s sudden backward crossover pierced through Derbyshire’s defensive line.
Ribery, who was slanted forward, surpassed the Derbyshire defence and caught up with the football.
Against the young Lee Camp, Ribery’s right ankle curled into an arc and the ball circled around the side-throwing Lee Camp and into the far corner of the goal.
Three to zero!
Leeds United defeated their arch-rival Derbyshire on the road, completing a double. And most importantly, Leeds United have secured a qualification for an upgrade bonus!
Even if Leeds United lose all the remaining games, they will still be able to play in the upgrade playoffs at the end of the season.
