CHAPTER 633: CHAPTER 633 WEAVE, WEAVE, UPPERCUT

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[46’]

The whistle blew for the second half, and Wolfsburg kicked off. They immediately went more direct. Arnold got the ball and launched it long toward Weghorst, who held it up well against Tapsoba. The Dutch striker laid it off to Brekalo, who drove forward quickly, but Aránguiz was there to intercept.

Leverkusen countered immediately, Rakim receiving the ball on the left and driving forward, but this time Wolfsburg had numbers. Players immediately surrounded him and couldn’t wiggle his way out in time. "More aggressive start from Wolfsburg," Wolff observed. "Glasner has clearly made adjustments."

"They have to," Kai replied. "At 2-0 down, they have nothing to lose. The question is whether Leverkusen can maintain their discipline and not give away cheap goals."

[52’]

Wolfsburg’s pressure continued, and in the fifty-second minute, they finally got their reward. Arnold collected the ball in midfield and played a superb diagonal pass over Leverkusen’s defence, finding Brekalo in space down the right channel. The Croatian winger controlled it beautifully with his first touch, taking it past Sinkgraven’s sliding challenge.

As he approached the edge of the box, Sven Bender stepped out to close him down, but Brekalo cut inside sharply onto his left foot, creating just enough space. His shot flew with power, curling away from Hrádecký’s outstretched hand, and nestled into the bottom left corner. The net bulged, and the 500 Wolfsburg fans erupted with joy.

"GOOOAAAL!" Wolff roared. "Josip Brekalo has pulled one back for Wolfsburg! What a strike! Game on!"

"That’s a beautiful finish," Kai added. "He created the space himself with that cut inside, and struck immediately. Hrádecký had no chance. Suddenly, Leverkusen are under pressure, leading by one can be more dangerous than drawing."

[Wolfsburg 1-2 Bayer Leverkusen — Brekalo 52’]

The Volkswagen Arena came alive, the small crowd making noise that echoed around the empty seats. Brekalo sprinted toward the corner flag, sliding on his knees as his teammates mobbed him. Glasner was pumping his fists on the touchline, screaming encouragement.

[58’]

Wolfsburg, energised by the goal, became braver and committed more men forward. This had some results: They began winning more second balls, pressing with greater intensity, forcing the visitors into uncomfortable situations. In the fifty-eighth minute, another dangerous attack nearly brought them the equaliser.

Arnold played a quick one-two with Schlager before threading a pass through to Weghorst, who had dropped deep again. The Dutch striker turned brilliantly, using his strength to hold off Sven Bender, and immediately released Victor Sá down the left.

The Portuguese winger bullied his way past Lars and was through on goal, just him and Hrádecký. He took one touch to steady himself, then struck it with his right foot toward the near post. Hrádecký reacted instinctively, stretching out his leg to deflect it. The ball rebounded back into play, but Tapsoba was there to clear it behind for a corner.

"WHAT A SAVE!" Wolff screamed. "Hrádecký denies Victor Sá from point-blank range! That was surely the equaliser."

"Incredible reflexes from the Finnish goalkeeper," Kai added, his voice carrying genuine admiration. "He made himself big, stayed on his feet as long as possible, and then got that crucial touch. If Victor Sá scores there, we’re looking at a completely different match."

The corner was whipped in by Arnold with pace, curling dangerously toward the near post. Bodies converged in the six-yard box—Weghorst battling with both Bender brothers, Lacroix jostling with Alario. The ball arrived at the perfect height for Weghorst, who rose above everyone, but it was up in the air, punching the ball out of his box, taking out the striker and bender in the process.

"Hrádecký is clearing his box with authority." Wolff roared. "Wolfsburg are knocking on the door, but the finish stand in their way like an immovable gladiator."

[62]

In the sixty-second minute, they won a free kick near the halfway line after Schlager fouled Wirtz. Demirbay took it quickly, playing it short to Rakim, who had dropped deep to receive. The seventeen-year-old feinted left but turned right, deftly evading Mehmedi’s press with a neat body feint.

With space opening up ahead, Rakim accelerated forward, his long strides eating up the ground. Arnold tried to step in, wrestling his arm and trying to drag him down, but he stayed on his feet. A quick shoulder bump and change of direction left the German midfielder grasping at air as he created separation. Suddenly, Rakim found himself in Wolfsburg’s third with options.

Bellarabi was making a run down the right, Wirtz was drifting into space centrally, and Alario was holding his position up front. Rakim picked out Bellarabi’s run and, without breaking stride, played a perfectly weighted through ball with the outside of his right foot. The ball beamed its way, slipping past a few legs that failed to react or tried to get in its way.

"What a pass and Bellarabi is in!" Wolff’s voice lifted with excitement.

The German winger latched onto it, racing past Roussillon’s desperate recovery challenge. As he approached the edge of the box with Casteels rushing out, Bellarabi pulled the trigger, striking it low and hard toward the far post.

Casteels got down well, getting a strong hand to it, but he could only parry it away. The rebound spun loose to the top of the box, where Alario found himself with Brookes at his side. The Argentine struck it first-time on the volley, but Brooks threw himself across desperately, his outstretched leg deflecting the ball wide for a corner.

"So close to a third for Leverkusen!" Kai exclaimed. "That would have killed the game off completely."

"Bellarabi will be asking himself why me around this point in time, that’s three point blank chances he has failed to convert," Wolff commented as the camera cut to the German clutching his head in frustration. You can’t fault him, though, as he is doing everything right to get in those areas, but Casteels seems to turn superhuman when he faces him."

[65’]

Bosz made his first change, bringing on Wendell for Sinkgraven, who had been struggling defensively against JOSIP BREKALO’s pace. He also brought on the Frenchman MOUSSA DIABY, who had been warming up for a while, for the underperforming Bellarabi.

"Interesting changes from Bosz," Wolff observed. "Wendell brings more defensive solidity, and Diaby’s pace could be crucial on the counter-attack with Wolfsburg committing men forward."

"Smart management," Kai agreed. "Bellarabi has been unlucky tonight—three good chances but couldn’t convert. Sometimes you need to change it up, and Diaby offers something different with his raw speed and directness."

[70]

The substitutions almost immediately paid dividends in the first five minutes of their introduction. Wolfsburg won possession in midfield and tried to build another attack, but Wendell read Arnold’s pass to BREKALO perfectly, stepping in to intercept. Without hesitation, he played it forward to Demirbay, who turned quickly and released Diaby down the right channel.

The Frenchman didn’t need to warm up his motor and immediately accelerated from 0 to 100 in under three seconds. His pace was electric, causing immediate problems for Schlager and Roussillon, who tried to get in his way. The left back even put his body in the way, but other than derailing him for a second, it did little to increase his speed.

Diaby knocked the ball past him with his first touch and set off a race as he exploded into space, his pursuit trailing. "Diaby’s off!" Wolff’s voice rose. "Look at that pace!"

As Diaby approached the box, Lacroix stepped out to challenge, but the winger cut inside sharply onto his left foot. He looked up and spotted Alario making a run toward the near post and immediately sent it his way. The striker wrestled with Brooks inside the box but didn’t dive, instead managing to knock the ball behind him to the side in front of the back post.

The ball bounced up as Rakim and Steffen arrived at the edge of the six-yard box. The winger reacted immediately, pivoting on his left foot, ignoring his marker, who was now grabbing his shoulder in a bear hug. Perform an almost kickboxing sidekick on the ball that appeared waist-high. He his foot whipped around and he swung through, letting himself be dragged to the ground to draw a foul just in case.

Casteels had reacted brilliantly to Alario’s flick on side-stepping across his line and pouncing across where he anticipated the shot to go. A dull thud resounded as the ball left Rakim’s boot, angling downward as it flew toward goal, forcing him to adjust mid-flight.

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To Br Continued...