CHAPTER 626: CHAPTER 626 CINDERELLA

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[38’]

Leverkusen finally stitched together a string of threatening passes, creating a real attacking opportunity. Demirbay dropped between centre-backs and slid Wendell down the line. One-twos with Diaby opened a gap allowing them to find Havertz in the middle of the field; he cushioned it, rolled it past Kehrer, and snapped a shot through Thiago Silva’s legs.

Rico saw it late, kicked out a strong right boot and diverted it wide. "Big save," Drury called. "Leverkusen finally punch a hole."

From the corner, Demirbay went short to Diaby, got it back, and fizzed a waist-high cross toward the near stick. Volland darted across Silva and glanced it goalward. Rico’s hands were firm again, parrying into traffic before Bernat hacked it clear. PSG tried to counter, but Aránguiz read the release to Mbappé and slid in cleanly, drawing a roar from the Leverkusen bench.

[41’]

Leverkusen created another attacking opportunity in the 41st minute as Lars Bender zipped a pass into Havertz at the centre of midfield. He flicked it onto Aránguiz with his first touch, who sent it up the flank to Diaby. The French winger cut across his man with an explosion of speed and let loose a low shot from the edge of the box.

Silva missed the ball by mere inches as it looped toward the far post, where Rico jumped across his line. He couldn’t reach it, but the dull clang of the ball hitting the post resounded a second later. The ball rebounded, springing back out where Volland tried to reach it, but Kimpembe hooked it clear.

"Better. Much better," Drury said. "Bosz will be looking to encourage this in the second half."

"Finally, some life in this match from Leverkusen," Beglin said. "But they need more of that if they’re going to get back into this match."

The match entered a lull after their attack, with neither side threatening the goal again. It didn’t take long for the final minutes to elapse, and the half-time whistle came with Leverkusen trailing 1-0. As the players trudged toward the tunnel, Bosz’s expression was grim. PSG, meanwhile, looked comfortable, almost relaxed, as if this was exactly according to plan.

[Half-Time: PSG 1-0 Leverkusen]

~~~

[46’]

Whatever confidence Bosz had tried to instil evaporated within minutes of the restart. PSG came out with renewed intensity, and Leverkusen simply couldn’t cope. Verratti collected the ball deep, turned, and played it forward to Neymar in one smooth motion.

The Brazilian’s movement was sublime, drifting into the space between Leverkusen’s midfield and defence where neither Demirbay nor Aránguiz could reach him. His first touch killed the ball dead; his second was a disguised through pass that split the defence like a knife through butter. Mbappé was already moving, his acceleration leaving both Tah and Sven Bender for dead.

The French striker was through on goal, one-on-one with Hradecky. The Finnish goalkeeper rushed out, trying to make himself big, but Mbappé had already decided. With the coolest of finishes, he slotted the ball beyond the keeper’s reach with the outside of his boot, the ball curling away from Hradecky’s desperate dive and nestling into the far corner.

"MBAPPÉ AGAIN!" Drury’s voice carried a tone of inevitability. "And PSG have doubled their lead. Two-nil, and Leverkusen’s Cinderella story is slipping away."

"This honestly has me wondering whether they are waiting for an invitation to start participating in this much." Beglin criticised. "Far too easy is this Leverkusen defence being dismantled"

[PSG 2-0 Leverkusen - Mbappé 49’]

The goal stung Leverkusen back to life. Trailing 2-0, they finally began to show the spirit that had carried them this far. From the restart, Havertz drove forward, playing a sharp one-two with Volland before threading a pass into Diaby’s path. The Frenchman took one touch and unleashed a fierce drive from twenty-five yards that forced Rico into a diving save, tipping it over the bar.

"That’s more like it!" Drury exclaimed. "Leverkusen showing they’re not done yet!"

[52’]

The resulting corner caused chaos in PSG’s box. Demirbay’s delivery was perfect, curling toward the penalty spot where Tah rose above Marquinhos. His powerful header was goal-bound until it deflected off Thiago Silva’s shoulder, the ball cannoning off toward the goal line.

Rico scrambled, clawing the ball away just before it crossed, but the rebound fell to Aránguiz at the edge of the box. The Chilean struck it first-time, but his volley flew narrowly over the crossbar with Rico beaten. "So close!" Beglin shouted. "Leverkusen are finding their rhythm now. PSG need to weather this storm."

The match became more balanced, with both teams trading blows. Dimaria collected the ball on the right and danced past Diaby and Aránguiz with an audacious elastico. He drove toward the box before Wendell got close, but Tah stood firm, refusing to dive in.

When he tried to slip it past him, the German defender timed his tackle perfectly, winning the ball cleanly and immediately launching a counter-attack. "Brilliant defending from Tah," Drury noted. "That’s what Leverkusen needed."

[61]

Leverkusen’s best chance came in the fifty-ninth minute. Wendell overlapped down the left, receiving a flick from Diaby before whipping in a dangerous low cross. Volland peeled off Kimpembe at the near post, stretching to meet the ball with his right foot. The connection was clean, the shot heading for the bottom corner, but Rico somehow got down to push it wide.

"WHAT A SAVE!" Drury bellowed. "Sergio Rico denies Volland when it looked easier to score! That could be the moment that defines this match!" The PSG keeper lay on the ground for a moment, breathing heavily, before being congratulated by his defenders. On the Leverkusen bench, heads were in hands. Another golden opportunity spurned.

[65]

PSG responded immediately. A quick free-kick from Verratti caught Leverkusen pushing up, and suddenly Mbappé was racing through on goal again. This time, Hradecky stood tall, rushing out to narrow the angle as the French striker tried to round him. Mbappé’s touch was slightly heavy, and Hradecky pounced, smothering the ball before the striker could recover.

"Crucial intervention from Hradecky!" Beglin said. "He’s kept Leverkusen in this contest with that save."

The match was opening up, end-to-end now. In the 68th minute, Havertz picked up the ball thirty yards out, and suddenly he saw an opportunity as he spotted Rico off his line. He nudged the ball forward, causing the nearby Paredes and Marquinhos to realise what he was about to do.

They desperately sprinted forward, looking to interfere with the Leverkusen forward, but it was too late. He had taken aim, and he fired a cannonball, sending the ball flying goalward a second before they could interfere. The ball cut through the humid Lisbon air like a missile, wobbling violently in its flight.

Rico backpedalled, eyes wide, scrambling backwards to read its trajectory. He managed to get a fingertip on it, but there was too much power, and it pierced the back of the net with a resounding thud. "KAI HAVERTZ!" Peter Drury’s voice thundered through the broadcast. "A moment of magic! Out of absolutely nothing, the Leverkusen captain has given them a lifeline!"

"Oh, that is special," Jim Beglin replied, almost laughing in disbelief. "He’s seen Rico off his line and punished him from thirty yards. No hesitation, no second thought — pure instinct and quality. That goal has cracked this semi-final wide open."

Havertz didn’t celebrate wildly. He just turned, fist clenched, barking at his teammates to get back in shape. "Come on! One more!" he yelled, his voice cutting through the artificial ambience.

[PSG 2 – 1 Leverkusen – Havertz 68’]

[70’]

PSG tried to reassert itself, with Mbappe dropping deep to collect the ball and driving forward, but Demirbay was onto him immediately. The German midfielder timed his tackle perfectly, winning the ball and immediately springing forward. He found Wirtz on the right, who drove at speed.

The winger cut inside onto his left foot and unleashed a curling effort toward the far corner. Rico stretched, fingertips grazing the ball just enough to divert it onto the post. The rebound fell to Volland, but his instinctive shot was blocked by Marquinhos, who threw his body in the way.

"Leverkusen are all over them now!" Drury shouted. "PSG can’t get out of their own half!"

The fourth official raised his board: number 19 coming off, number 22 coming on. Rakim could be seen at the edge of the field bouncing on his heels as he waited to enter the battlefield. As Diaby jogged off, exhausted but satisfied with his performance, he clasped hands with Rakim. "Keep pushing them." He nodded, testing his ankle one final time before sprinting onto the pitch.

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To Be Continued...