As the first half ended 3-0, a lethal dose of national pride was delivered straight to South Korea.
[Breaking News: 'Ho-young' records 1 goal, 1 assist, 1 key contribution, rescues team from crisis!]
[Real Madrid on course for the semifinals, 45 minutes away from a miraculous comeback.]
[Gennaro Gattuso, tasked with marking Ho-young, enters the tunnel looking like he "doesn't want to play football anymore."]
[Free spirit 'Ho-young' covers over 6 km in the first half alone, 5 successful solo dribbles, 3 key passes, completely unleashed from Gattuso's marking.]
└Unleashed by Gattuso lol
└Is that really the Gattuso I know? Did he catch mad cow disease? Why is he so weak?
└He got destroyed by Park Ji-sung before and now Ho-young too ㅠㅠ This is why footballers should not talk trash
└He even threw a water bottle going into the tunnel. Looks furious
└He lost it after Ho-young's celebration lol
For Real Madrid fans, especially Koreans, it was impossible to contain the excitement.
The anxiety vanished, replaced by peace. For those who had woken up at dawn to cheer for Ho-young, there could be no better news.
With the World Cup approaching, expectations were rising fast.
[Are we actually making the semifinals?]
└Semifinals? LOL Did you forget the 2006 World Cup? One win would already be a miracle
└Still, except for Argentina, the rest look manageable. Nigeria and Greece seem beatable
└I just want us to reach the Round of 16
└Whatever happens, let us reach the Champions League final first! Real fighting!!!
└By the way, are Beckham and Dinho not playing today? I want to see Sheva too. All the old guys are on the bench ㅠㅠ Is rejuvenation impossible for them now?
└Rejuvenation my foot. They will probably head to the US or the Middle East for one last payday before retiring
└Maybe they will come on in the second half? Milan's coach must be drawing up a surprise tactic right now
The thirteen-minute halftime felt shorter than ever.
In the home locker room, Raúl's voice echoed warmly.
"Let us push a little more."
Hope and unity filled the room.
In contrast, the away locker room was the complete opposite.
Bang. Crash.
The man venting his anger by kicking chairs was Gennaro Gattuso.
"You idiots! Get it together! Run harder! It feels like I am the only one busting my ass out there!"
"Hm."
"Friend, that does not sound right."
"Ringhio, here we go again. Whoever gave you that nickname nailed it."
His teammates reacted calmly, as if they had expected it.
When matches went badly, this was not uncommon.
"Gattuso, why not calm down? It is not over yet."
"He is right. You need to stay composed to perform better in the second half. Do not blame yourself too much. Half the world has already been wrecked by Ho-young. You are not the only one. No need to feel ashamed."
"What kind of nonsense is that?"
"It means lower your voice and steady your mind."
"Damn it. You think I can stay calm?"
"Easy, friend."
"Pirlo, you idiot! Get your head straight before I kill you. What was that pressing? Is this a children's game?"
"Gattuso, you are too fired up. I know you are angry, but sit down and rest. You still have to run in the second half."
"Haa!"
It was not only Gattuso who felt frustrated.
The others were just as disappointed and understood the problem.
They were simply different in temperament.
Most of the veterans focused quietly, reinforcing their winning mentality.
Soon, Captain Maldini stood up.
"There is not much time. Focus on me."
The heart of Milan.
Paolo Maldini finally spoke.
His presence in the locker room was immense.
He inspired, motivated, and from that belief, miracles were born.
"We are Milan. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Captain!"
"Do you understand that this could be Milan's grave?"
"Yes, Captain!"
"Good. If each of you runs one more mile, we win. Run until you collapse. Even after you fall, keep running. Then we win."
A historic giant of world football.
AC Milan's pride would not be broken here.
"Both teams are coming out. Real Madrid remain unchanged. Ho-young stays at attacking midfielder, with Zhirkov and Ronaldo on the flanks. Higuaín leads the line."
"They intend to maintain the momentum. But Milan have made a change. They have finally drawn their sword."
In recent years, Milan's financial troubles had worsened due to increasing debt.
Yet this season, thanks to one young player, there were signs of revival.
"Alexandre Pato replaces Flamini. Pirlo and Seedorf move into attacking midfield roles, Pato leads the line, forming a 4-3-2-1 Christmas tree."
"One wonders what instructions Leonardo has given."
At halftime, Leonardo had called Pato aside.
"Pato. Now is when we need you. Only you can save this team."
Milan needed someone to reverse the first-half momentum.
That was Pato, Leonardo's hidden card.
The second half began.
Whistle.
"Pato pushes forward immediately."
Pato clenched his fists.
He could not forget 2003.
The Campeonato Paulista U13 Championship.
As a forward for Corinthians, he had suffered a crushing defeat to São Paulo.
Worse, he had lost the Golden Ball to Ho-young.
Everything had gone wrong because of him.
The same in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Without Ho-young, Brazil might have taken bronze.
And now, seven years later.
The nightmare was repeating.
Because of Ho-young alone, a match they had nearly won was slipping away.
In the Champions League quarterfinals.
A cursed rivalry.
Clench.
Pato stared at Ho-young, renewing his resolve.
"I may not be him, but I have grown too."
The boy who carried his family's hopes.
He could not let this chance at wealth and glory slip away.
He gritted his teeth.
At the same time, Ho-young looked back.
"He has changed."
Since Beijing, Pato's talents had grown significantly.
[Alexandre Pato]
[Possessed Talents: Head-of-Household Burst and Run (U), Astonishing Pace (S-), Creative Individual Skills (A+3), Precise First Touch (A+2), Space-Piercing Movement (A+2), (More...)]
(You may covet one talent upon meeting the conditions.)
(S-grade requires hidden conditions.)
(Condition 1: Steal the ball once)
(Condition 2: Win a speed contest)
(Condition 3: Score a brace)
(Hidden condition: No S-grade talent available to covet due to insufficient level.)
"Burst and run."
For someone once hailed as Pelé's successor, it looked modest.
But it was still exceptional.
It felt like his mileage had piled up.
"Could it combine with Storm Dribbling (SU)?"
Either way, it was obtainable.
Forty-five minutes remained.
"Let us do this."
It would not be easy, but Ho-young was brimming with confidence.
"Milan finally open up. After draining Real's stamina in the first half, they now attack."
"But Scolari is not unaware. He has prepared countermeasures. Real still hold the advantage."
Real changed their style immediately.
Instead of long balls, they increased short passes to raise possession.
Ho-young conducted, controlling the rhythm.
If Milan pressed tightly, he accelerated the tempo, using quick, short passes to secure the ball.
"Stay sharp."
He sensed the shift.
Milan's movements were unusual.
It was Leonardo's final gamble.
The keyword was speed.
First, using Pato's pace to initiate high pressing.
Second, pushing full-backs Maldini and Zambrotta forward to trap Real inside.
"Maldini, who should have been substituted, continues with veteran spirit. Hard to believe he is over 40."
"The situation is turning. Milan have effectively deployed seven midfielders, trapping Real from the outside in."
Milan raised their line.
Gattuso and Pirlo cut passing lanes, pressing high.
Space opened behind them, but they accepted the risk.
A gamble.
"In that case…"
Ho-young's eyes flashed.
The ball left his foot.
Boom.
"A high ball into space! Ho-young's long pass drops behind the defense!"
If they were going to be attacked, he would strike first.
Higuaín, lurking between Thiago Silva and Nesta, burst forward.
The pass was perfect.
The run flawless.
But.
Tap.
"Damn!"
"Higuaín denied! Nesta's tackle was impeccable!"
Nesta's sliding tackle was clean.
And it did not end there.
"The ball rolls toward the goal line. Dida collects and throws quickly!"
"The throw finds Pirlo!"
"Pirlo sends it long!"
Boom.
Milan's suppressed momentum exploded instantly.
"Pirlo exploits Real's high line!"
"Pato sprints through!"
The counterattack, starting from the goalkeeper, became a decisive chance.
Two seconds earlier, the ball had been near Milan's goal line.
Now it was inside Real's penalty area.
And then.
Tap.
Pato controlled in front of goal, rounded Casillas, and finished calmly.
Aggregate score 5-4.
Milan took the lead again.
(To be continued.)