True to their reputation as a Champions League powerhouse, AC Milan did not go down quietly.
They had a weapon.
Alexandre Pato.
"Woooooo!"
That single goal, and his roar, silenced the Santiago Bernabéu.
The blazing momentum died in an instant.
57th minute of the second half.
"Milan step ahead once more. Real Madrid now need at least one more goal just to force extra time."
"It will be difficult, but this is not the time to despair. Based on the run of play, Real still have the upper hand."
Number of passes, possession.
And shots.
Every key statistic that directly influenced victory favored Real Madrid.
If they regained the flow, a goal could come at any time.
"It is fine. There is still time. Everyone, keep playing like this, no, even better."
"Stay sharp. We were down by three at kickoff. Now it is only one."
"Yes, it is nothing. We can win this. We have to believe that. We will win. Young, lead the attack."
Ronaldo's eyes shifted sideways.
Ho-young, having just finished speaking with Scolari, opened his mouth.
"Listen carefully. From now on, we focus on one plan. If we cannot score, substitutions will come. If we score before that, we launch one final all-out assault."
Real's players gathered tightly.
There was not much time.
They had to finish communicating before play resumed.
Ho-young led the tactical explanation.
Aside from Casillas and Ramos, no one in the squad had been at the club longer than him.
That was why he wore the third captain's armband tonight.
"Our attack must be complex but fluid."
He spoke quickly, choosing simple, direct words, like a coach addressing his players.
"Ronaldo and Yuri, stretch the width first. I will drop to the third line and build up with Alonso, buying time. Then Ramos and Marcelo push up the flanks. When their defensive line spreads wide, Ronaldo and Yuri cut inside. Higuaín drops into the second line and pulls Nesta out. I will time my run and break their defense."
It was a plan devised in a short exchange between him and Scolari.
When he finished, Ronaldo spoke.
"He is right. We need to run more. Look at them, they are tired. If each of us runs a little more and supports each other, we can score two or three. Young, create whenever you see the chance."
Tap.
They bumped fists.
Ramos followed.
"Good. Let us make those old guys wet themselves."
Typical Ramos.
Pepe and Casillas added their words.
"Everyone is doing well. I will stay focused until the end."
"I will handle everything behind."
Then.
"Back to positions. Let us go."
As the referee signaled the restart, Ho-young added one last sentence.
"We win and come back to the Bernabéu two more times. ¡Vamos."
"¡Vamos!"
The 2009-2010 UEFA Champions League final would be held here.
They intended to return.
60th minute.
A tense tug-of-war unfolded around the ball.
"A fierce midfield battle."
"The ball falls to Alonso. Gattuso changes target and charges!"
"Alonso, behind!"
"Here!"
Tak.
"Ho-young covers and receives safely!"
"Real calmly circulate possession."
The battle continued.
After ten intense minutes, Real gained the edge.
"Real push possession to 70 percent."
"But possession alone does not win matches. Even 99 percent means nothing without goals. Milan can score with one percent. They must stay cautious."
It was possession football versus counterattacking football.
Real dominated the pitch, Milan hunted for openings.
As time passed, Real's attacks sharpened, and Milan began to retreat.
"Clear it! Silva, clear it!"
"Damn, that scared me."
"You should have headed it straight to me!"
"They were pressing you. How could I? You should have dropped to find space. Thiago, idiot. If that happens again, we are dead."
They were not arguing.
It was their way of raising defensive intensity and mentality.
"Both teams are delivering an incredible match. Is there a better clash of spear and shield?"
"But Real's spear grows sharper. If they keep hammering, the shield will crack."
Yet Milan's shield was sturdier than expected.
They clung desperately and finally earned a golden counterattack.
"Zambrotta intercepts Zhirkov's pass and finds Pirlo!"
"Milan break forward!"
Players trapped in their own half burst forward at full speed.
"Pirlo looks up and plays it into space behind Pepe!"
"Pato surges past the halfway line!"
Alexandre Pato.
His runs were dangerous, but he was truly terrifying once he had the ball.
If it touched his feet, defenders were left chasing his explosive bursts.
But an obstacle appeared.
"Ho-young covers!"
Dropping deep with Alonso, he sprinted across.
Closing the gap on Pato, known for his pace, he eventually overtook him.
But.
Tak.
"Got it."
Pato stretched both legs while sliding and touched the ball first.
But only for a moment.
"Ho-young steals it cleanly!"
"He looks at Casillas. A pass back…"
"Oh, at that moment!"
He looked at Casillas but did not pass.
Instead.
Swish.
"Damn it!"
"A sharp turn instead of the back pass! He shakes off Pato!"
"Real counter immediately!"
A counter to the counter.
There was no better opportunity.
With Milan's players caught in transition, Ho-young sprinted forward.
There was no complex tactic.
Just run.
"Ho-young surges!"
"He approaches Gattuso head-on!"
Gattuso reacted a fraction late and threw himself in, ready to take a red card if necessary.
That was the mistake.
"Oh my."
"Ho-young leans away!"
A sudden stop and rapid turn.
He twisted his upper body to evade contact and burst forward.
Tak!
It was a sprint that made Pato's burst look ordinary.
He even left Thiago Silva behind.
As the goal approached, he set the ball perfectly on his right instep.
The net shook.
"Gooooal! What a wonder goal! Ho-young scores again! We are level once more!"
4-1.
"Woooooo!"
Eighty thousand fans roared.
In front of him, a notification appeared.
[You chose Head-of-Household Burst and Run (U).]
[Storm Dribbling (SU) and Head-of-Household Burst and Run (U) successfully fused.]
[You chose Near-Divine Burst and Run (W+).]
[Time required to fully acquire talent reduced from 280 days to 40 days. During these 40 days, no other talents can be coveted.]
He cut the celebration short.
"One more goal first."
The match raced toward its climax.
75th minute.
Leonardo brought on Kaká to reinforce the attack.
Though not fully fit after a minor injury against Lazio, he was in better shape than Ronaldinho.
80th minute.
Scolari replaced the exhausted Fernando Gago with Lassana Diarra, strengthening the defense.
Around the 85th minute, Douglas Costa came on for Zhirkov, adding energy on the left.
It targeted Zambrotta's fatigue.
Real attacked that flank.
89th minute.
"Dougie! A little wider! Drag Zambrotta out!"
Ho-young's shout echoed forward.
Douglas used his fresh legs to distract Zambrotta.
Tak, tak.
Tak!
Dropping deep, Ho-young exchanged short passes with Alonso, gradually pushing the line up.
Marcelo and Ramos overlapped aggressively.
There was no retreat.
"Real increase attacking numbers to seven."
"Ho-young scans both flanks. Milan's defense wavers. Mentally and physically exhausted, but this is when focus matters most."
"Gattuso reacts immediately!"
Gattuso shadowed him relentlessly.
But Ho-young did not force it.
If he crossed this final hurdle, the chance would come.
Then.
"Ho-young and Alonso combine with a one-two! He drives forward!"
"Gattuso cannot keep up!"
The shift happened instantly.
Like a beast awakening, Real's formation transformed.
Douglas and Ronaldo attacked the box.
Marcelo and Ramos held the width.
Finally.
"Gonzalo!"
Higuaín dropped into the second line and received Alonso's pass.
"Nesta steps out to tackle Higuaín!"
But it was a trick.
Within a second, Higuaín slid a diagonal pass aside.
His role ended there.
The baton passed to Ho-young.
"Young! He surges!"
"This is promising!"
He did not stop.
For Milan, it was critical.
Maldini sensed it first and switched targets, marking Ho-young.
Leaving Thiago Silva alone was not enough.
"Maldini covers!"
"He stretches a leg!"
"Young!"
Ronaldo's shout rang in his ears.
Without hesitation, Ho-young pulled the ball back, neutralizing Maldini's tackle.
Maldini lost balance.
The gap opened.
"Ho-young's draw back! Perfect timing!"
Only Thiago Silva and Dida remained.
He could have gone alone.
But.
Tak.
He passed right to Ronaldo and ran into the central space.
Because he trusted him.
No doubt.
Tak.
"Get in!"
"Ronaldo lifts it immediately!"
"A lob over Thiago Silva!"
Thiago Silva grimaced.
The ball floated over him.
Ho-young stood with his back slightly to goal.
A decisive unmarked chance.
"The ball drops!"
He leapt.
Whoosh.
Tilting left, both legs airborne.
Then.
Boom.
A bicycle kick aimed at goal.
Dida did not react.
The net rippled.
"Gooooal! Ho-young completes his hat-trick!"
"A miracle. That is the only word. A miracle at the Bernabéu!"
"Hoooo!"
"Woo Ho-young! Woo Ho-young!"
The stadium shook.
Five minutes to the semifinals.
Scolari replaced Higuaín with Mamadou Sakho to secure the result.
When stoppage time expired, the whistle finally blew.
Whistle.
Aggregate score 6-5.
After a fierce battle, Real Madrid advanced to the semifinals.
(To be continued.)