Chapter 116: Stunned [2]: Again
Chapter 116: Stunned [2]: Again
The commentator’s voice rose with anticipation as Hugo Duro stepped up to the penalty spot. The tension in the stadium was palpable, the crowd’s murmurs swelling into a collective roar.
"Hugo Duro, calm as ever, places the ball... This is a moment of pure pressure. Can he deliver? The whistle blows... Duro steps up... AND HE SCORES! Straight into the bottom left corner! Unstoppable! What a finish from Hugo Duro!"
The stadium erupted. Fans leapt from their seats, waving scarves and flags in jubilation. The camera panned to Duro sprinting toward the corner flag, fists clenched, face alight with emotion.
His teammates, led by Izan, rushed to join him. Izan wrapped an arm around Duro, shouting in his ear, his grin as wide as the pitch.
"Look at that team spirit! Izan and the boys swarming Hugo Duro—this is what football is all about!"
The celebrations spilt toward the stands, where fans leaned over the barriers, arms outstretched. Duro reached up, tapping hands with the nearest supporters, sharing the moment with the people who lived for nights like this. Izan followed suit, clapping the crowd and nodding in appreciation.
"The connection between the players and fans is electric tonight! Hugo Duro with the ice-cold penalty, and now they’re celebrating together. What a spectacle!"
The noise reached a fever pitch as the players jogged back to their half, the fans still chanting Duro’s name, the rhythm of the game momentarily forgotten in the wake of such a dramatic goal.
....
[In the stands]
The chatter among fans in the stadium and across social media was electric, buzzing with excitement about Hugo Duro and Izan’s incredible form in the league.
At a bustling café near the stadium, a group of supporters huddled over their drinks, debating passionately.
"Can you believe it? Hugo Duro and Izan are unstoppable right now! Duro’s got that killer instinct and Izan? The kid’s a prodigy!" one fan exclaimed, slapping the table for emphasis.
"Right? And to think Izan is just 16! Matching Bellingham’s numbers, who is on fire this season is no joke," another chimed in, scrolling through stats on their phone.
At the stadium, fans in jerseys with Duro’s and Izan’s names proudly displayed were deep in discussion.
"You see that link-up play last week? Izan’s assist for Duro was pure class. They’re like a dream duo," one supporter said, gesturing animatedly.
"Forget just being great this season—they’re making history," added another. "And don’t sleep on Izan’s potential. If he’s doing this now, imagine what he’ll be like in a few years!"
Online forums were ablaze, with one trending comment reading: "Hugo Duro leading the charge, Izan redefining what it means to be a young talent, and now with this goal, Hugo Duro joins Izan and Jude Bellingham for the top scorer spot? This is football heaven!"
The fans’ passion was undeniable. Whether in the stands, cafés, or online spaces, one thing was clear: Duro and Izan weren’t just players—they were the heartbeat of the league’s most exciting narrative.
...
"Eighteen minutes played folks, and it Valencia 1, Cadiz 1"the commentator said.
After celebrating, Izan and Duro joined the rest of their teammates on their half of the pitch. Following this, the referee blew his whistle and restarted the match.
Following the restart, Cádiz played cautiously. Sensing the imminent danger Valencia, particularly Izan posed on the counter, they avoided any risky passes as well as moving too high up the pitch.
As much as they wanted to follow this plan, they couldn’t as playing with a high offensive line was akin to breathing to them.
They couldn’t just change it. This led to a few problems.
In the 24th minute, Izan received the ball just past the halfway line. With a quick turn, he left his marker flat-footed and surged down the left flank switching with Diego López in the process.
His pace was electric, and the defenders scrambled to catch him. Reaching the edge of the box, Izan cut inside on his right foot, evading two more defenders.
The defenders were tensed and focused as they watched out for anything that could come from Izan.
With a snapshot aiming for the far post, Izan unleashed the ball forcing the Cadiz’s goalkeeper into a desperate dive, parrying the ball wide. The crowd roared as Valencia earned a corner from Izan’s fearless drive.
"That shot was travelling. The tables have turned here as Valencia keeps knocking on the door of Cadiz"
Izan rushed towards the corner flag before taking a short corner with the aid of Gaya. Following the return pass from Gaya, Izan curled a cross into the box, but the header from Cenk Ozkacar went straight at the keeper.
The Valencia fans sighed but roared in appreciation at their team’s attacking prowess.
In the 30th minute, Izan drifted wide to the right, linking up with Valencia’s right-back in a neat one-two that split the Cadiz defence.
Sprinting to the byline, Izan whipped in a curling cross to the near post. Hugo Duro met it with a glancing header, but the Cadiz keeper reacted brilliantly, tipping it over the bar.
Another corner for Valencia, and another demonstration of Izan’s creative spark.
The away fans were in disbelief at how easily their team was being suppressed. After their goal, their team had been almost nonexistent in the match.
Valencia kept knocking and knocking until a chance came. The 37th minute showcased Izan’s vision and movement. After Gaya got the ball, he released it into space which was near Izan.
Picking up the ball in midfield, Izan exchanged a rapid give-and-go with Javi Guerra and López, slicing through Cadiz’s defensive lines.
After getting the ball again, Izan wormed his way through 2 opponent players who were trying to encroach on his space.
As he charged into the box, Izan unleashed a low, powerful shot aimed at the bottom corner.
The home fans looked on in excitement but the goalkeeper stretched to his limits, barely getting a fingertip on it to send the ball out for a corner.
After the shot, Izan smiled slightly as the home fans applauded him for the effort. To the away fans, Izan’s hunger for a goal was evident, and their defence was struggling to contain him.
Gaya, who was near the ball, went to the corner flag and delivered the ball this time, but what was an opportunity soon turned into a nightmare.
After sending the ball in, the Cadiz goalkeeper rushed out and pushed the ball out. In an ensuing battle for the loose ball, Javu Guerra saw the ball hit the ground and bounce over him.
The hearts of the Valencia fans sank at this moment. Kouame who had been silent like the whole Cadiz’s team after their first goal controlled the ball and began running with it.
Chaos ensued as the Valencia defence scrambled to catch him. Izan, who was probably the fastest player on the team, also gave chase, but he was too far away.
Still he managed to close the gap between them but Kouane had already powered through the ball. The shot from him whistled through the air like a missile.
In that moment the whole stadium, watched on as the ball hit the net like it had a grudge to satisfy.
"GOOOAAAALLL. Cadiz has turned defence into attack. What a missle from Kouame. Valencia had kept knocking and knocking but in the end, it was the opponent who got the chance to score.
What a shot from Kouame once more. Ladies and Gentlemen, Valencia are stunned once more here at the Mestalla. Its Cadiz 2, Valencia 1"
Ruben Baraja, who stood on the touchline, facepalmed himself after Cadiz scored. The Cadiz fans, on the other hand, felt relieved.
Their team, which had been on the receiving end of a relentless barrage of attacks, had suddenly scored.
Seeing the scoreline change finally brought them relief. The same couldn’t be said for the opposing Valencia fans, who looked on at the Cadiz players with shocked expressions.
After a while, they finally stopped staring at the celebrating opponents and started cheering for their players.
The chants from the fans riled up the players as they quickly took the ball out of the net while waiting for the Cadiz players to finish Celebrating.
After the restart, Valencia attacked relentlessly but this time, a good number of players stayed back.
This though, didn’t make their attack any less threatening
[In the Away stands]
The Cadiz fans watched Izan with a mix of admiration and scepticism, their voices a blend of cheers and jeers.
From the stands of the Mestalla, they couldn’t help but acknowledge the teenager’s skill.
"He’s got talent, no doubt," one fan muttered, leaning on the railing. "But he’s too cocky for his age. Always trying to do everything himself."
Another fan, dressed in yellow and blue, nodded. "True, but did you see that dribble? He danced past three of our defenders like they weren’t even there."
A group behind them chimed in, alternating between critique and awe. "He’s all flash. Wait till he comes up against a real defence; then, we’ll see if he’s the real deal!"
"Come on, even though he’s not our player, give credit where it’s due. He scored a hat-trick against Atlético Madrid and got another hat-trick of assists against Athletic Bilbao.
Our defence isn’t up to par with those two teams, so be lucky that some things aren’t working out for him today, and remember, he’s only 16.
Real deal or not, he’s got us talking," another said with a grudging smile. "We’ve got to give him that."
As Izan darted across the pitch, their voices swirled like the tide, a mix of respect for his undeniable brilliance and frustration at his audacity.
The young player’s presence had captured their attention, even if it left them divided.
A/n: Have another chapter my lovely readers. I’ll see you tomorrow with the end .