Chapter 181: Corner Kick Strategy

Words : 1425 Updated : Oct 1st, 2025

Bang!! Suker suddenly leapt into the air, dodging Ferdinand's sliding tackle. The ball was cleared out of bounds by Ferdinand. Suker turned toward the ball and muttered, "So aggressive!" That tackle was clearly aimed at the man, not the ball. There had to be contact between the ball and the man. Luckily, Ferdinand didn't go in studs-up like Roy Keane might have, or Suker would've had to elbow him in return. "Be careful! They're playing rough!" Suker shouted to Modrić. He had a recovery card and wasn't afraid of injuries. But Modrić wasn't so lucky. If he got hurt, it'd be serious! Modrić nodded heavily. He could feel that since the second half started, Manchester United had been sliding in constantly. They were playing very aggressively in midfield, trying to kill Dinamo Zagreb's momentum. "Pass more!" Modrić said. Suker nodded. When the throw-in came, Suker lightly tapped the ball with his left foot. Neville suddenly lunged in to body him off the ball. Suker had expected it. He slightly lifted himself and let the hit carry him forward, while using the inside of his right foot to pass the ball to Modrić. Modrić didn't dwell on the ball and passed it back immediately. Cristiano Ronaldo and Rooney rushed in to press. Štimac turned and passed to the goalkeeper. The two kept pressing, but Štimac had already pulled into space for a return pass. Goalkeeper Grestečić calmly returned the ball to Štimac, easily dealing with the pressure. Štimac passed it laterally out wide. Srna passed directly to the retreating Vukojević, who sent a long ball forward. Suker held his position, lightly cushioning the ball with his left foot and perfectly stopping it in front of him thanks to his great touch. He immediately took off again, dodging Neville's pressure, and passed the ball back to Modrić. Dinamo Zagreb began playing possession football. And United, after constant pressing, started to lose their structure. As Dinamo Zagreb kept passing the ball around, United's frustration boiled over. Ahhh!!!Rakitić screamed and fell to the ground. The referee immediately blew the whistle and warned the fouling player—Scholes. Scholes was apologetic, quickly admitting fault and promising not to foul again, which softened the referee's attitude, and he didn't issue a card. Rakitić, seeing he wouldn't get a card for it, started to get up. "Why are you getting up so fast? Stay down a bit longer!" Suker muttered to him. Rakitić got the message and started clutching his calf, groaning in pain. Suker pointed at him and told the referee, "He needs a checkup." The referee wasn't sure. But hearing Rakitić's cries, he nodded. The medics came on to check him. Once they were done, Rakitić hopped up, good as new. "Was my acting convincing?" Rakitić asked cheerfully. Suker covered his eyes. Beep!! Sure enough, the whistle blew again. The referee ran over and flashed a yellow card at the stunned Rakitić. "No more time-wasting! This is a warning!" Rakitić was dumbfounded. Suker just shook his head and sighed. If you're going to act, at least make it believable! He felt he should give these guys some acting lessons. But Rakitić wasn't a key defensive player, so the card wasn't a big deal. And they did manage to waste some time—no real gain, but not a loss either. Meanwhile, United was getting increasingly frustrated. Minute 70. Dinamo Zagreb earned a corner. Srna headed to take it, but Suker stopped him. "I'll take it!" Srna looked surprised but let Suker take over. At the corner, Suker signaled to Mandžukić. Mandžukić was puzzled but walked over anyway. Suk flashed a "6" gesture. "Corner Strategy No. 6!" Mandžukić's eyes lit up, and he nodded. Soon, both stood at the corner. At the whistle, Suker tapped the ball to Mandžukić. Mandžukić turned and shielded the ball with his back. "Damn it!!" Ferdinand realized what was happening and called for backup. Two defenders rushed in and tried to shove Mandžukić off the ball. But he held firm and, just before losing balance, back-heeled the ball off Ferdinand's ankle and out for another corner. Suker again ran to the corner, Mandžukić standing nearby. Clearly, they were going to repeat the tactic. Seconds later, another corner was awarded to Dinamo. "They're wasting time!" Ferdinand angrily protested to the referee. The ref pursed his lips but said nothing. He knew they were stalling—but it was all within the rules. Suker served the corner again. Mandžukić protected the ball again. "If you're so good, then go take the ball!" Seeing the ref do nothing, Ferdinand lost his cool and stayed near the corner, hoping to intercept the next one. But Suker just refused to kick. "Hey, kid! Hurry up!" Ferdinand barked. Two minutes had already been wasted. And Dinamo showed no signs of stopping. The referee came over again. Suker pointed at Ferdinand: "He's blocking my kick!" The referee frowned but, according to the rules, told Ferdinand to move away. "Damn it!" Ferdinand backed off reluctantly. Suker tapped the ball to Mandžukić again. He shielded it again. "Crap!" Ferdinand rushed over. Another corner kick. "That's smart!" Commentator Krančević chuckled. Suker and Mandžukić had wasted nearly five minutes just with corner kicks. And they weren't done. Even Davor Suk (the real one) looked delighted. "It's clever!" They used the rules fairly. Why not? United was losing their minds. After wasting six minutes, Ferdinand finally got the ball from Mandžukić and launched it forward. "Counterattack! Score, damn it!" United surged forward. Rooney bulldozed through Jarni, turned, and forced his way past two defenders. He accelerated forward. Rooney faked a shot and created space, then blasted it. Bang!! The keeper parried it—but Ronaldo pounced on the rebound and chipped it into the net! 78th minute—Manchester United pulled one back. Dinamo Zagreb 2–1 Manchester United! "Ronaldo!! Brilliant! Wonderful goal! Let's go, United boys!" The English commentator shouted. But five minutes later, he was furious again. Dinamo got another corner. Srna picked up the ball and waved for Mandžukić again. "Those bastards!" In stoppage time, United was going mad. Dinamo had wasted ten full minutes with corner tactics. Now, only two minutes remained. Aggregate score: Dinamo 4–2 United. United needed two more goals to advance. Then, Giggs slipped a through ball to Rooney. Rooney surged forward, with Ronaldo overlapping on the wing. Rooney saw defenders closing in. Though he wanted to shoot, he knew passing was better. He played the ball into Ronaldo's path. Ronaldo accelerated and beat the keeper to the ball, tapped it past, and gently chipped into the empty net. Manchester United scored again in the final minute. Dinamo Zagreb 4–3 Manchester United (aggregate). "There's still hope!!" Ronaldo grabbed the ball and rushed back. The United players felt a glimmer of hope. One more goal would send them through. If Ronaldo scored again, a hat-trick comeback would skyrocket his status at United. He was already imagining himself a hero. "Attack! Attack!" When the game restarted, United surged forward. No retreat now. Dinamo fans were nervous. They were ahead, but United's counterattacks were fierce—one slip, and it was over... Bang!! Wow!!!!!!!!!!!— Dinamo fans erupted. As United pushed forward, Mandžukić came out of nowhere and slid the ball from Giggs to Modrić. Dinamo fans' eyes lit up. Counterattack time! Suker was already sprinting forward. He was the fastest to react and run. From his own half, he charged ahead. Modrić didn't hesitate—he launched the ball forward. "Suker!!" Modrić shouted. Suker crossed the halfway line and sprinted toward goal. United's keeper ran to meet the ball. He charged out—better than waiting. Suker got there first. He tapped the ball forward three meters with his left foot. The keeper lunged in—looking to take him down. But Suk twisted away skillfully. "He beat him!!! Suk!!! Empty net! Empty net!!" Commentator Krančević screamed. Suker stumbled slightly but pushed off with both hands and sprinted again, regaining control. All of Dinamo Zagreb's fans went wild. United players and fans shut their eyes in agony. They were utterly crushed. Whoosh!! Suk calmly slotted the ball into the empty net. A killer goal! Dinamo Zagreb 3–2 Manchester United (5–3 on aggregate). As United painfully kicked off again, the final whistle blew. Dinamo Zagreb knocked Manchester United out over two legs and reached the Champions League quarterfinals! They are among Europe's top eight!

Chapter 181: Corner Kick Strategy

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