Chapter 222: Shining Bright on the Field

Words : 1397 Updated : Oct 5th, 2025

Schalke 04 fans were growing anxious. This goal made them deeply uneasy. They knew AC Milan was a top-tier powerhouse, an elite team. Although they had previously made fun of the infamous "Istanbul" incident, mockery is one thing—no one truly underestimated AC Milan. Facing AC Milan, Schalke 04 felt intimidated. Their overall squad strength and player composition simply couldn't match up. They were relying more on their home advantage and hoping to scrape a draw or maybe even a win. But from the start of the match until now, AC Milan had been playing better and better, and had even begun to dominate the game. Especially that number 99—Suker. Many teams were wary of the player who joined AC Milan bearing the title of Champions League Golden Boot, but most still focused their defensive efforts on Shevchenko. After all, from the perspective of European teams, Suker was still young, while Shevchenko had already proven himself on many big stages—Serie A, the Champions League, and more. But while they focused on Shevchenko, Suker exploded. AC Milan simply couldn't be contained! That was the clearest impression Schalke 04 had in this match. Shevchenko, Suker, Kaka, Pirlo... Which of these guys wasn't dangerous? Who could be left unchecked? They couldn't win one-on-one duels. As for teamwork, Milan's coordination was clearly more refined. Schalke 04 suddenly found themselves in a tight spot. "Settle the rhythm. Don't rush the counterattack. We must avoid letting the pace get disrupted." The German commentator quickly advised. He had commentated on many matches and had rich experience. This was not a good sign. Even though it was only one goal, the way AC Milan advanced and controlled the midfield meant this match would become increasingly difficult for Schalke 04. Especially with Poulsen now on a yellow card. Would AC Milan just let that go? "Pass the ball!" Suker called for the ball up front as Poulsen pressed hesitantly. Suker could clearly feel that Poulsen wasn't applying as much pressure anymore. At the very least, he wasn't like earlier when he would just push him down. With a yellow card hanging over him, Poulsen didn't dare take too big a risk—he was being cautious, and his actions were hesitant. Suker lowered his center of gravity and sharply pushed his hips backward. Poulsen was suddenly knocked off balance, and Suker took the chance to receive the ball and turn. "Damn it!" Poulsen cursed and charged toward Suker again. Suker pretended to look at Kaka, tricking Poulsen into stretching out his leg, then flicked the ball lightly with his left foot. Nutmeg. Poulsen was furious and spun around, using all his strength to try and body Suker. But Suker suddenly braked hard. Poulsen staggered and fell to the ground, humiliated as if he had been clowned twice in a row. His eyes were red with rage. As Suker prepared to accelerate again, Poulsen suddenly stretched out his leg and hooked Suker's ankle with the outside of his foot. Thud! Suker crashed to the ground! Tweet!!! The piercing whistle sounded again. The referee ran over immediately, already reaching into his pocket. A second yellow for Poulsen! Which meant a red card! He was sent off. The sudden turn of events was hard for Schalke 04 fans to accept. Even the players surrounded the referee to argue. But the ref wasn't budging—Poulsen's challenge was clearly targeting Suker's ankle. It was a blatant foul. "Poulsen lost his cool and got sent off. There are still 3 minutes left in the first half. That was totally unnecessary!" The German commentator shook his head with a sigh. He had sensed things were going awry. Facing AC Milan's pressing, Schalke 04 had been on the back foot. After the earlier conflict, Poulsen was already full of frustration. And then Suker deliberately provoked him, embarrassing him twice in succession—it was impossible to remain calm. Suker watched Poulsen walk down the tunnel. "Schalke 04's coach must've given certain orders before the game. These fouls were part of their tactics!" Suker smirked, "But they want to foul? I know how to dive. Let's see who wins this!" From the beginning of the match, Poulsen had constantly harassed Suker with small fouls. He'd disrupted counterattacks multiple times through rough play. Suker had been simmering with anger, and now he had a chance to retaliate. The first conflict was just the opening. This one forced Poulsen to lose control! Suker had deliberately targeted him. Call it provocation, baiting, whatever—it worked! The pressure got to Poulsen, making him repeatedly foul until he committed a critical error. Just like that, before halftime, Schalke 04 were down to 10 men. And they had lost a defensive midfielder. This would make things much easier for AC Milan. "Well done!" Pirlo walked over and patted Suker on the shoulder. Suker had kept pressing Poulsen the whole time. Every dribble was aimed at drawing him out. Poulsen was a ticking time bomb—and now it had exploded, leaving Schalke's defense in shambles. And with AC Milan already in the lead, things were looking great for them. "Come on, let's keep pushing!" Suker shouted. AC Milan's morale surged. In the second half, Milan began relentlessly attacking Schalke 04. Without Poulsen acting as a shield, Schalke 04 had to adjust during the break. They brought on two defensive midfielders to try and contain Suker and Kaka. The situation was dire, but they had to prevent Milan from exploiting the numerical advantage further. But even so, AC Milan's offensive strategy had become crystal clear. This season, Milan's biggest improvement was the depth of their attack. In the past, Pirlo would look for a killer pass or rely on Kaka's dribbling. Now, their attacks were centered around Suker. He orchestrated Milan's forward play. And he was incredibly good at it. On the left flank, if he saw a chance, he'd either break through or link up with teammates. If not, he would quickly switch play. Milan's offense was multidimensional. Even the fans and commentators found it a joy to watch. It wasn't about miracle passes or genius through balls. It was methodical, patient, and coordinated. Then came the perfect final blow. In the 78th minute, Suker played a sudden through ball to the onrushing Seedorf. Seedorf brought it into the box, but instead of shooting, he cut the ball back diagonally to Suker. Suker shaped up to shoot, drawing in defenders, then flicked it with the outside of his boot. The ball fell to Shevchenko. With a defender on him, he held his balance and swept the ball into the net while falling. Goal! "Shevchenko scores!" "AC Milan's quick passing inside Schalke 04's box tore the defense apart—Suker with the assist, Shevchenko with the finish." "Milan are up by two. This is their second Champions League victory of the season!" Italian commentator Aldo Serena exclaimed, "Three goals in two matches for Shevchenko—the Ukrainian striker has exploded!" "This season's AC Milan attack is dazzling—and it's all thanks to Suker!" "He's the general of the frontline. His brilliant choices keep Milan's attacks flowing non-stop!" "Schalke 04, already a man down, concede again!" "The match is over!" Aldo Serena laughed, "Let's congratulate AC Milan on another Champions League win." Even though the match hadn't officially ended, AC Milan held firm. Suker played the full match—Carlo Ancelotti didn't sub him out. Kaka and Shevchenko were withdrawn. Ancelotti brought on defenders to shore up the backline. And with their solid defense, Milan saw the match out. Full-time. 2005/2006 UEFA Champions League Group Stage – Round 2Schalke 04: 0 – 2 AC Milan Suker had a goal, an assist, and drew a red card—earning Man of the Match. ".That's it?" In the stands, Mandzukic watched with a sense of pressure. Their former derby rivals looked helpless against AC Milan. Suker's performance was nothing short of phenomenal. "He really is the best of us..." Mandzukic muttered. Even after joining a powerhouse filled with stars, Suker not only earned his spot—he became the brightest star of them all. Back at Dinamo Zagreb, Suker had already been the most outstanding one. Now at AC Milan, he still was.

Chapter 222: Shining Bright on the Field

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