Chapter 140: The Roar of the BayArena

Chapter 140: The Roar of the BayArena Chapter 140: The Roar of the BayArena The atmosphere inside the BayArena crackled with electricity, alive with the unmistakable tension of a big European night. As the teams stepped out of the tunnel, a wall of noise crashed over the Crawley players, a deafening roar that felt almost physical. A sea of red and black moved as one, thousands of voices rising and falling in a thunderous climax. The floodlights, so often a faint glow in Crawley’s League One reality now blazed down like stage lights, exposing every flicker of nerves, every trace of focus. Niels stood on the touchline, the chill of the German autumn nipping at his cheeks not that he noticed. His focus was locked on his team as the Europa League anthem filled the stadium, majestic and almost overwhelming. Adam Fletcher stared straight ahead, a veteran’s calm concealing whatever nerves lay beneath. Max Simons clapped his hands, trying to summon confidence. Then there were the young ones Dev Patel and Thiago eyes wide, caught between awe and adrenaline. And Paul Pogba? He looked completely at home, a faint smirk tugging at his lips, as if this stage was exactly where he belonged. Kickoff: The whistle blew and the game burst into life. True to their reputation, Leverkusen came out like a freight train. Their pressing was suffocating, their movement fluid and relentless. Crawley were pinned back almost instantly, struggling to complete even two passes in a row. The ball, which had felt like a natural extension of their boots against Walsall, now seemed alive and unruly skidding away under pressure, bouncing awkwardly out of reach. "Stay in formation!" Niels shouted, his voice nearly drowned out by the roar of the stadium. Liam McCulloch and Harry Thompson, normally commanding in the air, struggled against quick, agile forwards who slipped into the channels, exploiting their slower pace. Meanwhile, Zach, standing in for Jamal, was constantly under pressure his passes were hurried and often forced into clearances. In the 12th minute, Leverkusen sliced through Crawley’s defense. A slick one-two on the edge of the box sent their striker clear. Adam Fletcher threw himself full-length, making a crucial diving save that pushed the ball just past the post. A collective gasp of relief rippled through the small group of traveling Crawley fans. Dev Patel, normally so confident on the ball, was visibly struggling. The Leverkusen right-back was a blur of pace and aggression, leaving him no time to think or space to work his magic. Dev attempted a few of his signature feints but was dispossessed cleanly each time. Niels watched with a sinking heart, recalling their earlier conversation, this was exactly the pressure Dev needed to overcome. Meanwhile, despite Niels’s warnings, Thiago still struggled to track back consistently. His bursts of attacking brilliance were brief flashes, quickly overshadowed by the defensive gaps he left behind. On his flank, Reece Darby was repeatedly pulled out of position, leaving wide-open spaces for Leverkusen’s wingers to exploit. In the 28th minute, the inevitable happened. A swift turnover in midfield led to a devastating through ball that cut right through Crawley’s defense. Leverkusen’s number nine calmly slotted the ball past Fletcher. The net bulged, and the BayArena exploded with noise. 1-0 to Leverkusen. Crawley looked shell-shocked. Then, a spark of defiance. Paul Pogba, calm amid the chaos, collected the ball deep in his own half. With a flick of his wrist, he launched a sublime forty-yard pass over the Leverkusen midfield, perfectly into Max Simons’ path. Max controlled it with grace, turned sharply, and fired a shot that whistled just wide of the post. It was a brief glimpse of what they were capable of, a reminder that the fight wasn’t over. The first half ended with Crawley trailing by a single goal, but it felt like a moral victory. They had withstood the onslaught battered and bruised, but still standing. Halftime: The away dressing room was a stark contrast to the roaring stadium outside. It was quiet, filled only with the heavy breathing of exhausted players and the sharp, lingering scent of liniment. Shirts clung to muddy skin. Niels walked in, his expression unreadable. He let the silence stretch for a moment, giving the players time to reflect on the first half. Then he spoke, calm but firm. "You saw it," he began. "They’re fast. They’re strong. They’re clinical. But we’re still in this. One goal. One moment can change everything." He pointed to the tactical board. "Dev, you’re dropping too deep. Stay higher and force their full-back to make a decision. Thiago, you have to track back, no exceptions. We need you defensively just as much as we need your flair. Reece, be disciplined. Your runs matter, but not if they leave us exposed." "And Pogba," Niels continued, "you’re the key. We saw that pass. That’s exactly what we need, more of it. Control the tempo. Make them chase your passes, not the other way around. Kieron, Tom, work together, close down their midfield, win those second balls. We hit them on the counter with pace and precision. Every chance we get, we take it." Max Simons stood up. "He’s right. We’ve got this. We’ve fought harder battles. Let’s go out there and show them what Crawley Town is about." Second Half: Crawley came out for the second half with renewed purpose. The tactical changes were immediate. Encouraged by Niels’s words, Dev Patel held his position higher, his quick feet starting to trouble the Leverkusen defense. Thiago, still prone to occasional lapses, was visibly working harder defensively, tracking back with gritty determination. The game turned into a fierce, end-to-end battle. Leverkusen still controlled possession, but Crawley’s counters grew sharper and more dangerous. In the 55th minute, Max Simons received a through ball from Tom Whitehall, shrugged off a defender, and unleashed a powerful shot that forced the Leverkusen keeper into a sprawling save. The ball ricocheted off the post and out for a corner. The Crawley fans erupted, a surge of hope igniting in their small section. In the 65th minute, Niels made a bold move, bringing on Korey Henry for Max Simons. Korey’s explosive pace immediately stretched Leverkusen’s tired defenders, creating space and drawing fouls. His relentless pressing forced a rushed clearance that nearly opened a chance for Dev. The minutes ticked by, each one a hard-fought battle. In the 78th minute, Adam Fletcher made another miraculous save, tipping a thunderous long-range shot over the bar. Despite his earlier struggles, Liam McCulloch threw himself into every block and header, his face etched with exhaustion and defiance. Then, in the 89th minute, came a moment of pure magic. Under intense pressure, Paul Pogba spun away from two Leverkusen midfielders with an elegant pirouette. He charged forward, drawing defenders in, before slipping a perfectly weighted pass into the path of Dev Patel. With the confidence Niels had urged him to find, Dev took a touch, glanced up, and curled a magnificent shot with his weaker left foot. The ball soared over the keeper’s outstretched arms, dipped just beneath the crossbar, and nestled into the top corner. GOAL! CRAWLEY TOWN! 1-1 They equalized in the 89th minute with a stunning goal. The away end erupted in a frenzy of disbelief and pure joy. Red scarves flew through the air, bodies embraced, and tears streamed down faces. On the touchline, Niels allowed himself a rare, wide smile and a fist pump that said it all. The Leverkusen players stood stunned, the crowd momentarily silenced. 1-1! The final minutes blurred into a frantic scramble of desperate attacks from Leverkusen and heroic defending from Crawley. Every player threw their body on the line, Korey Henry chased down lost causes, Reece Darby pulled off a last-ditch tackle inside his own box, and Adam Fletcher commanded his area with renewed intensity. The final whistle blew, its sound nearly swallowed by the mix of triumphant cheers from the Crawley faithful and the stunned silence of the home crowd. Full-time: Bayer Leverkusen 1-1 Crawley Town. The players sank to the ground some collapsing from exhaustion, others embracing, tears of joy and relief mingling with sweat and mud. They hadn’t merely battled for every inch, they had snatched a point from one of Europe’s giants. Niels stepped onto the pitch, his voice hoarse but his eyes shining with pride. "That’s how you make a statement," he said, his arm draped around Pogba’s shoulder. "That’s how you show the world who we are." As they walked off the pitch, the Leverkusen fans despite their disappointment offered a respectful applause. Crawley Town had arrived on the European stage, not with a whimper, but with a roar. Their journey was only just beginning. Back in the dressing room, the atmosphere buzzed with energy. Fatigue mixed with excitement as the players absorbed the significance of what they’d just accomplished. Niels paced slowly, a proud smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "This point means more than just a result," he said softly. "It’s a message to ourselves and to everyone watching. We belong here." Outside, the fans spilled onto the streets of Leverkusen, buzzing with disbelief and pride. News of Crawley’s draw spread quickly, sparking conversations far beyond the usual football circles. For a club that was just promoted to League One, this moment felt like the start of something much bigger. What’s next for Crawley Town after this incredible result? How does it impact their League One campaign, and what are the implications for the rest of their Europa League group stage?