Swansea kicked off first.
After the match officially began, Swansea's players exchanged passes back and forth across the middle and defensive thirds.
Playing at ho, Swansea first used passing to settle into the rhythm of the match.
Off-the-ball movent was sothing the coaching staff had emphasized especially during tactical training.
The two full-backs provided flexible support on the flanks, while the wide midfielders constantly observed the positions of the central players.
The mont there was a chance to play a quick passing combination, they had to launch a fast attack.
Tobias Rau ran from the left side of the defensive third up to the flank in midfield. After receiving a pass from Cromwell in the centre, he played a straight ball forward.
Grosso made a forward run and shook off Barnet right midfielder Gambell. He then quickly passed the ball back into the middle.
Cromwell, who had moved forward to receive it, was pressed by holding midfielder Hendon as soon as he brought the ball under control.
Before touching the ball, Cromwell had not seen a passing lane toward Ibrahimović or Villa. Hendon had blocked his route for a forward pass.
At that mont, Cromwell deftly nudged the ball to the right with his foot, evading Hendon's press.
That surprised Hendon slightly.
But just as Cromwell tried to pass the ball out to the right, toward Jas Cook, a powerful pressure ca from his right side.
Barnet central midfielder — and forr Swansea midfielder — Jonathan Curtis had tracked back to press him.
He directly barged Cromwell to the ground, then stretched out a foot and took control of the ball.
On the touchline, Lynn angrily threw out an arm and shouted at the fourth official, "That was an obvious foul!"
The fourth official tilted his head toward Lynn, looking helpless.
Ray Kennedy turned toward Lynn's side and shouted, "Kid, there was nothing wrong with that challenge! This is football! Are you only starting to understand that now? Isn't it a little late?"
Lynn gritted his teeth, a fierce look appearing on his face.
English football had always been famous for its lenient refereeing standards.
The standard of officiating in the lower leagues was not high to begin with, and the players' technical ability was also limited.
Most physical contact was treated as a fair challenge.
Otherwise, a match would never be able to flow properly.
Cromwell, lying on the ground, grabbed the grass with his right hand, his fingers digging into the soil.
He gritted his teeth and got back up, imdiately tracking back to defend.
He did not fly into a rage out of embarrassnt.
On the contrary, he was thinking about how to avoid direct physical collisions with his opponents, because it was obvious that he was at a disadvantage in terms of physicality.
At seventeen, he might be the weakest player on the pitch in direct duels.
He could not keep suffering like this.
Barnet quickly launched an attack. Left midfielder Tuhart sent a cross from the left flank in front of Danny Gabbidon.
Centre-forward Stevens reached the dropping point before Friedrich and threw his head at the ball.
The header was too central.
But goalkeeper Glendower was making his Swansea debut, and he was overly nervous. The ball struck his body, and in a fluster, he blocked it down.
The spectators in the stands were all startled.
Butterfingers?
Before Barnet's other striker, Beadle, could follow up with a rebound shot, Glendower himself kicked the ball out of the penalty area first, sending it straight out over the touchline.
Brunel walked over to Glendower and asked, "You all right? Don't panic."
Glendower raised a hand toward his teammates in apology.
He was making his debut, so naturally he was a little nervous. Besides, the match had only just begun.
A bit of early panic was normal.
Barnet manager Ray Kennedy noticed Glendower's performance and fell into thought.
He was quite familiar with Glendower. According to his original plan, Glendower would have been Freestone's backup.
His ability had not yet reached Freestone's level, and his experience was completely zero.
Barnet took the throw-in.
Swansea pressed on the flank, and Gambell switched the ball into the middle.
Pedretti defended Jonathan Curtis head-on just as Curtis controlled the ball.
Just as Curtis was observing his teammates' runs and preparing to pass, soone stretched a foot in from diagonally behind him and poked the ball away.
He turned his head and saw Cromwell.
His expression imdiately turned ugly.
Being dispossessed by a junior from his forr club — and the youngest player on the pitch — naturally made him especially unhappy.
Cromwell shouted to his teammates, "Pass! Speed up the passing! Move the ball faster!"
Danny Gabbidon stepped forward and passed the ball to Cromwell.
Curtis quickly counter-pressed.
When he was still two tres away from Cromwell, Cromwell knocked the ball back to Pedretti, then ran toward the left side of midfield.
Pedretti, Rau, Grosso, and Cromwell completed a series of quick passes down the left side, before Cromwell suddenly switched the ball out to the right flank.
On the touchline, Lynn watched with great excitent.
Cromwell was driving the whole team to bring out their strengths.
If it ca to physical duels, this group of young lads might not be Barnet's match. But these players selected from Germany, Italy, France, and the local ranks clearly had better technical ability.
Even Swansea's supporters in the stands were watching with bright eyes.
Although Cromwell was young, his performance in just ten minutes on the pitch already had the air of a general.
And he was extrely active, appearing everywhere in midfield.
This was exactly the effect of the All-Action Runner P Card.
Jas Cook carried the ball forward two steps on the right, then sent a forty-five-degree cross from the flank.
The ball flew straight toward the middle of the penalty area.
Ibrahimović beat Howard in the aerial duel thanks to his height advantage, but his header was poor. The ball went over the crossbar and into the stands.
The Liberty Stadium erupted in thunderous applause.
The supporters were extrely excited to see Swansea produce a proper attacking move.
In midfield, Cromwell kept reminding his teammates to pass and move faster.
Only by doing that could they restrain Barnet and stop the opponents from breaking up their attacks.
And it was effective.
Swansea then produced several beautiful waves of attack.
On the left side of the front third, Grosso passed the ball to Villa, who had drifted toward the corner of the penalty area.
El Guaje knocked the ball sideways before Smith could close him down, escaping the opponent's pressure, then fired a shot that tested goalkeeper Freestone.
Freestone blocked the ball, and Howard got there first to clear it long.
Jas Cook then played a mid-range pass from midfield.
Ibrahimović dropped back to receive and laid the ball off for Cromwell, who was charging forward from deep.
Unfortunately, the young Swansea captain's shot quality truly made people sweat.
His strike sent the ball flying out over the touchline.
He had completely sliced it.
Barnet's attacks were relatively simple: purely crosses from the flanks.
Brunel had the physical and height advantage, while Friedrich gradually adapted to this English-style football. The two perford steadily, firmly controlling the airspace over Swansea's penalty area and preventing Barnet's forwards from getting heading chances inside the box.
In the twenty-sixth minute, Swansea launched a fast attack down the left.
Grosso overlapped and went to the byline.
After receiving Pedretti's pass in front of the penalty area, Cromwell played a diagonal ball with his right foot toward the byline before Hendon could close him down.
Grosso received it just before the line, then suddenly carried the ball inside.
Smith had originally planned to defend against Grosso's cross, but he had not expected the opponent to dare dribble inside.
Grosso moved along the byline to the edge of the penalty area, then sent in a low ball across goal.
Villa failed to reach the near post first, but he attracted Howard's attention and pinned down part of the defence.
Inside the six-yard box, Ibrahimović made a diagonal run past Bowr's side.
He had a golden chance.
Goalkeeper Roger Freestone rushed out and threw himself forward. Ibrahimović's first-ti shot and Freestone's save almost t at the sa point.
The scene was thrilling to the extre.
Bang!
Swansea supporters, already prepared to celebrate, watched as Ibrahimović, caught between defenders in front and behind, poked the ball toward Barnet's goal.
But goalkeeper Freestone blocked it away with his chest.
A huge uproar followed.
The Liberty Stadium echoed with a massive sigh.
Lynn also held his head, finding it almost unbelievable.
How could Ibrahimović miss such a good chance?
But just when everyone was disappointed, the ball that Freestone had blocked with his chest rolled to the edge of the penalty area.
Under everyone's gaze, they saw Swansea's captain, Cromwell, appear there.
Holding midfielder Hendon imdiately turned and slid in.
He might not necessarily reach the ball, but he could at least block Cromwell's shooting lane.
However, Cromwell was extrely calm at this mont.
With his left foot, he knocked the ball toward the front-right side of his body, while running into the open space in that sa direction.
He dodged Hendon's sliding tackle.
The sudden change of direction also shook off Curtis behind him.
In front of him was an almost empty net.
He then unleashed a powerful shot.
The ball flew into the net.
The Liberty Stadium exploded with deafening cheers.
"That kid is brilliant!"
"Swansea's new captain!"
"His na is Oliver Cromwell!"
"Oliver! Oliver! Oliver!"
After Cromwell fired the ball into Barnet's goal, he burst into loud laughter and sprinted wildly toward the dugout.
The Swansea players chased after him.
He rushed in front of Lynn, raised his arms high, and shouted at Lynn, "Boss, was my goal beautiful?"
Lynn hugged him tightly and shouted excitedly, "Beautiful! I love you to death! You actually scored! You scored on your debut! Congratulations, you've broken Swansea City's record for youngest goalscorer! Hahaha! My captain, you really make proud!"
The coaching staff and the substitutes all ca out to congratulate Cromwell as well.
The hugely popular Cromwell received everyone's blessings.
Everyone loved Cromwell.
After the celebration ended, Cromwell backed away onto the pitch and blew kisses toward the stands.
Not far away, Ray Kennedy's face looked sowhat ugly.
But as an experienced manager, he would not be easily defeated. He walked to the touchline, called Tuhart over, and gave him detailed instructions, issuing new tactical orders.
In the press seats, David Livingstone was expressionless.
Sitting not far from him, Raleigh shouted at him, "Disappointed, are you? Swansea don't just know how to play football — they're playing brilliantly!"
Livingstone sneered. "The match isn't even halfway done."
Raleigh did not hide his view at all. "Whatever the final result is, Swansea have already disappointed you today. At the very least, they are a team with fighting spirit, and they have huge potential. Your words and actions slandering Swansea only make you look like a clown."
Livingstone suppressed his anger and did not reply.
User Comments
0 comments from readers