In the Liberty Stadium stands, the banner that read "Brighton are definitely losing. Not even God can save them. Lynn said so!" was being lifted again and again by the supporters.
No one knew whether this black Swan called Swansea was overestimating itself, or whether the world simply failed to understand that even a black swan could harbor the ambition of a great bird soaring through the skies.
Lynn crouched by the touchline, his backside resting against the heel of his left foot as one knee bent beneath him.
A bead of sweat rolled down the side of his face, but he was completely unaware of it.
His eyes remained fixed on the pitch.
In truth, his wild words had not been planned. Yesterday, they had been nothing more than an impulsive outburst.
But how this match should be played — that had already been decided after the defeat at Brisbane Road.
He and the coaching staff had analyzed Swansea's current strengths and weaknesses.
The team certainly had drive, and the players each had their own characteristics and impressive potential.
But the team was too young. Many of the players could not maintain a high level for the full ninety minutes. That was an undeniable fact.
Because of that, there were major limitations in how Swansea could set up tactically.
They could only exert their full force during a specific phase of the match.
And if they were going to exert force, the entire team needed to be united in thought.
Should they do it in the first half or the second?
Considering that young teams were prone to losing focus near the end of matches, and with the influence of physical fatigue added on top, the final stage of the ga was bound to be difficult.
That ant Lynn could not place the main attacking phase in the first half. He also had to consider one more point: in the first half, the opponent would still be highly alert.
By the latter stages of the second half, however, the opponent would also be affected by their physical decline. If Swansea struck later, the success rate would be higher.
On one hand, Lynn had warned the players in advance:
We will exert our strength in the latter stages of the second half!
That would prevent the players from ntally relaxing during the closing period.
On the other hand, Super Sub could play a key role!
At this stage, Swansea's strategy was to focus mainly on defending for the first sixty-five minutes, then leave the decisive battle for the final twenty-five!
As for Lynn's outrageous statent yesterday, that had been entirely for the sake of raising morale — and returning every bit of the humiliation Adams had once given him!
Could they win?
Lynn did not know for certain.
But this could also be considered a psychological battle between the two managers.
Who could provoke the other?
Who would be unable to tolerate the other?
In that regard, Lynn had suffered far more unfair treatnt. Clearly, he had more patience and tolerance than Adams.
When Adams saw that Lynn's substitutions were only like-for-like changes, he did not pay much attention.
If Lynn had not withdrawn Charisteas and had instead added another forward to the front line, then Adams would have beco extrely wary.
After all, both Barnet and Macclesfield had died under Lynn's late three-forward system.
But now, Swansea still only had two forwards. Adams believed they would not be able to stir up much trouble.
Yet the match began moving in a completely different direction from what he had imagined.
In the 74th minute, after Pedretti made a precise tackle on Carpenter just outside the box, Swansea imdiately launched a dazzling counterattack.
Pedretti passed the ball forward to Cromwell.
The young Swansea captain, who had been known for running all over the pitch, released the ball with one touch as Harnard closed him down!
Over the past month, thanks to the training boost from the One-Touch Passing card, he could now achieve a respectable passing success rate with first-ti passes in open play.
Cromwell sent the ball out toward the flank in midfield.
Grosso carried it forward.
At the sa ti, Cromwell continued his run ahead.
After turning around, Brighton defensive midfielder Harnard was shocked to discover that he could not catch up with Cromwell!
Of course, Cromwell had only just co on.
He was full of energy and physical strength. More importantly, his one-touch pass had made Harnard's defensive press miss completely.
With his acceleration and timing, Harnard had already fallen far behind after stopping and turning.
Grosso drove forward until he reached the edge of the penalty area.
When he faced Brighton full-back Watson, he passed the ball inside to Cromwell, who had arrived just outside the box.
At this mont, Villa and Ibrahimović were both inside the penalty area, each being marked by centre-backs Butters and Cullip.
Cromwell gently played the ball into Ibrahimović.
With his back to the penalty area, Ibrahimović t the pass and lightly laid it diagonally back.
Cromwell moved laterally, forcing left-back Hinshelwood to rush up and intercept him.
After all, the two centre-backs did not dare move.
At that instant, Cromwell calmly slipped a diagonal pass through.
The ball rolled between Hinshelwood and Butters toward the right edge of the penalty area!
Jas Cook charged forward. With one touch, he carried the ball to the byline, creating depth in the attack!
Without hesitation, Jas Cook drove a powerful low cross across the face of goal.
The instant he released the ball, Lynn, who had been crouching by the touchline, suddenly stood up, staring intently into Brighton's penalty area!
Ibrahimović tried to attack the ball, but Butters and Cullip squeezed him from both sides, slowing him down.
He failed to reach it and could only watch helplessly as the ball rolled past in front of him.
Goalkeeper Roberts followed the rapidly moving ball with his eyes, only to see a white figure rushing in toward the far side of the goal.
It was substitute David Villa.
Seeing the ball arrive, he used the inside of his right foot to guide it into the net!
Roberts threw himself across a step too late.
After seeing the ball go in, Villa imdiately rushed toward the touchline, sprinting along the front of the South Stand while roaring at the top of his lungs. In the nearby stands, a spectacular human wave surged upward!
"David Villa! Goal! Goal! Villa has scored only five minutes after coming off the bench! This Spanish forward has scored his second goal since joining the team!
"His previous goal gave Swansea a last-minute winner at ho against Barnet. Can this goal help the team produce another decisive victory today?
"There are only fifteen minutes left in the match!"
Brighton manager Adams stared in shock.
As he watched Swansea's goal unfold, he felt a bone-chilling coldness rise within him.
After Swansea completed their substitutions, it was as though the entire team had undergone an earth-shaking transformation!
This was a change in the team's temperant and posture on the pitch!
On the touchline, Lynn raised a hand and tried to loosen the tie around his neck.
He needed to breathe freely, to release the pressure inside him, but for so reason, the tie just would not co undone today.
So he simply took off his suit jacket and threw it aside. Then he turned toward the supporters behind Adams and repeatedly raised both arms upward.
The fans in that section naturally understood his aning.
Not only did they let out even louder cheers toward the Brighton bench, but groups of supporters also began shouting in unison at Brighton manager Adams.
"Adams, hurry up and eat shit!"
"Adams, hurry up and eat shit!"
Adams turned to look at Lynn.
Lynn rely gave him a disdainful smile.
'I didn't co to English football relying only on skill cards and digging up future superstars!'
Four years of study, plus his understanding of the future developnt trends of football — all of that contained Lynn's wisdom, effort, and imasurable sweat!
This goal was a brilliant team move.
It was sothing many Division Three teams could not produce.
It was the result of Swansea emphasizing ground combinations and focusing on switching the point of attack in dangerous areas through their tactical routines.
The fans holding the banner in the stands were so excited they almost lost control.
They spontaneously began to sing, turning the words on the banner into a lively chant and repeating it again and again.
"Brighton are losing, oh, Brighton are losing!Not even God can save them, God, not even God can save them!That's what Lynn said, that's what Lynn said!"
Adams looked as though his eyes were about to split with rage.
He turned and strode back to the bench, imdiately calling for his substitutes.
He was making changes too!
He replaced three midfielders. Aside from defensive midfielder Harnard, everyone else in midfield was changed.
Two new wide players ca on to strengthen the flanks, and then Adams withdrew central midfielder Carpenter and sent on another striker!
Brighton were switching to a front three!
When Lynn saw Brighton's substitutions, he imdiately signaled to Gabbidon.
On the pitch, Gabbidon gave Lynn a thumbs-up, indicating that he understood.
Gabbidon tucked into the penalty area to reinforce the defense inside the box.
Under Adams's orders, Brighton attacked frantically, but the gaps in their back line were growing larger and larger.
In the 80th minute, Tobias Rau successfully dispossessed one of Brighton's newly introduced wide players. He then played a straight pass into Grosso's feet.
The Italian advanced quickly down the flank.
Ahead of him, Villa made a diagonal run into the half-space and successfully beat the offside trap. At the sa ti, Grosso's through ball arrived exactly on schedule.
Villa carried the ball into the box, then crossed it before the opposing centre-back could close him down.
It was an excellent threatening pass.
Ibrahimović received it near the penalty spot. Seeing that only goalkeeper Roberts stood in front of him, Lynn was already preparing to celebrate the goal.
But Ibrahimović's shot struck the post and bounced out over the byline!
Lynn clutched his head in disbelief.
He thought his eyes had deceived him!
A huge sigh rang out across the Liberty Stadium.
Ibrahimović stomped the ground in frustration.
He could feel that his stamina was beginning to fail. To keep up with Villa just now, he had made an all-out sprint.
As a result, when he was left unmarked, he relaxed too much, and in the instant he shot, he failed to control his technique properly.
Adams was still shaken by the scare, but he believed that if Brighton had survived such a disaster, good fortune would surely follow.
He was wrong.
Completely wrong!
Six minutes later, after Brunel blocked Knight's shot inside the penalty area, Pedretti, positioned just outside the box, passed diagonally to full-back Gabbidon.
Before the opponent could press him, Gabbidon played another diagonal pass to Cromwell, who had moved into space.
The young captain lifted his head to observe the situation ahead, then worked hard to control his technique before sending a low, straight pass forward.
The ball rolled toward the right side of midfield, where Jas Cook brought it under control.
He did not dribble forward again. Instead, he saw the vast open space behind Brighton's defensive line.
Ibrahimović was occupying the main defensive attention in the middle, while Villa was making a run to shake off his marker.
Jas Cook's handso face was full of concentration.
From where he stood, he delivered a stunning lofted through ball!
The ball flew diagonally toward the left side just outside the penalty area.
Since coming on, Villa had been as lively and quick as a rabbit.
He broke free from his defender and successfully beat the offside line.
When the ball dropped in front of him, he controlled it directly into the penalty area, combining the first touch and forward push in one movent, leaving Brighton's defenders no chance to recover.
Villa drove diagonally into the box.
As goalkeeper Roberts rushed off his line, Villa lifted a delicate curling shot into the top-right corner!
The substitute, El Guaje, David Villa, was shining at the Liberty Stadium!
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