The noise inside Victoria Park gradually grew louder and louder.
The ho supporters were enjoying themselves.
Even if Hartlepool United's shooting accuracy was miserable, even if their long-range shots from outside the box kept flying high into the stands, their team was still pressing Swansea back and attacking wildly!
Swansea could only hoof the ball clear and could not create any chances at all!
Keith Turner kept roaring at his players from the touchline, basically telling his forwards to take their chances!
Lynn, however, had both hands in his pockets and looked perfectly calm.
If Swansea truly focused on defense now, he would not dare say they were an impenetrable wall, but at the very least, they were not a side that a mid-table Division Three team could crush with simple, crude attacks.
Of course, an accidental goal might still happen. No one could guarantee otherwise.
The understanding between Brunel and Friedrich was improving by the day. Brunel was responsible for aerial duels and frontal interceptions, while Friedrich was more mobile. If the defense needed layers, Friedrich would drop slightly deeper and react according to the situation.
At right-back, Gabbidon stayed closer to the penalty area. In truth, he could also fill in as a centre-back. Precisely because of that, even though he did not contribute much in attack, he made Swansea's right-side defense more secure.
In the previous match, Tobias Rau and Balitsch had taken turns assisting from both wings, but they were substitutes today. The only thing Lynn was not entirely comfortable with was Evra's defending at left-back.
As for the central defensive midfield area, Lynn was very reassured. Pedretti was already good enough to stand on his own in Division Three, and with Poulsen added beside him, one only needed to look at how often Hartlepool's players were rushing awkward long-range shots from outside the box to know that the two of them were not allowing Hartlepool any comfortable shooting opportunities.
In the 21st minute, Hartlepool United launched another threatening attack after working the ball down the right — Evra's defensive side.
Stephen Istead reached the byline on the right and sent in a cross. Friedrich slid in ahead of Marco Gabbiadini to block it.
He knew that if he did not intercept the ball, Gabbiadini would have a near open-goal chance at the far post.
Friedrich's right toe connected with the fast-rolling ball, and it skidded toward the right post of Swansea's goal.
Under everyone's gaze, the ball brushed the outside of the post and rolled out over the byline.
A cold sweat broke out across Swansea's players.
Friedrich stood up, still shaken. Glendower walked over and high-fived him, saying, "Brilliant work!"
After the tension in Friedrich's heart eased, he instead beca even steadier.
As sighs rose one after another around Victoria Park, Lynn's expression did not change. In truth, he had just swallowed nervously.
Keith Turner, not far away, made a furious gesture of frustration.
He looked even more anxious than Lynn!
Of course he was anxious. He was worried Swansea would recover. Swansea were the highest-scoring team in Division Three so far!
If Hartlepool failed to seize their chances now, beating Swansea would beco incredibly difficult.
Keith Turner's premonition was correct.
It was not that Hartlepool United had no chances at all. They had created several dangerous monts in front of goal, but unfortunately, they were still just a little short.
While the ho supporters were imrsed in the wonderful sight of their team besieging Swansea, Swansea were gradually adjusting and adapting to the match.
After figuring out the opponent's defensive setup, Cromwell began to show his role as the core of midfield.
In the 28th minute, when Hartlepool tried to push forward through midfield and ran into Swansea's strong resistance, Swansea suddenly erupted into a powerful counterattack!
Antony Sweeney was muscled off the ball by the strong Poulsen. Just as he tried to win it back, Poulsen had already passed forward to Cromwell.
Cromwell had his back to defensive midfielder Strachan. Before Strachan could co up and press him, Cromwell released the ball first ti, knocking it sideways toward the flank. Jas Cook, who had surged forward, received it.
Dribbling past players was not Cook's strong point.
But there was no defender in front of him!
He strode forward with the ball.
At the sa ti, Cromwell sprinted forward through the middle. At first, he moved in a fairly conventional line straight through the center, shaking off Strachan in the race. But when he saw Villa preparing to run into the right half-space inside the penalty area, he imdiately began preparing to change direction and cut into the left channel.
Jas Cook carried the ball smoothly to the right side just outside Hartlepool's penalty area. Hartlepool's left centre-back imdiately rushed out to block him.
Cook was not originally good at slipping through balls.
The threatening passes he created usually ca from crosses.
But this ti, the gap in the opponent's defensive line was simply too large!
As the left centre-back ca out to close him down, the distance between him and the sweeper beca very wide. Naturally, the open space grew large as well!
Villa was also making a diagonal run into that channel. Without hesitation, Jas Cook slid a straight pass into the space Villa was attacking.
By the ti sweeper Michael Nelson ran toward Villa to press and intercept, it was already too late!
When Villa controlled the ball, he dragged it back.
As he had been making his run, he had already noticed Cromwell's movent.
It could be said that he had attracted the main force of Hartlepool's defensive line for Cromwell.
After pulling the ball back, Villa smoothly used the outside of his right foot to guide it toward the left side of the penalty spot.
Following the path of the rolling ball, every spectator in Victoria Park focused intently. The ho supporters' eyes widened as an ominous feeling rose inside them!
Their defensive line had been torn apart in an instant!
On the touchline, Lynn could not help rising onto his toes and leaning slightly forward, staring into Hartlepool's penalty area without blinking.
Cromwell charged into the box, took two more long strides, then slid in to et the ball!
Right centre-back Adam Van Domle was just over a ter away from being able to clear it.
But right in front of him, Cromwell stabbed the ball into the almost empty net.
Goalkeeper Dimitrios Konstantopoulos had already shifted toward the near post, preparing to block Villa's shot. Now, when he tried to change direction and move back, he naturally could not keep up.
Everyone in Victoria Park was stunned!
Swansea, who had been suppressed on the pitch, had opened the scoring first!
After sliding in to score, Cromwell rose smoothly to his feet. He laughed and waved his teammates over. Once everyone ran together to the corner flag, Cromwell made a gesture as though holding a steering wheel and driving.
The other teammates understood imdiately and copied him with smiles.
Perhaps only the viewers in front of their televisions, who knew Swansea's players had arrived at the stadium in supercars, could understand why all the Swansea players were celebrating this way.
"Swansea strike on the counter! Young captain Cromwell has scored for the team! Forward Villa provided the assist!
"After being pinned back for a long period, Swansea withstood the pressure, and once they survived it, they erupted with a sharp counterattack. Jas Cook, Villa, Cromwell — with just three players, Swansea advanced quickly and fluidly through the pitch to break Hartlepool United's defense!
"The late-arriving Swansea have actually taken the lead away from ho!"
Keith Turner beca even more frantic. He spread his hands and shouted emotionally at his players, "What the hell are you doing?"
After seeing the goal, Lynn's slightly bent posture shot forward like a released slingshot. He charged two steps ahead, planted one foot on the touchline, raised his right fist, and kept waving it as he shouted, "Hartlepool United! You want three points? Co and take them! Co and take them! If you have the guts, trade your lives for them! Swansea will never hand over victory!"
Far away in Telford, Ibrahimović and Charisteas were sitting with two police officers.
After finishing their statents, the two had not left. Instead, they were waiting there for the match to begin.
When they saw Cromwell score, both of them roared and jumped up, hugging each other. Then they turned and hugged the police officers.
"Did you see that? That's Swansea! Did you see it? If you didn't pay attention before, you'd better start now, because the kid who scored isn't even half as good as ! Damn it, why did he only score now? If I were there, it'd already be three-nil!"
Ibrahimović shouted as though no one else was around.
Three minutes later, Ibrahimović and Charisteas were both thrown out the door.
Back at Victoria Park, after the goal celebration ended, Lynn applauded as the players returned to their own half and took up their positions. Then, with a serious expression, he told them, "Keep playing like this! Their defense can't stop our impact!"
Lynn rarely made exaggerated movents on the touchline. At least during matches, he would not turn into a walking reaction .
Keith Turner, however, was the exact opposite. He often produced reactions that made people unsure whether to laugh or cry.
Now he was becoming even more frantic, constantly waving his arms to signal his players to attack Swansea's goal wildly!
After restarting, Hartlepool United continued their ferocious assault, but Swansea had already found their footing after scoring.
Whether in match rhythm or ntality, Swansea looked completely renewed.
Their defense beca steadier. Hartlepool could not find gaps in positional attacks. As they pushed their formation higher and higher, Swansea beca even more efficient on the counter.
In the 39th minute, Hartlepool United pressed forward in large numbers. Their cross from the wing was headed clear by Brunel toward the flank. This ti, Evra did not clear it long. He passed diagonally to Poulsen, who shifted the ball past Sweeney's pressure and played it toward the right.
Jas Cook had just controlled the ball and was preparing to play a short combination with Cromwell.
But Cromwell ran away!
He ran diagonally toward the left front!
His movent drew the attention of the defenders on that side. The defender stepped forward two paces, and at the sa ti, Grosso made an overlapping run down the left flank.
The corner of Jas Cook's mouth rose slightly.
He understood the purpose of Cromwell's movent: to cover Grosso and help draw away the opponent's defensive strength.
Without hesitation, Cook sent a long diagonal switch from where he stood.
His lofted diagonal pass flew straight behind Hartlepool United's defensive line toward the left.
Grosso rushed to a spot five or six ters from the byline and t the ball after its second bounce.
He worked hard to control his technique, directly using the inside of his foot to guide the ball toward the middle.
As Hartlepool's defensive line turned and chased back, Villa had already pulled several ters away from them.
Only sweeper Michael Nelson remained close.
Nelson tried to stick tight to Villa. When the ball rolled toward them, Nelson planned to clear it imdiately.
But as Villa ran toward the ball, he used the outside of his left foot to push it back toward the outside of the penalty area.
Nelson's attempted clearance missed.
Villa turned with the ball, brushing past Nelson perfectly. He continued nudging the ball laterally across the middle, beautifully escaping Nelson!
One-on-one!
A wave of astonishnt rose from the stands.
Villa's control and turn inside the penalty area displayed the delicate, agile technical side of a Spanish player.
Greek goalkeeper Dimitrios Konstantopoulos had just rushed one step off his line when Villa calmly placed his shot toward the bottom-right corner. The goalkeeper dropped and tried to block with his leg, but could only watch helplessly as the ball rolled two ters to the left of his body.
His legs were not long enough!
And there was no ti to dive!
Konstantopoulos lay flat on his back inside the six-yard box, closed his eyes, and sighed helplessly toward the sky.
"Swansea score again! David Villa! The super Spanish forward!
"We should watch his control and turn past Michael Nelson inside the penalty area again! The movent was smooth, continuous, and natural, as though the ball were glued to his feet. A graceful touch, a gorgeous turn, and a calm finish!
"Swansea's two center-forwards, Ibrahimović and Charisteas, were unable to arrive at Victoria Park today for unknown reasons. But that doesn't matter! Swansea have more than enough attacking firepower!
"Because the Swans have the super Spanish forward, David Villa!"
After scoring, Villa sprinted all the way toward the touchline.
Seeing Villa running toward him, Lynn laughed and opened his arms. Villa arrived in front of him and jumped, hugging Lynn in midair. Lynn was forced back two steps and only managed to steady himself because Hughes braced him from behind.
Villa shouted, "Boss, this goal is for you! Without you, we wouldn't have made it here today!"
Lynn's determination toward the match, his refusal to give in easily to difficulty, and his decisive action in the mont had all been seen by the players.
Today was only one of forty-six Division Three league matches. Swansea could have played the victim and complained about the FA. Perhaps when they looked back at the end of the season, even losing three points today without playing might not matter much.
But Lynn had created what everyone saw as a miracle.
They had made it to the match.
And Lynn's lineup selection and tactical use had been absolutely correct, allowing them to take a two-goal lead over Hartlepool United — a side with ho advantage and a better state after kick-off!
Villa thanked Lynn because Lynn had shown him the true spirit of this club.
The spirit of never giving up!
That was enough!
That was the real aning of football!
The Swansea players, including the substitutes and coaches on the bench, gathered together. At the center of the crowd were Lynn and Villa.
After the players roared in celebration, Lynn clapped toward them, clenched his fist, and said firmly, "We crossed mountains and valleys and fought for every second to co here because we ca for the three points that belong to us! Rember this. We are Swansea. We ca here in supercars, and we are going back in supercars too — with victory!"
The Swansea players roared in unison, "We're going back with victory!"
They not only wanted to be the flashiest team.
They also wanted to dominate on the pitch!
This was the soul of Swansea that Lynn was instilling and shaping.
They were the most extraordinary Swan in the world!
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