Chapter 32: The Battle for the Championship

May 18, 2013, 3:00 PM—countless citizens of Novara left their homes to gather at the Piola Stadium. Today was a very important day for the people of Novara, as their team had the chance to lift the Serie B championship trophy for the first time in 65 years!

For the major clubs, the Serie B trophy might not mean much, even considered a disgrace since it symbolizes relegation. But for a smaller club like Novara, winning the Serie B championship is the pinnacle of their history!

Historically, Novara had won the Serie B title three times, but the most recent was way back in the 1947-1948 season. Most Novara citizens had never witnessed such a moment. Thus, the possibility of securing their fourth Serie B championship was met with great enthusiasm. Tickets for the 11,000-seat Piola Stadium had sold out early. In fact, had it not been for safety reasons limiting the number of spectators, many more fans would have tried to attend.

At 4:25 PM, just five minutes before the start of the match, the players from both teams were at the stadium entrance, ready to enter the pitch. Although Novara only needed a draw to clinch the championship, and could still win even if they lost, coach Tesser chose to field his strongest lineup.

On this day of joy and glory, everyone associated with Novara—from the coach to the players—wanted to celebrate the club's fourth second-division championship with a victory!

At the corner area of Lanciano's half, Bruno gently placed the football down and stamped down the turf behind it, stepping back a few paces before standing straight, eyes fixed forward. Inside the penalty area, Novara's taller players known for their heading ability were all positioned strategically.

Lanciano's defenders clung to Novara's attackers, engaging in minor skirmishes that made the penalty area look chaotic. Every face in the stands of the Silvio Piola Stadium was tense with nerves.

As expected, Novara controlled the game from the start, holding possession and dictating play. Lanciano, sitting seventeenth and tied on points with eighteenth-place Cittadella, was at risk of falling into a relegation playoff and opted for a conservative strategy, looking to counter when possible.

Cittadella, in contrast, faced Ascoli—a team in the relegation zone—in their final match and was likely to win, placing even more pressure on Lanciano to at least draw this match.

The temptation of clinching the championship had Novara in full attack mode from the kickoff. In the face of their relentless offense, Lanciano's goal seemed as precarious as a small boat in a storm. In just nine minutes, Novara earned three corner kicks.

The first two corners, taken by vice-captain Rudy from either side, didn't create any danger—Lanciano had obviously prepared for them. On the ninth minute, Rudy decided to switch things up and let Bruno take the corner.

Previously, Bruno's corners had proven effective, but the coaching staff had kept Rudy on corner duties, believing Bruno was more threatening in open play. However, Novara fans familiar with the team's dynamics knew that Bruno's delivery could be decisive—he had assisted from a corner before, helping Argentine forward Pablo Gonzalez to score.

When Bruno positioned himself to take the corner, the Novara fans cheered in anticipation, baffling Lanciano, from the players on the pitch to the coaching staff on the sidelines. It seemed they might need to adjust their defensive strategy if Bruno was indeed Novara's most dangerous set-piece taker.

Bruno could feel the cameras fixed on him as he heard the cheers from the stands—a mix of encouragement and pressure. As Novara's star player, he had to shoulder this burden. Bruno exhaled deeply, raised his right hand to the sky, pointing upward as if signaling the number one—a gesture understood only by his teammates as a pre-planned move.

At the referee's whistle, Bruno took a deep breath and sprinted forward, each step firm and assured—actions he had practiced countless times. Positioning his body at a specific angle to the ball, his right foot struck the ball like a whip.

The fans near the corner flag heard a thump as the ball rocketed from Bruno's foot. The delivery was not high, but it was fast.

In the penalty area, the players jostled and jockeyed for position. Novara's taller players used their movement and physical presence to distract and draw the Lanciano defenders.

However, Novara's captain Rafael Rubino had quietly moved back to the penalty spot before making a quick dash forward to meet the ball. As Lanciano's defenders realized the danger, Rubino had already reached the near post and headed Bruno's cross into the goal.

"GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!"

"Novara scores in the 9th minute!"

"1:0!"

"Rubino! The experienced captain scores a crucial goal!"

"Rubino has not been a regular this season and hadn't scored until now. But in this championship match, Tesser trusted him to start."

"And Rubino did not disappoint, rewarding that trust with his season's first goal."

"That was an assist from Bruno's corner! The quality of his delivery was superb, the ball almost seeking out Rubino's head. The short striker just had to redirect it slightly, and the ball flew past the goalkeeper before he could react."

"This connection between the team's new star and its veteran is a passing of the torch for Novara!"

After the goal, Rubino pounded the turf with his fists before leaping up and running towards Bruno, enveloping him in a hug.

The two celebrated wildly by the sidelines, shouting towards the cameras and the stands.

Novara's other players quickly surrounded them, joining in the celebration.

"This goal is vital! As any football fan knows, scoring first in such a crucial match can dictate the rest of the game."

"Novara scoring in just nine minutes is a surprise to everyone and cruel for Lanciano, who desperately needed points to avoid the relegation playoffs. But that's football!"

"Bruno's corner was exquisitely taken, and Rubino seemed in perfect sync with him, faking out his marker before dashing to the near post to head home."

"1:0, Novara takes the lead!"

(End of Chapter)

Thank you for the support, friends. If you want to read more chapters in advance, go to my Patreon.

Next chapter