Surprise 20 Minutes
### Surprise 20 Minutes
In the second half of the game, the two sides played back and forth. New Manchester United continued to park the bus in front of the goal while Arsenal kept attacking as if they were practicing their offensive tactics on the training ground.
New Manchester United managed to compensate for their lack of strength with constant effort, which allowed Arsenal to gain many free-kick opportunities in New Manchester United's half. Several of these free kicks caused significant concern, but fortunately, none resulted in a goal.
Time passed slowly. By the 52nd minute of the second half, Arsenal's backup forwards Boa Morte and Upson went to the sidelines to warm up, evidently ready to substitute in at any moment.
Levi noticed Upson on the sideline. The future England international was now just a young rookie, not yet a regular at Arsenal, only getting playtime in the FA Cup.
"If you give me enough opportunities, I can build an invincible team!" Levi declared fiercely.
Nothing else mattered; he was confident in his more than ten years of football knowledge, his familiarity with future football superstars, and the funds he had. These were enough to build a super-strong team.
But that was obviously not now!
While Levi was lost in thought, something unexpected happened on the field.
New Manchester United's right winger, Lyons, was about to turn around outside his own penalty area when Arsenal's left back, Winterbourne, tackled him fiercely, sending him off the sideline.
Winterbourne stood up, glanced indifferently at Lyons, who lay on the ground, shrugged, and started to walk away.
Bruce, who was nearby, saw this and became furious. He rushed up and shoved Winterbourne hard.
Winterbourne had a long-standing grudge with Manchester United players. In 1988, he had conceded a penalty that almost led to a full-scale brawl, and in 1990, his fierce fouls caused players from both teams to fight, resulting in one of the worst group fights in the two teams' history.
Because of these past grievances, when Bruce saw Winterbourne take down Lyons, he immediately pushed him to the ground. Winterbourne, showing no weakness, climbed up and punched Bruce.
Players from both sides quickly gathered around. Fortunately, the referee and assistant referee intervened fast enough to separate the players, preventing a full-blown brawl.
"Let's see how the referee will penalize this. While Winterbourne's action was excessive, Bruce's impulsiveness should also come at a cost, and Winterbourne's subsequent punch can't be overlooked. Let's see how the referee handles this!"
"Oh, red cards! Two red cards! The referee has shown red cards to both Winterbourne and Bruce, sending them both off. Arsenal's players are very dissatisfied and are surrounding the referee, but he is signaling them to calm down or risk more cards!"
"Oh my God, no one expected New Manchester United's first appearance at Highbury and their first live TV broadcast would also result in their first red card in club history. Before this, in all matches New Manchester United had played, they had never been shown a red card. This is the first time!"
"So many firsts at Highbury Stadium at the same time, no wonder everyone says this will be a game recorded in history!" Andy Gray explained with a smile.
But Levi, standing on the sideline, couldn't laugh.
"Levi, what do we do now?" Walsh asked next to him.
"Is Lyons okay?" Levi looked over at Lyons, who was still receiving medical treatment from the team doctor.
"It's okay, the team doctor said it's not serious."
Levi breathed a sigh of relief and looked at Cassell, who shook his head, indicating he didn't know what to do.
The team was in chaos, and the head coach, captain, and main center defender had been sent off with red cards. This might be the only precedent in football history.
"My opinion is to replace Rodriguez Giggs with Danny Collins," Cassell suggested after some thought.
"Defensive, Jim?"
Cassell nodded. He felt the best course of action was to defend and avoid conceding more goals.
But Levi was very unwilling. Although he hadn't rushed onto the field to join the fight, he was furious inside because Winterbourne's tackle from behind was too harsh, and his indifferent attitude afterward made it worse.
"Replace Rodry; he's exhausted. Replace him with David Bell. Also, replace Frank Karak with Danny Collins. We'll play 4-3-2 and attack!" Levi said fiercely.
If they were going to lose, they might as well go down fighting!
Cassell hesitated at first but then smiled, understanding Levi's determination. As a veteran Manchester United man, he naturally hoped to see Levi dare to fight Arsenal.
Soon, New Manchester United's substitutions caught Andy Gray's attention.
"Oh my god, New Manchester United made two substitutions. One replaced a winger and a center-back, but they also substituted Rodriguez Giggs for a striker. Are they planning to continue to fight with Arsenal?"
"Oh wait, foul! Ljungberg has the ball, and New Manchester United's left-back, Patrice Evra, fouls!"
"Bergkamp takes the free kick, Garry Turner clears the ball out of the penalty area before Adams. Victor Moses takes the ball, but Vieira, like a heavy tank, knocks him down. Arsenal fouls, and the referee awards New Manchester United a free kick."
"Lyons takes the free kick, but David Bell can't control it due to Boulder's interference and loses the ball!"
The game continued fiercely, with fouls and scrambles dominating the action. The referee's whistle blew constantly. Despite being a man down, New Manchester United stubbornly resisted, especially since Arsenal was also down a player.
"Patrice!" Levi shouted at Evra, signaling him to push forward.
Evra nodded.
Soon, a chance arrived!
Ljungberg moved to the middle to get the ball but was interrupted by Victor Moses. Moses looked up to pass but saw only Arsenal players.
"Here, Victor!" Evra shouted, running forward desperately.
Moses passed it almost instinctively, but his passing skills were poor. The pass was too strong, though it managed to bypass Dixon's defense. However, it made it difficult for Evra to reach.
Despite this, Evra still ran forward desperately, like black lightning, piercing Arsenal's defense. Even as the ball neared the sideline, he didn't slow down.
In the end, Evra intercepted the ball just before it went out of bounds. He couldn't stop himself from going out of bounds, but he quickly got up and knocked the ball back before Dixon could recover. Lyons rushed to the middle and crossed the ball into the penalty area.
Jonathan Matten, the tall striker, hadn't given up. He was already in the penalty area, so when Lyons crossed the ball, he leaped and headed it before the unsuspecting Boulder could react.
The young Manninger couldn't perform a miracle and could only watch as Jonathan hugged the football from the net and ran towards the midfield.
2:1. In the 73rd minute, New Manchester United, through sheer tenacity, pulled one back.
This goal reignited New Manchester United's momentum and fighting spirit, especially Evra on the left. He was extremely excited and active, often outplaying Ljungberg.
In the 78th minute, Evra made another long pass to Lyons, who dodged Dixon and crossed the ball, almost causing an own goal by Adams.
In the 82nd minute, Evra took another shot from long range, but Manninger saved it.
In the 85th minute, Lyons earned a free kick in the frontcourt, and Garret Turner's header skimmed the crossbar.
In the 87th minute, Jonathan Maiten was knocked down by Ballardela in the penalty area, but the referee, blocked by other players, missed this clear penalty opportunity.
In the 89th minute, New Manchester United attacked through the middle. Smith passed to David Bell, whose shot was saved by Manninger. Adams cleared the ball outside the penalty area, and Smith's volley went high.
In the 90th minute, Arsenal launched a counterattack. Victor Moses made a long pass, David Bell shifted to the left, and Evra outran Dixon to cross a low ball, but Jonathan Matten's shot hit the post.
In the last 20 minutes, especially the final 10, New Manchester United seemed possessed. The entire Highbury stadium fell silent, except for the 3,000 New Manchester United fans who had traveled far, cheering loudly for their team.
"Come on, Patrice, you are the best!"
"Forward, New Manchester United, defeat Arsenal!"
Although only 3,000 strong, their cheers matched the volume of Highbury's Arsenal fans.
The game entered stoppage time, extended by 5 minutes due to the earlier brawl.
But no one on the field cared about the length of stoppage time; they only noticed the referee hadn't blown the final whistle.
In the 91st minute, Moses intercepted the ball and passed to Lyons, who made a long diagonal pass to Arsenal's defense.
Evra had been tormenting Dixon all game, and when Lyons passed, Evra sped to the right spot, bypassing Dixon and making a cross.
Upson, who had replaced Adams, cleared the ball out of the penalty area, but it landed at Lyons near the arc.
Because Evra's cross had drawn Arsenal's players into the penalty area, no one was marking Lyons near the arc. Without hesitation, he kicked the ball.
The ball rocketed toward Arsenal's goal like a cannonball!.The ball rocketed toward Arsenal's goal like a cannonball!
Manninger dived, but it was too late. The ball hit the back of the net with a thunderous sound, stunning the entire stadium.
"Goal! Goal! Goal!" Andy Gray shouted, barely able to contain his excitement. "New Manchester United has equalized in stoppage time! What a comeback!"
The 3,000 New Manchester United fans erupted in joy, their cheers echoing throughout the silent Highbury stadium. The players on the field celebrated wildly, their unrelenting determination finally paying off.
Levi was ecstatic on the sidelines, jumping and hugging Walsh and Cassell. This moment was a testament to the team's spirit and his unyielding belief in their potential.
The referee blew the final whistle shortly after, signaling the end of a match that would be remembered for years. New Manchester United had made history, not just with their first red card, but with an unforgettable comeback that showcased their fighting spirit and resilience.
As the players left the field, Levi couldn't help but feel proud. Despite the odds, they had fought back against a formidable Arsenal team and earned a well-deserved draw. This match was a glimpse of what he could achieve with the right opportunities and resources.
Levi turned to his coaching staff and players, determination shining in his eyes. "This is just the beginning," he said. "With hard work and belief, we can build a team that will be remembered forever. Let's keep pushing forward!"
And with that, New Manchester United walked off the pitch, their heads held high, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead. This game had proven their potential and set the stage for a bright and promising future.