Chapter 28: Advance

Facing Northampton's second penalty taker, Ben Foster remained incredibly calm. He didn't rush his movements, and when his opponent attempted a panenka, Foster read the shot perfectly and blocked it.

As the ball sailed over him, Ben Foster clenched his fists in triumph, letting out a roar of relief and emotion. His celebration was contagious. The Notts County players, their shoulders touching in excitement, rushed to embrace each other as if they had already won the penalty shootout.

Villa, who had missed his own penalty earlier, finally lifted his head. If Notts County had been eliminated due to his miss, Villa would have felt the weight of being the team's scapegoat. But thanks to Foster's crucial save, they were back on even terms.

David made a mental note to personally thank Ben Foster for his incredible contribution.

Both teams continued to score in the penalty shootout, leveling at 3-3. With one final penalty taker left from each side, the tension was palpable.

The last Northampton player seemed visibly nervous. As he set up for his kick, he slipped on the spot, nearly losing his balance. It was almost comical to witness—he stumbled on flat ground, of all places.

Löw, watching from the sidelines, couldn't help but smile, sensing the shift in momentum. It was as if the match had tilted in Notts County's favor.

Now, the fate of the two teams rested on these final moments. Everyone's eyes were on the two goalkeepers, the ones who would determine the outcome.

Ben Foster, who had just saved a penalty, was about to make his second significant contribution. This time, he read his opponent's intentions perfectly. He dove to the right, saving the weak, poorly executed penalty.

The stadium fell silent. As Foster rose to his feet after the save, he ripped off his gloves and hurled them into the air in a moment of pure exhilaration.

Notts County's players wanted to rush over and celebrate with Foster, but they knew they had to hold off until the final penalty was taken. The tension was unbearable.

Foster, already the hero, would be the one to take the decisive kick for Notts County.

While it's uncommon for goalkeepers to take penalties, it's not unheard of—especially in shootouts. Foster, with his deep understanding of the goalkeeper's psyche, had no fear of stepping up to take his shot.

He placed the ball confidently on the penalty spot, took a few steps back, and sprinted forward. His shot was a powerful volley, sending the ball flying into the bottom corner of the net before the Northampton goalkeeper could react.

The crowd gasped in awe. A goalkeeper scoring a penalty in a shootout—such moments were rare, but Foster had just made one of the most memorable in the competition.

The ball hit the net with incredible speed. The Northampton goalkeeper, despite diving, could only watch helplessly as the ball went past him.

With the final penalty scored, the Notts County players erupted in joy, rushing to surround Foster. The bench also stormed onto the field, joining the celebration, as the team piled on top of their unlikely hero.

David, eager to join the celebration, hesitated for a moment as he noticed Löw's calm, measured demeanor beside him. He realized that it was best to hold off and let the players have their moment.

The Northampton players, visibly disappointed, walked off the field. However, a few of them approached Notts County players, offering congratulations and exchanging jerseys. For the first time, Notts County players were treated like stars.

David couldn't help but smile. The Northampton players had recognized the potential of Notts County's squad. The players on the field were destined for greatness, some of them even future superstars. It was clear that this team's reputation would only grow.

Winning the first round of the League Cup was a relief for both Löw and David. In such a challenging period for the team, avoiding early elimination felt like a victory in itself. It was a small but important step forward.

The following day, the team didn't get a break. The third round of the English League 2 was coming up on the weekend—this would mark Notts County's third game in just seven days. It was going to be a demanding stretch.

David couldn't help but reflect on the tough schedule. With 24 teams in English Division 2, each season consisted of 46 rounds of league matches. Add to that the FA Cup and League Cup, and the total number of games could approach 50 in a season. Even with early exits from the cups, playing three matches a week wasn't unusual in English football.

The day after the League Cup victory was a light recovery session. Ben Foster, still riding high from his penalty heroics, became the center of attention. His teammates joked with him, and while he was a bit embarrassed, he couldn't help but enjoy the camaraderie.

With Diego Lopez out for three weeks due to injury, Foster would be the team's starting goalkeeper for the foreseeable future. The pressure on him was immense, but he took it in stride.

After training, Löw and David stayed behind, entering the coach's office together.

Löw spoke first. "The result against Northampton isn't as important as the fact that we won the penalty shootout. That victory will do wonders for the team's morale. If we can have more games like this, the team will come together much faster."

David nodded in agreement. It was clear that this kind of hard-fought win would strengthen the team's resolve and cohesion.

Löw's expression grew serious. "Now, since we've won this game, we need to start planning for the rest of the season. While the depth of our squad is good, the intensity of playing multiple games a week will be a challenge. We need to decide where to focus our efforts."

David, fully aware of the strain on the players, was ready for the conversation. "The league must come first," Löw continued. "As for the League Cup and the FA Cup, I'd like to hear your thoughts. Personally, I believe we should focus on the league and let the cups take a backseat for now."

David agreed. The priority had to be the league. The cups were important, but promotion to the higher divisions was the ultimate goal.