The Spirit of Juanito (5)
As the first half concluded with a commanding 3-0 lead, South Korea was swept up in a wave of patriotic pride.
['Woo Ho-young': 1 goal, 1 assist, 1 key defensive moment, saves Real Madrid from a crisis!]
[Real Madrid: On the brink of a miraculous comeback. Just 45 minutes away from securing a semifinal spot.]
[Gennaro Gattuso exits the tunnel looking utterly defeated, as though he's sworn off soccer forever...]
[Woo Ho-young, an unstoppable force: over 6 km covered in the first half, 5 solo breakthroughs, 3 key passes... Gattuso couldn't keep up.]
└ "Gattuso, who? That's not the man I know."
└ "This isn't the Gattuso I remember. Is he cursed? Why's he so out of sorts?"
└ "He got destroyed by Park Ji-seok last time, and now Woo Ho-young's ruined him. Talk less, play better."
└ "Seeing him chuck his water bottle as he walked in—he's furious."
└ "Woo Ho-young's celebration? Had me losing my mind, lol."
The atmosphere among Real Madrid fans—particularly Koreans—was electric. For those who woke up at dawn to support Ho-young, this performance felt like a soothing balm, quelling their anxiety and reigniting hope.
Given the looming World Cup, expectations for Korean soccer were surging.
[A quarterfinal berth is a possibility, isn't it?]
└ "Semifinals? Slow down! Did you forget Germany 2006? One win would be enough."
└ "But aside from Argentina, aren't the opponents manageable? Nigeria and Greece don't look unbeatable."
└ "Let's aim for the Round of 16. Anything more is a bonus."
└ "Fine, but focus on the Champions League final first! Come on, Real!"
└ "Beckham and Ronaldinho aren't playing today? I miss the legends... Seems like they're just warming the bench these days."
└ "They're old now. Probably heading to the U.S. or the Middle East soon to retire rich."
└ "Think they'll make a surprise appearance in the second half? I bet Milan's coach has a plan brewing."
The 13-minute halftime felt unusually short for both teams.
In Real Madrid's locker room, a wave of optimism filled the air as Raul's rousing words echoed, "Let's keep pushing harder."
In stark contrast, AC Milan's locker room was steeped in tension.
Bang! Crash!
Gattuso was venting his frustration by kicking chairs.
"Get your act together, you lazy bastards! Am I the only one running out there?"
"Hmm..."
"Friend, I don't think that's accurate."
"That's Ringhio for you," someone murmured. "The nickname fits. Who thought of it? Genius."
But his teammates reacted with indifference; they'd seen this fiery outburst many times before when games didn't go their way.
"Gattuso, calm down," one suggested. "The match isn't over yet."
"Yeah, take a breath. We can still turn this around. Don't take it personally. Woo Ho-young's embarrassed players worldwide. You're not alone."
"Shut it! What kind of nonsense are you spouting?"
"Just saying, cool your head and think clearly."
"You think I can't stay composed?"
"Easy, man. Take a seat."
"You idiots! Shape up, or I'll knock sense into you. This isn't child's play!"
"Gattuso, we understand your frustration, but screaming won't help. Rest, refocus, and come out strong in the second half."
Though Gattuso's temper flared brighter than most, all of Milan's players knew the stakes. They'd all experienced frustration in their own ways.
Finally, Maldini, Milan's captain and anchor, stood up.
"Everyone, listen."
The room quieted as his commanding presence took over. Maldini, known for rallying his team in dire moments, began.
"We are Milan. Remember that?"
"Yes, Captain!"
"And today, this pitch is our battleground. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Captain!"
"Then run. Run until you collapse. And when you collapse, get back up and run some more. That's how we'll win."
AC Milan was a club with pride rooted in its rich history and tradition. No matter how dire the situation, they refused to crumble here.
---
[Both teams re-enter the field. Real Madrid maintains its first-half lineup: Woo Ho-young as attacking midfielder, Zhirkov and Ronaldo on the wings, and Higuain leading the charge. Meanwhile, AC Milan finally makes a change.]
AC Milan's revival hopes rested on one young star.
[Alexander Pato replaces Flamini. With Pato leading the attack and Pirlo and Seedorf just behind, Milan shifts to a 4-3-2-1 Christmas tree formation.]
At halftime, Milan's coach Leonardo had called Pato aside.
"Pato, it's your time. You're the one who can save us."
The young striker was now Milan's ace in the hole.
---
Beep!
The second half began, and Alexander Pato clenched his fists.
The memories of 2003 still haunted him.
During the Campeonato Paulista Championship—the U13 Brazilian league final—Pato's Corinthians had suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of Sao Paulo FC. To make matters worse, the tournament's Golden Ball had gone to Woo Ho-young.
Pato's wounds deepened during the 2008 Beijing Olympics when Woo Ho-young denied him a bronze medal.
And now, seven years later, history was repeating itself in the Champions League quarterfinals.
Burning with determination, Pato glared at Woo Ho-young.
'I've grown since then. This time will be different.'
Ho-young, standing across the pitch, noticed the change in Pato.
'He's matured,' he thought.
Pato's talent was undeniable:
[Alexander Pato]
Talents:
Boy's Most Wanted Run (U)
Exceptional Burst of Speed (S-)
Creative Individual Skills (A+3)
Precise First Touch (A+2)
Weak Spot Exploitation (A+2)
(Conditions to covet talent:
1. Steal the ball once.
2. Win a speed duel.
3. Score multiple goals.)
---
45 minutes remained.
'Let's do this,' Ho-young resolved.
AC Milan's strategy was clear: relentless speed and pressure. Their midfield surged forward, compressing Real Madrid into their own half.
[Maldini, defying age, pushes forward with incredible stamina. At 40, he's still a pillar of Milan.]
With Gattuso and Pirlo cutting off passing lanes, Real Madrid's space to maneuver shrank rapidly.
Real Madrid's response was swift. Ho-young orchestrated short, precise passes to maintain possession and disrupt Milan's rhythm.
But AC Milan was gambling everything on this aggressive tactic.
Recognizing an opening, Ho-young's eyes flashed.
---
[Boom! Woo Ho-young launches a long pass, cutting through Milan's defense!]
Gonzalo Higuain darted forward, perfectly reading Ho-young's intent.
But Nesta intervened with a flawless tackle, denying the chance.
Dida quickly launched a counterattack.
[Andrea Pirlo seizes the opportunity and sends a long pass forward!]
Alexander Pato surged ahead, breaking past Real Madrid's high defensive line.
A counterattack born from sheer speed now threatened Real Madrid's goal.