When Notts County scored, David leapt off the sofa, showing more excitement than Hubner, who had just scored. Gino Pozzo, on the other hand, sat with a sullen face, clearly annoyed, creating a sharp contrast between the two.
"Oh, I'm so embarrassed, I scored so quickly!" David taunted, looking over at Pozzo with a proud and provocative grin.
Pozzo snorted and turned his head, muttering angrily, "Huh, this is just the beginning. How proud can you be? The final result is still uncertain."
David couldn't help but smile. He knew Pozzo was probably just talking tough.
After the goal, Notts County played with more confidence, and now it was Mansfield who were under pressure.
With the score against them, Mansfield tried to accelerate the pace of their attack, reinforcing their forward line to get an equalizer as soon as possible. If they kept falling behind, though, it would be hard for them to change their strategy.
Notts County's defense, composed of the experienced Udinese youth players, held up well. Mansfield made a few attempts, but they were easily dealt with.
David felt that the Italian players in Mansfield could potentially do well in the English Second Division. English football was faster and more direct, a style that suited Mansfield, while Italian football's more tactical approach generally suited teams like Notts County.
Mansfield had no standout players who could change the course of a game with individual brilliance. Once Notts County stabilized their defense, Mansfield found it difficult to break through.
Midway through the first half, Notts County struck again, and once again, it was Hubner who scored, this time from a corner kick.
With a two-goal deficit, Mansfield couldn't afford to attack recklessly. Their best chance was to go into halftime without conceding any more goals and adjust tactically for the second half.
But Notts County wasn't about to let them off the hook. They ramped up the pressure, intent on crushing their opponent completely.
Mansfield, overwhelmed and anxious, resorted to blindly defending, their composure slipping away.
In the dying moments of the first half, Merelles, replacing the suspended starter, started Altentop. The change proved effective, as Altentop fired a long-range shot that found the back of the net, making the score 3-0. Mansfield's fans were already beginning to lose hope.
At halftime, Gino Pozzo stormed off, unable to bear David's almost villainous grin. In Pozzo's mind, that's exactly what David was—a villain.
David looked with a sense of accomplishment as Pozzo retreated in defeat. But he quickly laughed at himself. Why bother getting so caught up with someone like Pozzo, who was no real opponent? It was lowering his own standards.
In the second half, Notts County made changes. Hubner, the key striker, was given a rest, and Villa came on in his place. Di Natale, still recovering from an injury, would need another month before he could return to action.
Mansfield, with their fighting spirit all but gone, opted to sit back, hoping to avoid further embarrassment. Their fans, already disillusioned, began to leave the stadium early, not wanting to witness the humiliation of their team being utterly defeated.
In the end, Notts County triumphed 5-0 away from home. Villa, who had come on in the second half, scored twice, sealing the demolition of their city rivals.
Before the game, few would have predicted such a humiliating scoreline. Many had expected Mansfield to win easily. But Notts County had unleashed their full potential and announced to the rest of English football—and the Second Division—that they were a force to be reckoned with.
Notts County fans walked the streets with their heads held high, while Mansfield fans were too embarrassed to show their faces for days. Their team had been utterly outclassed in their own city.
In the post-match interview, Gino Pozzo refused to answer any questions about the game. Before the match, he had looked down on Notts County, but now he couldn't hide his humiliation.
After the game, some of the more vocal Notts County fans called for Pozzo and his family to leave Mansfield, citing their poor management of the club. The loss to their city rivals, particularly in such a humiliating fashion, was more than many fans could bear.
The bizarre reality of English football meant that even if Mansfield was currently sixth in the standings, this loss was a significant blow to their pride. Some fans would have chosen to see their team relegated if it meant humiliating their rivals with a "double kill" in the derby.
With this victory, Notts County extended their winning streak to three games and climbed to eighth in the standings. While still six points behind Brighton, the league leaders, and a point behind their city rivals, the team's momentum was undeniable. No one would underestimate them anymore, and the upcoming clash with Brighton was shaping up to be a pivotal match.
However, David, having seen the win, wouldn't be around for the Brighton match. After the derby against Mansfield, he planned to head to the United States to implement his financial strategies.
David had a significant opportunity in front of him—an opportunity to capitalize on a historic event. While the world of football continued to turn, David's mind was set on the financial markets, particularly the U.S. stock market.
If history stayed on track, an earth-shattering event was about to unfold. David had no illusions about what was coming.
It was the infamous September 11th terrorist attacks.