Chapter 76 - 74: Red Card

Chapter 76: Chapter 74: Red Card

"Perfect!!!"

The moment Modric scored, Atgeni couldn’t help but leap to his feet and applaud.

But he didn’t stand out in the crowd, because everyone else was also on their feet, cheering and clapping for the goal.

Mostar Zrinjski’s second goal!

They had relentlessly pressured Sarajevo throughout the first half, breaching their goal twice.

And in the final moments of the half, they delivered a crushing blow.

This goal sent the morale of the Sarajevo players plummeting.

After scoring, Modric happily ran toward Suq.

The two embraced tightly!

"Beautiful pass!"

"Great run!"

For this goal, Suq’s sudden lateral run in the final moment created an opening for a through ball from the back.

While everyone else was running forward, only Suq was moving horizontally, stretching the defense.

Based on that movement and his keen sense for open space, he delivered a razor-sharp through ball that assisted Modric’s goal.

This goal also marked Mostar Zrinjski’s second of the first half.

"Sarajevo is playing very passively. It’s almost no different from the last time they played. Even though a full round has passed, it seems they still haven’t adapted to Mostar Zrinjski’s style of attack!"

"That’s right! Sarajevo is trying to make adjustments, but they haven’t identified the root of the problem. They simply can’t contain Modric and Suq!"

Sarajevo’s performance was disappointing.

Despite having Me?kapeci, Tolister, and the Bosnia and Herzegovina prodigy Suq Bazhi, they were completely suppressed by the Mostar Twins.

They failed to establish their desired rhythm, and their midfield was thrown into chaos by Suq and Modric.

In contrast to Sarajevo, Mostar Zrinjski was having a much easier time.

Suq and Modric.

One at the front, one at the back!

These two had become Mostar Zrinjski’s offensive command center!

Modric’s passing and receiving in the backfield ensured the team’s cohesion and organization.

Suq’s link-up play up front, along with his keen eye for space, made him the team’s attacking commander.

And his breakthroughs on the flank repeatedly created threatening attacks for the team.

On the sidelines, the Mostar Zrinjski coaching staff were all applauding.

This was exactly the rhythm they wanted to play.

It didn’t matter if the opponent was Sarajevo or anyone else; Mostar Zrinjski was playing at their own pace.

Seizing control of the midfield rhythm, they were running Me?kapeci and Tolister ragged!

On the bench, Stelk was also filled with emotion.

The away win in the last round had already felt incredible to him.

But this match, dominating Sarajevo at home, was even more astounding.

He looked at Suq and Modric, his eyes filled with a mix of envy and dejection.

Even though he was close to them, he had never truly been a part of their world.

’There are different levels of talent!’

Modric was undoubtedly one of heaven’s favored children.

As for Suq, he had thought that guy would be taught a harsh lesson by Suq Bazhi, but the reality was the complete opposite.

The spotlight on the Bosnia and Herzegovina prodigy, Suq Bazhi, had been completely stolen.

In his matchup against Suq, the guy was like a dazed telephone pole.

"Hey! Get moving! This isn’t how we’re supposed to be playing! We need to be more proactive! What are you all doing?!"

Suq Bazhi roared at his teammates.

At this moment, Suq Bazhi had lost all his usual composure, appearing incredibly agitated.

They were already two goals down!

’What a disgusting match we’re playing!’

Suq Bazhi’s complaints were endless, and the expressions on the other Sarajevo players were also sour.

"Tillemannqi, can’t you get past that full-back? You’re always getting shut down by them! I don’t even get a chance to challenge for a header!"

"Pass the ball! Pass me the ball! How am I supposed to score if you don’t pass?!"

Suq Bazhi’s complaining continued.

Tillemannqi’s blood suddenly boiled, and he turned and snapped, "Then why don’t you score yourself?"

"Look at that Suq! His Dribbling, his movement to create space, his passing, his Shooting—he can tie up our entire defense by himself! And you? What can you do besides stand there in front of the goal like an idiot?!"

Tillemannqi’s sudden outburst stunned Suq Bazhi for a moment, and then he exploded with even greater fury:

"So, you think it’s my problem, is that it? Damn it! I’m a poacher, a center-forward! You want me to leave the penalty box? Is your head full of shit?!"

"You’re the piece of shit!" Tillemannqi roared. "Some ’Bosnia and Herzegovina prodigy’! Look at those two guys—they’re the real prodigies!"

That single sentence left Suq Bazhi speechless.

Seeing the two in a heated argument, the other Sarajevo players reacted, quickly running over to break it up.

Suq and Modric, who were tracking back, also saw the scene unfold.

Suq whispered, "They’ve lost their composure."

Modric replied, "They really are playing terribly this match!"

Sarajevo wanted to try a new tactic, but it was obviously unrefined and full of flaws.

Mostar Zrinjski exploited these flaws to score two consecutive goals.

In Modric’s view, a tactic shouldn’t be used so readily before it’s been thoroughly tested, especially not in such a crucial match. It was highly likely to lead to this kind of defensive collapse and internal conflict.

...

Sarajevo’s internal conflict wasn’t resolved in time, and their performance in the second half became even more bizarre.

Their game devolved into not passing and not cooperating.

Tillemannqi basically gave up, refusing to pass to Suq Bazhi.

Suq Bazhi, having lost his cool, also started acting rashly. A poacher-striker, he ran out of the penalty box, chasing the ball frantically all over the field.

It was okay at first, but as he failed to win the ball, he grew even more irascible, committing several malicious fouls with his hands and feet.

In the 61st minute, while pressing high, Suq Bazhi was run in circles by Mostar Zrinjski in their own half.

Finally, the enraged Suq Bazhi unleashed a furious slide tackle, taking down Kerpic. Fortunately, Kerpic jumped just in time and avoided injury.

But Suq Bazhi paid the price with a yellow card.

However, the yellow card did nothing to calm Suq Bazhi down. His actions only became more aggressive.

The guy started making one reckless tackle after another in Mostar Zrinjski’s half.

Finally, during an aerial challenge, he collided with the goalkeeper. Deciding that warnings were useless, the referee pulled out another yellow card.

Two yellows made a red, and Suq Bazhi was sent off with a red card.

"Suq Bazhi, he was far too reckless! In this situation, Sarajevo has lost their center-forward and are now a man down. This makes their predicament even worse."

Commentator Basodachi shook his head and lamented.

Suq Bazhi was the highly-anticipated prodigy from Bosnia and Herzegovina, but honestly, in his two matches against Mostar Zrinjski, his performance had been far from impressive.

The first match was a bit better; at least he scored one goal.

But this match was a disaster!

Suq Bazhi walked off the field alone.

The fans watched coldly as the player ’threw a tantrum’.

In their eyes, the guy was just throwing a childish fit.

’Some damn prodigy!’

Atgeni also looked toward Suq Bazhi.

As a scout, he knew of Suq Bazhi; after all, Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina were neighboring countries.

But Atgeni had never considered him a true prodigy.

A prodigy possesses enough talent to give them a great advantage in a specific area.

But talent does not equal success!

Moreover, Suq Bazhi’s talent wasn’t exactly top-tier.

His height and physique were indeed advantageous weapons, but across all of Europe, that was hardly a rare commodity.

He also had a talent for judging where the ball would drop and for headers, but by the same token, that wasn’t rare either.

Therefore, in Atgeni’s opinion, this guy couldn’t be called a prodigy at all!

He had merely been hyped up in a low-level league like the one in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

’Europe has so, so many prodigies!’

Those exceptionally gifted players were far more terrifying.

For example, Cristiano Ronaldo, currently playing for Sporting Lisbon. Rumor had it that Sir Alex Ferguson of Manchester United had taken an interest in him, and he would be landing at Old Trafford Stadium in the summer transfer window.

In Catalonia, Spain, within Barcelona’s youth team, a little guy named Lionel Messi was being treated like a prized jewel by the club.

In Brazil, a player from Santos Club named Kaka was being pursued by numerous major European clubs.

In Spain, at Atletico Madrid, Fernando Torres had been given the nickname El Nino (The Holy Infant)!

There were many, many more young players like them...

Compared to these true chosen ones of the era, Suq Bazhi wasn’t even in the same league.

His gaze shifted to Suq and Modric.

’What role will these two play in the new era?’

’And what can they bring to Croatian football?’

Atgeni didn’t know what the future held, but his expectant gaze tried to pierce through the mist called ’the future’, striving to see what lay beyond.

...

With Suq Bazhi sent off, the match lost its meaning.

Down a man, Sarajevo pulled everyone back to defend.

Meanwhile, Mostar Zrinjski played it safe and steady. With a comfortable lead, they no longer needed to desperately push for more goals.

Ultimately, the match ended in a subdued atmosphere.

In the 2002/2003 season, Mostar Zrinjski defeated Sarajevo 2-0, further extending their lead in the standings.

Sarajevo failed to get their revenge; their performance in this match was terrible.

And this result sealed their fate, ensuring they could not get that revenge.

With the final whistle, Mostar Zrinjski widened their lead in the league table, moving one step closer to their first-ever championship trophy.