Chapter 720: Equaling the Record
As expected, Schöne didn't advance, while Tagliafico stuck closely behind Bruno Fernandes, denying him any room to turn.
Meanwhile, Ajax forward Tadić shadowed João Cancelo, ensuring Bruno had no immediate passing options.
Ajax's defensive strategy was clear: force Bruno to dribble the ball out of play by steadily narrowing his space along the right sideline. It was a simple but effective approach.
At this moment, Bruno was left with no other options.
Thanks to years of strength training, Tagliafico's physical pressure didn't knock Bruno off balance, but it did cause his steps to falter slightly. Nevertheless, Bruno maintained control of the ball while closely observing his opponent.
When Bruno suddenly accelerated forward, Tagliafico was caught off guard. He assumed Bruno was attempting to use his speed to break free and quickly shifted to cover his right side.
With the left side blocked by the sideline, Tagliafico's defensive instincts told him that as long as he guarded the right, Bruno would have no escape.
But this was exactly what Bruno had been waiting for.
The moment Tagliafico moved, Bruno deftly pulled the ball back with his left foot and executed a sharp turn to his left.
In a flash, Bruno completed a textbook Cruyff Turn, leaving Tagliafico behind and taking the ball with him.
The entire Johan Cruyff Arena erupted in astonishment.
Turning the Game Around
Now facing the goal, Bruno surged forward before Schöne could close him down, sending a sharp horizontal pass to Fred in the center.
Fred, understanding Bruno's intent, carried the ball diagonally toward the middle.
Worried about a central attack, Schöne moved to intercept, only for Fred to slip the ball behind him.
Bruno, sprinting into the open space behind Schöne, latched onto Fred's pass and reached the edge of the penalty area.
At this point, only Daley Blind remained between Bruno and the goal.
"Manchester United launches a quick attack down the right!"
"Bruno is at the edge of the box, moving with incredible speed!"
Former United defender Blind was now the last line of Ajax's defense. He knew that if he failed to stop Bruno, it would result in a one-on-one with the goalkeeper.
Having been Bruno's teammate for two years, Blind understood his abilities better than anyone else on the Ajax team.
Fully focused, Blind tracked Bruno's every movement, sweat dripping into his eyes as he calculated his next move.
As Bruno approached, he feigned a move to cut inside toward the top of the box.
Outsmarting Blind
Blind instantly recognized the danger.
He knew Bruno was equally capable with both feet. If allowed to cut inside, Bruno could unleash a devastating left-footed shot from the top of the box.
"Damn it!" Blind thought, shifting his weight to block the inside lane.
But just as Blind committed to this defensive move, Bruno veered sharply to the left, bypassing him entirely.
In that moment, Blind was left behind, watching Bruno surge past.
However, another figure suddenly appeared in Bruno's path.
Beating the Keeper
Bruno didn't have time to identify the figure. His instincts told him it was Ajax goalkeeper André Onana rushing out to meet him.
But at the edge of the box, Onana seemed far from goal, an uncharacteristic gamble for a keeper.
Bruno had no time to think. Years of rigorous training had ingrained in him the importance of maintaining control over the ball at all costs. Even after beating Blind, Bruno kept the ball within reach, enabling him to respond swiftly when Onana charged forward, arms outstretched.
With one quick motion, Bruno poked the ball past Onana's side.
The Winning Touch
Onana had confidently predicted Bruno's path and made his move early. His plan was simple: stop the ball, no matter what.
But Bruno's swift reaction and precise touch rendered Onana's effort futile. The ball slipped past the keeper, and though Onana twisted his body in a desperate attempt to recover, it was too late.
Bruno accelerated after the ball, catching it just before it crossed the byline. With a deft sweep, he sent it skimming along the ground into the net, kissing the inside of the right post before settling in.
Goal!
Bruno's momentum carried him off the pitch and into the advertising boards as the ball nestled in the back of the net.
A Lifeline
The Johan Cruyff Arena fell silent for a moment before erupting in stunned disbelief.
Bruno lay momentarily against the boards before springing to his feet, fists clenched, roaring in celebration. His teammates rushed to join him, their jubilation reflecting the gravity of the moment.
The scoreline now read 1-1, with Manchester United taking a crucial step toward the final.
"GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOALLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!"
"28th minute, Manchester United tenaciously equalizes the score!"
"My God, what a spectacular individual performance by Manchester United's captain, Bruno Fernandes!"
...
The entire Johan Cruyff Arena was stunned, with Ajax fans visibly shocked by the sudden goal.
The sequence leading to the goal seemed lengthy and intricate, but on the pitch, it unfolded in the blink of an eye. It happened so fast that most fans didn't even fully grasp what had occurred until they saw Bruno crashing into the advertising boards behind the goal, with the ball resting inside the net.
Bruno got up from the boards, raising both fists high and roaring in celebration. Before long, his teammates were rushing toward him, enveloping him in a jubilant embrace.
"You're an absolute magician! I'm so proud of you!" Fred exclaimed, leaping onto Bruno's back.
"Haha, I'm no magician; I can't do magic!" Bruno laughed. "But I can score goals!"
The Manchester United players piled onto him, forming a celebratory huddle.
"This is undoubtedly a jaw-dropping goal, perfectly showcasing Bruno's exceptional individual skills. From the initial turn to the subsequent dribble, and finally that deft poke past the goalkeeper—it all highlights his incredible ability. Simply put, this was a phenomenal goal."
"This marks Bruno's 17th goal in the Champions League this season, tying Cristiano Ronaldo's record set during the 2013-2014 campaign. Interestingly, Bruno previously equaled this record in the 2014-2015 season while playing for Udinese, scoring 17 goals that year as well."
"It's also Bruno's 62nd career Champions League goal, surpassing Lewandowski and Benzema to claim fourth place on the all-time scoring list. Only Raúl (71 goals), Messi (108 goals), and Cristiano Ronaldo (126 goals) remain ahead of him!"
As Bruno jogged back after celebrating, he passed Ajax's Cameroonian goalkeeper, whose quick reflexes during the earlier play had left a strong impression.
Bruno made a mental note of the name André Onana, recalling that the keeper had joined Manchester United in the summer of 2023. While Bruno didn't know how Onana performed at United—having left for this "new world" shortly after—he remembered Onana's excellent displays for Ajax in recent seasons.
Despite equalizing, Manchester United couldn't maintain the 1-1 scoreline in the first half. Ajax responded with increased aggression, regaining the lead in the 36th minute.
A high-quality attacking move began with Van de Beek's diagonal ball to Tadić on the left wing. The Serbian forward executed a perfect cutback, setting up Ziyech, who struck a precise shot into the far corner to make it 2-1.
The first half ended with Ajax leading. If neither team scored in the second half, the match would head into extra time or even a penalty shootout.
Although Manchester United trailed at halftime, Mourinho used the break to praise his players' first-half performance.
"In the second half, if we stabilize our defense, we can walk out of the Johan Cruyff Arena with a win!" Mourinho shouted.
"Because we have Bruno!"
The players, inspired, cheered enthusiastically.
With 12 matches, 17 goals, and 11 assists, Bruno was an unstoppable force in their eyes—a man who could break through any defense.
The 15-minute break ended quickly, and both teams returned to the pitch.
As expected, Ajax adopted a more aggressive, proactive approach in the second half. They had no choice. Allowing the match to drift toward extra time would introduce too many uncertainties.
On one hand, Ajax's overall strength was not on par with Manchester United. On the other hand, as the home team, they had to capitalize on the advantage and score again to secure victory.
Though United, like Ajax, had a youthful squad, their fighting spirit was unmatched. Many players had already experienced the pressure of last season's Champions League triumph, making them young but not inexperienced.
With Ajax pressing forward, United focused on tightening their defense, preparing to strike on the counterattack.
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