Seeing the situation that was unfolding ahead, Rúben Dias abandoned the penalty area immediately.
"I've got him!" he thought as he charged across to intercept the ball that didn't have an owner at the moment.
The ball kept moving sharply, and at that, Dias smiled.
Perfect.
He'd arrive first.
But then...Izan reached it anyway.
Without breaking stride, he planted his left foot onto the top of the ball, dragging it backwards just enough to kill its momentum.
Dias lunged but then, using the inside of his right boot, Izan nudged the ball into the space Dias had just vacated.
The Portuguese defender's tackle sliced through nothing but air and in the next instant, the entire stadium rose as one.
"Oh!"
Tyldesley almost shouted.
"He sat him down!" he roared as Dias twisted desperately, trying to recover, but Izan was already gone.
Only Renato Veiga and Diogo Costa remained between him and the goal.
Costa narrowed the angle while Veiga covered the cutback.
