During halftime, the Villarreal locker room seemed to transform into a vibrant and passionate battlefield. Head Coach Escribá stood in the center of the locker room, his gaze firm and confident, like a general about to lead his army into battle.
As the players entered the locker room one by one, Escribá's face broke into a satisfied smile. He quickly walked forward, high-fiving each player. With every high-five, his palm was filled with strength, as if conveying a silent encouragement and motivation.
"Well done, keep it up!" Escribá said to each player, his voice firm and strong.
The players responded enthusiastically, their faces beaming with confidence and fighting spirit. They knew that their excellent first-half performance was inseparable from the Head Coach's careful guidance and tactical arrangements.
Escribá's gaze turned to the substitute players who were preparing on the side. He signaled for them to start warming up, ready to come on as substitutes in the second half. The substitute players immediately sprang into action, diligently doing stretches and running drills, hoping to contribute to the team.
As the whistle for the second half sounded, the entire stadium instantly erupted, and players from both teams rushed onto the field like arrows released from a bow. The Villarreal players were in high spirits, eager to continue their excellent first-half performance and further extend their lead.
Just three minutes into the second half, Villarreal launched a fierce offensive wave in the front field. Castillejo, a tall and technically versatile midfielder, became the initiator of the attack. After receiving a pass from a teammate, he quickly adjusted his steps, preparing to cross into the penalty area.
Castillejo kept his eyes fixed on the situation in the penalty area, his gaze flickering with determination. He observed the position of Celta midfielder Daniel Wass and silently calculated the trajectory and angle of the pass.
At this moment, Daniel Wass also realized Castillejo's intention, and he quickly moved to intercept the cross. He extended his right foot, preparing to clear the ball out of the dangerous area.
However, Castillejo's pass was extremely fast, and the angle was incredibly tricky. Although Daniel Wass tried his best to intercept, the ball hit him in an unpredictable way. The ball deflected off Daniel Wass, forming a bizarre arc.
This arc went straight towards the goal. Although Celta's goalkeeper reacted quickly, the ball's speed was too fast and the angle too tricky. He could only watch helplessly as the ball sailed over his head and into the top corner of the net.
The Villarreal players cheered enthusiastically after the goal, gathering together to celebrate this unexpected goal. Castillejo also excitedly waved his arms, embracing his teammates in celebration. Daniel Wass, however, stood in place with his head down, his face full of regret. He knew that this own goal had put his team in an even more passive situation.
The entire stadium was ignited once again, with cheers and shouts from the fans rising and falling. Villarreal further extended their lead with this own goal, and their attacking firepower seemed to become even more ferocious. Celta, on the other hand, faced immense pressure; they needed to adjust their state quickly, otherwise, this match might become even more difficult.
At the start of the second half, Villarreal already held a huge four-goal advantage, which made Head Coach Escribá's mindset exceptionally calm. He knew that with such a commanding lead, this match was no longer just about pursuing victory, but also a rare opportunity for practice. Therefore, he decisively decided to rotate the squad, allowing more players to get playing time.
Escribá waved his hand, pointing to the players on the substitute bench. Soon, Mexican international Dos Santos came forward, replacing Bakambu, who had just returned from injury and scored a goal. Escribá was very satisfied with Bakambu's performance, but he did not want the player, who had just recovered, to get injured again. Therefore, he decided to bring on Dos Santos to continue strengthening the team's attacking power.
Next, Pato also came forward, replacing the team's key player, Sansone. Pato is a young and promising player, eager to showcase his strength in the match. Escribá believed that this match was a good opportunity for him to train and grow.
Finally, the team's young player, Rodri, also got a chance to play. He replaced team captain Bruno Soriano. Although Rodri is still young, he has shown excellent talent and potential in training. Escribá hoped that through this match, he would accumulate more match experience, laying a solid foundation for his future growth.
With these substitutions, Villarreal's game truly seemed to be left with only the meaning of training.
In the final injury time of the match, Villarreal, who had already secured the victory, launched another fierce offensive. This time, the team's MVP-level player Trigueros stepped up. After receiving a pass from a teammate outside the penalty area, he made a slight adjustment, then lifted his foot and unleashed a powerful long-range shot straight towards Celta's goal.
The ball traced a beautiful arc in the air, piercing through the Celta defensive line and accurately finding the back of the net. Although Celta's goalkeeper tried his best to save it, the angle and power of the shot were too perfect, and he could only watch helplessly as the ball flew into the goal.
Trigueros, after scoring, excitedly waved his arms, celebrating this brilliant goal with his teammates. The entire stadium erupted once again, with cheers, applause, and shouts from the fans echoing through the sky.
This goal secured Villarreal's 5-0 victory, as they showcased their strong strength and excellent performance in this match. Trigueros's MVP-level performance drove the fans wild; his every touch, every pass, and every shot were full of threat and surprise.
As the final whistle blew, the stands of the Estadio de la Cerámica instantly erupted with cheers, applause, and shouts, surging like ocean waves. The fans excitedly waved their flags and scarves, their faces beaming with indescribable joy and pride.
Just then, cold fireworks suddenly lit up in the stands. Colorful fireworks bloomed in the night sky, like blossoming flowers, dazzling and beautiful. Each firework was like the joy and passion burning in the hearts of the fans, illuminating the entire stadium as if it were daytime.
The fans were stunned by this sudden surprise, and they all let out gasps of amazement and cheers, as if to convey this joy to everyone present. Children jumped excitedly, while adults embraced each other, sharing this unforgettable joy.
The entire stadium was enveloped in an atmosphere of joy, with laughter and celebratory sounds filling every corner. The Villarreal players also celebrated the victory on the field with the fans, waving to the stands to thank them for their support and love.
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Thank you for following the story this far.
If you want to read the later chapters in advance, I've uploaded more chapters to Patreon.
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