Rochemback himself had not expected such a miraculous effect for his first foul . For the price of a mere yellow card, he had made the opponent's main forward leave the field with an injury . The price seemed a trifle in comparison . And even though he had received a yellow card, he did not need to worry about having to play more reservedly in defense . After Eastwood went off the field, Forest had no one who specialized as an attacking midfielder; there were not many opponents to deal with .
With needing to mark any Forest player now, Rochemback even had opportunities to dribble the ball forward and assist in the offense . With Forest adjusting, Sporting CP intended to take the chance and pull their scores closer amid the confusion .
Perhaps that tactic was not the most glamorous, but the manager of Sporting CP, José Peseiro, still had to praise Rochemback for his earlier kick . Shouldering the danger of possibly receiving a red card, he had helped the team deal with one of their most dangerous foes .
While Sporting CP was on the attack, Fábio Rochemback noticed from the backfield that almost every Forest player had returned to defend . The only player left on his side was a player as tall as a utility pole . Rochemback figured that he might as well try to participate in the attack and get a ball in or rack up assists, instead of staying in the back without much use .
Meanwhile, Albertini was directing George Wood to defend and take note of opponents possibly breaking in from the flanks . Wood was told to prepare himself to assist Ribéry at any time .
Wood nodded but his gaze was fixed on Rochemback, who was steadily moving closer .
He did not know the name of that person, but he remembered his face and number . Wood did not believe he would mistake him .
Pinto was currently in possession . He realized that the success rates of a forward pass were low . George Wood and Albertini had formed a wall in front and sealed off all possible passing routes .
At this point, he heard someone calling from behind .
"João! João!"
It was Rochemback .
George Wood looked up . His gaze shot past Pinto's shoulder to find Rochemback hiding behind Pinto's back .
On hearing Rochemback's call, Pinto passed the ball backward with his heel .
Almost at the same time, George Wood abandoned his defensive zone and rushed out; his target was the receiver, Rochemback!
As if he had not seen Wood, Rochemback kept his eyes on the ball and made a move to receive it .
The ball arrived and so did Wood .
Rochemback noticed Wood from the corner of his eye . Suddenly, a crazed idea emerged in his mind: why not take that silly lad down as well?
Rochemback moved the ball to the side in a bid to lure George Wood to commit a foul . So long as he made it look genuine, he might just force Number 13 right off the field!
Come on, boy! Come on!
I'm here, bastard!
George Wood flew out with a tackle even before he neared Rochemback . Rochemback had just finished turning when Wood's right shoe landed on his left ankle!
Firmly and solidly, he stomped down .
With its loud but muffled thud, even the spectators on the viewing stands could clearly feel the power in his strike .
After the back tackle to Rochemback, George Wood continued sliding forward from the momentum . Meanwhile, Rochemback was sent flipping into the air, somersaulting before crashing back to the ground with grass clippings flying up and dropping back on him .
The raucous stadium lapsed into a momentary silence followed by a piercing whistle .
The referee ran to the scene of the incident, at the same time withdrawing a red card from his breast pocket to flash at George Wood . A tackle from the back; it was unquestionably an immediate red card .
Wood ignored the referee . He stood and immediately walked off the field . Even before he had struck out, he had known what was waiting for him . But that could not prevent him from taking this strike . Since he had achieved his motive, he could hardly care less about the penalty given to him .
After flashing the red card at George Wood, the referee again experienced an outburst of jeering and insults from the home team fans . From the fans' perspective, since Wood was fouled out, Rochemback, who had similarly taken down Eastwood and given him an injury, should also have been given a red card .
Rochemback had achieved his aim . He had single-handedly caused Forest to lose two of their core players . The price was that he would probably be unable to continue playing this match . Rochemback only felt a numbness where his left ankle was, and nothing else . He tried to regain some form of control over it, but it was pointless . As a professional footballer, he knew that it was time for him to exit the field .
He had not expected George Wood to be so vicious, so quick . Wood had not at all been going for the ball . Right from the beginning, he had intended for Rochemback to go down!
George Wood calmly walked off the field at a languid pace . He was not in the least bit sorry or guilty about having injured someone . Furious players from Sporting CP tried to rush towards him to demand an explanation, but before they could even get close they were pushed away by Ashley Young and Viduka .
In an instant, the entire scene became chaotic again . Players from both teams gathered together with every intention of starting a fight . The referee had no choice but to leave behind the injured Rochemback and run towards the confrontational players amassed together, all the while blasting on his whistle . Of course, he also remembered to signal to the off-field to quickly bring in the stretcher .
Tang En saw the whole process from outside the field . He had already anticipated it from the moment he caught Wood rushing towards Rochemback . It was useless to say anything more; either way, the Forest team was fated to battle with only ten players .
He stood on the sidelines and waited for Wood to get off the field, stepping forward to give him a pat on the back .
"Go back to the locker room to shower and change . " He said .
There was no reproaching and no lamentation .
Wood nodded .
"And, clap for the fans to show your thanks . " Tang En instructed .
There had never been a player who would greet his fans after being fouled out; such an action was too provocative . Usually, the penalized player would be hanging his head and walking quickly to the locker room for fear of facing the fans . But Tang En insisted for Wood to do so as if in his eyes Wood was not being penalized, but being substituted as per usual .
Wood obediently raised his hands and clapped towards the spectators' stand and at Forest's fans in thanks .
The response?
From three of the stands, he received thunderous applause .
"What an unbelievable sight! George Wood, who fouled and violated his opponent, who was sent off the field with a red card, has become City Ground's hero!"
To Sporting CP's players, Wood's actions were regarded as a provocation and an insult . Even the bench substitutes from the team rushed to the sidelines to make loud protests . Wood ignored them, continuing to wave to the fans as he walked towards the players' corridor . What made José Peseiro, even more, unhappy was that Tony Twain did not seem shamed by the action . Instead, he was clapping alongside the fans for Wood!
"Mr . Tony! Do you still have any sense of sportsmanship?" Peseiro scolded Tony with his semi-fluent English .
Tang En replied with a beam . "That's a good question, Mr . Peseiro . Please ask Fábio Rochemback on my behalf . "
"You…"
The Fourth Official appeared between the two and glared at them . Peseiro obediently returned to his manager's seat . Tang En continued standing on the sidelines, his gaze turned towards the field .
The chaos had already settled . With the combined efforts of Hierro, Albertini, Edwin van der Sar, and other veterans, they had managed to stop the fight from erupting .
George Wood had already disappeared into the players' corridor . The applause from the stands returned to jeers; jeers so overwhelmingly fierce that the players on the field almost forgot they still needed to continue the match .
David Kerslake walked up and stood next to Tang En . "What a terrible match; isn't it, Tony?"
"You're right . It is terrible, David . " Tang En said with gritted teeth . "Call Gunnarsson back . I think it's time for him to play . "
Chapter 294: Wood's Revenge Part 2. Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Rochemback himself had not expected such a miraculous effect for his first foul . For the price of a mere yellow card, he had made the opponents main forward leave the field with an injury . The price seemed a trifle in comparison . And even though he had received a yellow card, he did not need to worry about having to play more reservedly in defense . After Eastwood went off the field, Forest had no one who specialized as an attacking midfielder; there were not many opponents to deal with . With needing to mark any Forest player now, Rochemback even had opportunities to dribble the ball forward and assist in the offense . With Forest adjusting, Sporting CP intended to take the chance and pull their scores closer amid the confusion . Perhaps that tactic was not the most glamorous, but the manager of Sporting CP, José Peseiro, still had to praise Rochemback for his earlier kick . Shouldering the danger of possibly receiving a red card, he had helped the team deal with one of their most dangerous foes . While Sporting CP was on the attack, Fábio Rochemback noticed from the backfield that almost every Forest player had returned to defend . The only player left on his side was a player as tall as a utility pole . Rochemback figured that he might as well try to participate in the attack and get a ball in or rack up assists, instead of staying in the back without much use . Meanwhile, Albertini was directing George Wood to defend and take note of opponents possibly breaking in from the flanks . Wood was told to prepare himself to assist Ribéry at any time . Wood nodded but his gaze was fixed on Rochemback, who was steadily moving closer . He did not know the name of that person, but he remembered his face and number . Wood did not believe he would mistake him . Pinto was currently in possession . He realized that the success rates of a forward pass were low . George Wood and Albertini had formed a wall in front and sealed off all possible passing routes . At this point, he heard someone calling from behind . João! João! It was Rochemback . George Wood looked up . His gaze shot past Pintos shoulder to find Rochemback hiding behind Pintos back . On hearing Rochembacks call, Pinto passed the ball backward with his heel . Almost at the same time, George Wood abandoned his defensive zone and rushed out; his target was the receiver, Rochemback! As if he had not seen Wood, Rochemback kept his eyes on the ball and made a move to receive it . The ball arrived and so did Wood . Rochemback noticed Wood from the corner of his eye . Suddenly, a crazed idea emerged in his mind: why not take that silly lad down as well? Rochemback moved the ball to the side in a bid to lure George Wood to commit a foul . So long as he made it look genuine, he might just force Number 13 right off the field! Come on, boy! Come on! Im here, bastard! George Wood flew out with a tackle even before he neared Rochemback . Rochemback had just finished turning when Woods right shoe landed on his left ankle! Firmly and solidly, he stomped down . With its loud but muffled thud, even the spectators on the viewing stands could clearly feel the power in his strike . After the back tackle to Rochemback, George Wood continued sliding forward from the momentum . Meanwhile, Rochemback was sent flipping into the air, somersaulting before crashing back to the ground with grass clippings flying up and dropping back on him . The raucous stadium lapsed into a momentary silence followed by a piercing whistle . The referee ran to the scene of the incident, at the same time withdrawing a red card from his breast pocket to flash at George Wood . A tackle from the back; it was unquestionably an immediate red card . Wood ignored the referee . He stood and immediately walked off the field . Even before he had struck out, he had known what was waiting for him . But that could not prevent him from taking this strike . Since he had achieved his motive, he could hardly care less about the penalty given to him . After flashing the red card at George Wood, the referee again experienced an outburst of jeering and insults from the home team fans . From the fans perspective, since Wood was fouled out, Rochemback, who had similarly taken down Eastwood and given him an injury, should also have been given a red card . Rochemback had achieved his aim . He had single-handedly caused Forest to lose two of their core players . The price was that he would probably be unable to continue playing this match . Rochemback only felt a numbness where his left ankle was, and nothing else . He tried to regain some form of control over it, but it was pointless . As a professional footballer, he knew that it was time for him to exit the field . He had not expected George Wood to be so vicious, so quick . Wood had not at all been going for the ball . Right from the beginning, he had intended for Rochemback to go down! George Wood calmly walked off the field at a languid pace . He was not in the least bit sorry or guilty about having injured someone . Furious players from Sporting CP tried to rush towards him to demand an explanation, but before they could even get close they were pushed away by Ashley Young and Viduka . In an instant, the entire scene became chaotic again . Players from both teams gathered together with every intention of starting a fight . The referee had no choice but to leave behind the injured Rochemback and run towards the confrontational players amassed together, all the while blasting on his whistle . Of course, he also remembered to signal to the off-field to quickly bring in the stretcher . Tang En saw the whole process from outside the field . He had already anticipated it from the moment he caught Wood rushing towards Rochemback . It was useless to say anything more; either way, the Forest team was fated to battle with only ten players . He stood on the sidelines and waited for Wood to get off the field, stepping forward to give him a pat on the back . Go back to the locker room to shower and change . He said . There was no reproaching and no lamentation . Wood nodded . And, clap for the fans to show your thanks . Tang En instructed . There had never been a player who would greet his fans after being fouled out; such an action was too provocative . Usually, the penalized player would be hanging his head and walking quickly to the locker room for fear of facing the fans . But Tang En insisted for Wood to do so as if in his eyes Wood was not being penalized, but being substituted as per usual . Wood obediently raised his hands and clapped towards the spectators stand and at Forests fans in thanks . The response? From three of the stands, he received thunderous applause . What an unbelievable sight! George Wood, who fouled and violated his opponent, who was sent off the field with a red card, has become City Grounds hero! To Sporting CPs players, Woods actions were regarded as a provocation and an insult . Even the bench substitutes from the team rushed to the sidelines to make loud protests . Wood ignored them, continuing to wave to the fans as he walked towards the players corridor . What made José Peseiro, even more, unhappy was that Tony Twain did not seem shamed by the action . Instead, he was clapping alongside the fans for Wood! Mr . Tony! Do you still have any sense of sportsmanship? Peseiro scolded Tony with his semi-fluent English . Tang En replied with a beam . Thats a good question, Mr . Peseiro . Please ask Fábio Rochemback on my behalf . You… The Fourth Official appeared between the two and glared at them . Peseiro obediently returned to his managers seat . Tang En continued standing on the sidelines, his gaze turned towards the field . The chaos had already settled . With the combined efforts of Hierro, Albertini, Edwin van der Sar, and other veterans, they had managed to stop the fight from erupting . George Wood had already disappeared into the players corridor . The applause from the stands returned to jeers; jeers so overwhelmingly fierce that the players on the field almost forgot they still needed to continue the match . David Kerslake walked up and stood next to Tang En . What a terrible match; isnt it, Tony? Youre right . It is terrible, David . Tang En said with gritted teeth . Call Gunnarsson back . I think its time for him to play .
Chapter end
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