In the Hereford locker room, a dark cloud hung over the team.
Everyone knew how poorly the team was performing.
Sam Littlest did not fly into a rage and scold the players; he was clearly more of a gentleman than Huang Hao.
Looking at the dejected players, besides making tactical adjustments for the problems that arose in the first half, he mostly just tried to comfort the players as much as possible.
"Alright everyone, don't make those faces. There are still 45 minutes left in the game!"
"And we're only down by one goal. We have enough time and ability, believe in yourselves!"
"How fierce our firepower is has been proven in the past 46 games, so, steady your Mindset, forget about the first half, and you will definitely win this game!"
Sam's words, though not wrong, were clearly not enough to move Heinz.
"I feel terrible. I feel like those scoundrels from Cambridge United are going to cripple me! The referee's whistle was too soft today."
Heinz tilted his head towards Pike beside him, lowering his voice and whispering.
Pike remained silent, quietly taking off his sock, letting Heinz see the wounds left by the studs.
Seeing the bloody wounds on Pike's leg, Heinz fell deeper into thought.
Although Heinz's voice was not loud, Sam still noticed their every move.
He just didn't take any action.
He didn't know what he should promise, or what method he could use, to make these two players, who were about to return to their parent clubs, fight all out for Hereford.
Since he was powerless to break the deadlock, Sam could only pretend not to see.
That damned Huang Hao!
To actually use such despicable tactics!
The starting forwards were silenced by the opponent's malicious fouls, but there was no one on the bench who could take on this important task either.
Perhaps at this moment, Sam felt some regret, thinking he shouldn't have single-mindedly pursued results by letting two loan players monopolize the forward line for an entire season!
Meanwhile, in the Cambridge United locker room, the atmosphere was much more relaxed and joyful.
The players enthusiastically discussed their first-half performance, especially Heinz's almost terrified expression, which became a running joke.
Huang Hao stood by, smiling, listening to the players' discussions, and did not interrupt them rashly. It wasn't until the second half was approaching that he walked back to the tactics board.
Seeing the Head Coach's actions, the Cambridge United players understood and immediately stopped talking.
This kind of unspoken understanding between the Head Coach and the players further highlighted the excellent team atmosphere at Cambridge United.
"Pasquel, pay attention to the intensity of your fouls in the second half. After all, you have a yellow card, and I don't want you to take an early shower."
Hearing his name called, Pasquel stuck out his tongue and quickly nodded in response to his boss.
"OK, the same goes for everyone else. Fouling is an art, and we will slowly learn this course in the future."
"I believe you've already discovered that this move is absolutely effective against Heinz."
Thinking of Heinz's abnormal performance in the first half, the players burst into laughter.
"But guys, what I just said wasn't just for Pasquel; you all need to pay attention."
"Our goal is just to scare them, not to actually cripple them, because you are all the same, you rely on football for a living."
Huang Hao put away his smile and earnestly instructed the players.
After all, tactics cannot become a conspiracy. For professional players, serious injuries will lead to immeasurable consequences, not to mention that Heinz and the others are only in their 20s, with a bright future ahead of them.
Seeing Huang Hao so serious, the players also put away their smiles and nodded earnestly.
"In the second half, you need to do three things. Trust me, as long as you complete these three things, only victory awaits us."
"First, continue to maintain high-pressing until around the 65th minute. When I substitute Grove, everyone should appropriately narrow the defensive line, because your physical strength is currently not enough to support 90 minutes of such intensity."
Since the players didn't wear watches during the game and wouldn't constantly check the scoreboard for time, Huang Hao used substitutions to give the players hints.
During the long season, although the players got some rest in the final stage, 90 minutes of high-pressing would probably be difficult for even Premier League teams to achieve.
"Second, at the beginning of the second half, the opponent might start to counterattack. Seize their mistakes and try to score another goal. Just one more goal, and they are very likely to collapse."
"Third, forget about that goal in the first half. The closer it gets to the end, the more you need to stay calm. Of course, don't forget the fouls on Heinz and the others!"
"Go! Lads! Maintain your first-half performance, and in 45 minutes, bring me the trophy!"
After briefly arranging the tasks for the second half, Huang Hao waved his hands, gathering all the players.
"One, two, three, Cambridge United!!!"
Captain Sager shouted the slogan again.
"Victory!!!"
The Cambridge United warriors, with a powerful response, once again stepped onto the field.
After the second half began, the difference in momentum between the two teams became increasingly apparent.
Hereford's owner, Ryan, who was sitting in the box, also felt uneasy at this moment.
In the 58th minute of the second half, Hereford's full-back Roberts successfully intercepted Cambridge United's pass with an excellent read.
After gaining possession, Roberts immediately passed to the team's right midfielder, Cole, who was known as Hereford's future star.
Cole received the pass and looked up, trying to observe his teammates' positions.
Before he could even clearly see his teammates' positions, Cole suddenly received a strong impact and fell directly to the ground!
Sager's fair shoulder charge sent Cole directly into the advertising board.
Cole, who had fallen, didn't even have time to complain to the referee when he saw Sager quickly take the throw-in, and the ball was passed by Sager to McConnell, who was lurking in Hereford's attacking third!
Cambridge United counterattacked quickly!
McConnell lifted his right leg, brought the ball down, and then smoothly pushed it forward, successfully dribbling past Hereford's defensive midfielder and advancing to the edge of the box!
Perrotta and Vardy, one on the left and one on the right, held back Hereford's two center-backs. As the two defenders hesitated whether to step forward to intercept, McConnell made a through pass, and the ball, as if equipped with a guidance system, accurately reached Perrotta's feet!
Facing the goalkeeper, Perrotta easily curled a shot into the far corner!
2:0!
From the interception to the goal, Cambridge United only took a mere 30 seconds!
Hereford's Head Coach annoyingly covered his eyes, not even bearing to watch the Cambridge United players celebrate! The Hereford players on the field were also stunned as if struck by lightning, not knowing what else they could do.
But for Cambridge United fans, they didn't need to do anything; just shouting and cheering was enough!
"We're on our way to League Two,
I don't care how we get there,
But we're going to get there."
The Cambridge United fans' song echoed through Wembley Stadium, growing louder and louder.
This song, which they had been singing for three years, was finally about to become a reality today.
After some thought, Sam chose to substitute the injured Pike, moving Andrew back to the forward line to partner Heinz, attempting to go all out.
However, Cambridge United's attack did not stop there.
Ten minutes later, Cambridge United came back with a vengeance!
The battle quickly spread to Hereford's half. At this point, two Hereford defenders were already positioned next to Perrotta, who was lurking at the edge of Hereford's box!
However, Hereford seemed to have forgotten that Sager was the team's soul this season, perhaps due to Perrotta's excellent performance.
With Perrotta drawing the enemy's attention, the explosive Sager moved through Hereford's half as if unopposed!
In a flash, Cambridge United's captain carried the ball into Hereford's penalty area!
Just as Sager was about to shoot, Pierce, who was too late to stop him, lost his head and directly pulled Sager down!
"Penalty!!! Poor Hereford, that was truly a stupid idea!"
"Poor Pierce, he must want to forget this game as soon as possible."
The commentator Smith, whose face had already been swollen from being proven wrong, could barely bear to watch anymore.
Sager hugged the ball and walked to the penalty spot. After placing the ball down, he suddenly turned back and kept waving to Perrotta!
"Duff! You take it!"
Perrotta was a little overwhelmed, as Sager was the team captain and the team's main penalty taker, and he was actually giving him the opportunity to score a penalty that he himself had created!
"Go for it! Hat-trick, huh!"
Sager patted Perrotta's shoulder and turned to exit the penalty area.
Seeing this scene, Huang Hao's heart was filled with satisfaction.
Before the season began, Sager, who was originally only the team's third striker, bravely took on the team's attacking responsibilities after Harris and Perrotta were sent to the reserve team by Huang Hao, repaying Huang Hao's trust with goal after goal. In the middle of the season, Sager, who was adjusted to left midfielder due to personnel changes, helped the team with assist after assist.
Now, through a season of growth, Sager, as captain, had become even more mature.
Perrotta adjusted the ball again, then turned to look at his little daughter in the stands, took a deep breath, and relaxed his mind.
Slowly retreated, ran up, shot!
Scored steadily!
3:0!
"Hat-trick! It can be said that Cambridge United has already stepped into League Two!"
Smith no longer cared about his own face at this point. Cambridge United, a team he had not favored since the beginning of the season, had repeatedly created surprises under the leadership of that Oriental man!
Seeing Perrotta surrounded by his teammates, Heinz woke up as if from a dream!
If he finished this game with such a performance, Brighton would also remember it!
His excellent performance this season would probably be branded as unreliable just because of one bad performance!
Goal! I must score!
At this moment, Heinz no longer cared about injuries. After all, Cambridge United had not directly broken any player's leg so far; he had simply been intimidated by their seemingly extremely fierce demeanor!
With Hereford now three goals down, the only path left was to attack with full force.
Led by the re-energized Heinz, Hereford began to launch a wave of attacks on Cambridge United!
Heinz, with his excellent explosiveness, quickly got an opportunity at the edge of the Cambridge United penalty area!
Unfortunately, his shot hit a Cambridge United defender's leg directly!
And Cambridge United at this point did not choose to retreat to their own half and defend with all their might.
As soon as Hereford made a mistake, Cambridge United's midfield and forward line would recklessly charge towards Hereford's penalty area!
Especially with the team leading by three goals, the Cambridge United players played more relaxed, daring to make moves, and instead created more unexpected combinations.
If it weren't for Hereford's goalkeeper's excellent performance, this promotion match would probably have turned into a massacre.