Cambridge United, having lost Simmons, did not collapse.
After all, Huang Hao's team emphasized overall coordinated combat.
Dzeko and Vardy on the forward line were as stable as ever, not only able to score for Cambridge United but also frequently assisting teammates, becoming a powerful weapon for Cambridge United in League Two.
What surprised Huang Hao the most was the 18-year-old Serbian youngster, Tadić.
Simmons' previous excellent performance had overshadowed this Serbian player.
Coupled with the language barrier, the somewhat calm and low-key Tadić seemed not so eye-catching.
After Simmons left, Tadić, with his superior speed, explosiveness, and especially technique, slowly began to display his attacking talent.
He could always deliver exquisite passes in the right position, assisting teammates to score.
Just like that, the fans who were once dissatisfied with Simmons' departure gradually forgot about him.
Abbey Stadium had already composed a new song for Tadić, making this Serbian youngster the new darling of the fans.
In the EFL Trophy semi-finals, League One's Crewe did not cause Cambridge United too much trouble.
With everyone's excellent performance, a 3-1 home win and a 2-2 away draw, they eliminated Crewe 5-3 on aggregate, reaching the EFL Trophy final for the first time in the club's 94-year history!
In the other match, Bristol Rovers eliminated their city rivals Bristol City 4-2 on aggregate, also reaching the EFL Trophy final for the first time!
The two teams met again after their League Two clashes!
After 38 rounds of the Football League Two, Cambridge United already led seventh-placed Shrewsbury by a full 25 points, meaning that even if they lost the remaining 8 matches, Cambridge United would still be able to participate in the English League One promotion play-offs.
But at this point, Cambridge United, who were already 8 points ahead of second-placed Lincoln City, clearly had ambitions beyond that.
Huang Hao and his soldiers were making their final push for the Football League Two championship, a title Cambridge United had never held!
After a 3-0 victory over third-placed Swindon, Huang Hao gathered the team's core management team and had Ouyang Bing conduct a comprehensive review of the team's overall financial situation.
To everyone's delight, Cambridge United, which had been operating at a deficit last season, had already generated revenue of up to 3.58 million pounds this season!
This was double last season's amount!
Due to overwhelming popularity, Cambridge United, as a trending team, had sold-out matches, leading to a surge in pitchside advertising revenue.
And expenses were only 2.91 million pounds!
This meant that Cambridge United was back on track and starting to make money!
Huang Hao immediately had Ouyang Bing disburse all player bonuses!
He let all of Huang Hao's players share in the joy of the team's profit!
At the same time, this allowed the high-spirited players to focus more on matches and training, as a healthy club financial situation was crucial for Cambridge United at a critical moment in their championship pursuit!
On April 1st, when Huang Hao stood on the turf of Wembley Stadium again, feeling the breeze, he was filled with emotion.
This year had passed quickly, and Huang Hao still remembered the last time he defeated Hereford amidst the cheers of tens of thousands of fans, leading Cambridge United to promotion to League Two.
Today's Wembley Stadium did not see the grand spectacle of the last play-off, with only over 10,000 fans, making the stadium seem quite empty, as both teams were from League Two, and their popularity was a bit lacking.
However, for Huang Hao, the championship came with a 100,000-pound bonus, which made him drool.
Although the club was currently profitable, the debt left by the previous owner was still as high as several million!
That scoundrel Barry!
Every time he thought of him, Huang Hao clenched his teeth, filled with resentment!
Although Bristol Rovers were also making their first appearance in the EFL Trophy final, the crushing defeat in their last encounter still made Trollope cautious.
With the big match approaching, there wasn't much tension in the Cambridge United locker room, as the previous big victory had left the Cambridge United players relaxed.
After Darren repeated the tactical deployment for this match, Huang Hao had all the players gather together, each extending their arms to embrace their teammates fighting alongside them.
"Lads! Wembley is our lucky ground!
Here, we successfully defeated our opponents and were promoted to League Two."
"Now, we are creating Cambridge United's history step by step!
Displayed by the field is the EFL Trophy, which Cambridge United has never touched in over 90 years!"
"Although we won big against our opponents last time, today is the final, a winner-take-all match, and any result is possible."
"So I demand that you do not underestimate any opponent; treat them as if you are playing Arsenal, Chelsea."
"Go out there, defeat them! Bring the trophy back to Cambridge!!!"
"Cambridge United!!!" Captain Sager eagerly shouted these weighty three words!
"Victory!!!" The powerful response almost lifted the roof off the Wembley locker room!
With that, the Cambridge United players, led by Captain Sager, launched their assault on Cambridge United's first championship trophy since Huang Hao took over.
For this match, Trollope, knowing the terrifying attacking power of Cambridge United, deployed a 4-5-1 formation, hoping to solidify their defense and score by relying on Cambridge United's mistakes, or if all else failed, drag it to a penalty shootout and leave it to fate.
At 1:30 PM, Atkinson blew the whistle punctually, officially commencing the final match of the English League Trophy.
50 seconds into the match, Sager gained possession outside the box and decisively took a shot!
The ball was directly blocked by a Bristol Rovers defender with his body.
Just 1 minute later, Cambridge United came back, and this time Tadić got the ball in the penalty area, curling a shot with his right foot.
The ball flew over the defenders and past the goalkeeper's outstretched hands, but it was blocked by the goal frame.
After a few minutes of probing, Huang Hao directed his players to intentionally control the tempo, trying to draw Rovers' defensive line higher.
After twenty long passes in their own half, the Bristol Rovers players couldn't hold back and pressed into Cambridge United's half to win the ball.
Suddenly, Suxi, from just outside his own penalty area, launched a long ball forward!
When Vardy sprinted, he instantly left Santos, who was marking him closely, a full two body lengths behind!
Rovers' three defensive players immediately turned and chased Vardy!
By the time they caught up to Vardy, he had already broken into the penalty area and decisively shot!
Campbell stood still, without even reacting, and the ball had already found the back of the net!
Just 15 minutes and 30 seconds into the match, Cambridge United took a 1-0 lead!
Looking at Vardy, who showed almost no celebration, as if nothing had happened, he seemed to be telling everyone, "Is that all?"
Wembley Stadium instantly erupted, with Cambridge United fans wildly chanting "Vardy, Vardy."
Meanwhile, Rovers' players rushed towards Vardy, feeling deeply insulted.
Sager, as captain, immediately rushed to Vardy's side and shielded him.
As a large number of players gathered, pushing and shoving also began.
The scene was somewhat out of control.
"Beep..." Atkinson quickly rushed into the crowd and handed out yellow cards to everyone.
Cambridge United's Vardy and Sager, and Bristol Rovers' Santos, Manic, Sagbo, and Ngolo all received gifts from the referee.
After conceding the goal, Bristol Rovers completely shed their fear of losing and began to engage Cambridge United in an attacking battle.
However, facing Cambridge United's solid defense, their offense clearly did not achieve the desired effect.
On the defensive end, Songo'o and Sterri stuck to Lambert almost constantly.
Under their double-team defense, Lambert hardly got any opportunities.
Just as Bristol Rovers' four attacking players penetrated deep into Cambridge United's territory, preparing to launch an attack, the ball was directly intercepted by defender Suxi!
MacKenzie received the ball and immediately launched a long-pass counter-attack!
Vardy suddenly vanished like a ghost from in front of Santos!
Santos didn't catch up to him until he had dribbled to Rovers' six-yard box!
So Vardy gently pushed the ball forward, dribbled past goalkeeper Campbell, and then slotted it into the net in one smooth motion!
26 minutes and 03 seconds into the match, Cambridge United led 2-0!
Vardy ran towards the Cambridge United fan stand, crossed his arms, and accepted the fans' inspection like a king.
"Bang," a fan immediately set off a cold flare.
At this point, a hint of panic began to spread among the Bristol Rovers players on the field.
Clearly, Cambridge United's young players made them feel the level of a top team!
In the 34th minute of the first half, this time Cambridge United did not launch their attack from Sager's left flank but shifted the ball to the right!
Right midfielder Tadić, after receiving the ball, used a trick move to fake out a Rovers player, then quickly rushed to the byline.
After attracting two defenders to double-team him, he swept a pass towards the goal!
Vardy and Santos were tangled together, with no space to control the ball and shoot!
Vardy feigned a move forward but let the ball pass, then gently flicked it with his right heel, changing its direction, and it bounced into Campbell's right side of the goal!
3-0.
The Bristol Rovers players were momentarily unable to accept this fact, all frozen in place, unsure of what to do.
This goal was too imaginative; the players were a bit at a loss.
"King... King" At this moment, the fans in the stands spontaneously shouted loudly, and Sager was even more amusing, rushing to Vardy, kneeling on one knee, and placing Vardy's right foot on his leg as if polishing his shoes.
At this moment, Trollope suddenly rushed to the sideline, yelling at his players:
"Get your heads in the game, all of you!!! You're already down by 3 goals, what are you afraid of!!!"
"Fight back!!! I don't care about the trophy! But we can't be crushed!!!"
"Santos! Hood! Mark Vardy tightly! Otherwise, when the match ends, I'll sell you to the amateur League!"
Vardy on the field looked incredulously at the Bristol Rovers coaching bench after hearing his name, then shook his head with a helpless smile.
Yes!
They were already down by three goals, there was nothing to be afraid of!
At worst, it was a massacre, it wasn't the first time anyway!
So, the Bristol Rovers players regained their spirits, while Trollope received a verbal warning from Atkinson and was sent back to the coaching bench.
The Cambridge United players, leading by three goals, felt that this match was too easy, having almost ended it in just 34 minutes, and couldn't help but relax.
In the 46th minute of the match, Bristol Rovers, whose offense still hadn't improved much, finally won a free-kick on the left side of the attacking third.
The task of taking it naturally fell to Tinsley.
An exasperated Tinsley looked at the crowded penalty area, then slowly retreated, took a run-up, and passed the ball!
The ball curved past the goal and drifted to the far post.
At this moment, a player in a Rovers uniform leaped high, tensed his abdominal muscles, leaned his head back to gather power, and then forcefully headed the ball towards the goal!
This time, the ball finally pierced Pantilimon's outstretched hands and landed in Cambridge United's goal!
The suppressed Rovers fans finally erupted in cheers!
Loudly shouting Jones's name!
This young Rovers right-back became their hero!
"Beep," Atkinson did not give them a chance to kick off from the center circle, directly blowing the whistle for the end of the first half.