Bang!!
"Kaká!!"
After sliding to tackle, Suker flew over the baseline but still managed to save the ball.
Kaká sprinted swiftly toward the ball's landing spot.
However, Ferdinand was slightly faster.
Ferdinand took control first, stepping on the ball, waiting for his teammates to support.
Kaká gritted his teeth and lunged in fiercely, pressing hard.
He leaned left to apply pressure, but Ferdinand quickly turned while still controlling the ball, keeping distance.
Kaká pulled hard, nearly dragging Ferdinand to the ground, but still couldn't win the ball.
"Damn it!"
Kaká swore under his breath.
Suker passed by and turned to say, "Don't curse! Keep your head!"
Kaká clenched his face and nodded.
He felt frustrated.
The slippery pitch and Manchester United's tight marking limited his moves.
Seeing Suker sprint and press intensely, Kaká gritted his teeth and joined in the chase.
Pressing couldn't be done alone — he had to contribute too.
Kaká pressed on.
When Suker pressed Modrić, Kaká moved beside Evra to block Modrić's back pass.
But Modrić flicked the ball cleverly with his toe, playing a one-two.
Suker turned quickly to continue pressing, but Modrić had already passed.
The ball flew toward an open spot ahead of Ronaldo.
Ronaldo also made a quick forward run.
"First ball!!" Suker shouted angrily.
Yankulovski chased back hard and managed to head the ball out before Ronaldo could reach it.
Suker grimaced.
If it were peak Maldini, he'd have controlled the ball and maybe launched a counterattack.
But Yankulovski's ability was limited; Suker couldn't expect him to be as strong as Maldini.
Man United got a throw-in.
O'Shea ran up to throw the ball in then immediately dropped back.
He had no intention to join the attack — Seedorf and Suker had both shifted left, clearly waiting for him to not retreat, preparing a counterattack.
Seeing O'Shea retreat, Suker returned to the middle.
Giggs made a sideways pass and brought the ball into the penalty area.
Ronaldo and Nesta struggled for the ball.
Though Ronaldo jumped first thanks to his physique, Nesta's interference stopped him from getting a powerful hit.
The ball landed right into goalkeeper Dida's arms.
"Quick! Quick! Quick! Counterattack!" Suker yelled up front nonstop.
Dida ran hard to the edge of the penalty area and kicked a long ball forward.
The ball didn't fly toward Suker but toward Kaká.
Kaká ran a few steps, judged the ball's bounce, and stopped immediately.
He controlled the ball with his left foot, back facing goal, and tried to fake left, but Modrić was not fooled.
Kaká had to forcefully turn right, trying to break through.
But as his left foot pushed hard, he slipped.
"Damn this rainy weather!" Kaká cursed silently, falling forward.
He used his hands to support himself, shielding the ball beneath.
Modrić was momentarily confused by the sudden fall.
Then, Kaká used his knee to quickly shift the ball left again and used his powerful core to twist and push off.
The cleats dug into the turf; dust flew.
Whoosh!!
Kaká's acceleration was so fast Modrić couldn't react and watched helplessly as Kaká slipped past him.
"Kaká's through!!"
Kaká sprinted fiercely and, near the penalty area, glanced toward the center.
Seedorf and Suker were charging forward.
However, charging straight ahead left no good passing angles.
Suddenly, Suker stopped abruptly.
Kaká's eyes lit up.
"Now!"
Kaká threw his body down, completing a sideways pass while falling forward from momentum, landing hard on the ground.
Rain splashed his face, stinging his eyes, but he didn't dare blink.
He looked at the penalty area's center.
Suker stood sideways, with Vidic rushing back at him.
Just before collision, Suker lightly flicked the ball with his left foot, lifting it mid-air.
At the same time, Suker dropped back firmly, colliding heavily with Vidic.
Bang!
The collision sounded like bones clashing.
Pain shot through Suker's body; he grimaced, but his eyes stayed locked on the ball.
He adjusted his feet slightly, using the last bit of strength to twist and shoot.
"Controlled it!"
Suker raised his right foot high and struck downwards with a fierce shot, careful not to send the ball flying away.
After the shot, Suker fell heavily to the ground again.
Under the watchful eyes of tens of thousands of Milan fans, the ball soared toward Manchester United's goal.
At this moment, their hearts pounded violently.
Rain poured on the ball but couldn't stop the powerful shot, which flew diagonally toward the bottom left corner.
United's goalkeeper Van der Sar moved his left foot slightly but failed to make a save.
He thought if Suker could shoot, it would be to the left side, never expecting Suker to aim for the far corner.
He watched helplessly as the ball slid into the net.
Swish!!
The ball hit the lower-left corner of the net.
San Siro stadium fell silent suddenly, then explosive cheers erupted.
Wooooo!!!!!!!!! —
"It's unbelievable!!! —"
Italian commentator Aldo Serena held his head in disbelief.
He couldn't believe what he saw on the pitch.
This Milan attack — or rather the Suker and Kaká attack — was pure individual skill.
Kaká controlled the ball despite losing balance, using his knee to change direction and successfully passed to Suker.
Suker's decision in front of goal was stunning.
He knew Vidic was right behind him, so he lifted the ball mid-air to his right, buying time for the shot.
He sat back firmly, taking the full impact of Vidic's collision, and with the last ounce of strength, spun and shot, curling to the far corner!
These two were just too strong!
At the Manchester United bench, Ferguson's mouth hung open slightly, even forgetting to chew his gum.
His gaze was full of disbelief.
He knew very well how strong United's defense was.
One or two players alone usually couldn't break through.
But Suker and Kaká—these two scored purely through their personal ability.
They fought for the goal!
These two were unstoppable!
"Roar!!!! —"
Suker ran toward Kaká, roaring loudly.
Kaká's eyes widened, his heart filled with excitement.
He had broken through midfield and successfully fed Suker.
Suker embraced Kaká fiercely.
"Awesome!"
Kaká slapped Suker's back loudly, shouting, "Suker! Awesome!"
The two embraced, and at this moment, the world's eyes were on them.
On this rainy night, in this UEFA Champions League semi-final second leg…
Suker and Kaká, with fierce individual skill, pierced through United's defense.
"How can you defend against these two?!"
A Manchester United fan muttered in shock.
They had tried hard to limit Kaká.
They guarded Suker strictly as well.
But they simply couldn't stop these two.
They were like monsters!
If Milan's defense had no flaws, or if it was last season's Milan backline, these two would almost destroy all Europe's teams.
Since the group stage, they had been dominating!
Milan city, at Maldini's home.
Maldini stood in front of the TV, eyes wide, emotions unsettled.
"These two kids are damn strong!"
For Maldini to say this shows how intimidating Suker and Kaká's performances were.
But at the same time, Maldini felt a bad premonition.
Could Milan really keep Suker and Kaká?
Even if they could, for how long?