203: Crowned at Old Trafford!

On November 22nd, Queens Park Rangers' home ground.

Hartlepool United's bus slowly drove into Loftus Road Stadium. Lin Feng sat in the last row, watching the streetscape of West London through the window. Three days later was the life-or-death battle at Old Trafford, and he had to ensure his key players were fully rested.

Old John walked to the front row with a tactics board, clearing his throat.

"Gentlemen, today is the rotation lineup's time to shine."

Tom Ince excitedly clenched his fists. The sixteen-year-old had finally gotten his chance to prove himself. Maloney, Lallana, and Clayton on the bench were also eager, knowing this was their stage to show their worth.

The match was not easy. Queens Park Rangers displayed tenacious fighting spirit at home, and the young Hartlepool United reserve lineup was once on the defensive.

In the sixtieth minute, Ince received a pass from Lallana, skillfully turned in the penalty area, and scored with a low right-footed shot. The young forward excitedly ran towards the corner flag, and his teammates swarmed him.

In the eightieth minute, Ince struck again. After receiving the ball on the wing, he cut inside and delivered a precise cross, allowing Maloney to easily tap into an empty net.

The final whistle blew, 1-0. Hartlepool United continued their League unbeaten run.

Lin Feng nodded slightly in the stands. The performance of these young players proved the success of the Phoenix Training Center's youth academy system. More importantly, the main lineup had gained valuable rest time.

November 25th, Old Trafford Stadium.

The Manchester sky was leaden and drizzling. Seventy-five thousand fans began entering two hours early, a red ocean gradually filling this football sanctuary.

Inside the away team's locker room, the atmosphere was solemn and focused.

Lin Feng pushed the door open, and all eyes instantly focused on him. He didn't give an impassioned speech, just calmly surveyed each young face.

"Gentlemen, the whole world is watching us tonight."

His voice was low and firm.

"Ferguson will lose his mind with anger; he will demand his team attack relentlessly. This is exactly what we want to see."

Vardy took a deep breath, his eyes gleaming with fighting spirit. De Bruyne and Coutinho exchanged glances, their young faces full of determination.

In the player tunnel, the two teams' players stood side by side.

Manchester United captain Neville scanned the young faces opposite him, a cold smile playing on his lips.

"A bunch of kids who don't know their place. Tonight, we'll give them a real Premier League lesson."

Henderson heard these words, but he didn't respond, just looked straight ahead calmly. An unyielding flame burned in his eyes.

The moment they walked out of the player tunnel, a deafening roar of sound washed over them. The atmosphere at Old Trafford reached a boiling point, and the Red Devils fans' songs echoed through the sky.

In the away stands, Keira Knightley, wearing an elegant black coat, chatted and laughed with several Hollywood stars. Countless cameras were aimed at her box, flashbulbs flashing one after another.

In the media section, Sophie Green nervously clenched her fists. Her gaze shifted between Keira Knightley's box and the pitch, her heart a mix of emotions.

The match began.

Hartlepool United set up in Lin Feng's carefully designed strange formation. They dropped deep, completely ceding possession to Manchester United. This unusual start even made Ferguson frown.

"What the hell are they doing?"

The Scottish veteran coach paced the sidelines, his eyes filled with confusion.

Manchester United's attack force began to show its power. Cristiano Ronaldo frequently broke through on the right, Rooney looked for opportunities in the penalty area, and Berbatov linked up the attack with his elegant technique.

Schmeichel played as if divinely inspired.

In the fifteenth minute, Cristiano Ronaldo's powerful shot was heroically saved by him. In the twenty-third minute, Rooney's header was again tipped over the crossbar by his single hand. The Danish goalkeeper's performance even drew applause from the Red Devils fans at Old Trafford.

As the first half was about to end, the opportunity arose.

Henderson intercepted Scholes's pass in midfield and, without hesitation, sent a long pass precisely to De Bruyne.

The Belgian prodigy chested the ball down and, before it could touch the ground, directly sent a diagonal pass with the outside of his foot.

Vardy sprinted.

The English forward's speed was magnified infinitely at this moment; he powerfully shook off Vidic's close marking and burst into the penalty area.

Facing the onrushing Van der Sar, Vardy opted for a powerful shot from a tight angle. The ball nestled into the net just inside the near post.

1-0!

The entire Old Trafford instantly fell silent. Over seventy thousand Red Devils fans watched in disbelief, as if time had stood still.

The away stands erupted in thunderous cheers. Hartlepool United fans frantically waved their scarves, shouting themselves hoarse.

Ferguson angrily jumped from the technical area, roaring something at the fourth official. His face was flushed, and his gum-chewing became more rapid.

Lin Feng remained calm in the box, but a flicker of satisfaction flashed in his eyes. Everything was proceeding according to plan.

In the second half, Manchester United's attack became even more frantic.

Ferguson made continuous adjustments, pushing Giggs and Scholes into more advanced positions, and both full-backs almost pressed into Hartlepool United's penalty area.

In the seventieth minute, the opportunity finally came.

Cristiano Ronaldo won a free-kick outside the penalty area. The Portuguese superstar took a deep breath, ran up, and struck the ball.

The ball traced a perfect arc, soaring over the wall and heading straight for the top corner. Although Schmeichel made a diving save, it was out of reach.

1-1!

Old Trafford erupted again. The Red Devils fans' songs once again echoed through the night sky, and Cristiano Ronaldo spread his arms, basking in the adoration of the crowd.

The match entered its final stages, with both sides looking for a winning opportunity.

In the eighty-ninth minute, a miracle happened.

Coutinho received the ball in midfield, facing a double-team from Scholes and Carrick. The Brazilian prodigy displayed a calmness beyond his years, executing two feints in a row to evade his opponents, then unleashed a long-range shot.

The ball curved in an incredible arc, tracing a beautiful parabola in the air, and precisely nestled into the top corner of the goal.

Although Van der Sar made a diving save, it was too late.

2-1! A last-minute winner!

The entire Old Trafford once again fell silent. This time, even the sound from the away stands seemed particularly loud.

Hartlepool United players frantically rushed towards Coutinho, lifting the sixteen-year-old prodigy high into the air. Old John was moved to tears on the sidelines; he had never imagined witnessing such a miracle at the Theatre of Dreams.

The final whistle blew.

2-1, Hartlepool United eliminated the invincible Manchester United at Old Trafford!

The players celebrated wildly on the pitch, and the away fans' songs echoed through the sky. This was another classic underdog story in football history.

Lin Feng quietly stood up in the box, adjusting his suit. His expression remained calm, but the light in his eyes betrayed his inner excitement.

Sophie Green was emotional, tears in her eyes, in the media section. She knew that this night would become one of the most unforgettable nights in English football history.

Keira Knightley applauded in the box, looking at Lin Feng's direction with complex eyes. This mysterious Eastern man had once again conquered the world with a miracle.

After the match, Old Trafford fell into an eerie silence.

Ferguson stood alone on the sidelines, watching Hartlepool United players celebrate. There was no anger on the face of the Scottish Godfather, only deep contemplation.

He slowly walked towards the away team's box.

As Lin Feng was about to leave, there was a knock on the door.

"Come in."

Ferguson pushed the door open, and two football masters from different eras stood face to face.

The old Sir didn't talk about the match, but instead scrutinized Lin Feng with a discerning gaze, before finally speaking after a long pause.

"Young man, I am very curious about you."

His voice was a little hoarse, but still authoritative.

"Interested in coming to my office for a drink? Not to talk about football, but about... the future."

Lin Feng smiled slightly and extended his hand.

"It would be an honor, Sir."

November 29th, Victoria Park Stadium.

Carrying the victory that shocked the football world, Hartlepool United returned home to face Sheffield Wednesday.

Fans gathered early outside the stadium, banners and slogans expressing their immense pride in the team. Words like "Conquerors of the Theatre of Dreams" and "Northern Dragon" were visible everywhere.

The match was without suspense.

The confidence built at Old Trafford put the team in hot form, and the connection between De Bruyne and Vardy once again proved effective. They ultimately won 2-0 comfortably, continuing their winning momentum.

At the post-match press conference, Old John appeared remarkably composed when facing reporters' questions.

"We just did what we had to do. This team still has bigger goals to achieve."

Meanwhile, in the Phoenix Training Center office, Lin Feng was planning the next stage of their journey. A League Cup semi-final ticket was already secured; next was the final sprint to Wembley.

His phone rang, and Ferguson's name appeared on the screen.

"Young man, are you free tomorrow afternoon? I think we should have a good chat."