67: The Red Devils' suffocating siege

The whistle for the start of the match was like dropping a piece of ice into a calm pan of oil.

Victoria Park Stadium instantly erupted.

Manchester United's red jerseys surged like a tide towards Hartlepool United's half.

Paul Scholes received the ball in midfield, his movements simple and effective, without an ounce of unnecessary flair.

He just glanced up, and the ball, as if remote-controlled, precisely found Ryan Giggs on the left wing.

Giggs dribbled, his body as light as a feather, but every step was full of threat.

Hartlepool United's players were not intimidated.

They strictly executed the "chain defense" deployed by Lin Feng.

The three lines maintained an extremely tight distance, moving as a unit, pressing in coordination.

Jordan Henderson and Gary Liddle, the two midfield workhorses, stuck to Scholes and Carrick, denying them space to turn comfortably and pass cleanly.

Scholes attempted several passes, but they were all blocked by their bodies or outstretched legs.

In the eighth minute, Wayne Rooney dropped back to midfield to receive the ball; as soon as he controlled it, he felt like a mountain had crashed into his back.

Chris Smalling, the young center-back from the non-League, clung to him like a shadow.

Rooney shielded the ball with his strong body, attempting to forcefully turn, but he found that this youngster, who was half a head taller than him, had an extremely stable base and astonishing strength.

Rooney couldn't turn and was forced to pass the ball back.

Smalling did not relax in the slightest; he stuck close to Rooney, patiently waiting for his prey to show a weakness.

In the fifteenth minute, Rooney again received the ball at the edge of the box; this time, he used a clever feint to shake off Mark Tinkler, who had come over to assist in defense, and then burst into the penalty area!

Smalling calmly blocked his cut-in line, not lunging blindly.

Rooney could only choose a tight-angle, powerful shot!

Smalling seized the moment, decisively extended his long leg, and with a clean and crisp tackle, blocked the ball out for a goal kick!

"Roar!" The fans at Victoria Park Stadium erupted in deafening cheers, a tribute to their young center-back.

In the commentary box, Roy Keane's face showed a hint of approval: "Hartlepool United's defense is exceptionally well-organized! Their players are full of fighting spirit on the field! That young center-back, Smalling, his performance is impressive! He's not afraid of Rooney at all!"

Manchester United's attacks came in waves.

In the nineteenth minute, Scholes unleashed a sudden shot from outside the box; the ball skimmed the grass, heading straight for the bottom right corner of the goal.

Kasper Schmeichel reacted extremely quickly; he quickly dived, making a save with a side-stretch to securely hold the ball, giving the opponent no chance for a rebound.

In the twenty-fifth minute, Giggs took a free-kick from the left wing; the ball traced a tricky arc, heading straight for the far post.

Schmeichel again made a world-class save; his fingertips touched the ball in mid-air, tipping it over the crossbar.

Every heroic save he made instilled confidence in his teammates' hearts.

On the sideline, Sir Alex Ferguson's chewing gum speed noticeably increased.

He stood up, walked to the touchline, and shouted something to the players on the field, demanding that the team strengthen their attacks down the wings and use long-range shots to threaten the opponent's goal.

Manchester United's players began to follow instructions; Evra and Wes Brown's attacking runs became more aggressive, attempting to tear open Hartlepool United's defense with crosses from the wings.

However, Hartlepool United's full-backs, Danny Simpson and Matty Robson, despite being at a physical disadvantage, relied on precise anticipation and tireless running to repeatedly thwart Manchester United's crosses and breakthroughs.

In the thirty-second minute, Hartlepool United finally seized a counter-attacking opportunity.

Henderson won the ball in midfield; he didn't hesitate for a moment, sending a direct long pass towards the attacking third.

Jamie Vardy, with his astonishing speed, instantly tore through Manchester United's defense!

Rio Ferdinand, a world-class center-back, was also surprised by Vardy's explosiveness; he desperately chased back, but could only watch as Vardy got further and further away from him.

Vardy dribbled into the box, and facing the onrushing goalkeeper Kuszczak, he opted for a powerful shot!

Kuszczak reacted incredibly fast, blocking the ball with his body!

Although the ball didn't go in, this counter-attack gave Manchester United's defense a cold sweat.

Gary Neville analyzed from the commentary box: "While Manchester United controls the game, they haven't created too many clear-cut scoring opportunities. Hartlepool United's counter-attacking defense is very well-structured, and Vardy's speed is their most deadly weapon."

As the match entered the final stages of the first half, Manchester United's attack remained fierce, but Hartlepool United's defense remained impenetrable.

Scholes attempted several long-range shots, but they were either safely gathered by Schmeichel or blocked by Hartlepool United's defenders with their bodies.

Jordan Henderson and Gary Liddle ran tirelessly in midfield; their tackles and interceptions frustrated Manchester United's midfielders.

Henderson even made a beautiful tackle at Scholes' feet, drawing cheers from the entire stadium.

The singing at Victoria Park Stadium never ceased for a moment.

The fans, with their most passionate and sustained cheers, encouraged every player on the field.

Time passed minute by minute, and the first half was about to end.

The referee checked his watch and blew the whistle for halftime.

0-0! Hartlepool United, a team from League Two, incredibly held the mighty Manchester United to a 0-0 draw at home!

This result shocked everyone following the match.

The players walked towards the changing room, their jerseys soaked with sweat, but determination and an unyielding spirit were etched on every face.

During halftime, Lin Feng remained calm in the VIP box; he knew that the first half's exertion was also a test for Manchester United's players.

He spoke to Old John over the phone, in an unequivocal tone: "John, tell the players they did an excellent job in the first half."

"In the second half, continue to maintain defensive intensity, but the counter-attacks need to be more decisive, more resolute. Get Gylfi ready; in the latter half of the second half, we'll need his long-range shots and set-pieces to create threats."

Old John held the phone and nodded vigorously; he felt the scales of victory were subtly tipping in their favor.