Alkmaar tried to gather themselves. The restart was hesitant—short to Martens, who tried to turn but was immediately smothered by Henderson.
[They look rattled now, Peter.]
[That goal's done more than level the score. It's shaken the whole structure.]
Ball won back. Liverpool again. Downing skipped past Henriksen like he wasn't there. He squared up Viergever. Little feint left, touch right.
[Too easy.]
Viergever stuck out a leg. Foul.
[That's cynical.]
Free kick, twenty-five yards out, slightly left of centre. Gerrard was already placing the ball.
[You know what he's thinking.]
[He's done this before.]
Alvarado crouched low, lining his wall, shouting. One hand up. Eyes never left Gerrard.
[Here comes the captain.]
The whistle blew.
Gerrard whipped it, right-footed, curling over the wall—and thudding off the crossbar.
[OH!]
Alvarado had dived full stretch but wouldn't have got there.
[That's rattled the frame!]
[It's raining fire now.]
