Soccer: I became Bruno Fernandes.

Chapter 282: Defeat with Honor

Seeing Udinese score their second goal, Guidolin stood on the sidelines, smiling and clapping. The cheers in the Friuli Stadium were deafening, shaking the entire venue.

With Udinese pulling two goals back, Allegri couldn't sit still. In the 80th minute, Juventus made another substitution, bringing on Padoin for Lichtsteiner. Lichtsteiner had been completely overwhelmed by Udinese's relentless attacks in the second half.

Although Padoin's most frequent position was right midfield, this versatile player often filled in as a central midfielder or defensive midfielder and even as a full-back when needed. Apart from goalkeeper, central defender, and forward, this veteran had played almost every position, earning his place as an indispensable player under various coaches due to his tireless work ethic.

However, under Allegri, Padoin hadn't had many opportunities. With Lichtsteiner thoroughly exhausted and no other options available, Allegri had no choice but to send Padoin on. Unfortunately, possibly due to his lack of match fitness, Padoin seemed out of form, being overpowered twice on the wing, allowing Udinese to threaten Juventus's goal twice.

Seeing Udinese's growing momentum, Allegri made a third substitution, bringing on Spanish forward Morata for Dybala. The Argentine had been outstanding, with two goals and two assists, orchestrating all four of Juventus's goals. However, after over 80 minutes of high-intensity play, he was exhausted.

Guidolin also made a substitution, taking off veteran captain Di Natale and handing the captain's armband to Bruno.

This was a rare opportunity for Juventus. Asamoah passed the ball to Morata, who drove forward, using his strength to fend off Badu and almost carrying Vidic with him. Vidic, however, didn't give up, steadfastly holding his ground, preventing Morata from cutting inside. Finally, Vidic managed to poke the ball out of play.

"Strong defense! Vidic has surprised everyone with his performance today. Despite Udinese conceding four goals, none were his fault."

Time quickly passed. Juventus, seemingly content with a 4-2 scoreline, didn't push too hard, likely conserving energy for their upcoming matches against the two Rome clubs. First, they would face Lazio in the Coppa Italia quarterfinals at the Stadio Olimpico, then host Roma in Serie A.

Ending the match now suited Juventus fine, but Bruno and his teammates had different ideas, as did some Juventus players.

During a moment when Morata had the ball, Bruno tracked back. The Spanish forward, eager to prove himself and secure a starting spot, tried to dribble past Badu. Despite numerous appearances, mostly as a substitute, Morata, at 23, was desperate for a starting position.

However, as Morata attempted to break through Badu, Widmer suddenly appeared from behind, poking the ball away and tripping the Spanish forward. The referee didn't blow for a foul. Badu quickly passed the ball low to Bruno.

Bruno, with his back to the attacking direction and Marchisio behind him, knew he couldn't turn with the ball. If he did, Marchisio would immediately tackle him. In that moment, Bruno's mind was incredibly clear, focusing solely on the incoming ball and Marchisio behind him.

Gently lifting his right foot, he let the ball pass to his right while he turned left, leaving Marchisio behind as he chased after the ball.

"Beautiful turn by Bruno!"

"Udinese launches a counter-attack. Bruno with a brilliant turn, breaking through Juventus's defense."

Gritting his teeth, Bruno chased the ball at full speed towards the goal.

Juventus's quick defensive response saw Khedira return to his position first, trying to use his body to block Bruno. But before he could get close, Bruno suddenly stopped, feinting inside, causing Khedira to attempt a block. Bruno then cut left, bypassing Khedira and entering the box.

"Bruno beats Khedira and enters the box, now facing Buffon one-on-one!"

With vast experience, Buffon left his line as soon as Bruno bypassed Khedira, expertly timing his move to block Bruno's shot. Yet, at 38, his reflexes were slightly slower than younger goalkeepers. Before Buffon could close in, Bruno delicately chipped the ball over him. It arced and slowly descended towards the goal.

Juventus's center-back Bonucci rushed back to clear it but ended up colliding with the ball into the net.

"Whistle!" The referee pointed to the center circle, signaling a valid goal.

"Bruno! Bruno!! Bruno!!!"

"In the 88th minute, Bruno scores again for Udinese!"

"This is his second goal of the match, a reward for his relentless effort."

"A spectacular individual performance, once again breaking through Juventus's defense single-handedly."

"3-4, Udinese is just one goal behind!"

"The Friuli Stadium is about to erupt!"

"Indeed, Udinese's overall strength is inferior to Juventus, and Bruno was tightly marked throughout. Allegri emphasized pre-match that stopping Bruno was Juventus's top defensive priority."

"Yet, this 21-year-old Ballon d'Or winner continues to astonish. Two goals and an assist, nearly single-handedly toppling mighty Juventus!"

"His fighting spirit is incredible. We see Udinese's players, inspired by him, refuse to give up even when four goals down and a man short."

"The new Ballon d'Or winner has left a profound impression."

"The match is almost over, and the outcome seems decided. But Udinese's performance, especially Bruno's, deserves recognition. His tenacity has left a lasting impression, and his late goal shows his true caliber."

"You could say Bruno created the only highlight for Udinese. Defeated, but with honor."

The final whistle blew.

3-4, Udinese lost the top-of-the-table clash with Juventus.

At the final whistle, Bruno collapsed onto the grass, exhausted. He had given his all, but unfortunately, Udinese still lost.

"Well done." Dybala approached, taking off his jersey and handing it to Bruno, a sign of respect for his performance.

"Thanks." Bruno got up, exchanged jerseys with the Juventus forward.

The Argentine, also a rising Serie A star, had 13 goals and 10 assists for Palermo last season, helping them finish 12th. Last summer, after failing to agree on a contract extension with Palermo, Dybala joined Juventus for a hefty €40 million fee.

Under Allegri, Dybala quickly surpassed Morata, becoming Juventus's main forward and offensive core. By today's match, he had 11 goals and 7 assists in 20 Serie A games, accounting for 49% of Juventus's goals, solidifying his role as the team's key player.

Dybala, 22, just a year older than Bruno, wasn't quite sure how to comfort him but offered some simple encouragement, knowing Bruno, as a Ballon d'Or winner, didn't need much consoling.

Before today, Dybala had reservations about Bruno. But after this match, he truly respected him. If he had been in Bruno's place, Juventus would have won 4-0. However, under Bruno's leadership, Udinese clawed back to 3-4, almost turning the game around.

Watching Dybala leave and clutching the Juventus No. 10 jersey, Bruno couldn't help but tightly grip the shirt in his right hand.

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