The Coaching System

Extra Time – Holding On for Survival

The full-time whistle had blown, but there was no celebration.

Both teams stood frozen, exhausted, drained, barely standing.

Bradford had pulled off the impossible, clawing back from 3-0 down to 4-4.

But there was no time to dwell on it.

30 more minutes.

One last battle.

Jake turned to his players.

"Fifteen minutes at a time," he said, voice steady. "Nothing stupid. Stay in the fight."

Silva nodded. Fletcher stretched his arms, trying to shake off fatigue. Okafor took a deep breath.

They had come too far to let this slip now.

First Half of Extra Time (90'–105') – Newcastle Push for the Winner

Bradford had thrown everything into their comeback.

Now, they had nothing left but grit.

Newcastle, still shaken by Rojas' last-minute equalizer, took a few minutes to reset.

Then, they went for the kill.

Guimarães and Tonali controlled possession, dictating the tempo, forcing Bradford to retreat into their defensive shape.

Trippier and Burn pushed higher up the pitch, pinning Bradford's wingers back.

Bradford weren't attacking anymore.

They were surviving.

92nd Minute – Tonali Tests Okafor

Newcastle turned up the pressure immediately after the restart.

Guimarães took control, dictating the tempo with short, sharp passes, forcing Bradford to stay compact. Trippier, ever the outlet, stayed high on the right, stretching the defensive line.

Bradford's shape held firm. Ibáñez and Vélez shielded the back four, blocking lanes into Isak, but Newcastle were patient.

Then, a moment of hesitation.

Ibáñez stepped toward Guimarães, expecting a sideways pass.

But instead, Trippier quickly cut the ball inside to Tonali.

25 yards out.

Jake's heart dropped.

Tonali took one touch, set himself, and rifled a low, driven shot toward the bottom corner.

The ball skidded across the slick pitch, curling just inside the far post.

Okafor saw it late.

He exploded to his right, diving low—

Fingertips.

The ball deflected, slowed—but spilled loose inside the box.

A moment of chaos.

Isak, lurking, reacted instantly.

The Swedish striker lunged, ready to fire the rebound—

Barnes got there first.

A desperate lunge—

His outstretched boot smashed the ball clear.

The ball landed near the edge of the box—right at Murphy's feet.

Another shot—this time, blocked by Min-jae.

Ibáñez sprinted to the loose ball and cleared it into the stands.

Valley Parade exhaled.

Newcastle's players threw their hands up in frustration.

Jake clenched his jaw.

Too close.

Bradford had survived—but just barely.

97th Minute – Isak Almost Breaks Through

Newcastle kept coming.

A quick one-two between Guimarães and Murphy unlocked Bradford's right side.

Murphy sprinted past Hart and squared it across goal.

Isak, making a darting near-post run, stuck out a foot.

For a split second, it looked like he'd nudged it past Okafor.

But Min-jae slid in—perfectly timed.

The ball deflected wide.

Newcastle's frustration grew.

Bradford's defense held.

101st Minute – Eddie Howe stood on the touchline, arms folded, watching his side struggle to break Bradford down.

He had seen enough.

First substitution for Newcastle:

🔄 Joe Willock ON, Joelinton OFF.

Willock jogged onto the pitch with urgency, exchanging quick words with Guimarães before taking up position in midfield.

Fresh legs. More energy. More attacking intent.

Newcastle needed someone who could drive forward and unsettle Bradford's tired midfield.

Willock wasted no time making an impact.

The moment Newcastle regained possession, Willock demanded the ball.

Guimarães played it to him near the halfway line.

Ibáñez stepped forward, expecting him to pass.

Willock didn't.

Instead, he dropped his shoulder, glided past Ibáñez, and suddenly Bradford's midfield was exposed.

Jake shouted from the touchline.

"Close him down!"

Too late.

Willock accelerated, skipping past Vélez with ease.

Newcastle's fans rose to their feet.

Danger.

Willock had space.

He took another touch, then curled a left-footed shot toward the far post.

The ball whipped through the air, bending toward the top corner.

Okafor reacted a second late.

He dived at full stretch—

Everyone held their breath.

The ball whistled past the post.

Inches away.

Willock slapped the turf in frustration.

Guimarães put his hands on his head.

Trippier clapped, urging Newcastle to keep pushing.

Jake exhaled, running a hand through his hair.

That was too close.

Bradford were still in it.

But Newcastle weren't slowing down.

105th Minute –

Bradford had survived the first half of extra time—barely.

Newcastle had pushed them to the limit, forcing them to defend wave after wave of attacks. They had no control, no way to relieve the pressure.

Jake could see it. His players were running on fumes.

If they had any hope of holding on—or even snatching a winner—they needed fresh legs.

He turned to the bench.

"Five changes," he told his assistant. "We need to reset."

Substitutions for Bradford:

Ethan Walsh for Richter – Adding attacking energy for the final moments. Walsh's pace and unpredictability could offer one last threat.

Bianchi for Kang Min-jae – Min-jae had put everything into shutting down Isak, but he was spent. Bianchi was fresh, strong in the air, and would be tasked with keeping the Swedish striker quiet.

Noah Fletcher for Barnes – Barnes had played on a yellow since the second half. Fletcher came in for defensive stability and fresh legs.

Lewis Hart for Taylor – Murphy's pace had been a growing problem. Hart was quicker, sharper, and would help contain Newcastle's right flank.

Daniel Lowe for Vélez – Vélez had been immense in midfield, but his legs were gone. Lowe would sit deep, break up play, and provide composure in the final stretch.

Jake stepped toward the players coming off.

Min-jae patted Bianchi on the back, breathing heavily as he jogged off.

Barnes nodded at Fletcher, his face drained of energy.

Richter, who had run himself into the ground, clapped Walsh on the back.

"Go make something happen," he muttered.

Taylor gave Hart a quick handshake before jogging toward the bench.

Jake clapped his hands, gathering the team before the restart.

"Fifteen minutes," he reminded them.

"Fifteen more minutes."

The players, exhausted but determined, nodded.

They weren't done yet.

Second Half of Extra Time (105'–120') – The Final Stand

Bradford had one golden chance to win it.

Newcastle had two more.

But no one could finish it.

110th Minute – Costa's Golden Opportunity

Bradford finally countered.

Silva intercepted a loose pass and immediately sent a long ball forward.

Costa, fresh and quick, beat Botman for pace and raced toward goal.

Valley Parade held its breath.

One-on-one with Pope.

Jake whispered, "Finish it."

Costa hit it first-time—

Straight at Pope.

The Newcastle keeper parried it away.

The rebound? Too heavy.

Newcastle cleared.

Costa fell to his knees.

Jake buried his face in his hands.

That was the moment.

And it was gone.

113th Minute – Newcastle kept pushing.

Murphy, cutting in from the right, let fly from 20 yards.

The ball whipped toward the far post.

Okafor didn't move.

It curled just wide.

Newcastle players threw their hands in the air.

Another close call.

118th Minute –

Eddie Howe made his final changes.

Lewis Miley ON, Tonali OFF.

Callum Wilson ON, Fabian Schär OFF.

Wilson immediately made an impact.

Guimarães found him with a brilliant lofted pass.

Wilson took one touch—volleyed toward goal.

Jake stopped breathing.

The ball sailed inches wide.

Wilson buried his head in his hands.

Jake exhaled.

They had survived.

120th Minute – Penalties Will Decide the Finalist

The whistle blew.

Valley Parade stood frozen.

Bradford players collapsed to the turf, exhausted.

Newcastle players looked just as drained.

Jake turned toward his assistant.

"This isn't how I wanted it," he muttered.

"But after all this?" Roberts asked.

Jake smirked.

"I'll take it."

Penalties would decide everything.