The Coaching System-Chapter 69: Bradford City VS MK Dons SECOND LEG (PART 2)

Second Half

The referee's whistle echoed through Valley Parade, signaling the start of the final 45 minutes.

The energy in the stadium had shifted. The first half was tense, filled with moments where either side could have taken the lead. But now?

Now, it felt inevitable—Bradford were about to take control.

Jake Wilson stood at the edge of his technical area, watching his players spread out into position. No changes at halftime—he had full trust in his starting eleven.

Kickoff

From the first touch, Bradford showed their intent.

Carter and Lowe immediately pressed the MK Dons midfield, forcing a hurried pass that went straight out of play.

Silva dropped deep to pick up possession, skipping past one defender before being fouled—free kick to Bradford.

Jake clapped his hands loudly from the sideline.

"That's it! Pressure them! We don't let them breathe!"

47th Minute

Just two minutes after kickoff, the ball found its way to Ortega in midfield.

With a quick glance up, he spotted Collins making a diagonal run down the right wing, drifting into the space between MK Dons' left-back and center-back.

Ortega didn't hesitate. He took a touch to settle the ball before launching a perfect, lofted pass over the MK Dons defense.

Collins watched it all the way, adjusting his run as the ball dropped over his shoulder.

With his first touch, he controlled it on his chest, taking the ball perfectly in stride.

The MK Dons left-back, McCarthy, recovered quickly, stepping across to cut off the inside lane.

Collins, however, was a step ahead.

With a quick feint to his right, he sold McCarthy completely, before cutting inside onto his stronger left foot.

The space opened up.

From just outside the penalty area, Collins curled a precise left-footed shot toward the far post.

The ball spun beautifully through the air, curling toward the top corner.

Valley Parade held its breath.

The MK Dons keeper scrambled across goal, eyes locked on the ball.

It missed by inches. The shot whistled past the post, brushing the side netting.

Collins froze for a second, hands on his head. He knew how close it was.

The crowd roared in appreciation, clapping loudly as the winger shook his head and jogged back into position.

MK Dons Already Looked Rattled.

Their defenders yelled at each other, trying to reorganize.

Their coach stood on the touchline, arms raised in frustration.

It was only a warning shot—but one that sent a clear message.

Jake, standing near the dugout, grinned slightly.

"That's the start we needed."

50th Minute

MK Dons attempted to slow the game down, passing sideways, trying to regain control.

But Bradford refused to let them settle.

Thompson chased down their center-back, forcing him into a misplaced pass straight to Carter.

Bradford's intensity was suffocating.

MK Dons' full-backs, who had been attacking in the first half, barely crossed the halfway line now.

Their midfielders kept looking over their shoulders, knowing they were being hunted down every time they received the ball.

Jake turned to Paul Roberts. "They're breaking."

Paul nodded. "One goal, and they're done."

Bradford could feel it.

The fans could sense it.

And in just one minute, Valley Parade would erupt.

51st Minute

Valley Parade was already electric, but the moment that was about to unfold would send it into chaos.

Ortega collected possession in midfield, gliding past an MK Dons midfielder with ease.

With a quick scan of the field, he spotted Collins making a run down the right flank.

Ortega didn't hesitate—he played a perfectly weighted through ball into space.

The Bradford winger sprinted onto the pass, his first touch immaculate.

Phillips, MK Dons' Right-back, was scrambling to keep up.

Collins cut inside slightly, opening up the angle for a cross.

With the outside of his right foot, Collins sent a curling ball toward the penalty spot.

The MK Dons defenders rushed to react, but the ball took an awkward bounce just before reaching them.

Davies, the center-back, hesitated for a split second—unsure whether to clear it or let it bounce.

That hesitation was all Silva needed.

He adjusted his body position immediately, reading the ball's trajectory.

The ball popped up perfectly, inviting something audacious.

The Moment of Magic

Silva planted his left foot, leaned backward, and lifted himself into the air.

In one fluid motion, he threw his body backward and swung his right foot over his head.

The stadium held its breath.

His boot connected perfectly with the ball, striking it cleanly.

The ball rocketed toward goal, spinning violently through the air.

MK Dons' keeper, Andrews, could only watch as it sailed past him and smashed into the top corner.

GOAL!

The net bulged.

For a split second, there was silence—as if no one could believe what had just happened.

Then, Valley Parade ERUPTED.

Bradford 1-0 MK Dons (2-1 Aggregate).

Silva landed on his back, eyes wide with disbelief before his teammates swarmed him, pulling him up in celebration.

Collins ran over, grabbing Silva's shirt and shouting in his face, hyping him up.

The Bradford bench exploded, players leaping into the air.

On the touchline, Jake just laughed, hands on his head.

He turned to Paul Roberts, still in shock.

"That's world-class."

Paul just nodded, still staring at the replay on the stadium screen. "That's one for the history books."

Silva ran toward the fans, arms outstretched.

Valley Parade had just witnessed something special.

Bradford had the lead.

And MK Dons were falling apart.

60th Minute – Second Goal, Thompson's Thunderbolt

The energy in Valley Parade was already at its peak, but what was about to happen next would send the entire stadium into utter chaos.

Silva's bicycle kick had broken the deadlock, but Jake knew MK Dons weren't finished yet. They still had time to regroup, still had time to push forward.

But Bradford weren't going to let them.

MK Dons were rattled. They were pushing higher up the pitch, trying to force an equalizer. And that desperation?

This 𝓬ontent is taken from freeweɓnovel.cѳm.

That's what created the opening.

📌 60th Minute

MK Dons tried to build from the back, shifting possession from left to right.

Their central midfielder, Simpson, received the ball near the center circle, looking for an option.

Carter read it instantly.

Carter lunged forward, his timing perfect.

He stretched his right foot out, poking the ball away before Simpson could react.

In the same movement, Carter immediately turned and looked upfield.

Jake leaned forward on the sideline. Go on…

The Pass & Thompson's Instinct

Carter didn't hesitate—he threaded a sharp, driven pass straight into Thompson's feet, just outside the attacking third.

Thompson controlled it perfectly, using his first touch to set himself up.

Then, he looked up.

MK Dons' keeper, Andrews, had stepped off his line.

Too far.

Way too far.

Jake saw it.

Paul Roberts saw it.

Thompson saw it.

With one powerful stride forward, Thompson shifted his body weight.

He drew his right foot back, locking his eyes on the target.

The entire stadium held its breath.

BOOM.

Thompson unleashed a 30-yard rocket.

The ball soared through the air, traveling like a missile.

It started rising… then dipped viciously.

Andrews scrambled backward, his arms flailing.

Too late.

The ball crashed into the back of the net!

GOAL!

The moment the net rippled, Valley Parade EXPLODED.

Bradford fans screamed in disbelief.

Thompson sprinted to the corner flag, sliding to his knees, fists clenched.

Carter ran over, grabbing him by the shirt and shaking him in excitement.

The Bradford bench emptied onto the touchline, players and staff leaping in celebration.

Bradford 2-0 MK Dons (3-1 Aggregate).

Jake just stood there, grinning.

Paul Roberts turned to him, still stunned.

"Did he just…?"

Jake nodded, still smirking. "Yeah. He did."

MK Dons' players looked at each other, lost, defeated.

Their coach stood on the sideline, hands on his head, unable to believe what just happened.

The fight was draining from them.

Thompson jogged back into position, pumping his fist toward the roaring fans.

Jake folded his arms.

"Finish them."

65th Minute

🔁 Osborne OFF | Bradley ON

🔁 Williams OFF | Thompson ON

Jake turns to Paul Roberts. "Too late."

70th Minute

MK Dons were collapsing.

The moment Thompson's long-range thunderbolt had hit the back of the net, their body language shifted completely.

Defenders stopped communicating.

Midfielders weren't tracking runners anymore.

The manager on the sideline was shouting, but no one was listening.

Bradford smelled blood.

Jake couldn't have asked for a better situation.

His team was in full control, and now it was about putting the game beyond all doubt.

MK Dons, out of ideas, tried to force their way forward.

Their midfielders played a desperate pass into the final third, hoping for a spark.

Min-jae stepped in. Intercepted.

Ortega picked up the loose ball in midfield and instantly turned.

He had space.

He had time.

And more importantly, he had Carter making a run toward the edge of the box.

Ortega feinted left, throwing off his marker, before slotting a perfect pass forward.

Carter didn't even break stride. The ball rolled into his path, inviting the shot.

One touch to settle.

One glance at the goal.

Then—a beautiful curling effort toward the top corner!

GOAL!

The ball whipped past the keeper's fingertips and nestled into the top corner.

Bradford 3-0 MK Dons (4-1 Aggregate).

Valley Parade ERUPTED.

Carter ran straight to the dugout, pointing at Jake.

Jake grinned, nodding.

"That's how it's done."

MK Dons were finished.

But Bradford wasn't done scoring.

78th Minute

Jake turned to Paul Roberts.

"Now we bury them."

MK Dons could barely string three passes together anymore.

Their midfield was exhausted. Their defenders had no fight left.

Bradford could sense it.

Lowe, relentless as ever, pounced on a sloppy MK Dons pass in midfield.

He cut inside, shielded the ball, and immediately played it forward.

Collins was waiting.

Collins took one touch, raised his head, and saw Silva ghosting into the box.

Perfect timing. Perfect run.

Collins whipped in a low cross across the face of goal.

Silva, running full speed, didn't hesitate.

One touch. First-time finish.

GOAL!

The ball rocketed into the back of the net, leaving the keeper with zero chance.

Bradford 4-0 MK Dons (5-1 Aggregate).

Silva didn't even celebrate right away.

He just stood there for a moment, arms outstretched, staring into the crowd.

Then, finally, he let out a roar, sprinting toward the corner flag.

Jake? He just smiled.

It was over.

85th Minute

MK Dons had completely given up.

Their defenders weren't even pressing anymore.

Every time Bradford had the ball, it felt like they could score.

Jake watched as Thompson, now full of confidence, toyed with MK Dons' last defender.

Thompson feinted right, cut left, and dragged the ball with him.

The center-back stepped forward to close him down.

That was a mistake.

Thompson calmly laid the ball off to his right.

Collins was waiting.

He stepped onto the ball, drove it low into the bottom corner.

The keeper didn't even dive.

GOAL!

Bradford 5-0 MK Dons (6-1 Aggregate).

FULL-TIME: Bradford 5-0 MK Dons (6-1 Aggregate).

For a moment, there was nothing but silence.

Then—the whistle blew.

Fans stormed the pitch, security barely able to contain them.

Players hugged, some dropping to their knees in celebration.

Valley Parade shook with the noise of 25,000 voices celebrating a dream that was now reality.

Jake?

He simply smiled.

He shook Paul Roberts' hand, then turned to his staff.

"One more win."

And they would be in League One