During halftime, Daniel Farke had focused entirely on defensive resilience.
The Norwich head coach knew that, given their form, Aston Villa would launch a ferocious assault in the second half.
He instructed his players to sit deep, absorb the pressure, and frustrate the hosts.
The strategy was sound, but the execution failed against individual brilliance.
Theodore had forcefully broken through the lines, utilizing his raw talent to level the score.
Equalizing so quickly sent Aston Villa's confidence soaring.
After the restart, Villa abandoned caution, implementing a suffocating high press. Playing at Villa Park, a 2-2 draw was unacceptable.
They smelled blood.
Just three minutes later, the aggressive pressing paid off.
It was John McGinn who forced the error. When Kenny McLean received a pass in midfield, the Norwich playmaker failed to scan his shoulder.
McGinn seized the opportunity, sliding in aggressively from behind to cleanly hook the ball away.
Marvelous Nakamba swept up the loose ball and instantly funneled it out to Jack Grealish on the left flank.
Receiving the pass, Grealish didn't hesitate. He dropped his shoulder and accelerated down the touchline.
Norwich right-back Max Aarons was in position, but his defensive capabilities were stretched to the limit against the Villa captain.
Grealish executed a rapid series of feints, shifting his balance violently, and easily bypassed the defender.
Having broken free down the wing, Grealish glanced into the penalty area.
Alongside Wesley, Theodore Bjorn had made a surging run into the box.
Seeing the teenager's movement, Grealish didn't take an extra touch. He whipped a devastating, arcing cross toward the back post.
Faced with a golden opportunity, Theodore wasn't going to miss.
Norwich center-back Christoph Zimmermann had tracked the run and positioned himself directly in front of Theodore, trying to block his path to the ball.
But in the air, it was a mismatch!
Theodore launched himself over Zimmermann, hanging in the air to meet the cross.
Boom!
He generated immense power with his neck muscles, snapping the header back across the goal.
Tim Krul scrambled across his line and dived, but he couldn't reach it!
3-2!
Aston Villa had completed the comeback!
Once Theodore turned on the style, the Norwich defense looked as fragile as paper.
"His third of the night!" Ian Darke announced. "Theodore Bjorn is putting on an absolute masterclass. He has dragged Aston Villa back from the brink!"
"This is what separates good players from truly great ones," Stewart Robson observed. "When the team is struggling, he demands the ball and dictates the outcome. Where would Villa be without him?"
After the restart, the Norwich players looked shell-shocked.
The rapid turnaround destroyed their composure.
They began making unforced errors, completely unable to string together any coherent attacks.
In the 76th minute, the pressure forced a catastrophic mistake. A Norwich midfielder attempted a blind pass across the midfield line, straight to a claret and blue shirt.
The recipient was Theodore Bjorn.
Without breaking stride, Theodore instantly executed his trademark, sweeping long pass over the top of the fractured Norwich defense.
The ball dropped perfectly into the path of Wesley.
The Brazilian striker found himself completely isolated against Tim Krul. Facing the advancing Dutch goalkeeper, Wesley remained remarkably composed.
He opened his body and gently rolled the ball past Krul and into the bottom corner.
4-2.
The suspense evaporated. Villa Park erupted!
The stadium DJ blasted the team anthem, and sections of the Holte End began performing the Mexican wave, celebrating the impending record.
Up in the executive box, Princess Ingrid finally let out a sigh of relief as a radiant smile breaking across her face.
At 4-2 down, Norwich's morale collapsed entirely. While they technically remained in the game, their spirit was broken.
For the remainder of the match, they defended passively, waiting for the final whistle.
But Villa wasn't finished.
In the 78th minute, they struck again.
This time, Grealish was the scorer, and the assist came from his closest friend.
Theodore received the ball in the central channel.
Terrified of another long-range strike, the Norwich defense panicked. Both defensive midfielders and a center-back rushed out to close him down.
Within seconds, he was surrounded by three yellow shirts.
Facing the intense pressure, Theodore remained completely cold.
Instead of attempting a risky dribble to escape the trap, he chose the devastatingly simple option.
With a delicate, disguised chip, he scooped the ball over the closing defenders and into the penalty area.
Grealish, reading the play perfectly, latched onto the pass and fired a decisive shot past Krul.
5-2.
The final nail in the coffin.
Five minutes later, Dean Smith made a substitution.
Theodore, having registered three goals and two assists, was replaced by Conor Hourihane.
The moment his number went up on the board, Villa Park produced a deafening roar. Over forty thousand fans rose to their feet, delivering a standing ovation.
Every supporter understood that the teenager was the undisputed architect of their success.
After his departure, Villa created few chances and allowed Norwich several sights of goal.
Fortunately, Tom Heaton was sharp, making several solid saves to preserve the scoreline.
The referee blew the final whistle. 5-2.
Aston Villa had secured a hard-fought victory, extending their winning streak to an unprecedented 19 matches.
They had broken the Premier League record.
In the chaotic tunnel after the match, a swarm of journalists clamored for a quote from the young prodigy.
Unable to speak to everyone, Theodore stopped for Laura Woods.
"Theodore, congratulations on the victory and breaking the Premier League record. How are you feeling right now?" she asked, holding out her microphone.
Theodore's expression was calm. "I feel fine. Breaking the winning streak record wasn't the objective. Winning the Premier League is!"
...
Back in the dressing room, the familiar mechanical voice echoed in his mind.
[Ding! Congratulations to the host for helping Villa break the Premier League's single-season winning streak record.]
[Reward: David Beckham's Peak Free-Kick Card!]
[Free-Kick: 69 → 96] [Overall Rating: 89 → 90]
Theodore immediately pulled up his interface.
Host: Theodore Bjorn
Age: 18
Height: 185 cm
Weight: 80 kg
Position: Midfielder
[Physical Attributes] Speed: 78 Strength: 87 Jumping: 76 Health: 75 Stamina: 100
[Technical Attributes] Long Pass: 100 Short Pass: 75 Through Ball: 75 Curve: 75 Finishing in the Box: 73 Long Shot: 100 Free-Kick: 96 Heading: 100 Penalty: 68 First Touch: 81 Vision: 84 Dribbling: 83 Ball Control: 73 Interceptions: 65 Tackling: 74 Slide Tackle: 75 Defending: 67
Rating: 90
Level: S!
Star Player Skill Cards: Andrea Pirlo Peak Long Pass Card, Xabi Alonso Vision Card, Bastian Schweinsteiger Strength Card, Jürgen Klinsmann Peak Heading Card, Pavel Nedvěd Peak Stamina Card, Raheem Sterling Finishing in the Box Card, Jack Grealish Dribbling Card, Cristiano Ronaldo Peak Long Shot Card, David Beckham Peak Free-Kick Card.
His Free-Kick attribute had skyrocketed from 69 to an elite 96, instantly elevating him into the upper echelon of dead-ball specialists worldwide.
Furthermore, breaking the 90 Overall Rating barrier finally pushed him into the 'S' tier.
...
Inside the dressing room, the squad held a raucous celebration.
Not only had they broken the record, but the victory officially secured them the unofficial title of "Winter Champions" at the halfway point of the season.
Dean Smith eventually called for quiet.
"Keep pushing, lads," Smith said, his tone serious. "Being top at Christmas doesn't guarantee you the trophy in May. We have a brutal schedule ahead, two games a week for the foreseeable future. Stay focused. We are fighting on four fronts—the Premier League, Europa League, FA Cup, and League Cup. Let's go for all of them!"
As Theodore left the dressing room, he spotted a familiar face lingering in the corridor.
"Princess Ingrid? What are you doing down here?" he asked, walking over.
"I came to cheer you on, obviously," she replied, grinning.
"You came alone?"
"No, I wouldn't dare," she laughed. "My father is here. He's talking to your directors right now, it was incredibly boring, so I slipped away."
She made a playful face. "Watching you play is thrilling! I hope I get a chance to play football with you sometime."
Theodore raised an eyebrow, looking at her slightly diminutive frame. "Do you actually know how to play?"
"Of course! I majored in football at the Royal Norwegian School!" she declared proudly.
"Royal School.... Impressive," Theodore smiled, offering a thumbs-up.
"If you ever want to visit, I can give you a tour," she offered.
"We'll see. The schedule is packed right now, two games a week until the spring," he replied gently.
"Good luck then! I believe in you!" Ingrid pumped her fist in the air, mimicking his signature left-hook celebration.
The gesture looked more adorable than intimidating when she did it, and Theodore couldn't help but laugh.
After a few more minutes of conversation, they said their goodbyes.
...
The following morning, the historic 19-match winning streak dominated the headlines across Europe.
AS: "Aston Villa create a miracle! The newly promoted side shatters the Premier League winning streak record."
Oslo Sports: "A Norwegian masterclass! Theodore Bjorn registers three goals and two assists to lead Villa to historic heights."
Marca: "The 18-year-old Norwegian sensation is the brightest star in England. Rumors suggest he is already Florentino Pérez's top target for Real Madrid."
Sky Sports: "19 consecutive wins. Villa clinch the mid-season title in record-breaking fashion. Under Theodore Bjorn's orchestration, they look unstoppable."
...
Aston Villa had no time to bask in the glory.
Five days later, they traveled to Vicarage Road to face Watford.
Despite being the away side, Villa dictated terms from the kickoff, peppering the Watford goal with long-range efforts.
They broke through in the 6th minute.
Theodore unleashed a trademark missile from distance that left the Watford keeper stranded.
Ten minutes later, Grealish doubled the lead with a sharp finish inside the box.
2-0.
Faced with a rapid deficit, Watford manager Nigel Pearson immediately ordered his team into a deep defensive block, knowing that an open game would lead to a slaughter.
Pearson's damage limitation tactics worked. For the rest of the match, Watford suffocated the space, and the scoreline remained 2-0.
Villa secured another three points, extending the streak to a staggering 20 matches.
However, January promised a grueling test of endurance.
Villa faced three consecutive away fixtures: Burnley in the Premier League, Fulham in the FA Cup, and Leicester City in the League Cup semi-final first leg.
While none of the opponents were elite European heavyweights, playing three away games in rapid succession would severely test the squad's fitness and depth.
Dean Smith would have to rotate heavily to prevent fatigue and injuries.
---------
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