Chapter 14 (2/2)

Shu Guang would play host again in their second match on Saturday, and this time, they would be playing against Nanyang High school, a team that ranked eleventh in last year’s championships.

Chen Huafeng had just entered the alleyway into the school and he was shocked at the sight. The tight lane was fully parked with all kinds of cars and motorcycles―all vehicles from news outlets. “So many reporters for just one match!”

Inside the school, a large number of journalists were gathered by the pitch. They were in groups, discussing about the game that would be starting soon as well as Shu Guang, the dark horse.

An Ke was deeply shocked when he saw the doubled amount of press through the window. “Is this for real? It’s so ridiculous!”

“Don’t mind anything outside the pitch,” Liang Ke said. “Have you forgotten what I’ve told you?”

“Nope!” Every player answered loudly.

“Very good! In this game, we’re up against Nanyang High School, which was ranked eleventh last year. They are a defensive team. Their usual formation is 532, with two center-backs and their captain, Liu Tie slightly in front; and in most of their matches, they would never cross the halfway line. Their attacking midfielder is average in ability, but their strike force, which combines a fast player and a tall player still brings a threat. Liu Yun, No. 9 is almost 190 cm tall and a powerful striker, good with headers. Li Peng, No. 10 is only 170 cm, but he is fast with good skills. He is known for making breakthroughs. Their goals come entirely from this duo, so we have to be extremely cautious around them and stop their counter-attacks. At the same time, we have to keep enough pressure on their defense. However, Yang Pan, you are not allowed to fire long shots―not a single one for the entire game.”

Yang Pan nodded.

An Ke was grumbling inside. “Lunatic! They are using a water closet formation, and with no long shots, does he intend for us to slip through the middle?”

“Ren Yu De.”

The player raised his head.

“In this game, don’t limit yourself to the left flank. Do your best to confuse their defense, understand?”

“Understood.”

…

The game began with the referee’s whistle.

Right after kick-off, Nanyang assumed their pure-defensive stance. They did not want to have a repeat of the situation in Shu Guang’s last game where they scored a nine-second goal.

Liu Tie recalled what his own coach told him before the match. “Shu Guang was powerful in its attack and was capable of scoring three points even against the likes of Zhong Xin. Their new recruits have changed the team entirely―they are not to be underestimated! Liu Tie, your objective in this game is to mark Zhang Jun. Do not give him any chance to shoot inside the box. Tackle him if necessary.”

When he looked up, Shu Guang’s attacking group were already dashing forward with extreme vigor.

Wang Bo passed the ball to Ren Yu De, who dribbled for two paces, but soon returned it helplessly at the sight of the opposing team’s impenetrable back line. Liang Ke frowned at the sight from the coach’s seat.

Controlling the ball carefully, Wang Bo looked to pass the ball but he was unable to find anybody. Their two strikers were being marked heavily while both Ren Yu De and Yang Pan were also being forced to the flanks―any delivery into the box would also be cleared out. With Yang Pan also being restricted from firing long shots, he could not figure out how to make a breakthrough.

Just when Wang Bo wallowed in indecisiveness, Ding Ding, one of Nanyang’s defensive midfielders, stole the ball in one agile move! Nanyang quickly went on the attack after taking possession, and Ding Ding lobbed the ball to the front. The 189-cm Liu Yun easily won the header with his towering frame over Su Li before delivering it to Li Pengfei. As the latter prepared to break through, the ball went out as someone slid in for a tackle. It was Yang Pan!

The throw-in that followed was Nanyang’s. Liu Tie passed the ball to their attacking midfielder Zhang Yiming, who crossed the ball into the Shu Guang box again. The tallest of the Shu Guang central defenders was 186 cm tall, but he lost out to Liu Yun by inches. Now, they were in serious trouble as the Nanyang striker leaped!

A shadow rushed out and jumped; a pair of hands gathered the ball tightly. It was An Ke!

“High balls?” An Ke cleared the ball with one kick. “Aren’t you guys underestimating me? What kind of joke is this?!”

Wang Bo got to the ball again but remained stumped in the face of Nanyang’s concentrated central defense. He could only pass the ball to Yang Pan, who dove into the flanks with his incredible speed and crossed it!

Zhang Jun could not get to the ball as it was headed by a burly defender.

The two teams maintained the stalemate in such a fashion. Against an alert Shu Guang, there was no way Nanyang could hit them on the break; it was the same story for Shu Guang against the focused Nanyang defense. They simply could not find a way to slip through in the middle and they also could not make a breakthrough from the flanks.

The score stood frozen at 0 : 0.

After they stayed on the offensive for more than half an hour, a chance finally came for Shu Guang in the thirty-eighth minute. Yang Pan slipped a low pass into the box and Zhang Jun dashed forward.

Not good! Liu Tie thought urgently as he gave chase.

Zhang Jun got to the ball and took a shot! But Liu Tie, risking a flying tackle, deflected the ball off the line with his foot, felling Zhang Jun inside the penalty area at the same time.

The referee’s whistle rang. Liu Tie looked nervously at the match official, but he was pointing to the direction of the pitch side flag; it was a corner kick. The Nanyang captain sighed in relief.

Just one moment of carelessness and I almost let him have it! I really can’t ease off! Liu Tie thought as he stared at Zhang Jun’s back.

Yang Pan crossed the corner into the area, but the ball was headed clear by a Nanyang center-back.

The first-half ended and the score remained at 0 : 0!

“I thought you guys could do better!” Liang Ke said in the locker room. “Ren Yu De, you had that chance straight from the kick-off. Why didn’t you make a breakthrough into the box? Why a back-pass? Were you scared?”

Ren Yu De did not make a sound.

“I don’t believe that you’re just good for some fancy dribbling! No more retreating in the second half; you have to play like Denilson and scatter the Nanyang defense! Show some confidence! Are you not confident enough? Zhang Jun, Zhang Rui, you two have got to make more runs inside the box and stretch their defense. Understand?”

“Understood!”

“Right! There’s still 40 minutes left. Prove to everyone that we are not fleeting stars!”