Chapter 50 - Zero Suspense (1/2)

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation  Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

It was a match with zero suspense. On one side were last year’s dark horse, whose ability was ranked among the top three in town right now. On the other side was Guan Lin, an average team that never made it past the final 16 each year. Whether it was timing, geographical advantage or personnel, there was not one aspect that pointed to a Shu Guang defeat.

Even their own opponents did not believe that they would ultimately win.

As a result, the third round of Luoyang qualifiers for the National Championships―the final 16 game where Shu Guang hosted Guan Lin―became a match with zero suspense.

…

“Autumn freshness, no clouds for miles, optimum temperature and breeze…” Liang Ke mumbled, looking up at the sky.

Not far away from him, the players were warming up. They looked very relax and were fooling around; Zhang Jun, who saw an opening to prank Yang Pan was being chased all over the pitch.

It was then that everyone else realized how fast Zhang Jun was―he was not losing out to Yang Pan! Each time Yang Pan almost got his hands on him, he would arch, burst forth and pull away.

Laughter filled the arena. Even the Shu Guang students who came to watch the game were infected by the relaxed players. All they talked about was how many goals Yang Pan and Zhang Jun would score, what an exciting performance Kaka would put on, Ren Yu De’s beautiful dribbling and so forth.

The attending reporters were no different. All they talked about were “Zhang Jun this”, “Yang Pan that”, “Kaka what”…

Since it was universally acknowledged that their opponents were nothing out of the ordinary, even individuals with an IQ rate of 35 could guess the result. The only issue was: how many goals would Shu Guang bag with their formidable attack. Three? Or, five?

Either way, nobody even cared about the other team. They had no stars, famous results and not even a single handsome player or pretty manager. It was as if they were born to be one of those film extras who did not even have a single line.

But what everyone failed to notice amid the relaxed atmosphere was the quiet and gloomy Ren Yu De.

Even Liang Ke was being lax in the pre-match meeting. He merely took care of the usual formalities and added, “There’s nothing more to say. Just do as you wish on the pitch!”

In the other team meeting, the only thing the Guan Lin coach told his players was, “Give your best, don’t leave any regrets.”

…

The referee’s whistle rang and the match began right on schedule.

Shu Guang attacked on the get-go. Kaka turned beautifully in the middle; his moves were as graceful as a ballet dancer, drawing squeals from the “Kaka Defense Squad”. The journalists joined in the commotion too with incessant flashes from their cameras.

After dribbling past another player, Kaka curved the ball to the right with the outer sole of his right foot. Yang Pan received it and feinted a run―the Guan Lin defender who came up to him reacted by quickly running back. Smiling, the Shu Guang captain began a burst through the middle and passed to Zhang Jun, who was approaching.

Two defenders closed in as Zhang Jun cut inside the box diagonally. Without stopping after receiving the pass from Yang Pan, he made a backheel pass to Ren Yu De.

Ren Yu De was unmarked! The angle was small but it was a point that he was used to scoring from, and he prepared to shoot!

Every other player and fan held their hands high as they stood, waiting to celebrate their first goal.

Under the unadulterated shouts of “Shu Guang, score! Shu Guang, score…” from their cheerleaders, Ren Yu De’s effort slipped pass a defender’s outstretched leg and the hands of the keeper, albeit flying over the crossbar and out of the line.

Like a sitcom, the cheers instantly turned into loud sighs. The photographers who had been at it most of the day only got the pictures of a missed shot.

Ren Yu De looked clearly frustrated after his miss and turned back in silence with his head hung low. Zhang Jun ran over to cheer him up.

“It’s fine! It’s fine! It’s just the first effort. There will still be plenty of chances.”

Yu De looked up to find his teammate smiling at him before returning to his position.

“Such beautiful teamwork! Too bad it didn’t go in!” Chen Huafeng mumbled to himself. “Those four are melding together more and more. Kaka’s passes, Yang Pan’s speed, Ren Yu De’s skill and Zhang Jun’s deadly finishing. I dare say they’ll have little competition even in the Nationals!”

Xiao Zhang learned over the last few games that it was a habit of Huafeng’s. He initially thought that his senior was speaking to him and responded in return―which usually soured things after that. He then learned to ignore the monologues―as long as Chen Huafeng did not say his name, he would keep quiet.

In one of the corners of the stands, there was another person who was “awed”.

“Shu Guang’s attack really lives up to its name! Hehe! Looks like Yu De is on form today!”

…

Barely composing themselves, Guan Lin’s kick from the goal fell into the midfield―but in 10 seconds, Shu Guang took possession of the ball once more. Wang Ning cleanly cut the ball off by edging the dribbling player away―he had vastly improved after two games and increased his rate of successful tackles as well as precise long balls.

Chen Bo and Lin Xiaofang were also noticeably better; the latter’s goal-line clearance in the last game proved that they played with their heads. This brought much relief to Liang Ke, for speed and technique mattered less than brains, and athletes who played using their minds would have a great future ahead.

Chen Bo’s unlimited stamina and fearsome, precise tackles; Lin Xiaofang’s powerful body and his improved awareness in defense along with the experienced third-years, Li Jieguang and Xie Yu, the defense alleviated Liang Ke’s worries as they raised a shield in front of An Ke. Conceding just one goal from two games proved it.

Wang Ning sent a long pass in attack. Yang Pan received and lobbed it to the left.

Ren Yu De chested the ball, played a few feints but did not burst into the box, back passing instead to the left-back, Xie Yu who had come up to assist with the offense.