Chapter 86 - A Fire Infused Goal (1/2)
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Yang Pan retreated to get the ball then made a long pass to Zhang Jun. But unfortunately, Zhang Jun was helplessly defeated by Luo Bin’s gigantic size so the ball was headed away by Luo Bin.
“Zhang Jun was closely guarded by Luo Bin. Speaking of which, Luo Bin’s an excellent marksman mid defender.”
“Correct, in the second year of his senior year, he played a major role in the defense line. Whether if it is ability in air defense or marksman ability. His overall abilities are all excellent. During that year in Zhong Yuan High School, there were two mid defenders, one of them was behind the back while the marksman defender was him. Therefore, it’s reasonable for Sun Lai Hong to use him to mark on Zhang Jun. From the current point of view, besides the turnings and shootings, it’s going to be difficult for Zhang Jun to gain another chance. As the ‘1’ in ‘451’, once the opponent is frozen, their offense is likely to reach a dead end. The coach’s task on Luo Bin has been done brilliantly.”
“However, it seems that everyone’s long awaited “Zhang Li showdown” will not be expected anymore.”
“There’s no other way to it. This is the final and it also concerns who will get the right to participate in the national competition in Shanghai next February. None of the coaches dared to do anything against the tactical arrangements in order to fulfill the audience’s wishes. Even the goal medal coach, Sun Lai Hong is no exception.”
“There are some regrets to it!”
“Indeed. The audiences always want to watch a passionate game with beautiful goals. However, coaches must first consider the benefits of their teams, if they can’t score, it’s no use if it’s a beautiful kick or not. In fact, at the beginning of Zhong Yuan High School’s selection on defensive-based tactics, they were somewhat obsessed with the admiration of the game but they continued to dominate throughout their country and became the current high school soccer deserved hegemony. At the French World Cup last year that I believe everyone has watched, the German team’s coach said a very reasonable speech: We don’t kick attractively but those who do are the ones who went home earlier than us.”
“His speech sure is reasonable, appearance and utilitarian can never be united!”
When the two commentators discussed eloquently, it seemed that they forgot that in 1998, it was Germany that planted to plat the most offensive game and the game was full of passion. A newly born cattle was not afraid of the ferocious tiger of Croatia. And the Shu Guang of today, their experience is similar to Croatia!
In the end, whoever gets to be the winner, it was still too early to conclude anything.
After seeing the accuracy of Li Yong Le’s long pass, the defenders of Shu Guang didn’t dare to pressure them anymore. Also, Zhang Jun’s sharp knife was put on a scabbard by Luo Bin so he couldn’t reveal his edge. The game entered a stage of stalemate.
“The game is a bit boring, perhaps it’s because of the finals. Both teams are playing cautiously in this period of time.”
Kaka took the ball and Li Yong Le followed him as close as a shadow. He passed since there was no other better ways to break though the opponent’s defense. He could only make a short-rage shot to try his luck. And the result was just as expected, under Li Yong Le’s interruption, the soccer ball was hit like an airplane.
The game was passed ten minutes in the absence of any threatening shots and passing errors. There’s only ten minutes left until the end of the first half, the score was still even 0: 0.
“This is so boring! It’s not as good as Ding Ding and Shu Guang’s semi-final game!” Another dissatisfied fan cried out.
“It is the finals, both sides are making sure they won’t lose a point, otherwise there wouldn’t be anything to discuss about champions, would it?”
“As the saying goes, didn’t we come here to watch a wonderful performance of the game?”
“How can this world have the best of both things!”
Chen Hua Feng listened to the conversation between the two of them beside him and he agreed in his heart. The demands of fans and coaches were sometimes inevitably conflicted. If the coach changed his style at the request of the fans, it would be idiotic! Back in the top 10 games of 1997, the fans shouted, “change Li Tie!” and the coach really did change Li Tie out from the game, hence the consequences were astonishing.
However, Chen Hua Feng still felt some regrets. The finals have been really dull and wouldn’t it shocking if it was over? Can the energetic spirit of Shu Guang avoid this very moment?
He made a wry smile and shook his head.
The first half of the match was about to end and time was moving into injury time. The dullness of this moment allowed the fans from the stands reduced their passionate cheers and their screams were lessening by a lot too.
Wang Ning passed the ball to Li Hao’s foot and Zhao De Fend didn’t come up to snatch it, instead, he retreated. The entire team of Zhong Yuan was beginning to contract backwards.
“The entire team of Zhong Yuan is contracting their defense, perhaps the reason for it is the midfielder quickly approaching. They are thinking of maintaining this draw during the break time! However, will Shu Guang allow them to get what they want?”
When Li Hao saw this, he quickly passed the ball to Yang Pan. Yang Pan retreated to get the ball but Lu Qing didn’t come up to him. It wasn’t only Lu Qing, all of Zhong Yuan’s defense didn’t seem to be as compact and effective as it was before.
Not knowing why, Yang Pan thought of it as a good opportunity. When the midfielder was liberated, the dazzling attack power of Shu Guang could be revealed.
However, some individuals didn’t have the same idea. When Chen Hua Feng saw Sun Lai Hong stood up from the stands, an ominous premonition quietly rose from his heart.
Liang Ke saw Sun Lai Hong rising from his seat. Looking at some of the defensively relaxed Zhong Yuan high school and the members of Shu Guang sharpening their hearts, he suddenly remembered something and hurriedly stood up, then he rushed to the sidelines to shout out Yang Pan’s name loudly.
But he was missing one step ahead.
“Yang Pan dribbles the ball, Shu Guang takes the chance of Zhong Yuan’s relaxed defensive to launch an attack!”
Lu Qing used his speed to follow but there wasn’t any hand movements and his body wasn’t affixed either. Yang Pan, who was relieved by the pressure and dashed towards the bottom line. Besides Zhong Yuan constant contraction and re-contraction, there was no one to stop his breakthrough.
At this time, it seemed like Yang Pan received their ecstatic encouragement, the two back defenders of Shu Guang unexpectedly pressured the middle line. Chen Bo rushed forward, thinking that Yang Pan would pass with his heel like the last time.
But Yang Pan didn’t plan to kick back the ball because he already reached the bottom line.
A pass! Lu Qing was still slowed, he didn’t stop Yang Pan’s pass.
“Kaka appeared there! Ready to receive that pass!”
However, Yang Pan’s pass was headed by the gigantic sized Deng Rui! Kaka didn’t receive the ball, when he turned around to see who got the ball, he realized Li Yong Le adjusting the ball then his feet…
“It’s coming! Li Yong Le’s battle axe long pass!”
“D.. Disastrous!” Yang Pan was in shock, he knew that it was too late for him to recover. He was careless, he forgot that his opponent was too pressuring, will the poisonous snake of Zhong Yuan give up their chance? He could only pray for An Ke to be brave or cross the goalpost to help Shu Guang through this robbery.
He Jia lin has been cruising around the frontcourt from the very beginning, awaiting for this opportunity. He pierced through the space between the mid defenders and rushed forward and the soccer ball forward from his head.
An Ke roared and went to attack. At this moment, he refused to call any back defenders back. The earlier the attack, the better the chance is to break the ball away from He Jia Lin, who was in control of the ball and hoped to lose a score.
The soccer ball fell into the restricted area, from this point of view, it seemed like He Jia Lin was getting closer. An Ke desperately jumped up and was ready to hit the ball out of mid-air. But He Jia Lin’s foot work was faster than him and as he was running, he used an unconventional move to grab the ball between the two players!
Then the ball crossed over An Ke’s stretched hands and parachuted to the empty goal behind him.
Everyone, including the players from both sides watched the soccer ball falling into the empty goal. This time, the goalpost didn’t show any compassion and Shu Guang’s goal was broken.
“In the 41st minute of the first half, Zhong Yuan used a classic long pass to counterattack. He Jia Lin made a shot to break An Ke’s ten fingers off! 1: 0! Zhong Yuan is in the lead! Li Yong Le’s accurate long pass made a wonderful goal!”
When the ball crossed over An Ke’s hands, the cheerleaders of Zhong Yuan began to celebrate in advance. Instead, He Jia Lin who scored the goal, because of the last experience, he waited until the ball went into the goal and the referee sounded. Only then he raised both his hands and ran towards the center and there, Li Yong Le opened his arms and embraced him.
At the 41st minute of the game, Zhong Yuan finally took the lead with Shu Guang, the score was 1: 0. This goal completely wiped the dullness off the field and struck the tie that has been balanced for forty one minutes, the tie was broken….