Chapter 89 - Are You Ready (1/2)
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
The game continued, because of Li Yongle receiving treatment on the next round, Zhongyuan had 10 people battling now.
The other side of the court, the doctor was applying ice to Li Yongle’s already slightly swollen left knee and sprayed painkillers. Sun Laihong was squatting on the side and watched the process of the treatment.
“The current treatment only relieves his pains, it’s not treating his wounds and injuries so I suggest you to consider replacing him.” As the doctor was treating him, he explained to Sun Laihong.
Sun Laihong did not answer, he only looked at Li Yongle’s slightly swollen left knee. After a while, it seemed like he made his decision and stood up, he shouted to the substitute bench: “Dong Jin! Do some warm ups!”
Unexpectedly, Li Yongle, who had been lying down, suddenly sat up and jumped to the side of the doctor which frightened him.
“Coach!”
Sun Laihong turned his head.
“I can still play, there’s no need to replace me!”
Sun Laihong looked at Li Yongle, his vision stopped at his knee that was still a little swollen.
Li Yongle knew his coach’s meaning, he slightly bent his left knee and endured the pain saying, “There’s no problem, I can still move as usual!”
He winced at the moment he said “move as usual”, but he did not escape Sun Laihong’s eyes.
Li Yongle looked at Sun Laihong and Sun Laihong looked at him too, both of them were staring at each other.
After a while, Sun Laihong turned. “Please bandage up his knee…”
The doctor was shocked. “What are you doing? His knee won’t be able to let him continue!”
At this time, there was a loud cheer from the stands. Since Kaka wasn’t suppressed by Li Yongle any longer, he was very active. There was frequent passing of good shots and Zhang Lintao tackled a long ranged out earlier.
“Li Yongle is still under treatment at the scene. The situation of the injury is still unknown and the members of Zhongyuan seem to be somewhat absent-minded. Within this moment, Shu Guang’s brilliance is great! As this shift continues, Zhongyuan’s defense won’t be able to sustain any longer! Does Sun Laihong have any instructions?”
“No, look at this, he already gave instructions. Zhongyuan’s No. 15, Dong Jin is warming up. Looking at how it is, Li Yongle has most certainly been replaced.”
Sun Laihong did not answer the doctor’s question but turned his head to ask Li Yongle, “Are you ready?”
Li Yongle nodded.
“Doctor, please bandage up his knee and let him continue the game.”
When the doctor saw that they both had no objections, it wasn’t right to say anything and followed what he was told to do. He carefully wrapped the injured knee of Li Yongle then letting him stand up and tried some movements.
In the beginning, Li Yongle only slightly bent his knee without any pain. Then he ran and leaped in a small area and there was no obvious pain. He exclaimed with joy, “Okay!”
“It’s not okay, I only treated you with gauze to ease the pain. Your injury is not okay yet, you have to remember that another collision and excessive movements will lead to increased pain. I advise you to think about it before you go on the field.” The doctor used a stern voice as he said. But obviously, Li Yongle didn’t listen to half of his speech because he was already standing and waiting by the side to get on the field again.
“Dong Jin, back to your seat.” Sun Laihong raised his hands.
“Are you ready?
“Are you ready to give everything for victory?
“Are you ready to bear all the consequences of failure?
“Are you really ready?”
“Yes, I’m ready!”
“Zhongyuan didn’t have a replacement and Li Yongle is back in the game. But looking at his bandaged left knee, it really makes us worry! Are his injuries really okay?”
Looking at Li Yongle standing by the sidelines, Zhang Yang had some difficulties snatching the ball that was kicked out of the field.
“Li Yongle is jogging to the field, looking from his movements, it seems like the effect of his injury isn’t that big!”
“Hopefully!”
Li Yongle returned to the game and his teammates who were worried for him made a sigh of relief. And the stands burst out an even louder cheer and applause.
When Li Yongle came out to the field, Sun Laihong announced his latest instructions loudly on the sidelines: “Luo Bin! Go up, Kaka is now on you! Li Yongle, withdraw to the position of Luo Bin and freeze Zhang Jun!”
Everyone was shocked at the sudden change, except for the Zhongyuan team itself.
Luo Bin did not say anything and gave Li Yongle a high five. He turned away from the mid defender. “He’s all yours!”
“The coach Sun Laihong… Li Yongle’s is injured, but why is he allowing him to defend against Zhang Jun?”
“I don’t know, but I do know that the remaining twenty minutes of the match will be very exciting, I believe it!”
“Are… your injuries okay?” Zhang Jun had his eyes wide opened as he looked at the thick bandage on Li Yongle’s knee and asked.
Li Yongle raised an eyebrow. “If you’re soft on this little issue, I will gladly make you regret for another year!”
Li Yongle meant what he said, Zhang Jun took Yang Pan’s pass and was just about to break through but he kicked the ball to the side and Li Yongle shoveled it. The ball was shoveled and the person fell too. The referee whistled and motioned Shu Guang a free kick.
“Li Yongle is full of strength! It seems like his injuries are redundant.”
Zhang Jun got up and looked at Li Yongle’s back thoughtfully.
“A direct free kick! Only 23 meters away from the goal, this is a good chance to score for Shu Guang! Will Kaka, the leader, take this opportunity? Yang Pan stood in front of the ball, in high school and middle school. Yang Pan was the only player to kick the free kick. His strong shots are extremely destructive! Kaka, who is currently good with angles and Yang Pan, who is good at strength are both standing in front of the ball. Even Zhang Lintao, the best goalkeeper of the last National Championship, feels a bit nervous! Who will take the penalty kick?
“Who will take the penalty kick?” Zhang Lintao asked the same question in his heart. From the standpoint of the two of them, anyone was possible. Zhang Lintao wiped his sweat, as a goalkeeper, in the afternoon of a winter game, he could still sweat so much as the competition was full of tense.
The defensive wall has been set up and closed the corners, Zhang Lintao defended at the far corner.
The referee whistled and Yang Pan started to run then with a familiar swing of his leg, this action was the prelude to his signature strong shoot.
The defensive wall jumped habitually but they saw Yang Pan held his legs back in front of the ball and picked up his right leg to gently drop it to the side. When they lander, Kaka already rushed up, stomped his foot, raised his hand and kicked!
The soccer ball crossed the defensive wall and fell near the corner!
Looking at Yang Pan, Zhang Lintao also shuddered but he quickly realized Kaka was running behind him. He almost rushed by instinct behind the right side of the defensive wall to catch. Sure enough, the soccer ball quickly flew over the wall and flew to the lower right corner.
Zhang Lintao used his fingertips to set the ball out of the goal!
“Beautiful free kick and a great save!”
Zhang Lintao climbed up from the ground but he still had some lingering fears. He was only gambling in the game just now. In general, this kind of free kick will lead to players on choosing to kick at near corners. But above and below, Zhang Lintao is completely oblivious. He never thought his calm self on the field would be a gambler and also bet on it.