Chapter 202: Chapter 202: Turnaround and Red Card!
Chapter 202: Turnaround and Red Card!
When Lin Quan completed the tackle, Manchester City's front players immediately launched an attack.
Aguero was positioned diagonally in front of Lin Quan, running to the right to disrupt CSKA Moscow's defensive formation and take away a defender.
Navas sprinted deep, keeping the opposing full-back occupied and preventing him from pressuring Lin Quan.
Javi Garcia stayed behind Lin Quan as a safety valve. If the forward attack couldn't progress, the ball could be passed back to him to control the tempo and avoid a counterattack.
After a month or two of adjustments, Manchester City's front-line tactics had become rich and well-coordinated.
Even so, there was still a defender marking Lin Quan.
Although Lin Quan had been relatively quiet for the first twenty minutes, not showcasing the prowess of a top star, CSKA Moscow's players remained cautious because their coach had specifically warned them not to give him any chances.
However, sending just one player to defend Lin Quan was underestimating him.
Without any fancy moves, Lin Quan used a quick roulette to easily get past his opponent.
Seeing his teammate beaten, CSKA Moscow's central defender Ignashevich stepped up to intercept Lin Quan, who was now at the edge of the penalty area. If Ignashevich didn't challenge, Lin Quan might take a long shot.
As Ignashevich stepped up, he left a gap behind him. Lin Quan decisively passed the ball horizontally to Aguero and then shook off Ignashevich to charge into the box.
Aguero understood and sent a precise through ball behind the defender. The timing of the pass matched Lin Quan's run perfectly.
With no defenders around him, Lin Quan received the pass and deftly volleyed the ball into the net.
The score was tied at 1:1, with Manchester City quickly equalizing.
"GOAL!!! In the 24th minute of the first half, Lin Quan equalizes for Manchester City!"
"This goal was purely down to Lin Quan's individual skill. In a one-on-one with Keisuke Honda, Lin Quan used his strong physicality to win the ball. After the turnover in the front, Manchester City launched a counterattack, with the ball entering CSKA Moscow's net after two passes. It was a smooth and simple attack!"
"Haha, Honda probably didn't expect Lin Quan to be so physically strong!"
"Indeed, Lin Quan is shorter and doesn't look like a robust player, but Honda seemed to forget that Lin Quan is a proven Premier League scorer. If he couldn't handle physical challenges, how could he score so many goals against those fierce Premier League defenders?"
"So, the Japanese picked the wrong opponent this time!"
The commentators' criticism was mild compared to the fans.
"Stupid Japanese! Do you really think you can take on Lin Quan? Know your place!"
"Lin Quan can devour Premier League defenders! This guy would be crippled after three matches in the Premier League!"
"Every time I see that dyed yellow hair, I get annoyed!"
"Haha, it's like a military officer's uniform. Let's call him the Officer!"
Fans disliked Keisuke Honda not only because he was Japanese but also because of his self-promotion and marketing tactics. The two-faced behavior of some Japanese players also annoyed many.
In contrast, Japanese fans watching the match were shocked.
"Amazing! Lin-san is incredible!"
"Is this the level of a world-class player?"
"So yellow-skinned players can be this strong physically? It seems it's not about race but about us!"
"When will our country produce a player like Lin-san?"
Japanese fans have a strong admiration for those stronger than them. Lin Quan had defeated Japanese players like Kagawa Shinji, Uchida Atsuto, and Honda Keisuke in previous matches. These decisive victories won him their admiration, and they even planned to form a Japanese fan club for him.
...
After Manchester City equalized, the game's dynamics changed significantly.
Manchester City, having warmed up, began to adapt to playing in the cold weather and started to intensify their attacks on CSKA Moscow's goal.
In the 35th minute, Lin Quan broke through on the wing and cut inside to shoot. The goalkeeper saved it, but Aguero, ghost-like, appeared and tapped in the rebound.
Manchester City led 2:1.
Their offensive didn't stop there. In the 45th minute, they won a free kick. Lin Quan's perfectly placed shot found the corner, making it 3:1.
With this, the morale of CSKA Moscow's fans plummeted. The once loud stadium fell silent as Manchester City celebrated.
In the second half, Manchester City continued their offensive but couldn't extend the lead under the opponent's tight defense.
In the 65th minute, just as Pellegrini was about to make substitutions, it started to rain. The light rain soon turned into a downpour, accompanied by a chilling wind, making the conditions unbearable.
Manchester City players struggled in the cold rain. Hart, the goalkeeper, jumped around to keep warm, fearing that he'd freeze up and fail to save a shot.
The assistant coach asked Pellegrini if they should continue with the substitutions.
"Yes, let Negredo warm up and get ready to go on," Pellegrini decided.
He was cautious about making multiple substitutions, fearing a CSKA Moscow counterattack in the rain.
CSKA Moscow's players, used to the weather, saw Manchester City's discomfort as an opportunity to attack.
With Manchester City adopting a defensive strategy due to the conditions, their players started committing more fouls. Toure received a yellow card for a foul in the 67th minute, followed by Zabaleta five minutes later.
Manchester City's players began cramping due to the cold and fatigue. In the 77th minute, Kolarov was injured during a fierce contest.
Ignoring the injured player, CSKA Moscow continued their attack until Negredo brought down Honda Keisuke with a harsh tackle. This sparked a confrontation, with Negredo and Wernbloom receiving yellow cards.
The yellow cards calmed both sides, with CSKA Moscow realizing they needed to focus on scoring, not fighting. Manchester City, happy to waste time, slowed the game down.
As the game neared the 80th minute, time was running out for CSKA Moscow. They missed their free-kick opportunity, and Hart delayed a goal kick until almost receiving a yellow card.
Manchester City substituted Kolarov with Clichy, and Kolarov took his time leaving the field, infuriating the CSKA Moscow players.
With the game in its final stages, Manchester City's Negredo, fresh and energetic, seized a counterattack chance and scored a cool goal through the keeper's legs, making it 4:1.
Negredo's excitement led to him taking off his shirt and celebrating with the away fans, earning a second yellow card and a red card, much to the surprise of everyone.
Despite being down to ten men, Manchester City's lead was too great. The match ended with Manchester City securing a 4:1 victory, their third consecutive win in the Champions League group stage, putting them in a favorable position to advance.
If Manchester City wins their next home match against CSKA Moscow, they will advance with two games to spare. To finish top of the group, they need one more win and a better goal difference than Bayern Munich. A win against Bayern at Allianz Arena would secure their top spot.
(End of Chapter)
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