Kapitel 204: Title at the End
"Torres' goal in the 90th minute is a fatal blow to Manchester City. They are likely to face a last-minute defeat!" Martin Tyler from Sky Sports commented with regret.
His longtime partner Andy Gray added, "Manchester City's players fought until the last moment, nearly pushing Chelsea to the brink. Even if they lose this match, I don't think anyone will blame them."
"Indeed, given the consecutive away matches and the numerous injuries, no one had high expectations for them. The fact that they performed at this level means they can leave Stamford Bridge with their heads held high!"
"It seems Lin hasn't given up, but the time is too short. I don't think he can change the score." Martin Tyler was surprised to see Lin retrieving the ball from the goal.
He specifically noted the time: "Now it's already into injury time. By the time Chelsea finishes celebrating, the three minutes of injury time will almost be gone!"
"Manchester City might only have one more chance to attack," Andy Gray sighed. "One chance to score a goal is extremely difficult."
"Lin is great, but even he can't accomplish this near-impossible task."
"Yes, Chelsea will surely tighten their defense after taking the lead. They won't give Manchester City any opportunities."
...
On the sidelines, after the celebration, Mourinho sternly instructed the Chelsea players, "The biggest threat from Manchester City is Lin. Mark him, double-team him, don't give him a chance to shoot. Guard this last minute and keep the victory at Stamford Bridge. Can you do it?"
"Yes!" the players roared in unison.
"Louder! Did you eat?"
"Boss, we'll keep the victory at Stamford Bridge!"
At this moment, their only thought was to win!
"Lin, how do we play this?" Jovetić and Milner approached and asked.
With Negredo substituted, Manchester City's front line lost a pivot. They couldn't replicate their previous attacking strategy.
Lin glanced at Chelsea's formation and said, "You guys create space for me. I'll take the final shot."
The two nodded, feeling relieved. If they were to be responsible for the last attack and missed, they could become the scapegoats for the loss. Lin stepping up to take the burden made them grateful. This kind of responsibility and leadership was rare.
At the second minute of injury time, after the referee urged them, Chelsea finally ended their celebration and returned to the field.
With a whistle, the match resumed.
Jovetić kicked the ball to Lin and ran forward, acting as a pivot and charging into Chelsea's half. However, he was quickly intercepted by Chelsea players. On the other side, Milner was also running hard but was blocked by Chelsea's winger and fullback, cutting off his receiving space. Manchester City's left-wing attack was stifled!
All eyes focused on Lin. How would he handle this attack?
The first to approach Lin was Chelsea's hero, his national team teammate Torres. Torres, forgetting he was a forward, focused on Lin's every move, using all his defensive techniques to stop him. But Torres' defensive ability was no match for a dedicated defender. Lin used a change of pace to easily bypass him.
Oscar and Ramires charged at Lin almost simultaneously, aiming to stop Manchester City's attack in midfield. But Lin, exploiting the slight differences in their steps, bypassed Oscar and then Ramires, completing three dribbles in just a few seconds!
Seeing Lin break through Chelsea's midfield, the Stamford Bridge crowd collectively held their breath.
"Stop him!" they wanted to shout, but their nerves were so tense that they couldn't speak, their words stuck in their throats.
In the box, Emma Watson gripped her friend's hand tightly, while Lily Collins was even more nervous. Both were praying—one hoping for no goal, the other hoping for a goal.
Abramovich couldn't stay seated, nervously gripping the rail of the box, leaning out to get a better view. Every step Lin took added to his anxiety, as if each step was a death knell pounding on his heart.
On the sidelines, both teams' coaches and substitutes were on their feet, craning their necks to see what would happen. In an inconspicuous corner of the stands, Kevin De Bruyne, who Mourinho had given up on and left out of the squad, also stood up. Watching Lin's incredible dribbling, he remembered when they played side by side in the German Cup, defeating Bayern Munich. That memory seemed both recent and distant.
Terry, Cahill, and Ivanović all charged at Lin. Chelsea's captain even showed his studs, sliding in to scare Lin into abandoning the attack. If Lin continued, Terry would take him down even if he missed the ball, risking a card to stop him.
"Pass the ball!" Manchester City fans were alarmed. Injuring their core player for one match wasn't worth it, so they hoped Lin would pass.
"Pass the ball!" Pellegrini and his assistants silently urged from the bench. Manchester City led the standings by a large margin. Even losing one match, they would still be three points ahead of the second-place team. But if Lin got injured, even scoring wouldn't be worth it.
"Kid, pass the ball!" In his Munich apartment, Guardiola jumped from his seat. He wanted to rush to London and pull Lin off the field.
As if hearing Guardiola's call, Lin passed the ball just before Terry could tackle him. The crowd exhaled in relief, the suffocating tension dissipating. Terry also breathed a sigh of relief, pulling back to avoid giving away a free kick.
Passing the ball away lessened the threat compared to Lin keeping it. But then they realized Lin passed the ball backward to Yaya Touré.
Was he giving up on the attack? Yaya Touré was also surprised, not expecting Lin to pass to him. But then he saw Lin dodge Terry's tackle and enter the penalty area. He hadn't given up!
Yaya Touré quickly chipped the ball over the defense to Lin. To prevent interception, he delivered a half-high ball, arriving at Lin's neck level. It was hard to control, difficult to shoot, and even heading was tough. Chelsea's defenders wouldn't give Lin time to adjust. "That pass was too poor!" "Lin will have a hard time dealing with that ball!" "Lin managed to create an opening, but Yaya Touré's pass wasn't good enough!" "If Xavi or Iniesta were here, they could have delivered a perfect pass!" "Even De Bruyne would have done better!"
Manchester City fans were disheartened by Yaya Touré's pass, sighing collectively. They believed this attack had failed, meaning Manchester City's unbeaten run would end at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea fans, Abramovich, and Mourinho also felt relieved. Lin would have to control the ball with his back to the goal, taking time he didn't have, and Chelsea's defenders wouldn't allow him to turn and shoot.
But just when everyone thought Manchester City's attack was over, Lin did something incredible. Seeing the ball coming, he jumped, twisted his body mid-air, and performed an acrobatic bicycle kick.
"He's going for a bicycle kick!" Chelsea defender Cahill was stunned as Lin's foot rose above his head. With a powerful thud, the ball rocketed like a missile, flying into Chelsea's goal. Petr Čech was stunned. Terry was stunned. All of Chelsea's players were stunned.
Stamford Bridge fell silent. The goal exceeded all expectations, leaving everyone momentarily in shock.
"GOOOOOOOAL!" Commentators worldwide shouted in various languages, each more excited than the last.
"An unbelievable goal!" "A god-like performance!" "This goal belongs in the heavens; how often does one see such brilliance on Earth?"
Television commentators raved, their admiration boundless. This goal's sheer brilliance warranted every bit of praise. "Let's enjoy this magnificent goal in slow motion!" "A bicycle kick at such a high level is already challenging, but to meet the ball mid-air at neck height and still direct it accurately into the goal – it's beyond difficult!"
"Yaya Touré's pass wasn't perfect, but perhaps he didn't anticipate it would lead to such a spectacular goal!" In CCTV's studio, commentators He Wei and Xu Yang dissected the goal. An overhead kick is a difficult shot, and to execute it so flawlessly was a rare sight.
"This goal might win Lin this year's Puskás Award," Xu Yang speculated. He Wei agreed, "If I were a judge, I'd cast my vote for Lin!"
On the field, Manchester City fans and players erupted. The ten players, including the goalkeeper, rushed towards Lin. Lin, overjoyed, sprinted to the sideline, diving onto the grass to celebrate.
Manchester City players followed, piling onto Lin in a joyous heap. Substitutes left the bench, joining the celebration on the field.
Pellegrini pumped his fist, hugging each assistant coach. In his excitement, he nearly hugged a nearby Chelsea staff member before being pulled back by his assistant, preventing a mishap.
While Manchester City celebrated, Chelsea despaired. Mourinho sat on the bench, glaring at the goal, unable to accept the outcome. In the box, Abramovich stormed out, leaving early.
Lin's goal was the ultimate game-winner, countering Torres' last-minute strike. Less than two minutes after Chelsea's go-ahead goal, Manchester City had snatched the lead back.
Torres stood by his goal, hands on hips, watching Lin's celebration with a mix of disbelief and frustration. In the national team, Lin had taken his starting spot. In the club, Torres struggled with a scoring drought, only recently broken. Just when he thought he'd clinched a crucial victory, Lin had reversed the score.
"Is he my nemesis?" Torres wondered, a bitter smile crossing his face. Stamford Bridge felt foreign now, and for the first time, Torres considered leaving.
Title: The God-like Goal that Seals the Game
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
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Rangliste 
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