Capítulo 16: Momentum Shifts
"Manuel has the ball! Damn it, that Chinese guy Zhang has intercepted it again! What the hell is Manuel doing!"
"Huh? Haha, it seems rookie just panicked, he just booted the ball away... Wait! That's not a clearance!"
"Ahh! Danger! The football is with the opponent's forward, Henry! Damn it, someone stop him! Damn it, he's one-on-one!"
"Come On! Keeper close in on him! Maybe... damn it! He's dribbled past our goalkeeper..."
At the moment when Henry took the shot, Tienen's fan coordinator Jerry was rendered speechless, unable to utter a word, angrily throwing everything he could find in the stands.
It took quite some time before his feeble voice returned, "White Star's Henry scored! The scores now 2-1. Tienen is still leading though by one goal, victory is still ours! No one can take three points from Stadion Het Kiel! No one!" His tone became unusually sharp towards the end.
Although Jerry was still cheering for Tienen, and the fans were still trying to support the Tienen team, the extended period of blocked attacks, combined with White Star pulling one back, had a significant impact on Tienen's morale, which could be seen in their somewhat listless expressions.
However, Zhang Xu had no mood to care about the opponent's morale or to console Jerry's wounded spirit. He only knew one thing: he had made his debut on the field in the Second Division and contributed a crucial assist to the team!
Upon seeing the ball hit the back of the net, he erupted with joy!
Zhang Xu excitedly ran towards the area where White Star's fans were located. After a spectacular series of somersaults, he stretched his arms wide and roared towards the sky!
This exaggerated celebration immediately ignited the enthusiasm of White Star's fans, who had traveled from afar. They joined Zhang Xu in shouting.
The cheers from this group of fewer than a thousand people surprisingly drowned out the voices of the nearly 7,000 Tienen fans, echoing in the sky above Stadion Het Kiel.
At this moment, Henry also rushed over. He tightly embraced Zhang Xu, joyfully joining Zhang Xu's roaring. Then, he shouted loudly in Zhang Xu's ear, "Zhang, absolutely beautiful! That pass was incredibly timed and precise! Just brilliant!"
Other teammates also ran over, and they all embraced each other tightly, sharing the joy of the team's equalizing goal.
"Ding dong! Congratulations, Mr. Zhang Xu, you've completed Side Quest 2, gaining 200 experience points. Your current experience is 617! Passing attribute +2, current passing attribute is 28!"
While Zhang Xu and his teammates celebrated the goal, the system's notification sound timely rang out, reminding Zhang Xu that he still had main quests and two side quests waiting for him to complete. So, there was a long way to go before he could celebrate.
He quickly got up, ran to the Tienen goal, picked up the football with one hand, carried it to the center circle, and placed it on the kickoff spot. Then, he returned to his position, waiting for the referee's whistle to signal the restart of the game.
"Look at this darn Zhang Xu, urging the referee to restart the game. Who does he think he is? Xavi? Messi? Does he think he can pull of an assist again?" Zhang Xu's actions infuriated Jerry, who scoffed and shot out a sarcastic comment.
Tienen's fans in the stadium also instantly began booing Zhang Xu and hurling abuse.
Zhang Xu didn't pay any attention to it. He just urged his teammates to get back to their positions quickly and kept his eyes fixed on the referee.
The referee, being stared at by Zhang Xu, felt uneasy and had to urge the slow-moving Tienen players to get into position. After everyone returned to their positions, he quickly blew his whistle, announcing the continuation of the game.
In the following part of the game, the situation took a completely different turn from the beginning of the first half.
The demoralized Tienen gradually lost their momentum, sharpness and fighting spirit in their attacks. On the contrary, White Star, after getting a goal back, was in high spirits, and their morale was soaring.
Moreover, with Zhang Xu's steady defense, he acted like a reliable anchor, completely solving the team's defensive problems. This allowed their captain, Driss, to unleash his attacking organizational skills, gradually increasing the team's offensive momentum.
Tienen's coach saw that the situation was not right and quickly made two substitutions, but it didn't seem to change the course of the game. Helplessly, he had to come to the sidelines and shout instructions to the team's defense.
On the other hand, White Star's head coach, Mazu, was relaxed. He had a smile on his face, occasionally joking with Philip. His demeanor was extremely calm.
The team's offensive momentum continued to intensify.
.....
In the 61st minute of the match, the stadium buzzed with anticipation as White Star's midfield trio, Driss, Gil, and Henry, began to weave their magic. The play, reminiscent of the famed tiki-taka style, unfolded like a well-orchestrated symphony, each player an instrumental part of the elaborate composition.
Driss, the conductor of this harmonious trio, initiated the sequence with a deft touch to Gil. The ball moved between them with a rhythmic fluidity, their short, sharp passes cutting through the air with precision. This display wasn't just about keeping possession; it was a strategic dance designed to disorient and dissect Tienen's defense.
Gil, with his nimble feet and acute sense of space, returned the ball to Driss, who had subtly repositioned himself to exploit the tiny gaps appearing in the defensive line. The duo's understanding was telepathic, their movements synchronized to perfection.
The pace of their passing accelerated, each touch calculated to maintain possession and draw Tienen's players out of position. Gil, showcasing his agility and quick thinking, navigated through the maze of defenders, keeping the ball tantalizingly out of reach.
As Tienen's defense started to unravel, Henry, ever the opportunist, sensed the unfolding opportunity. He made a stealthy run, positioning himself to receive what was coming next – the culmination of this exquisite play. Driss, with an almost imperceptible glance, found Henry's run and threaded a straight pass through the narrow corridor that had opened up in Tienen's backline.
The pass was a thing of beauty, slicing through the defense with the precision of a surgeon's scalpel.
As Henry received Driss's precise pass, he expertly controlled the ball with a deft first touch, setting it up for the shot. Without breaking stride, he looked up briefly to gauge the goalkeeper's position. Then, with a swift, fluid motion, he unleashed a powerful shot towards the goal. The ball spun through the air, aiming for the far corner, but narrowly missed the target, veering just wide of the post.
Though the shot didn't find its mark, the brilliance of their maneuver was undeniable. The fluid interplay, the intelligent movement, and the precise execution were a testament to their skill. The crowd, though momentarily disappointed by the missed opportunity, couldn't help but applaud the spectacle they had just witnessed.
.....
In the 66th minute, a crucial moment unfolded on the pitch. Gil stepped up to take a corner kick for White Star. As the ball arched from his foot into the crowded penalty area, Zhang Xu positioned himself for a decisive play. Despite the close attention of two Tienen defenders, who were marking him tightly and one even discreetly tugging at his shirt, Zhang Xu demonstrated remarkable focus and physical prowess.
He timed his jump impeccably, rising above the cluster of players with an impressive leap. As he ascended, he angled his body, preparing to meet the ball with a powerful header. It was a testament to his strength and determination, overcoming the restrictive efforts of his markers.
However, as Zhang Xu connected with the ball, his attempt at precision was slightly off. Though he managed to make solid contact, his heading accuracy wasn't quite on point. The ball, instead of angling towards the goal, veered upward, soaring just over the crossbar.
This effort, while not resulting in a goal, showcased Zhang Xu's aerial ability and his resilience in the face of tight marking, underlining his potential as a significant aerial threat in set-piece situations.
...
In the 71st minute, White Star's attacking prowess was on full display. Henry, seizing control, embarked on a skillful offensive. He employed close ball control and quick directional changes to dribble past two Tienen defenders. His technique involved a combination of sharp feints and rapid acceleration, effectively unbalancing the defenders and creating space for himself.
However, facing a well-organized defensive line near the goal, Henry wisely opted to maintain possession by passing the ball back.
Receiving the ball, Driss immediately recognized the potential for a breakthrough. He executed a precise and powerful straight pass into the upper left corner of the penalty area. His pass was a masterclass in vision and timing, slicing through the defense and exploiting their momentary lapse in concentration.
Damien, anticipating the trajectory of Driss's pass, timed his run to perfection. As the ball approached, he showcased excellent control, cushioning it with a brilliant first touch. Using the inside of his foot to gently guide the ball into his path, allowed him to maintain momentum towards the goal.
With the ball at his feet and the goal in sight, Damien took a few purposeful strides forward before unleashing a shot. He struck the ball cleanly with the instep of his foot, combining power and placement to send it curving past the goalkeeper's outstretched hands and into the back of the net. Damien's technique in both controlling the ball and executing the shot was a testament to his skill and composure under pressure.
2-2!
.....
With the score levelled and about 15 minutes left in the game, White Star saw hope of taking the lead.
Their attacks became even more intense.
At this point, Tienen had completely lost their fighting spirit and, like White Star in the first half, they were retreating to their own half, passively defending, hoping to hold on to a draw and maintain their unbeaten record at home.
However, after equalizing the score, White Star's players became slightly unbalanced in their mentality, attacking too aggressively, disrupting their own formation. Paradoxically, this approach did not yield good results.
Zhang Xu sensed that something was wrong, but his tactical knowledge was limited, and he couldn't pinpoint the issue. He could only slow down the pace of his passes and communicate his feelings to Captain Driss.
Captain Driss, a seasoned veteran, immediately understood Zhang Xu's feelings and began to adjust, slowing down the tempo of the attack and patiently seeking opportunities for a decisive strike.
White Star's attacks, with a more stable rhythm, became sharper. In the 75th minute, the 87th minute, two excellent opportunities arose. If only Henry had brought his shooting boots, the score would have been overturned much earlier.
The game was approaching its end, with only five or six minutes left, even considering stoppage time. Zhang Xu was anxious, realizing that he hadn't completed his main quest yet.
But as a defensive midfielder, there was only so much he could do, and he watched the time pass by with growing anxiety.
Finally, in the 91st minute of the match, White Star earned a corner kick, and this was the last corner kick of the game.
Zhang Xu rushed into the penalty area, ready to give it one last try.
Gil swiftly sent the ball into play, delivering a fast and sharply angled cross to the front of the penalty area. The delivery caused an immediate scramble among the players, each vying to make the crucial first touch.
In the thick of the action was Zhang Xu, known for his exceptional leaping ability. Despite being tightly marked by two Tienen defenders, with one once again even surreptitiously tugging at his shirt, he attempted to rise above the fray. He launched himself into the air, aiming to meet the ball with a decisive header.
However, his timing was slightly off. As he reached the apex of his jump, the ball frustratingly brushed just over the top of his head. By the time he descended, it was too late to make any contact with the ball. He landed, a mix of frustration and disappointment evident in his eyes as he watched the ball sail past.
But then, in an unexpected twist, the ball, untouched as it descended, struck the thigh of a player in the crowded penalty box. This contact set off a chaotic sequence of deflections, with the ball pinballing unpredictably among the players.
Amidst the confusion, the ball found its way into the back of Tienen's net, much to the astonishment of everyone present. The stadium erupted with a mix of shock and excitement. Was it a goal? The unexpected nature of the event left players and fans alike in a moment of suspenseful wonder.
Everyone was stunned!
How did the ball go in?
Even the main referee was puzzled. He had been preparing to blow the final whistle, but unexpectedly, the ball had found its way into Tienen's goal.
After regaining his senses, he hurriedly communicated with the fourth official on the sideline, hoping to get a clear answer.
Unfortunately, neither of them knew who had scored the goal. They had to review the replay together and finally discovered that it was likely an own goal!
Why "likely"? Because the replay wasn't very clear either. With so many players in the penalty area, they could only see the leg that made the final touch, which seemed to be wearing Tienen's shorts.
Regardless of whether it was an own goal or not, the goal counted!
So, in the dying moments of the game, when Zhang Xu was in despair, White Star took the lead 3-2 at Stadion Het Kiel with a miraculous goal, winning the match!
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