Su Luo's incredible performance of scoring 5 goals to lead a comeback victory against Bayern Munich, dubbed the "Miracle of Allianz" by fans, took the German football world by storm for an entire week.
Experts across the football community analyzed and praised Su Luo's extraordinary feat from every angle, especially his final goal, where he ran 90 meters to score the winning strike. The media replayed this moment endlessly, frame by frame.
Before the match against Bayern, German football legend Lothar Matthaus had publicly stated that if Su Luo led his team to defeat Bayern, he would erect a bronze statue in Su Luo's honor. Unexpectedly, Su Luo did just that! Every day, people flooded Matthaus' Twitter with messages:
"When will the bronze statue be cast? Please start the live broadcast!" "What about the bronze statue?" "As a public figure, please keep your word." "Deleting Twitter won't help! Don't delete it!"
Overwhelmed by the comments, Matthaus closed his Twitter comment section and deleted his Weibo account. He avoided the media, keeping a low profile after his boastful promise backfired.
Union Berlin fans didn't actually expect Matthaus to erect a bronze statue of Su Luo. They just wanted to mock him. Beyond Matthaus, other Bundesliga and European football celebrities also weighed in on Su Luo's five-goal masterpiece:
Football Emperor Beckenbauer:
"Honestly, I thought Bayern would win. They had a complete advantage, an extra player, and no serious mistakes. Bayern had no reason to lose! Su Luo defied all common sense in my career. Until the final whistle blows, anything can happen! It truly is a miracle. He's a young man who excels at creating miracles!"
Germany Coach Joachim Löw:
"To tell you the truth, I'm considering recruiting this young man for the German national team. If Su considers changing his nationality, I will definitely bring him in for the 2018 World Cup!"
Klopp:
"Su is the brightest new star in the Bundesliga. Given time, he will undoubtedly reach the top of the world."
Current Manchester United Manager Louis van Gaal:
"Ed Woodward recommended a young player to me. After watching his game, I want him to join Old Trafford."
David Beckham:
"If the Three Lions had such a striker to partner with Kane, we would have a strong chance of winning the 2018 World Cup!"
Ronaldo (the Brazilian legend):
"I've heard about this young Chinese player whose style is similar to mine. In fact, his achievements might soon surpass mine. It's a pity that the level of his national team isn't very high..."
Su Luo's shining performance in Europe sparked a "Su Luo craze" on Chinese social media. His five-goal triumph over Bayern once again landed him on the trending list, this time as the third most popular search. Not even the love affair between Fan Bingbing and Li Chen, Wang Feng's marriage proposal, or Jackie Chan's latest catchphrase could overshadow Su Luo's feat.
Football fans across China celebrated, though many casual observers struggled to grasp the significance of Su Luo's achievement:
"Is Chinese football really this impressive? Is Bayern Munich really that weak?" "Scoring 5 goals sounds pretty incredible." "Can someone explain if this means the national team can now qualify for the World Cup?"
Despite the confusion, hardcore fans remained thrilled for days, passionately discussing Su Luo's status in football, which now rivaled Yao Ming's in the NBA and approached Liu Xiang's world-record-breaking triumph in track and field.
Indeed, before Liu Xiang, no Asian athlete had ever beaten black and white competitors in track events. Liu Xiang's Olympic victory and world record created history. Similarly, no one had ever scored five goals against Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena before Su Luo. This remarkable feat by a Chinese player was a highlight moment for all of Asia.
But despite this Bundesliga triumph, Su Luo needed a heavyweight title, like the Champions League, to truly cement his legacy. The Chinese Football Association remained silent on World Cup prospects, leaving fans despondent. Watching Su Luo play in Europe was thrilling, but if he didn't return to the national team, it felt somewhat empty.
After defeating Bayern, Union Berlin topped the standings with a 3-point lead. Defender Richards, injured in the match, was examined at the hospital. Thankfully, it was just an old knee injury acting up, requiring only two weeks of rest before he could rejoin the team.
In the 23rd round of the Bundesliga, Union Berlin beat Borussia Mönchengladbach 1-0 away. Backup central defender Ejman performed admirably alongside Alex, holding off Borussia's attacks. Su Luo capitalized on a counterattack, received a pass from Glarish, and scored with a long-range shot.
His previous five goals against Bayern had been so shocking that people almost forgot his other records. Su Luo's goal against Borussia brought his Bundesliga tally to 40, equaling Gerd Müller's record of 39 goals in a single season. Commentator Sauer was ecstatic:
"Su Luo's 40th goal equals Gerd Müller's 30-year-old record! If he scores in the next round against Leverkusen, he will break the record and make history!"
On the other hand, Bayern beat Cologne 4-0, but the gap remained. The initiative was entirely in Union Berlin's hands. With Su Luo on their side, they couldn't afford to lose their advantage.
In the 24th round of the Bundesliga, Union Berlin faced Leverkusen at Old Forest Management Stadium. In their second-division days, the team had feared Leverkusen like a giant. But since defeating Bayern, Union Berlin's morale was at its peak—they felt invincible.
Despite Leverkusen's aggressive attacks, Union Berlin's defense was solid. Taking advantage of Leverkusen's high pressure, Su Luo seized a counter-attack opportunity and dribbled into their penalty area:
"Sue! Bicycle kick! Beautiful, he passed Westerman! Facing the goalkeeper, here he comes—Su Luo!!!" Sauer, the commentator, was beside himself with excitement. He sensed a historic moment was imminent.
Leverkusen's goalkeeper prepared to defend against Su Luo's trickery. But before Su Luo even reached him, he unleashed a powerful long-range shot from outside the penalty area. The ball struck the crossbar's underside, bounced hard on the grass, and went in!
This record-breaking goal was full of power and determination. Su Luo's 41st Bundesliga goal surpassed Gerd Müller's record. The stadium erupted in celebration. A giant tifo displayed Su Luo's name and the number 41, marking the historic moment.
"The number 41! A new record!"
The tifo's image spread worldwide through TV broadcasts, destined to be replayed for years to come. Leverkusen, once again, became the backdrop for history. Later in the match, Su Luo scored another goal from a corner kick, bringing his tally to 42. Each goal set a new record, thrilling the media, fans, and casual observers alike.
With Su Luo's double, Union Berlin defeated Leverkusen 2-0 at home, maintaining their lead in the Bundesliga standings. With 10 rounds remaining, Bayern Munich's chances of overtaking were dwindling.
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