Bab 194: Boateng: It's You Again!
"Unexpected!"
"The defending champions are actually trailing at the Etihad Stadium!"
Xu Yang said with a chuckle, "Bayern has truly been tactically outplayed by Lin. From the reactions of the Bayern players, they were completely unprepared for that tactical corner!"
"Hehe, it must be said that Lin is indeed full of tricks. Only he could come up with such a tactic!"
Not only were the commentators discussing this goal, but the online debate about it was also very heated.
"Can anyone explain if this goal was legal?"
"Yes, it's legal for the following reasons:
1. The ball was within the corner area, not on or outside the line.
2. The referee had blown the whistle, so the kick could be taken.
3. The position of the ball wasn't changed before the kick, and there's no rule against players moving around before taking it."
"Hehe, that's correct, but Lin's trickery was a bit unsporting."
"As long as it works. Lin didn't break any rules. Tactics are all about outsmarting your opponent!"
"After this match, other teams will have to watch Lin closely whenever he takes a corner. Who knows what trick he'll pull next?"
"Indeed. They'll have to keep a close eye on him to prevent being caught off guard again."
After being overtaken by the opposition, Bayern's players were fuming with anger.
If the goals had been the result of the opponent's brilliant play and superior skills, they wouldn't have had much to say.
But these two goals felt like an injustice to Bayern.
So, they were very displeased with Manchester City's lead. After the restart, they launched a full-scale counterattack to try and retake the lead.
Once Bayern's offensive started, Manchester City's goal was under constant threat again.
In the 54th minute, Robben broke through on the wing, completing a one-two with a teammate before cutting into the box.
However, his final shot wasn't accurate enough and was deflected out by Joe Hart.
In the 56th minute, Bayern attacked City's penalty area again.
Martínez intercepted the ball in midfield and passed it directly to Müller, who timed his run perfectly to beat the offside trap and break into the penalty area.
Seeing Müller breaking through, Guardiola on the sidelines raised his hands, ready to celebrate.
Unexpectedly, Müller's shot went wildly off target, a clear miss that even fooled Joe Hart.
"How could he miss that?"
On the sidelines, Guardiola clasped his head in disbelief.
Thomas Müller had a similar expression, clutching his head in frustration, unable to understand how he botched such an easy chance.
During Bayern's counterattack, Manchester City managed to create a few threatening chances of their own.
In the 57th minute, Lin broke through on the wing and combined with Agüero.
Agüero received the ball, passed it back to Lin, and stood his ground to block the defenders, setting up Lin for a long-range shot.
Unfortunately, the shot was too straight and was caught by Neuer.
A shot like that was no real test for the German goalkeeper.
Two minutes later, Lin repaid Agüero with a pass of his own.
Sadly, Agüero couldn't capitalize on it, missing the chance to complete his hat trick.
However, as City adapted to Bayern's rhythm, their performance improved significantly.
The game became a back-and-forth affair, with both teams trading attacks.
Home fans were pleasantly surprised to see their team holding their own against Bayern, the reigning champions of the previous Champions League season and a team that had gotten even stronger.
Judging by this match, City had proven they could compete with top-tier teams.
Despite this, City fans were still nervous every time Bayern threatened their goal, fearing an equalizer.
Even if the teams seemed evenly matched, Bayern's deep-rooted experience was intimidating.
A team with a championship pedigree and one without has a distinctly different aura.
Bayern, although trailing and eager to equalize, attacked methodically and patiently.
This made City fans envious. When would their team reach such a level?
On the pitch, City's players felt even more pressure than the fans. They knew Bayern's ability to capitalize on chances all too well.
If given the opportunity, Bayern could easily turn the game around.
City had to stay vigilant and focused, without any lapses.
This kind of match drained both physical and mental energy.
Strong teams often showed a dip in performance after such intense matches due to the immense toll it took on the players.
In the 67th minute, a series of events unfolded.
First, Kroos lost the ball to City's defense as he tried to advance, but just as City was about to counterattack, Fernandinho was dispossessed by Müller.
The ball changed hands again!
This time it was more dangerous for City, as they were caught pushing forward, leaving defensive gaps.
Bayern knew this chance was precious. Müller didn't pass back to Kroos to reorganize but instead gave the ball to Robben for a quick break.
Robben sprinted down the wing, opting to cut inside, a move everyone expected.
But knowing his move didn't mean stopping him was easy.
City's left-back Clichy knew Robben would cut inside but couldn't keep up, getting left behind like a rusty machine.
Joe Hart was caught in two minds, unsure whether to charge out or stay back.
Fortunately, Robben didn't complicate things. After cutting inside, he shot from the edge of the box, aiming for the near post.
The ball flew toward the goal. Hart dived but was a fraction too slow, and the ball found the net.
Bayern had equalized!
The Etihad Stadium fell silent briefly as City fans struggled to accept the turn of events.
Their lead had lasted less than fifteen minutes before Bayern leveled the score.
Bayern's attack was relentless, and their spirit was indomitable. Before this goal, they had battled fiercely in midfield, with both teams fighting tooth and nail.
The players' shirts were caked with dirt and grass, showing their intense effort.
It wasn't that City's players weren't giving their all, but Bayern seemed even more determined.
Moreover, Bayern's players were not just aggressive but technically superior and better coordinated, making their attacks more threatening.
With over twenty minutes left, this goal had a demoralizing effect on City but greatly boosted Bayern's morale.
With this shift in momentum, City felt their chances of holding off Bayern's attacks were slim.
Bayern, experienced and opportunistic, capitalized on their momentum to keep pressuring City's goal, aiming to secure a decisive victory.
In the 72nd minute, Bayern launched another swift counterattack on the right.
Again, it was Robben. He cut inside and shot, forcing a save from Hart. The ball rebounded into the box, causing chaos before Kompany cleared it.
One minute later, Bayern attacked again.
Another midfield interception led to a quick counterattack, with Bayern's players rapidly advancing, outnumbering City's defenders.
City's defense was stretched thin, and a few precise passes created a one-on-one chance for Kroos.
Once again, Joe Hart came to the rescue, stopping Kroos's shot.
After the save, Hart shouted at Kroos, seemingly venting his frustration.
Kroos looked dejected, feeling his luck had run out.
On the sidelines, Pellegrini pondered his next move.
City had been on the back foot. Moving Lin to the wing had worked well, neutralizing Ribéry's threat from the first half.
But Robben's activity on the other wing kept City's defense under pressure.
In the 75th minute, Nasri received a yellow card for fouling Robben, further complicating City's defensive efforts on the left.
Pellegrini decided to make a change, bringing on Milner for Nasri.
Milner, known for his defensive prowess, could play as a full-back, providing more stability than Nasri.
This substitution indicated a shift to a more defensive strategy for City.
A home draw against Bayern seemed acceptable.
After Milner came on, his energy and defensive skills helped contain Robben's threat, easing the pressure on City's goal.
Now, it was Guardiola's turn to worry.
Both wings were effectively neutralized, with the right side even struggling.
Lin's attacks had put significant pressure on Bayern, preventing their full-backs from joining the attack and crippling their offense on that side.
With Robben also being shut down, Bayern was forced to attack through the middle.
Due to City's overall defensive stance and Bayern's potent attacks, Yaya Touré was pinned back in defense with little chance to advance.
However, this seemed beneficial for City. With Touré and Kompany as anchors, their central defense was solid and hard to break.
Seeing Touré's steady performance, Pellegrini praised him:
"Touré still has it. As long as he doesn't make mistakes, we can rely on him!"
But just as he finished speaking, Touré made a blunder.
In the 85th minute, Touré intercepted the ball in defense.
Instead of passing it, he observed the field, spotting a gap in Bayern's defense.
Having held back all game, he couldn't resist and charged forward.
On the sidelines, Pellegrini was both furious and anxious.
Touré really couldn't handle praise!
"Get back to your position! Stop moving forward!"
Pellegrini shouted at Touré, but the stadium noise was too loud, and Touré only heard "move forward."
Thinking the coach was encouraging him, he charged ahead without hesitation.
His unexpected move caught both City and Bayern off guard.
After nearly eighty minutes of play, Bayern's players assumed Touré would stay back, forming a mental picture of him as a non-attacking player.
But Tour
é was more than capable of attacking!
Caught off guard, Bayern didn't mark him immediately.
By the time Touré crossed the halfway line, Martínez closed in.
Touré, confident in his physical strength, didn't take Martínez's defense seriously.
However, as soon as they clashed, Touré found himself outmatched.
"Such strong physical presence. Is this guy even a white player?"
The term "strong and bulky" often described powerful Black midfielders, but Martínez, a white player, was proving to be even tougher.
Touré was taken aback!
This wasn't going to end well!
Touré sighed inwardly, realizing he had underestimated his opponent.
Watching Martínez get outplayed by Lin made Touré undervalue his defensive skills.
But face-to-face, Touré saw how formidable Martínez really was.
Seeing the ball slipping away, Touré's peripheral vision caught a glimpse of a blue shirt.
Without thinking, he passed the ball away.
He had to pass it now, or he'd lose it!
It was only after passing that he realized Lin was the one receiving it.
When Touré advanced past midfield, Lin had already started moving back, anticipating the need for support if Touré lost the ball.
Knowing Martínez's interception ability, Lin prepared to cover, preventing a dangerous counterattack from Bayern.
Lin was concerned Touré might not pass, but he did, and it was a perfect pass.
Lin received the ball, turned past Alaba, and charged toward Bayern's penalty area.
Bayern's center-backs, Dante and Boateng, saw Lin coming and felt a chill down their spines.
Not you again!
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone