Capítulo 289: Chapter 289: Gao Shen Was Kidnapped
It was supposed to be a free kick, but it felt more like a corner kick.
And a very threatening set-piece opportunity at that.
Tonetto, having been handed a yellow card, stormed back in frustration. Clearly, he was unhappy with the referee's decision, especially since it handed the opponent a threatening set-piece. And now, on top of that, he was given a yellow card.
The entire Roma team was feeling the pressure.
They'd already conceded a goal from a set-piece earlier, and now they were giving their opponent another one. It was a terrible situation.
Another free kick granted to the opposition sent Roma's morale spiraling downward.
From the sidelines, Spalletti shouted at his players, signaling them to stay focused and carefully organize their defense for this set-piece.
Captain Totti also ran back to his side's penalty area to help organize the team's defense.
This time, Napoli changed their set-piece strategy. Only five players advanced into the penalty area, and none were positioned near the goal line.
For Roma, all ten players crowded into the penalty area, ready to defend.
Roma fans at the stadium cheered loudly to encourage their team.
If they conceded another goal, they might as well give up this game altogether.
After setting up the penalty area, the referee quickly moved outside to the left side of the arc, standing clear so as not to interfere with Napoli's attack.
Everyone held their breath.
With a sharp, crisp whistle, Sanchez ran up and delivered a curving cross.
The ball cleared the defensive wall at the edge of the penalty area and dropped just in front of the goal area.
On Napoli's side, everyone pushed forward. David Luiz was the fastest, getting ahead of everyone else. He leapt high at the edge of the goal area.
Mexes, positioned at the front of Roma's defense, rushed forward to clear the ball with a header, but David Luiz reached it first, heading it directly towards the goal, aiming for the far corner.
Goalkeeper Curci jumped instinctively to stop the ball, but he couldn't reach it. The ball grazed the underside of the crossbar and slipped into Roma's net.
In an instant, the entire Olympic Stadium fell into stunned silence.
Everyone stared in disbelief at what had just happened on the pitch. The Brazilian defender, with his distinct "bird's nest" hairstyle, landed and shouted excitedly, turning and sprinting off the field.
"GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!"
"2-0!!!!!"
"David Luiz scores a brace!"
On the sidelines, Gao Shen leapt up with excitement.
He saw David Luiz charging towards him, shouting with joy. Gao Shen, thrilled, opened his arms, thinking the Brazilian defender was coming in for a celebratory hug. But to his surprise, David Luiz picked him up by the waist and ran off, carrying him.
Gao Shen was dumbfounded.
Holy crap, it felt like an eagle snatching a chicken!
Am I really that light?
But David Luiz, caught up in the moment, didn't think twice. He ran across the field with Gao Shen in his arms, cheering and shouting all the way.
The entire Olympic Stadium erupted with boos, mixed with cheers from Napoli's fans.
Napoli's players chased after them, one by one, hugging both Gao Shen and David Luiz.
"David Luiz is the star of the night!"
"Not only did he defend brilliantly, but he also scored two header goals from set-pieces, showcasing the attacking prowess of this young Brazilian defender. Truly an impressive talent."
"It's been reported that after the game against Inter Milan, Gao Shen scolded David Luiz in the locker room, even threatening to sell him. But at the subsequent press conference, Gao Shen took responsibility, clearly protecting his player."
"And tonight, David Luiz paid back Gao Shen's trust with two beautiful headers!"
"Moreover, you could see their bond during the celebration. David Luiz literally lifted Gao Shen and ran around the field. It's a perfect example of the relationship between them."
"But now, Gao Shen's in a bit of trouble. The fourth official has noted that he left the technical area."
"Gao Shen tried to explain that he couldn't help it – he was kidnapped!"
"But the official wasn't convinced. He insisted that Gao Shen had violated the rules by leaving the area."
"The referee came over and issued Gao Shen a yellow card."
"Haha, David Luiz looks totally innocent, while the Napoli players are laughing. Their love and respect for Gao Shen is evident, but they can't help but enjoy his embarrassment."
"Besides, it's just a yellow card. Nothing serious!"
Gao Shen returned to the technical area, looking annoyed and muttering under his breath.
"I'm the victim here. Why did I get a yellow card?"
Carlo and Lucas burst out laughing.
Gao Shen might just be the first coach in history to be 'kidnapped' out of the technical area by his own player and then given a yellow card.
"Is there any justice in this?"
"Keep it up!" Lucas laughed.
"Damn it, I was kidnapped! I'm the victim here, you know?" Gao Shen protested indignantly.
This isn't just about a yellow card.
It's about my dignity!
"My reputation has been ruined by them!" Gao Shen grumbled angrily.
But then Carlo, standing behind him, remembered something and suddenly said, "Didn't you get a yellow card before, back when you were at Real Madrid?"
Everyone was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter.
Gao Shen had completely forgotten about it.
"I'm talking about my reputation here in Italy! Madrid doesn't count!" Gao Shen continued to argue.
Thinking about it this way made him feel a little better.
At least his dignity hadn't been ruined by David Luiz.
"Haha, this kid is really loved by the team. Even I'm envious," De Laurentiis said with a laugh from the VIP box.
Marino nodded in agreement.
Napoli was in great form. In less than ten minutes, they'd scored twice. Could anything be more satisfying?
Moreover, it was clear that Roma's morale tonight was far from ideal.
Napoli, on the other hand, came out with fierce determination and displayed impressive fighting spirit.
"If we keep attacking like this, we might see a big score," De Laurentiis said confidently. Even though they were away, he spoke boldly, as if daring anyone to challenge him.
The faces of Roma's core executives turned grim, especially Rosella Sensi, who was dissatisfied with how things were going. This didn't feel like Roma's home game at all.
But strangely enough, Roma's performance at home this season had been unusually poor. First, they were beaten by Juventus, then Inter Milan, and now Napoli.
Watching Spalletti fuming on the sideline, Rosella Sensi recalled something Bruno Conti had said and began to entertain a more radical thought.
Maybe it was time to sack Spalletti and bring in Gao Shen.
This tantalizing thought rooted itself in her mind, growing stronger and stronger.
Last season's 0-6 loss to Napoli was one thing, but this embarrassing start was another. Spalletti was clearly no match for Gao Shen.
Bruno Conti sensed the atmosphere and laughed.
"Not necessarily, Mr. De Laurentiis. Our team is strong on offense. With how aggressively Napoli is playing, this game might turn into an open fight. When that happens, our attack is fully capable of turning the tables."
Hearing this, the Roma executives nodded in agreement.
The Red Wolf Legion was never known for their defense; offense was their strength.
An open battle?
Roma feared no one!
Spalletti clearly had this in mind, signaling his team to push forward and attack.
Bruno Conti nodded. "In a match like this, we won't know the outcome until the very end."
De Laurentiis and Marino exchanged glances and couldn't help but feel confident.
After all, Roma's offense was formidable.
And for Napoli… well, David Luiz still had his defensive weaknesses.
But just as everyone was bracing for an offensive battle, something happened on the field that made the audience gasp.
As Totti kicked off and looked up, he thought he might be seeing things.
The entire Napoli team had retreated neatly, forming a tight defensive line just outside their penalty area.
Come on, bring it, Red Wolves!
Holy crap, they were playing a defensive counterattack?
And here they had been attacking so aggressively!
Spalletti was livid, almost breaking down on the sidelines. He nearly stormed over to the visitors' bench to confront Gao Shen.
Are you serious?
Scoring a goal and then immediately parking the bus?
At least try to act like a big team and hold the line for a bit!
But Napoli was indeed set on playing defensively.
De Laurentiis watched from the stands and couldn't help but laugh. "I love this pragmatic approach!"
Bruno Conti gritted his teeth, wanting to retort: Pragmatic?
Ha! More like shameless!
Scoring and then retreating – can you even call yourselves a strong team?
But he had to admit that Napoli's strategy left Roma frustrated and helpless.
"Hold on? I don't believe you can last till the end!" Bruno Conti spat out determinedly.
Marino chuckled and replied, "Gao Shen once told me he could hold on for two hundred and ten minutes with a solid counterattacking setup like this."
Two hundred… and ten minutes?
Holy crap, he even counted the extra time in a second-leg match!
Bruno Conti was speechless.
What kind of people are in this club?
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