章節 14: First goal
"On Saturday, a crowd of supporters gathered at the De Schinkel sports park in the southern outskirts of Amsterdam. They lined the low, verdant iron fence surrounding the pitch, eagerly anticipating the matchup.
Today's game featured the home team, Fons Vitae Lyceum, taking on Helen Parkhurst School from Almere.
A notable discrepancy in footballing skill separated the two teams. Still reeling from a loss to local rivals Flevoland last week, Helen Parkhurst unleashed their frustration against Fons Vitae Lyceum.
Right from the start, Helen Parkhurst controlled the game, particularly on the right side, putting Fons Vitae Lyceum on the back foot."
After a lackluster performance in the previous match, the substitute right-back faced harsh consequences as Coach Dick Vanpoer ruthlessly dropped him from the starting lineup. Despite Nick, the primary right-back, having recovered from his injury, he found himself relegated to the bench. His spot was claimed by Yang Yang, whose stellar showing in the previous game had caught the coach's eye.
Following a grueling contest last time out, Yang Yang's stellar form injected a renewed sense of vigor and optimism into the entire team. Our collective efforts on the field showcased a marked improvement compared to the previous week. With Helen Parkhurst's right winger leading the charge, they relentlessly attacked down their favored flank, exploiting the vulnerabilities of Fons Vitae Lyceum's left side.
With less than ten minutes elapsed, Yang Yang initiated a lightning-fast break down the right wing. Receiving the ball, he left the opposing left-back in his wake with a deft step-over move, launching into a direct sprint towards goal. The defender, caught off balance, stumbled to the turf. Racing into the right-hand side of the penalty area, Yang Yang delivered a precise cross before Helen Parkhurst's number 9 unleashed a close-range strike.
The goal served as a rallying cry for Helen Parkhurst's relentless assault.
After that, Yang Yang intensified his presence on the right flank, frequently receiving the ball in stride, outmaneuvering defenders, and launching several breakaways. However, despite his efforts, the final pass often fell short or lacked precision, resulting in missed opportunities to create assists or goals.
On the contrary, Henk Dimer excelled in midfield, contributing a goal and an assist within half an hour, propelling Helen Parkhurst to a commanding 3-0 lead by halftime. With a comfortable three-goal advantage going into the break, Helen Parkhurst maintained control of the match. Head coach Dick Vanpoer breathed a sigh of relief, witnessing his team's improved performance after the disappointment of the previous game.
Johnny Rep, a figure rarely seen in the coaching role, remained silently observant from the sidelines throughout the match.
As Dick Vanpoer approached, Johnny Rep offered a wry smile, his expression betraying a hint of bitterness. "He seems to have just that trick up his sleeve," he remarked cryptically.
Van Poer understood Johnny Rep's implication and nodded in agreement. "It's indeed peculiar."
In professional football, it's not uncommon to encounter players like Yang Yang, whose reliance on a step-over move masks deficiencies in basic skills. Such players are exceedingly rare, prompting John Rep's sense of unease.
Following an impressive showing against Flevoland, Yang Yang had caught the eye of the coaching staff. However, after a week of observation, nearly everyone reached the consensus that while his fundamental skills had shown marked improvement, they still fell short of the standard expected at the Almere youth team level.
Nevertheless, they also noted Yang Yang's rapid progress. Whether in terms of basic skills or performance in training and matches, his development was visibly accelerating.
He may have committed the same error today, but it will be promptly rectified tomorrow. Despite the continual emergence of new mistakes, he remains steadfast in his efforts to correct them. Rarely does he repeat the same error, showcasing an incredible improvement in itself.
Moreover, considering his step-over technique: while it may lack the sheer range of Ronaldo's, the adept use of feints and pace adjustments creates even greater confusion among defenders. They find themselves consistently outmaneuvered, leading to a remarkably high success rate.
In his match against Flevoland just last week, his execution was still somewhat delicate and raw. However, today against Fons Vitae Lyceum, his repeated use of the step-over displayed a noticeable refinement and precision.
Given his current rate of improvement, even Johnny Rep, a former right winger, harbors considerable skepticism. If Yang Yang is afforded the opportunity to refine and master this technique, could he not emerge as Almere's true breakthrough weapon on the right flank?
Most importantly, there's now certainty that Yang Yang possesses the ability to read and anticipate the game, a trait invaluable in a player. Every time he takes the field, he exudes an infectious excitement and unwavering passion. Such a player is undoubtedly a coach's dream. So much so, in fact, that John Rep finds himself perplexed. Why hadn't he discovered earlier that this lad possessed these qualities? Certainly, his past ignorance of Yang Yang's attributes stemmed from biases. He had previously fixated on Yang Yang's shortcomings, neglecting to recognize his strengths—a realization that now fills him with shame.
"The match is nearing its end, Dick," John Rep acknowledged with a nod.
As the halftime interval neared its end, it appeared certain that Helen Parkhurst, holding a commanding three-goal lead, would emerge triumphant.
"Make adjustments during halftime and bring Nick into play. He's well-versed in the tempo of the game."
Nick, a cornerstone of the Almere youth team as their primary right-back, excels in both offensive and defensive maneuvers, his position unassailable.
"Bringing Nick on?" Dick VanPoer heard, a frown creasing his brow. "Yang Yang is performing admirably. Substituting him now would..."
With just over 30 minutes remaining, the match had surpassed the 40-minute mark, leaving little time for changes. Nevertheless, Dick VanPoer had developed a fondness for this Chinese player. Among the team, he proved exceptionally versatile and displayed unwavering dedication.
"I didn't suggest replacing him. I meant unleash him to attack with full force."
"Attack with full force?" Dick Vanpoer paused momentarily, then comprehension dawned.
Indeed, Yang Yang had been deployed at right-back in both matches. While his attacking contributions were commendable, his defensive duties often seemed to distract him. Allowing Nick to take up the right-back position would alleviate some of Yang Yang's defensive concerns. Alternatively, moving Yang Yang to midfield or even further forward in attack could also ease his apprehensions.
"I'm eager to see how he responds," Dick Van Purr chuckled.
John Rep smiled, sharing in the anticipation. "Oh, and let's make a quick stop at the Amsterdam Arena on the way back," he added.
"Huh?" Dick Fanpoor was puzzled.
Typically, the route back to Almere involves heading east, directly accessing the A1 motorway. However, the Amsterdam Arena lies to the west of Diemen. Not only would this detour extend the journey, but it would also require navigating through the bustling neighborhood.
"It's time to inject some excitement," John Rep chuckled, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.
"Am I moving up to the front for a full-blown attack?" Yang Yang inquired upon hearing Vanpoer's words.
During the halftime interval, Yang Yang was brimming with excitement after absorbing Vanpoer's adjustments and instructions.
His excitement peaked when he observed the head coach solemnly instructing Henk Dimer to collaborate closely with him, a gesture that left Yang Yang feeling both thrilled and gratified.
It was evident to him that Van Poer was keen to put him to the test, to see if he could emerge as the team's most potent attacker.
For Yang Yang, this presented a golden opportunity to reclaim his place in the attacking lineup!
As Yang Yang faced off against the Fons Vitae Lyceum left-back at the onset of the second half, he couldn't help but notice the apprehensive expression on his opponent's face.
In the first half, the two had not directly engaged in battle, leaving Yang Yang hesitant to make direct breakthroughs. However, his opponent, a skilled player in his own right, appeared wary of the talented Chinese player, especially after witnessing his adept use of the step-over dribble.
"Why the sudden switch to the front?" the left-back questioned, puzzled by Yang Yang's change in position.
Observing the defender's bemused expression, Yang Yang flashed a grin, revealing his pearly whites, and responded innocently, "I'm coming straight at you this time."
Though his words were polite, there was no room for complacency in this match.
Playing in the attacking role felt natural to Yang Yang. He had experience both as a forward and a winger, with the latter being his preferred position.
Unlike his usual role at right-back, where defensive duties weighed heavily on his mind, Yang Yang now felt liberated. With Nick, the primary right-back, positioned behind him and Coach Van Poer's directive to unleash his full attacking prowess, there was little else for him to worry about.
He knows his strengths and weaknesses. After the opening whistle, he took the initiative to pull back. Their left back was worried about the defence behind him and did not want to take any risks, so Yang Yang was allowed to retreat.
After all, it's just an inter-college competition and the defence is relatively loose. Yang Yang can easily receive the ball between the left-back and the left-winger. After turning, he takes the ball straight to the left defender and accelerates towards him at a constant speed, forcing him to back off.
As he steps in and out, Yang Yang gets closer and closer. When he reached his opponent, he suddenly accelerated, did a step-over and then continued with a series of body feints over the defender before taking the ball directly to the bottom line and crossing into the penalty area.
The previous series of moves had been very beautiful, but the quality of the cross was not good, the ball was a little higher and the two forwards who were in the path of the cross failed to control the landing in time, and the ball was finally released by the right-back of Fons Vitae Lyceum.
Having failed to create a goal, Yang Yang was inevitably disappointed, and secretly said to himself that he had to find an opportunity to practise this pass and cross more often.
As a right-footed winger, Yang Yang recognized the potency of a well-executed cross, acknowledging the need to refine this skill to make it more reliable, even if he couldn't yet emulate Beckham's precision.
Despite his earlier lapse in the final pass, Yang Yang's impressive display earned him applause from both home and away fans along the touchline, highlighting the spirited atmosphere of the match.
With the freedom to resume his attacking duties, Yang Yang surged forward, relentlessly pressuring the opposition's left-back whenever he received the ball from the goalkeeper. His boundless energy allowed him to cover ground on the right flank with ease.
In the 63rd minute, Yang Yang's perseverance paid off as he expertly bypassed the defense on the right and delivered a pinpoint cross into the penalty area, setting up Henk Dimer for a close-range finish to extend their lead to 4-0.
With victory within grasp, Helen Parkhurst's players adopted a more aggressive approach, prompting Yang Yang to venture into the box with increasing frequency.
In the 82nd minute, Yang Yang once again showcased his skill, using a combination of step-overs and body feints to outmaneuver the opposing left-back before delivering a precise pass to the striker at the edge of the penalty area. Accelerating into the box, Yang Yang received a well-timed return pass and, with a burst of speed, unleashed a powerful shot past the goalkeeper with the inside of his right foot.
"Goal?" Yang Yang pondered incredulously, disbelief flooding his mind.
"Is that really a goal?" he questioned again, the surreal moment sinking in.
Overwhelmed with excitement, Yang Yang reveled in the euphoria of scoring his first goal since arriving in the Netherlands.
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