章節 13: Miraculous Goals
Chapter 13: Miraculous Goals
The game restarted and Porto finally found an offensive opportunity, but Benfica quickly regrouped defensively, restricting Porto to a positional attack.
Quaresma didn't rush to the center but continued to roam down the left flank, with Rocha shadowing him closely.
Quaresma grinned to himself, "It's best if you come defend me, Rocha. How else will you get noticed?"
Porto's attack pushed into the top 10 yards of Benfica's penalty area, facing heavy defensive pressure. Without Deco's playmaking, Diego on the left had to step up.
Given the tactical setup, Porto's attack focused on the left, drawing Benfica's defensive center there. With Quaresma positioned on the right, space opened up. Diego swiftly played the ball wide towards Quaresma.
An opportunity for Quaresma had arrived.
The ball nestled under his control near the touchline. Rocha pressed him, while Benfica's left-back held back, seeking to block Quaresma's path, waiting for support from teammates—his defense composed and calculated.
But would Rocha's defense intimidate Quaresma?
Clearly not.
Though he hadn't consciously practiced the flashy moves of his predecessors since crossing over, some actions seemed ingrained in his muscle memory, like the Rambo flick.
Was there anything more suited to humiliating Rocha than a flick?
The answer was no.
Quaresma, repressing his offensive urge from the start of the game, finally let loose.
His feet swiftly executed the Rambo flick, body swaying dramatically. The rapid shift in balance made the initially impractical flick a real threat.
Quaresma's natural talent shone through; such maneuvers were effortless and mesmerizing.
Amidst cheers from the stands, Rocha found himself defensively unsettled. Quaresma's feints left him guessing, unable to discern the real moves from the fakes.
Quaresma regarded Rocha with a hint of disdain, as if to say, "Is that all?"
Too naive!
In a sudden burst of speed, Quaresma feinted left, easily wrong-footing Benfica's left-back, taking a decisive step past him.
Rocha's low center of gravity seemed to block Quaresma's path effectively.
Yet, in that moment, Quaresma shifted his weight back, nudged the ball slightly with his left foot, then deftly threaded it through the wide gap between Rocha's legs, spinning his body to the right, leaving Rocha in his wake.
A collective gasp of admiration echoed through the stands; Quaresma's brilliance was both beautiful and breathtaking!
A dazzling Rambo flick, combined seamlessly with a nutmeg, treating Rocha like a mere puppet—this wasn't just extraordinary; it was sheer humiliation!
Whether football aficionados or casual fans caught up in the spectacle, all erupted in applause for Quaresma's sublime display.
Even those unfamiliar with football felt their hearts race. Quaresma's Rambo flick and nutmeg were so visually stunning and fluid; this was the unique allure of football.
For those who understood the game, the Rambo flick might be more spectacle than substance, but there was no denying the sheer artistry of Quaresma's performance.
Quaresma's Rambo flick had cleverly enticed Rocha to part his legs wide open, and then seamlessly threaded the ball through, creating a complete and masterful move.
Benfica fans began to murmur in frustration, "Rocha, you're not guarding a chicken coop! Why are you so far apart?"
In any case, Quaresma had Rocha dancing to his tune. Benfica's left-back was at his mercy, reduced to a mere sideshow.
Having shaken off Rocha, Quaresma wasted no time in savoring his once overly confident adversary. The game continued, with space opening up on the wing, presenting Quaresma with another opportunity.
Though awed by Quaresma's extraordinary skill, Benfica's left-center back Anderson quickly moved in to contain him, hoping to halt Quaresma's relentless advance.
Previously, Quaresma's reputation leaned towards side-footed passes, especially his trademark outside-of-the-foot crosses. Anderson had positioned himself close to the sideline, expecting Quaresma to exploit the wide space.
Quaresma's expression hinted at surprise, tinged with excitement!
Initially, he had planned a teasing outside-of-the-foot cross, but his opponent's defensive line had inadvertently guided him inward!
Should he hesitate?
No way!
With a flick of his left foot, Quaresma abruptly changed direction, darting past Anderson in a flash, leaving him grasping at thin air.
Quaresma's first true footballing instinct had surfaced!
Anderson was caught off guard by the sudden shift, unable to react in time. He didn't even manage to grab hold of Quaresma's jersey, his expression a mixture of shock and disbelief.
But what next? Quaresma hesitated momentarily.
In truth, he hadn't fully mastered the inside-of-the-foot shot. While he had the fundamentals down, converting it into a successful shot wasn't guaranteed. He hadn't practiced it extensively, and it wasn't his go-to move in training.
Glancing up at the penalty area, Fabiano and Delle were marked tightly by their opponents. Diego on the left wasn't in a better position than himself. Maniche, who was advancing from behind, was also shadowed, making passing the ball at this moment less than ideal.
But Quaresma gritted his teeth, resolved to take the shot!
Before Benfica's midfielder Petit could backtrack to defend, Quaresma had already made up his mind, despite his uncertainties.
Surprise them!
The ball sat invitingly in front of him, a position from which most players wouldn't dare to shoot. Even the seasoned Portuguese international Petit, with all his experience, didn't anticipate Quaresma's audacious decision to shoot from here.
With a swift swing of his right foot, it appeared as though Quaresma was aiming to curl the ball towards the right. But his execution was more about generating spin, sending the ball swerving violently towards Benfica's goal.
Fly, ball, fly!
Find the net!
每周推薦票狀態
-- 推薦票
榜單 
-- 推薦票