Chapter 149: Chapter 148: Iniesta’s Winning Goal (Readers from other platforms, hurry up and support Taizi on Qidian)
"The Spanish team’s retreat didn’t present any problems, and even Gabi’s charge was at most like removing a single brick from a city wall."
"Who would have thought it was precisely this brick that would open up the path for Deng Kai’s equalizing goal?"
"Gabi’s move was outright reckless, almost asking for a red card, but he didn’t get one and failed to stop Deng Kai. With only the last two or three minutes left, it looks like overtime is inevitable."
"Oh! What happened to Reina? Reina seems to be in a lot of pain?"
"The Spanish team’s medic has come onto the field. This can’t help but remind us of Deng Kai’s ’Deathly Heavy Cannon’ shot earlier this season in the Youth Champions League."
"At that time, the opposing goalkeeper caught Deng Kai’s shot, but not only did he fail to stop the goal, his own palm got fractured."
"That’s just how Deng Kai is; his long-range shooting isn’t very consistent, but in key moments, you can always trust him."
"Substitution! Reina is being substituted!"
"It seems Reina’s hand isn’t seriously injured, but there’s definitely a sprain in his wrist. Putting on Valdes is a safer choice; his shot-stopping ability is no less than Reina’s."
"With him there, Spain’s defense isn’t weakened at all, and they are the only team in this junior tournament to have two ’goalkeeping gods.’ Their depth and overall strength in this position is even stronger than the Czech team’s."
"Valdes has finished warming up, he’s getting on the field and has communicated the coach’s adjustments to the team. Spain will probably try something new in overtime."
"After all, as the stronger team, being dragged into a penalty shootout would actually be considered a loss."
Then the football was kicked off.
Spain’s team unexpectedly started passing more aggressively.
They wanted to launch one last attack before the end of the game.
However, their pass was cut off by Veloso, who made a crucial defensive play.
The Portuguese players went all out, also aiming for one final attack.
Only the last minute remained.
Veloso passed the ball to Deng Kai, who immediately played it back to the retreating Quaresma and then made a forward run.
Quaresma faced pressure and passed back to Veloso.
Without thinking too much of it, Veloso booted the football toward Spain’s penalty area.
Ronaldo and Lorenzo were charging at Spain’s defensive line.
Deng Kai, trailing from behind, instead surged by from the side, becoming the most likely to receive the football.
But Gabi had been watching Deng Kai closely; he followed Deng Kai to the edge of the penalty area.
He wouldn’t let anyone through, especially not Deng Kai.
Yet Gabi underestimated Deng Kai’s stamina and speed at this stage of the game.
Gabi had been involved in far too many physical confrontations today.
To his surprise, he found he was struggling to keep pace with Deng Kai.
Seeing Deng Kai approach the arc of the penalty area while the football was about to land near the penalty line,
that distance meant Valdes coming out might not secure the ball.
He evidently hadn’t fully adjusted to the pace of the game, and even his strongest ability to rush out was not quite there.
In his heart, he felt somewhat intimidated, clearly not as unburdened as his expression suggested.
At the crucial moment, all Gabi could do was aim a flying kick at the departing Deng Kai!
Yes!
It was a typical martial arts move.
The very same as Lee Xiaolong’s.
Deng Kai felt a force on his back.
But coincidentally, he was about to exert force to leave the ground.
This force instead acted as propulsion.
Deng Kai pushed off with his legs, leaping up.
Like a carp leaping over the dragon gate, soaring forward.
Simultaneously, Valdes rushed out, aiming a punch at the football, just like Superman’s signature move.
Bang!
Bang!
Deng Kai’s head connected with the football.
Valdes’ fist struck the top of Deng Kai’s head.
The two collided.
And the football plummeted into the goal.
After three seconds of silence,
Strahov Stadium erupted into thunderous cheers!
"GOAL!"
"GOAL!!"
"GOAL!!!"
"Three to two! Deng Kai scores twice within three minutes, propelling Portugal to a thrilling 3-2 victory over Spain!"
"Invincible! Deng Kai is invincible!"
"Caesar returns! Spain, tremble in fear!"
In the frame, the Portuguese players excitedly rushed towards Deng Kai.
But their celebration came to an abrupt halt.
Because Deng Kai was lying on the lawn, his left hand clutching his waist, his right hand holding his head, and not moving at all.
The screen kept replaying Deng Kai’s goal.
Gabi’s kick from behind had almost replicated Bosingwa’s move.
The referee immediately showed the red card, sending Gabi off the field.
Valdes’s flying punch failed to hit the football and instead struck Deng Kai on the head, earning him a yellow card warning.
Although he didn’t mean to hurt anyone, hitting a person was still his fault.
And that punch seemed quite heavy.
Of course, Valdes, who had struggled to get up from the ground, also felt aggrieved.
He did hit Deng Kai with his fist, but his hand was also in pain.
The key point was that after being hit by Deng Kai’s "Iron Head Skill," Valdes felt like all his internal organs were about to be knocked out.
He, too, was a victim.
"Medic! Medic!" Ronaldo hurriedly called for the medic to come onto the field.
After a thorough check, the medic found that Deng Kai’s injuries were mostly superficial and not too serious.
However, Deng Kai indicated that he needed the medic to check him over once more.
In the end, the medic simply called for the stretcher to come onto the pitch.
This back-and-forth delayed quite a bit of time.
Only after the stretcher had entered did Deng Kai say he could still walk; with the medic’s support, he slowly made his way to the edge of the pitch.
For a moment, applause was unending in the stands.
Everyone was sending their applause his way.
Except for the Spanish fans.
On the field, wasted time is not always fully recoverable.
Many players waste time because, even if they waste thirty seconds, when the referee adds time later, he may only add ten seconds.
Because a stoppage in play, in itself, is part of the match time and cannot be fully considered wasted time.
After Spain restarted play, Deng Kai returned to the pitch.
The match was still not over.
Spain likely had less than a minute left.
It seemed as if everything was under control, right?
But both Guardiola and Trigella would watch and rewatch this youth match for years to come.
Because this match was exceedingly educational.
Throughout the game, every time either team made the right choice, they were met with the wrong outcome.
What does it mean when they say football is round?
This match was the very definition of football being round!
After the kickoff, Spain unexpectedly executed a fluid passing and ball control combination.
A continuous twenty-two passes without interruption, they moved the football from their own half to midfield.
If anyone made a mistake, they would lose possession.
But that’s the magical thing about the Spanish team.
Iniesta, the key player, was involved in eight of those passes.
And ultimately, the football ended up at his feet once more.
At the edge of the large penalty area.
Iniesta receives the ball.
Unmarked.
This was his chance to become a Spanish hero.
