Chapter 209: Chapter 208: We Have a Traitor Among Us
As the second half began, Quaresma felt a sense of despair earlier than Deng Kai.
In the 48th minute, Quaresma was pushed off the pitch by Emerson after receiving the ball.
The linesman didn’t raise his flag; it was a normal challenge with considerable intensity.
In the 52nd minute, Quaresma received the ball only to get brought down early by the opposing left-back Serafim, resulting in a long-distance free-kick that posed no threat.
In the 54th minute, Quaresma was dispossessed by a combine tackle from Kilop and Serafim.
From that moment, Quaresma’s impression of anyone with "fim" in their name was incredibly poor.
His own teammate Delfim: Map cannon? Regional discrimination? ???
However, during this time, Deng Kai was also besieged by Delfim, Barbosa, and even Viana.
But there is nothing difficult in this world, as long as you are willing to give up.
After being brought down just once, Deng Kai gave up the intention to control the ball, and as he dropped back, he transformed into an engineer, no longer giving others the chance to stick to him.
This also led to Sporting Lisbon taking the initiative in the attack during this period.
The coaching staff of Sporting Lisbon cheered.
Their targeting was successful.
The reputation of the Saints was well-deserved!
Moreirense completely gave up ball possession, their midfield was paralyzed, and their attacking threat was almost zero.
The assistant coaches surrounded Maxa, and they even wanted to throw him in the air early to celebrate.
Maxa covered his face, but still peered through his fingers to see Deng Kai watching him.
In that moment of eye contact, Maxa felt a chill in his heart.
In the end, he chose to seek Deng Kai’s forgiveness with a sincere attitude, opening his hands to signify, "I really didn’t do anything, they’re just not performing well, believe me, Kai."
The director caught this exchange of looks and Maxa’s outstretched hands, and the commentator said, "Oh! As everyone knows, Maxa is the gem of Sporting Lisbon’s first team coaching staff, esteemed by both Augustus and Matrazzi."
"He is a true tactical mastermind, it seems he offered plenty of advice during the halftime break, and judging by the current effectiveness on the field, his plan has clearly worked!"
"This is the impact of a master assistant coach, I even think that if Matrazzi leaves Sporting Lisbon one day, Maxa should become the helmsman of this esteemed club."
"Look at him, so confident, his open hands as if to say to Deng Kai, ’Kid, you’re still green! This is the strength of Sporting’s Saints!’"
In an instant, Maxa felt a burning gaze not only from Deng Kai but also from another.
It was Mr. Trigella from the neighboring coach’s area, his eyes seemingly saying, "Little Maxa, how can your soul be so cold? Even if you don’t acknowledge me as your master, you should at least remember your Uncle Deng Kai!"
Me... this... misunderstanding... don’t... sigh...
Maxa was at a loss for words.
He was as wronged as Dou E.
In the 59th minute, after Quaresma lost the ball, Emerson immediately thought of passing the football to Deng Kai.
But he found several opposing players blocking the passing lanes.
Emerson quickly changed his mind and passed the ball to Ronaldo, who had come back to receive it.
Ronaldo received the ball and with a drop of the shoulder, he burst into speed, finally taking the ball past the halfway line.
Abdulilah also tried to use his body against Ronaldo. Ronaldo’s breakthrough was hindered, and he passed back to Emerson, who had come up.
Emerson didn’t have a passing option either and knocked it back to Ronaldo once more.
Tasting the satisfaction of a challenge, Abdulilah bodied up to Ronaldo again.
But this time, Ronaldo shielded the ball and with great force flicked it behind him, turning to take the outside route past Abdulilah.
Since Abdulilah wasn’t as tall as Ronaldo, he couldn’t see the ball when Ronaldo shielded it and thus couldn’t anticipate when Ronaldo would use his strength.
Therefore, when Ronaldo turned and slipped past him, Abdulilah was already too late in his turn and chase to catch up with Ronaldo.
"A beautiful chip over the top! Full of imagination!"
"I know it’s a bit strange to mention imagination in connection with Ronaldo; the old him might have only been described in terms of force. Fast, strong, accurate, but definitely not imaginative."
"Now, he seems to have lost some of his previous sharp edge, but he has found different ways to handle the ball, which is what he has gained in Primeira Liga."
"After the turn and dribbling past his man, Ronaldo easily cut inside. On the side of the large penalty area, he encountered Marcos, crossed... but Marcos blocked it back, the football was still at Ronaldo’s feet."
With that failed cross, the opposing defenders all fell into position, Anderson and Flavio were tightly marked, and Ronaldo had no outlet for the ball.
It seemed he could only go it alone.
In the past, he definitely would have chosen to go it alone, as long as he got past Marcos, he’d be in the penalty area, so why not?
Ronaldo’s feet began to interlace over the football, starting a stationary pedal motion on the spot.
Marcos dared not commit rashly, as a free-kick from this spot was very dangerous, and he knew Ronaldo’s speed was fast; if he couldn’t intercept the ball, Ronaldo would slip into the penalty area with just a touch.
Marcos could only wait because he saw Abdulilah rushing over from the side.
If Ronaldo continued with a couple more pedal moves, the defenders would only get pulled in more, and the attacking threat from Morelence would also diminish.
Bang!
Ronaldo’s right foot suddenly came under the ball.
A flick to break through?
Marcos reacted defensively, positioning himself so if Ronaldo tried to break through, he would collide with him, the ball would get past but not the man.
And in the penalty area, most were Sporting Lisbon players who could completely control the ball.
But whoosh...
The football flew past Marcos’s face.
This wasn’t a flick; this was... a chip?
"Another chip! Ronaldo had already made a splendid chip earlier, nudging the football backward to assist his teammate Flavio in scoring the first goal."
"This time Ronaldo chose a reverse triangle chip, sending the ball outwards. It’s a bit of an overcomplication when actually, from this position, he might as well have tried to break through himself, even if he’d failed, it wouldn’t have been a big deal."
"Or he could have tried to cross it again, maybe Anderson and Flavio could pose a threat."
Bang!
Before the commentator could further speculate, Deng Kai, who charged to the top of the penalty area arc with his right hand steadying against Viana, drew back his left foot like a bow being strung... and unleashed a volley!
Flying Immortal Outside Heaven!
Swish!
The football almost became a white line.
Schmeichel stretched mightily with a dive, extending to his full capacity in mid-air.
But the ball sailed directly into the top left corner of the goal.
Unstoppable!
Bang!
After hitting the ground, Schmeichel immediately bounced back up, looking towards Deng Kai.
The quality of that volley was too high.
Scholes?
Matthaus?
Bergkamp?
No, Zidane!
That strike was too much like Zidane!
The kind of long-range shot wrapped in artistry, seemingly flamboyant but as tough as steel on the inside!
"GOAL! KKKKKK...D!"
Little did the commentator know that Deng Kai wasn’t fond of Durant.
The fans at the scene were ignited once again.
"Three to two! Morelence is so tenacious! They have managed to take the lead for the third time in this match!"
"Deng Kai’s long shot has shattered the heavens, completely unstoppable!"
"From Schmeichel’s face, we can tell just how unbelievable that shot was!"
