Chapter 374: Chapter 373: The Last Bayonet
Fan Zhiyi said, "Isn’t it obvious... the best forward of the Portuguese league, Quaresma, the best newcomer and Silver Boot winner Ronaldo, the best center-back Barzagli, the best player Deng Kai... Aren’t the ones scoring, assisting, and posing the biggest threats mainly these few people?"
Pfft!
Sun Jihai burst out laughing beside him.
You can’t deny it, there’s some truth to that.
But that’s a hooligan’s theory because, if we were to be serious about it, how would you count Viana and Drogba then?
On TV, the commentator was still excitedly celebrating.
The players of Sporting Lisbon were celebrating excitedly on the pitch, as happy as if they had already won the championship.
Meanwhile, the Liverpool players were all standing with hands on hips, sighing.
It was bizarre.
This match was just too bizarre.
Could this be fate?
Gerard shook his head, dismissing those random thoughts.
Liverpool was completely bewildered, and even the coaching staff hadn’t recovered.
They only knew to send all the substitutes to warm up, but they had no constructive ideas for the next phase of the match.
In the 68th minute, Ronaldo received a through ball from Deng Kai and kicked the football against the side netting at a tight angle, missing the goal by less than twenty centimeters.
In the 71st minute, Deng Kai helped Quaresma with a one-two to break into the penalty area, but Quaresma’s final touch was a bit too strong, and Carragher daringly poked the football away.
In the 72nd minute, Deschamps and Gary McAllister both fell to the ground while fighting for the ball.
And both of them lay there without getting up.
Team doctors from both sides entered the pitch and, after checking, almost simultaneously made the substitution gesture.
Fan Zhiyi: "Yo! Looks like Sporting Lisbon is in trouble."
Huang Jianxiang: "Indeed. McAllister was an absolute key player for Liverpool this season, but Liverpool’s reserves for this position are very substantial, with Gerard and Dietmar Hamann having almost the same level as McAllister and Schmeichel."
"Sure enough, the substitution sign went up on the sidelines, and Hamann replaced McAllister."
"But the situation is different for Sporting Lisbon. They simply can’t find a midfielder or defensive midfielder substitute who is close to Deschamps’ level."
"There was one, Pepe could have been a straight swap for Deschamps at the defensive midfield position, relying on the young man’s speed, running range, physical strength, aerial ability, and so on. But Pepe got a red card for a flying kick in the last match, and was also suspended additionally by UEFA..."
"I believe, if Sporting Lisbon loses this match because of this, their fans will resent Barcelona for a lifetime!"
"Damn it, blame Barcelona!"
"Sporting Lisbon has brought on Paolo Bento, a member of Portugal’s golden generation, but his peak was just as a rotational player in the top five leagues, let alone now that he’s entering the twilight of his career."
"Next season, Sporting Lisbon must recruit for this position, as their midfield and defense lack the necessary depth."
"Of course, it’s not their fault, after all, no one could have imagined at the start of the season that they would make it to the final of the Europa League. Even in the middle of the season, some people thought their attacking lineup was too redundant and hadn’t maximized profits."
After the substitutions, Liverpool’s decline seemed to have halted somewhat.
Hamann was a defensive midfielder, and Gerard was a versatile midfielder. Together, they were capable of stopping most of Sporting Lisbon’s attacks.
But they couldn’t block the spark of genius.
In the 76th minute, Quaresma’s successful cut inside from the right followed by an outside-of-the-foot shot narrowly missed the net.
In the 77th minute, after Deng Kai’s interception in the frontcourt, he cleverly back-heeled a pass to Viana. Viana ran a bit too far, making his shot awkward and forceful, sending the football flying and missing a great chance.
In the 79th minute, Drogba, whose stamina had clearly declined, was tackled and dispossessed by Babel.
Ronaldo and Quaresma complained about Babel’s move being a foul, but the referee didn’t blow the whistle.
The referee believed that with Drogba’s ability to handle physical challenges, he should be able to withstand that level of collision; it was a fair charge.
If exhaustion is a player’s issue, it’s not a concern for the referee.
If you’re truly so exhausted that the wind from someone’s run could knock you over, you can’t exactly claim a foul.
Four matches in ten days, particularly the last three matches in five days, had severely drained the stamina of the Sporting Lisbon players.
The effect of the "Liverpool potion Red Dragon’s Blood" given at halftime was nearly worn off.
Known for running hard, it was normal for Drogba to be the first to get worn out.
Babel passed the football to Gerard.
Gerard scanned the front field and suddenly launched a long pass.
The crowd gasped continuously, as Gerard’s kick had the flair of a midfield master, seizing the opportunity well and delivering it with precision.
However, Maxa slightly shook his head.
If it were Deng Kai, he would have spared Gerard the time to look up, thus creating a perfect one-on-one chance.
Instead of like now... it was a half-chance.
"Owen has received the football, it’s a half-chance, Terry moves inside early, keeping up with Owen. Blue’s loaned young player John Terry against the Reds’ star Michael Owen, this might determine Terry’s status in Chelsea’s team for the next season!"
"After all, no coach would let a defender who can contain Owen sit on the bench."
"Terry is giving Owen a lot of pressure, Owen hasn’t managed to shake off Terry... a chip pass! Owen has a chance to try for a shot, but it’s highly challenging, he opts for a chip!"
"Heskey’s position is excellent! He’s level with Owen, Terry is stretched too thin!"
"Heskey shoots... what!"
"How could he shoot that over?"
"My god! Heskey has wasted yet another golden opportunity for Liverpool to score!"
"Heskey’s shooting skills are really a bit indescribable!"
"In other areas, Drogba might not be as good as Heskey, but in terms of seizing scoring opportunities, I think he has surpassed his own benchmark!"
"Substitutions, both sides have requested substitutions again, they’re preparing for the final bayonet fight."
"Oh, a heavy rain has started falling from the sky... according to local television reports, this is an anticipated shower, which will end soon. But the arrival of the rain will make the football and the pitch wetter and more slippery, causing more unpredictable situations."
"This isn’t good news for the players on either side."
"Sporting Lisbon have replaced Drogba with Ibrahimovic, fans of the Premier League might remember this player. At the beginning of the season, Arsenal showed interest in him, he even appeared at Arsenal’s training grounds."
"But Ibrahimovic turned down Wenger’s trial invitation, and afterwards, Deng Kai made his famous remark that Ibrahimovic doesn’t do trials, thus allowing Sporting Lisbon to acquire this Swedish talent with many potential buyers."
