Chapter 507: Chapter 506: Reina, Over Here!
In a nutshell, no matter what you do, I’m definitely not leaving my defensive position.
Ronaldo passed the football back to Wu Xudong, who was overlapping from behind, and then cut inside without the ball.
Bang!
After receiving the ball, Wu Xudong took a couple of steps towards the baseline before crossing.
Blanco leapt high into the air, using his back to block the football at the near post.
Blanco is indeed a champion-caliber center back; he had judged from the outset that Wu Xudong’s crosses were subpar, unable to produce precise, high-arching header balls.
Thus, Wu Xudong’s crosses usually appeared in the form of low drives.
Or even as sweeps.
Once he sent high crosses, the football tended to float, not posing much of a threat.
This was also one of the key reasons why Wu Xudong was benched in favor of Maicon.
Maicon’s crosses were, relatively speaking, much more exquisite.
Even Evra’s crosses were slightly better than those of Wu Xudong.
Unfortunately, the football deflected towards Ronaldo’s direction.
Bang!
Ronaldo made a dash and blasted a shot.
The football grazed Phil’s thigh and flew towards the goal.
But the erratic Barthez displayed his reaction speed, successfully parrying the football away.
This was a world-class save.
The football rebounded off Phil, then towards the baseline.
Wu Xudong, who had just dashed past the baseline, instinctively thought to intercept the ball.
"Don’t move!"
Deng Kai barked loudly in perfect Mandarin.
Wu Xudong instinctively froze in place.
Seeing Wu Xudong ready to intercept the ball, Phil deliberately slowed down, knowing that Wu Xudong touching it would result in offside.
In the end, Wu Xudong didn’t take the ball, but rather, it was Ronaldo who was a step slower in motioning forward who came dashing over, treading on the baseline, and completed a backheel pass in Phil’s face.
The football went straight to Deng Kai, who was on the edge of the small penalty area.
But in front of Deng Kai were Blanco and Barthez, with Veron on his left; shooting would have likely been blocked.
So...
"Deng Kai shoots... Deng Kai lets the ball roll through!"
"Kaka... Strikes with a blast!"
"It’s in! Kaka! Kaka has scored!"
"A beautiful dummy by Deng Kai! Ronaldo assists Kaka to score! The Brazilian duo have executed their most important play of the season since joining the team!"
"One to two! Sporting Lisbon has finally got one back!"
"Now the aggregate score is four to five! Sporting Lisbon trails by one goal."
"But if they score another, that’s trouble for Manchester United! Because at five all, Manchester United, who scored two away goals, will be eliminated by Sporting Lisbon, who holds three away goals."
"Sporting Lisbon still has a chance!"
"Cristiano Ronaldo rushes into the goal to fetch the football!"
"Sporting Lisbon’s players show no signs of celebration; they quickly return to their own half. They’re racing against the clock!"
"The faces of Manchester United’s players have visibly tensed up."
Watching the time and the score, the previously lackluster injury time suddenly becomes exciting.
Many Manchester United fans, who were already celebrating their team’s advance to the Champions League final, abruptly stopped.
Crowds surge towards the TVs.
Supporters on both sides are praying fervently, but for entirely different outcomes.
The ninety-second minute.
Deng Kai drives the ball down the left flank, coordinating a cross with Cristiano Ronaldo, who has already found open space. However, Gary Neville made a beautiful anticipatory defensive play.
He bravely tackled and successfully dispossessed Deng Kai, taking him down legally in the process.
Cristiano Ronaldo immediately charged at Gary and went in for a slide tackle as he fell.
But Gary had already passed the ball to Scholes ahead of him and jumped to avoid this crude tackle.
As Gary sprinted forward and Cristiano Ronaldo slid on the ground, their eyes met, filled with animosity.
Gary: Are you the Chris who busted O’Shea? That’s all you got? You still got shut out by me! Remember how you just cried? Such a loser!
Cristiano Ronaldo: Even if I lose, it’s to Beckham, Scholes, Giggs, Veron. What’s it to you? Next time I face you, I’ll definitely smash you! Just you wait!
Bang!
Scholes carried the ball forward a few steps and then passed it to Beckham on the wing.
After getting up, Ronaldo didn’t rush to inquire about the fallen Deng Kai, but directly chased after Gary.
Bang!
Beckham crossed the ball with a kick.
But the not-so-tall Evra jumped very high.
His shoulder grazed the football, changing its path, sending it high into the air, losing its element of surprise.
Ronaldo had tracked back all the way to his own penalty area, blocking Cole.
Reina boldly rushed out and jumped up to pick the football from over Fran’s head.
"Here!"
Deng Kai had just gotten up from the ground.
He and several Manchester United defenders were near the center line.
Reina immediately launched a long kick.
Fran was a tad slow and failed to block the football as he jumped.
The ball flew towards the left side of the attack.
Deng Kai sprinted towards the attack.
To his left was Gary, who had started to drop back the moment he saw Beckham preparing to pass; he had good defensive awareness.
To Deng Kai’s right was Veron.
After becoming invisible in the offense, Veron often lagged far behind, participating in defense.
All three arrows were fired.
The innermost Veron took the positional advantage, being closest to the football.
When the football first hit the ground, no one could touch it.
After the ball bounced, its speed greatly slowed down.
Veron reached the ball’s vicinity but couldn’t manage the ball due to its bounce.
All he could do was lean into Deng Kai, trying to use his body to shield Deng Kai.
But Deng Kai also took the opportunity to suddenly exert force, engaging in an intense physical contact with Veron.
Veron thought Deng Kai wanted to draw a foul, which would be Sporting Lisbon’s last best chance for an attack.
And Deng Kai, Ronaldinho, Kaka, Ronaldo, and others all had a decent free kick.
So Veron didn’t exert force to avoid Deng Kai from taking a dive.
As a result, overwhelmed by the force, he staggered and was easily brushed off by Deng Kai.
Veron’s eyes were wide open.
He’s not drawing a foul?
Has Deng Kai gone mad?
With Gary to the left and Silvestre in the box, not to mention a focused Barthez, could Deng Kai manage them all on his own?
It would be more profitable to draw a foul.
Bang!
Deng Kai used his head to knock the still rising ball down to the ground ahead of time.
Gary immediately pressed in, attempting a tackle.
Bang!
Just as the ball hit the ground, Deng Kai flicked it with his right foot towards his right.
Cut inside!
This move instantly left Gary, who had been level with him, trailing behind.
Gary reached out behind Deng Kai, trying to grab and pull him back.
Deng Kai’s jersey was stretched tight.
Deng Kai brushed off Gary’s hand, but Gary had already used this foul to accelerate and, running the long way round, caught up with Deng Kai.
On the other side, Silvestre had moved up to defend when Veron lost his position; he dashed towards the football, ready to clear it.
But Deng Kai’s flick sent the ball high, not far.
Silvestre had to decelerate in advance to estimate the bounce of the ball. Only then did he accelerate, leap, and prepare to kick the ball away.
However, during that time, Deng Kai and Gary had already caught up with the ball.
Bang!
Once more, as the ball rose, Deng Kai headed it towards the ground on the right.
