Chapter 640: Chapter 639: What You Can Do, I Can Do Too
"Don’t forget, Deng Kai is very strong on the counter-defense,"
Huang Jianxiang was speechless.
Because the director told him that the ratings had dropped a bit.
Most of the fans, along with Gao Yuanyuan, had the same reaction, so they turned off their TVs.
In the 72nd minute, Manchester City made all their substitutions.
Fabregas replaced the yellow-carded Tu Lei.
Company replaced Desailly, mainly to increase the height in the backfield.
These two substitutions also indicated Manchester City’s approach for what followed... running down the clock.
Fabregas helped with passing in the backfield.
The tall Company cleared the ball with his head, leaving Manchester United no chance for long passes and crosses.
However, less than five minutes after these substitutions,
Ferdinand made a long pass.
The newly-subbed Company misjudged his position and was caught out by Ronaldo’s successful offside trap.
Ronaldo sped alone, and at the top of the penalty box arc encountered Cech in a narrow path, a low shot hit Cech’s shin and rolled toward the goal.
Eventually, it ended up in the net.
"GOAL! Two to three! Manchester United really might catch up now!"
"It’s Ronaldo again! He scored twice today and is the best performer in the second half for both sides!"
"Cech is outrageous, he even rushed out of the penalty area! Had he stood on the goal line waiting for Ronaldo, he might have had a chance to save it!"
The commentator said things he himself thought unlikely.
Coming out to face a one-on-one was the correct choice for a goalkeeper.
And Cech’s charge, though beyond the penalty area,
Did touch the football.
And... if it weren’t for Ronaldo’s quick reaction to poke the ball first, if Ronaldo had taken just half a step more, Cech would have completely cleared it.
This was actually a very good charge.
The goal was a matter of Ronaldo being too strong,
Not Cech’s fault.
At least Neuer on the bench was utterly fascinated.
The following game suddenly became very tense.
In the 85th minute, Villa passed the ball but didn’t get the strength right.
Deng Kai struggled to receive it, leading to a bad first touch, and was then knocked down to the ground by Ferdinand.
Manchester City’s players surrounded Ferdinand, hoping the referee would award a penalty.
And send off Ferdinand, who already had a yellow card.
Unfortunately, the referee thought Deng Kai had lost control of the ball beforehand, so it was a fair challenge, not a defensive foul by Ferdinand.
The downside of Manchester City’s youthful team also became apparent.
Most were seething with anger.
This, no doubt, was to protect Deng Kai.
And it made the team seem tough.
But... it could also give the opponents a chance in the final moments!
As the match entered added time, the six minutes announced made Manchester City fans quite unhappy.
Maxa offered the referee some ’friendly greetings’ and received a yellow card for it.
On the other side, Ferguson was nervously pacing on the sideline.
The Community Shield Cup may not be a major honor,
But this match was crucial.
If Manchester City won, it would undoubtedly signal to the entire Premier League that they could really challenge Manchester United!
If Manchester United’s position as kings was shaken, Arsenal, Chelsea, and other teams might take the opportunity to swoop in.
In the 93rd minute, Manchester United had possession.
Manchester City players tried to push Manchester United back with a wave of pressing.
Van Nistelrooy passed back.
Scholes feinted and then passed back again after receiving the ball.
But Fabregas, perhaps out of habit, or perhaps because he was still angry at the referee’s previous decision, ended up fouling Scholes after the pass.
The referee immediately blew the whistle.
And he showed Fabregas a yellow card.
The main referee explained to Fabregas, "Don’t have that unnecessary action."
Fabregas couldn’t have been more frustrated.
Then, something unexpected happened.
Ronaldo approached the football.
"Ronaldo? Is Ronaldo going to take this free kick?"
"This is a free kick that’s over thirty meters from the goal, a considerable distance."
"It’s basically very difficult to score directly, you can only play a tactical free kick."
"Previously for Manchester United, it was Beckham who took these. His passes had enough curve, and were full of threat."
"Of course, Beckham also took short free kicks, his ’Banana Shots’ were nearly unsolvable in close and mid-range free kicks!"
"Over at Manchester City, Deng Kai would execute ’Banana Shots’!"
"With Beckham’s departure, Manchester City retained the most authentic ’Banana Shot’—a huge mockery for Manchester United."
"However, Deng Kai was adept at a variety of free kicks, in the final moments of last season’s FA Cup final, the one he scored... Wait, what is Ronaldo looking for?"
In the camera, Ronaldo was spinning the football.
He was looking for... the valve!
"Ronaldo is... he’s placing the football on the turf."
"The valve is facing towards him."
"He measures every step, his movements are very stiff, as if memorizing by rote!"
"Such an odd action, seen only once before in world football! That was in last season’s FA Cup final, the ’Elevator Ball’ by Deng Kai that amazed everyone!"
"He created his own signature free kick! This has significantly increased Deng Kai’s market value! Because before him, only Beckham possessed this characteristic!"
"Even though Deng Kai scored two more direct free kick goals than Beckham last season. But when you mention ’Banana Shots’, Beckham is definitely the first name that comes to mind."
"And now, when you mention the ’Elevator Ball’, people only think of Deng Kai!"
"Because in world football, only Deng Kai has achieved a goal with the ’Elevator Ball’! This summer, other footballers also tried the ’Elevator Ball’ after studying Deng Kai’s technique."
"But none had the possibility of scoring in a real match."
Bang!
Huang Jianxiang still had so much to share with everyone.
But alas, my Ronaldo wouldn’t give him the chance!
He took a run-up and shot in one smooth motion!
As Ronaldo unleashed a ferocious shot.
The football suddenly flew out, like a mighty dragon taking flight, soaring towards the sky!
It went two or three meters over the wall!
Definitely too high!
Manchester City fans were about to cheer, but the dragon-like football seemed to be smacked down from the sky with a stick.
Dropping sharply!
Cech knew what was happening!
He told himself, the eyes can deceive!
He must dive early!
But... the football’s violent shaking, rocking back and forth, left and right, made it unpredictable.
Cech’s dive, was essentially a blind one.
Naturally, he couldn’t catch it.
Swish!
The football kicked up a spray of white foam.
The stadium fell silent.
After a long while, the stadium commentator finally burst out, "GGGGGGOAL!"
"Three to three!"
"Elevator Ball! That’s the ’Elevator Ball’ that Deng Kai used to knock Arsenal down last season!"
"Ronaldo has learned it! Ronaldo has also executed the ’Elevator Ball’! He is the second player in world football to score directly from an ’Elevator Ball’ free kick in a formal match!"
"Hat-trick! Ronaldo has completed a hat-trick!"
"It’s an equalizing goal!"
"Unbelievable!"
"Now, who the hell dares to tell me Ronaldo isn’t as good as Beckham?"
