Chapter 73: Chapter 73: The Friendship-Ending Contest
Wahaha’s final match in Europe.
Sporting Lisbon U15’s starting lineup is:
Ronaldo, Lorenzo, Marcelino
Veloso, Deng Kai, Semedo
Araujo, Angelo, Manuel, Duarte
Pilar
Compared to the first half of the season, the lineup has changed somewhat.
Veloso replaced Sergio, who transferred to Boavista U15 during the winter window.
Additionally, Deng Kai’s position shifted from right midfielder to a legitimate central midfielder, which freed him to the greatest extent.
Semedo’s positioning will actually be slightly retreated, a bit like a right defensive midfielder, mainly responsible for protecting behind Deng Kai.
Veloso is the midfield sweeper, with Trigella defining him as Deng Kai’s "bodyguard."
This request was put forward by Deng Kai himself.
Maxa found it challenging to agree to such unorthodox arrangements; other coaches might think I, Maxa, don’t understand football!
But after Trigella "inquired" about the matter, Maxa expressed that Deng Kai’s outlandish ideas were the reason for his excellence and as Deng Kai’s coach, he would undoubtedly support Deng Kai unreservedly!
On Wahaha’s side, the starting lineup also adopted a 433 formation, rather than the currently more mainstream 442.
On the front line, Yu Shihao, Gao Lin, and Hao Junmin formed a trident.
Among them, Hao Junmin has decent passing skills, Gao Lin possesses some pivot ability but also strong attacking power, being the team’s second top scorer.
Yu Shihao is the most lethal, not only is he fast, his physicality is also fair, and his dribbling skillful, earning him the nickname "Sichuan Little Loach."
The midfield is a weaker point for this team, but their defensive midfielder Chen Tao has a strong defensive ability, alongside a decent ability to distribute the ball.
This team’s defense line is also quite capable.
Left-back Zhao Peng is the oldest player on the team, making him appear to be the strongest player at the moment.
But whether that remains the case in the future for this team’s blue bay isn’t certain.
After all... players like Zhao Peng are playing as defenders, can he really play well? If he can’t, it’s due to a lack of ability, you know?
On the other hand, the unheard-of right-back Wu Xudong is incredibly strong.
During the mixed training sessions between the two teams, Trigella really took a liking to several Wahaha players, with Wu Xudong at the forefront.
Based purely on performance, Zhao Peng and Yu Shihao are the strongest, but Trigella, being a top youth coach, can see that Zhao Peng is taking advantage of his age and may not make it in the future.
Yu Shihao’s static talent is limited, and with Europe, no, the Americas producing excellent wingers batch after batch in youth training, it would be hard for Yu Shihao to stand out.
But Wu Xudong is different.
His absolute speed is even a bit faster than Yu Shihao.
Over at Sporting Lisbon U15, besides Ronaldo who could outpace Wu Xudong, the rest really can’t catch up to this guy.
"He seems a bit different from the other players, in terms of physical quality," Trigella shared as both teams’ higher-ups intermingled.
"Because he’s a man from the great plains of Inner Mongolia, grew up eating beef and mutton, that cement-colored muscle of his, body fat percentage comparable to a professional football player!" Lin Tao marketed him wildly.
Speaking of Wahaha’s lineup again.
The center-back pairing is Shao Jiawei and Feng Xiaoting.
The former is a year older, so he performs better during training sessions.
But Shao Jiawei has a drawback; he didn’t start playing football since childhood, for him, football is just a hobby.
His football sense, dribbling, and passing are all far inferior to Feng Xiaoting’s.
Yet his defensive decision-making under pressure is better, showcasing hidden talent; he’s a big-hearted player.
As for Feng Xiaoting, who comes from a formal youth training background, whether it’s his current strength, balance of abilities, or future potential, all are highly regarded by formal youth coaches.
He has the chance to become truly talented!
Regarding the goalkeeper Zeng Cheng, his abilities aren’t too different from Pilar’s, but he is taller.
...
With a whistle blow, the match officially began.
On Wahaha’s side, the team still adhered to the fine traditions of the Chinese nation, being amicable.
Having trained together for some time and barely considered friends, many players weren’t able to go all out with their actions.
However, Sporting Lisbon was much more professional, following orders strictly and swiftly entered combat mode.
After Deng Kai kicked off, Veloso tapped the ball to left-back Araujo.
Araujo passed it to center-back Angelo.
At that moment, Deng Kai fell back to the defensive zone to support his teammates.
Behind Deng Kai, Wahaha’s players followed up half-heartedly but didn’t press forcefully.
After all, this was in the defensive half.
Bang!
Facing the football passed by Angelo, Deng Kai let it go and then turned around to launch a long kick!
The football flew towards the Wahaha Team’s penalty area.
Without deciding to go to the left at the beginning, Ronaldo suddenly kicked into gear and surged forward, neck and neck with Lorenzo down the middle.
Shao Jiawei and Feng Xiaoting, realizing too late, jockeyed for position as they retreated.
But Ronaldo was too fast.
The two center-backs couldn’t stop Ronaldo at all.
At the edge of the penalty area, Ronaldo controlled the ball perfectly, the football barely leaving his sphere of control.
Bang!
He shot!
Zeng Cheng, who didn’t charge out immediately, now didn’t even have a chance to make a save.
One to zero!
The score changed.
"What are you all doing? Tighten up! This is a match!" the Wahaha Team’s coach couldn’t sit still any longer, loudly chastising his players.
Only then did the Wahaha Team switch from entertainment mode to game mode.
They kicked off, and the match continued.
But after the kickoff, the Wahaha Team quickly felt the pressure they didn’t experience in training.
The pressure from Veloso, Lorenzo, Marcelino, Deng Kai, and others made the Wahaha Team’s midfield extremely uncomfortable, forcing them to pass the ball back.
"We can’t get the ball out!" Chen Tao passed back, signaling that they couldn’t get through the midfield.
After Shao Jiawei received the ball, he quickly passed it wide, and Zhao Peng launched a long pass, looking for his forward winger, Yu Shihao.
Duarte immediately began to physically confront Yu Shihao, forcefully marking him.
Duarte’s physicality wasn’t notable in the team, but it was still an advantage compared to Yu Shihao.
Bang!
Duarte successfully overpowered Yu Shihao and headed the ball to his teammate, Manuel.
Manuel passed back to the supporting defensive midfielder, Semedo.
Semedo found Deng Kai immediately.
Deng Kai received the ball.
Yu Shihao quickly pounced towards Deng Kai, his speed very fast.
However, with a Backheel Drag, Deng Kai let Yu Shihao go past.
Bang!
Just as Yu Shihao braked and prepared to turn, the football flew past him.
Deng Kai, with the ball at his feet, launched into attack mode.
Yu Shihao, shifting his center of gravity repeatedly, accelerated once more, closely following Deng Kai.
"This player’s agility and explosive power are both strong," Trigella commented, "with these qualities, he could still play football in Europe provided his ankles stay uninjured."
Lin Tao’s staff quickly noted this down, these were precious suggestions from a top European youth coach.
"Why hasn’t Deng Kai passed the ball yet?" a Wahaha Team assistant coach shook his head, "Ronaldo has run offside already, Deng Kai missed a good opportunity to pass."
A smile appeared on the corner of Trigella’s mouth: "Kai would never miss any passing opportunities... unless he didn’t want to pass. I’ve seen your Wahaha Team’s training; there’s no issue with your players’ abilities or conditions."
"But your understanding of positioning is too superficial."
"Must midfielders only pass? Can defenders only guard?"
"Such teaching will kill the kids’ imaginations."
Wow!
Amidst Trigella’s exchange, exclamations from fans on the sidelines erupted.
Today’s match was open to the public, allowing many fans to watch free of charge.
As Deng Kai dribbled past the middle, Wahaha Team’s defensive midfielder, Chen Tao, stepped forward proactively, attempting to intercept Deng Kai’s ball.
Yu Shihao had already caught up behind Deng Kai, tussling with him as both players used their hands.
This was an important reason Chen Tao dared to advance.
But as Chen Tao stretched out his foot.
One saw Deng Kai tap the ball with his right foot, yet suddenly the ball flew left.
Then Deng Kai touched the ball with his left foot, sending it flying forward.
Fried meatballs!
That was a nearly forty-centimeter instant lateral movement.
Deng Kai and Chen Tao crossed paths, Deng Kai breaking through directly!
And Yu Shihao, who was tracking back, couldn’t change direction in time, colliding with his teammate Chen Tao, both of them falling to the ground.
