Chapter 750: Chapter 749 Consecutive Hat-tricks
With Quaresma’s entrance,
Deng Kai and Quaresma’s positions both shifted slightly toward the midfield.
Portugal formed a 3241 formation.
They were going to give the Netherlands a real battle for the midfield.
This was also considered a defensive strengthening.
While originally having one more player in the midfield, the Netherlands now found themselves one player short.
Gradually, they lost possession of the ball.
The Netherlands needed to increase their attackers if they wanted to go on the offensive.
Because they had more veteran players than the Portuguese team,
they would be at a disadvantage entering extra time.
Ultimately, in the 85th minute,
The Dutch team made a substitution and changed formation.
They planned to seize the last few minutes for a fierce offensive.
If they could break through, great.
If not, they could also rearrange their lineup and devise tactics during the preparation phase for extra time.
Dragging the game into a penalty shootout.
By then, the composure of the veterans would become an advantage.
Data showed that teams with a higher average age had a greater chance of winning penalty shootouts.
"Oh! Van der Vaart comes on for Demede, who has made little impact this game. In fact, the Netherlands should have replaced Demede earlier, not Robben,"
"Cruyff replaces Cocu, a striker for a defensive midfielder, and Netherlands switches to a 442 formation."
"Dai Weisi and Van der Vaart are playing as left and right wingers, respectively. Seedorf and Bosvelt are in the midfield. Van Nistelrooy and Cruyff are up front as twin strikers!"
Seedorf and Van der Vaart could indeed play as wingers, but they were not the speedy type.
Certainly different from the effect of Robben and Demede on the wings.
In the 87th minute,
Van der Vaart drew a foul from Pepe with his excellent dribbling skills.
Pepe received a yellow card.
The Golden Boy Award was not for nothing.
Van der Vaart took the tactical free kick,
but Ronaldo headed it clear successfully, directing the football towards the outer side behind him.
Quaresma received the ball and immediately drove forward at full speed.
As previously mentioned, Quaresma’s speed was not among the very best,
but he was certainly a fast horse.
Coming on as a substitute, he was full of energy,
and he actually managed to shake off the Dutch defenders, unstoppable.
On the other side, Deng Kai, Deco, and Viana were all pushing forward.
But it was Deng Kai, on the far left, who had the greatest speed, and he quickly took the lead.
Bang!
Quaresma’s cross was a super long pass, filled with curve.
It bypassed Deboer perfectly, landing precisely at Deng Kai’s feet.
Deboer knew very well that letting Deng Kai go one-on-one with the goalkeeper was no different from conceding a goal.
He decisively went in for a tackle from behind Deng Kai.
Deng Kai hit the ground at the sound.
Whistle!
The main referee rushed over and showed Deboer a red card directly.
Deboer wanted to fight back, but the referee was not one to be trifled with; his judgment was firm.
"There’s no controversy about Deboer’s red card,"
"But he also preserved a chance for the Netherlands team."
"At this point, giving Portugal a free kick is better than a one-on-one with the keeper."
"After all, a one-on-one usually means a goal."
Five seconds later, the commentators retracted their comments.
Because a crescent blade glittered at Luz Stadium.
Deng Kai took the free kick, a Beckham-like curve hitting the dead corner of the goal.
Netherlands fans even thought they were facing England.
The crescent blade shot was simply unstoppable.
"GOAL!"
"If a one-on-one means a goal, then Deng Kai just told everyone with this crescent blade kick that a free kick means a goal for him, too!"
"Any player who fouls him should think twice!"
"Now not only is the Netherlands team behind, but they are also one man down!"
"The Netherlands are in trouble!"
"Three to two! For the first time in the game, Portugal takes the lead over the Netherlands! Deng Kai’s crescent blade kick could very well shoot down the Netherlands and cut off their European Cup journey!"
The Dutch players began to grow anxious.
Meanwhile, the Portuguese players fell even further back.
Quaresma and Deng Kai almost stood on the defensive line, transforming from wingers into wing-midfielders and then into wing-backs.
On the sidelines, the fourth official held up the added-time board.
Four minutes.
The ninety-second minute.
The Dutch team went all out, pressing forward en masse.
Veloso challenged Van der Vaart, but Van der Vaart was truly agile; with a nutmeg dribble, he not only evaded the challenge but also carved out a bloody path.
He took the ball two steps and prepared to shoot from the top of the penalty arc.
Bang!
Pepe went in with a direct tackle, and Van der Vaart fell to the ground immediately.
The referee also rushed over and showed Pepe a yellow card.
Because Pepe’s tackle was a good one, but it was also a dangerous move.
By that time, Pepe couldn’t pull back in time.
Pepe received a second yellow turning into red and was likewise sent off the pitch.
Pepe was very annoyed, and after leaving the field, he stood in the players’ tunnel, staring fixedly at the pitch.
Veloso was also dissatisfied with his performance, as it was his fault for being outplayed by Van der Vaart.
Van der Vaart stepped up to take the free kick himself.
The Portuguese side was quite tense, seriously setting up the wall.
And, learning from experience, they were ready for any disruption of the wall.
In the end.
Bang!
Van der Vaart took the free kick, aiming directly for goal, a move that stunned everyone!
The football flew past the heads of the jumping Portuguese players, absolutely beautiful!
Clang!
The golden generation Portuguese goalkeeper Viana made a flying save, his fingers miraculously touching the ball, altering its trajectory.
The football hit the post and bounced out of the small penalty area.
Vieirinha rushed over and kicked the ball to the right side first thing.
Quaresma once again dashed for the ball.
Accelerating with the ball.
Counterattack!
The Portuguese team’s counterattack was on once more!
Ronaldo and Deng Kai both burst forth!
Ronaldo in the center.
Deng Kai on the left.
Both of them were extremely fast.
After crossing the halfway line, Deng Kai deliberately moved to the right, half a beat slower than Ronaldo.
This movement gave the Portuguese counterattack an instant sense of hierarchy.
And most critically, it provided Quaresma, who was facing encirclement, with a good passing option.
Bang!
Quaresma passed the ball with the outside of his boot, sending it away before being surrounded.
After receiving the ball, Deng Kai carried it from the center towards the right front, creating a certain distance from Ronaldo.
This allowed the Dutch left-back Van Bronckhorst a chance to defend him, but at the same time forced the Dutch goalkeeper Van der Sar to move towards Deng Kai’s side.
In the end, Van der Sar charged at Deng Kai.
Bang!
Deng Kai passed the ball sideways to Ronaldo on the left front.
Ronaldo received the ball, faced the open goal, and took a shot, hitting the near corner.
Van der Sar was beyond reach!
"GOAL! Four to two!"
"It’s secure! The situation has been decided!"
"It’s another CD connection!"
"Congratulations to the Portuguese team! They’ve turned the game around against the Dutch!"
"Ronaldo scores twice!"
"And Deng Kai has once again completed a hat-trick of assists!"
"Back-to-back games! Deng Kai with back-to-back hat-tricks of assists!"
"The Portuguese team is so strong, it’s frightening!"
"Remember, they’ve beaten the Spanish and Dutch teams! Who else is there to challenge them!"
In the end, when the referee blew the whistle three times to end the game.
The Dutch players stood there, faces full of regret.
