Chapter 531: Chapter 134: The Demon King Dominates the Final! First Top-Tier Career Championship! The First Step Toward the Grand Slam!
Their gap lies more in their footwork and awareness, overall attack and defense cohesion, the variety of tactics and methods, and their ability to create chances and shooting success rate.
So, only by doing well on the things everyone can do can they seize opportunities to play to their strengths!
"Boom!"
In the 51st minute of the match, Ma’el intercepted the ball himself and drove it forward, sending a violent strike from 30 meters out in the center.
The ball missed the target, barely scraping the goalpost as it flew out, narrowly missing.
This gave Ma’el confidence to try more long-range shots, and he began to demand the ball more frequently, seeking scoring opportunities.
If they score one more goal, the opponents will have no chance to fight back, and they will undoubtedly lift the English League Cup trophy.
And if he scores the goal, he will likely become the best player of this match.
The best player of the finals!
This is the most prestigious personal achievement in the cup, a significant entry in his resume.
Even Puma has special bonus clauses for this, the amount is the same as winning the English League Cup, £500,000.
In other words, if he can win and be named Man of the Match, he will receive an additional £1 million bonus from Puma!
Adding the previous £1.85 million, his basic endorsement fee will reach £2.85 million!
"Dun dun dun!"
Ma’el’s running became more vigorous; he had long set a goal to earn £20 million in endorsement fees from Puma in a year.
Now it seems he has hope to take a step or two towards this goal.
"Boom boom... boom!"
In the 64th minute of the match, Arsenal’s backfield executed a series of beautiful plays.
After Szczeny passed the ball to Koscielny, the latter kicked it to the wing to Kyle Walker.
Kyle Walker stopped the ball and turned forward, noticing the approaching defensive player, pulled the ball back and passed it to Arteta, then quickly darted behind the defender.
Arteta did not do a one-two with him but instead turned and passed the ball to the more forward-positioned Ramsey.
Ramsey was tightly marked by the defender, but with a preemptive move towards the ball, he managed to pass it back.
"Boom!"
After Arteta passed the ball, he continued to observe and when the ball was at his feet, he made a diagonal through ball, passing it to the advancing Kyle Walker.
It’s back!
And pushed past the midfield!
"Oh.....!" More Arsenal fans stood up from their seats, eagerly watching Kyle Walker’s forward drive.
Walker was super fast, taking two strides to reach the front-wing and shook off the trailing defenders.
Ma’el saw he had started speeding up, turned towards the center to give the wing to Walker to avoid positioning overlap.
"Boom boom... boom!"
Kyle Walker skillfully advanced two more steps towards the baseline, drawing McNorton’s defense before quickly passing to the centrally positioned Ma’el.
"Nice ball!" Ma’el stopped the ball towards the opponent’s center, quickly following up.
Van Persie darted towards the left ribs, drawing away the other center-back Andrew Taylor.
Ma’el pretended to pass the ball straight to the ribs, but when his right foot touched the ball, he suddenly pushed it towards the center, causing Cardiff City captain Hudson to lose the chance to follow.
The situation opened up!
"Aahh...!"
Seeing Cardiff City captain Hudson left behind, Arsenal fans stood up one after another, creating a spectacular scene in Wembley Stadium.
"Boom!!"
Ma’el didn’t hesitate, quickly planting his supporting foot, folding his right leg back explosively, drawing towards the ball.
Cut in dipping shot!
Try one!
The ball curved past Hudson, jumping again to block, spinning and whistling, drawing a beautiful arc towards the far corner of the goal.
The ball was quite fast, by the time the naked eye could catch its direction, it was already at goalkeeper Heaton’s hand.
"Hiss...!" Heaton did well in this save, his fingertips grazing the ball, but feeling there should be a small margin.
But when he looked back upon landing, he saw the ball spinning fiercely, turning inside the goalpost.
"Clang!"
"Swish!"
As the ball hit the inside of the post and changed direction into the net, everyone in Cardiff City team’s penalty area seemed glued in place, unable to move.
Only those whose feet slowly left the ground, the whole body crashing onto the grass, seemed to escape this ’curse’.
But they too quickly found their knees and foreheads stuck to the grass, kneeling defeated.
Another goal!
Three to one!
"Aahh... Yeah...!!"
Wembley Stadium erupted in cheers, a thunderous roar, like an overwhelming force, every Arsenal fan’s emotions reaching their peak.
A stunning dipping shot!
They are one step away from the championship!
"Yeah!"
In this atmosphere, Ma’el lifted his head, shaking his hair, raised his hands pointing to the sky, ran towards the sidelines to celebrate.
A brace!
He wasn’t saluting anyone in the sky, nor honoring any deity, just repeatedly thanking the self who spent day after day on the pitch, allowing him the chance to become the pivotal figure in this final!
His performance lived up to himself and everyone who supports him, now, they are about to lift the championship trophy!
Comments