From Arsenal to the Ball God

Chapter 28: Chapter 28: A Brilliant Goal Down to the Last Detail!

”Hello, viewers and friends, this is Sky Sports from the United Kingdom, live broadcasting the second round of the 10-11 season Championship League.

”For this match, Cardiff City is hosting Sheffield United, who are visiting on the road! Let’s first take a look at the starting lineup of both teams!

”Cardiff City has set up their usual 4-4-2 formation, with no changes in the starting lineup from the last match, goalkeeper Ma Zha’er...

”Sheffield United is still using the traditional three-four-three defender formation. Compared to the first two matches, the appearance of Arsenal’s 17-year-old young player Ma’el is their only change, and it’s a bold one!”

On the field, as the Cardiff City center forward kicks off from the center circle, the match officially begins.

Ma’el and the other two players from their forward line rush towards the opponent’s backfield, launching the opening charge and pressure.

Cardiff City makes a few simple passes in the middle and backfield and passes the ball to their right-back’s feet.

”Hey!” Ma’el quickly arrives, yelling and charging forward, looking determined to get the ball.

This is a common tactic during pressing; you need to show your determination to possibly deter the opponent from continuing to hold the ball.

”Bang!”

Cardiff City right-back Gabor doesn’t linger and sends a long pass forward with a powerful kick.

Ma’el simply turns around, following his team’s line to move altogether.

He’s played football for many years, and his basic tactical literacy isn’t worse than these Championship players. What he lacks might be the positive feedback from successful attempts.

”Are you the young kid?”

Gabor sneers while following behind him, ”If you have the guts, just try to break through me!”

Obviously, he’s starting the usual psychological battle between a defender and a forward.

This is very common in games; everyone is extremely excited, and it’s impossible not to talk. Trash-talking is the norm.

”Alright.”

Ma’el turns his head to respond, feeling the gaze of tens of thousands around him, and looking at these seasoned Championship players’ faces.

He finally realizes he’s in a Championship match, making him feel every pore open, blood temperature rising, and each step runs with extra force.

”Watch the formation! Watch the formation and second-point protection!!”

On the sidelines, Sheffield United’s head coach Kevin stands by the field, gesticulating to remind the players, ”Don’t be too scattered!”

The Championship match’s opening is relatively chaotic.

Most of the time, there will be a period of aerial battling, with the ball transitioning rapidly.

Whoever can calm down first and execute their trained tactics and strategy will have the opportunity to take the lead.

However, it’s quite obvious that besides ambitious newcomers like Ma’el, very few people would listen to Kevin’s instructions.

Sheffield United is playing an impatient style of football; the players’ attitudes are mostly not serious, let alone cooperating and stabilizing the line; even in local skirmishes, they often lose.

In the thirteenth minute, Cardiff City attacked in waves, pressing across Sheffield United’s half.

”Sheffield United’s wing defenders are not in position yet, Cardiff City is advancing quickly and has a numerical advantage!”

In the live broadcast studio, the Sky Sports commentator, wearing a headset, is excited, ”Danger!!”

He’s eager to stand up, watching the field with the naked eye, ”Spread to the wing, Gavin brings the ball down! A low cross, shot on goal!!

”Robert saves it! The Sheffield United captain saved it... Oh! There’s a rebound!!

”It’s a goal!! Drinkwater, the loanee from Manchester United, has scored the first goal for the team; Sheffield United’s state is really poor!”

......

In the grand stadium, over 20,000 home fans stand up quickly, waving their hands and shouting wildly in celebration.

”Yeah...!!”

Amidst this atmosphere, the scoring hero Drinkwater places one hand by his ear, motioning for the fans to be louder, thoroughly enjoying the hero’s treatment.

Cardiff City’s players flock to his spot, each with their mouths wide open, shouting and celebrating.

In contrast, in the Sheffield United fan zone, it is dead silent, the fans return to their seats in extreme disappointment, showing traces of despair in their expressions.

It’s still the same old story, no difference from the previous two matches!

The players’ conditions aren’t much better; some have their hands on their hips, some are expressionless, seemingly having lost their sense of shame.

Ma’el stands near the center circle, blinking his eyes hard to avoid being overwhelmed by the deafening cheers.

In the first ten minutes, he ran earnestly with all his might, hoping for an opportunity, wishing he could awaken the unmotivated old players.

But now it seemed that his efforts were in vain.

In their situation, the only solution was to change the coach.

Ma’el walked toward his own half, briefly envying the back of the young midfielder on the opposing side.

Drinkwater... a key player in Leicester City’s championship squad, was also a star player here today.

He longed for the chance to celebrate wantonly like that, especially on such an important day as today.

”Can’t give up, if you can perform well on your debut, it’s a tremendous boost to the confidence of your entire career.”

Encouraging himself in his heart, Ma’el tried to rally, clapping his hands to encourage his teammates around him, causing many Sheffield United players to turn and look at him.

Someone opened their mouth, intending to say something to him, but in the end, swallowed the words back down.

After all... he was a new player, and it was his debut day today.

Thinking of this, some who had a good relationship with Ma’el usually wavered in their minds.

Should they let their conflict with Kevin ruin Ma’el’s debut?

”Beep!!”

Not giving them too much time to think, the game resumed, and both sides were once again embroiled in fierce battles.

While urging his teammates to rise, Ma’el quickly moved in the left area, sometimes helping teammates defend, sometimes pulling away to lure defenders.

The visible positivity swayed many Sheffield United teammates once more, leaving them with minds in turmoil.

”Slash!” A few minutes later, with another careless pass leading to Ward as the right-winger being tackled, someone finally erupted in the silent atmosphere.

On the sidelines, Garrispeed, dressed in a black suit, suddenly stood up, rushed out of his seat, and surpassed the bewildered Kevin to the sideline.

”Are you still professional players?!”

Pointing at some on the field, he roared: ”Even in my dreams, I still want to stay on the field, but you’re wasting time here!”

The fourth official quickly came to dissuade, and Garrispeed was soon pressed back to the bench by the assistant coaches, leaving only his chest heaving, seemingly releasing words suppressed for long.

His words had an immediate impact on the players on the field.

Many who were already wavering suddenly surged with power, starting to run at high speed, the pace of the game accelerated in an instant.

The Cardiff City midfield didn’t have time to react to this acceleration, and Sheffield Midfield Luton intercepted the ball, passing it to the left-winger Ma’el.

”Good ball!”

Ma’el stopped the ball, turned, and advanced towards the opposing defender Gabor, knowing this was a good opportunity.

Several traces of competitive desire arose in his heart, approaching the opponent, his legs skillfully maneuvered the rolling ball forward while observing changes in the opponent’s leg weight distribution.

Finding a chance, just as many times practiced in training.

He ’slapped’ the rhythm shift, with the outer right foot contacting the ball, he nudged it towards the outside line!

Gabor clearly didn’t expect this, losing balance and the chance to pursue under a staggering weight shift.

”Boom!”

With a quick glance at the situation in the penalty area, Ma’el’s right foot enveloped the middle of the ball, scooping out an inside arc cross with high pace.

The ball spun intensely, with high quality, skimming easily over the heads of the front-point defenders from Cardiff City!

From the middle, Evans appeared like a ghost, circling behind the opponent, concentrating entirely as he leaped up, angling with his right foot instep to the ball.

The height was low, and using his foot to shoot was most appropriate.

Everything seemed to slow down at this moment, hope glimmering in the Sheffield people’s eyes, while Cardiff City’s faces were filled with terror.

”The crossing from the young Ma’el... high quality! He has the elements of becoming an excellent winger!

”Evans!!

”The ball’s in!! A beautiful goal, a splendid counterattack goal!!

”From Ma’el’s breakthrough cross, Evans’ goal, Sheffield United rallies and blasts into Cardiff City’s goal with thunderous momentum!!”

The Sky Sports commentator suddenly widened his eyes, as a neutral commentator, he could raise his arms at this moment, celebrating for Sheffield.

Surely, this is a nearly perfect goal, everything just right.