Dominating Football with Perfect Ball Control

Chapter 49: 49. Not satisfied with the draw

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If German fans had been told before the match that Bayer Leverkusen would come back from behind to draw 3-3 at Allianz Arena, no one, neither Bayern Munich nor Bayer Leverkusen fans, nor even neutral bystanders, would have believed it.

Just look at how confident Bayern Munich fans were before the match; they thought Bayer Leverkusen had no chance!

So, when Stefan Kie?ling tapped in from close range, and the scoreboard showed 3-3, the noisy Allianz Arena almost turned into a library; the stands were dead silent.

Under the close-up of the camera, some fans were even rubbing their eyes, thinking they had seen it wrong!

The camera then focused on a few bald fans who had been interviewed outside the stadium before the match.

Compared to their previous flushed faces, shining eyes, and smug expressions, now their eyes were vacant, their jaws almost dropped to the ground, and their faces were filled with bewilderment!

The same expression also appeared on Pep Guardiola’s and Bayern Munich players’ faces.

Looking at Pep Guardiola, he must not have woken up today; he must be dreaming!

How could this be?

On the field, after scoring, Stefan Kie?ling excitedly pointed to Son Heung-min, who assisted him, and Son Heung-min then pointed to Lance, who made the key pass.

The front three hugged each other in celebration.

”Awesome!!”

”Awesome——Awesome——”

”Uh...”

More and more teammates joined in, shouting ”awesome” ecstatically.

Lance felt like he had led these foreigners astray; the Chinese they learned seemed to be all expletives.

Never mind, who cares!

We successfully took 1 point from Allianz Arena!

Just celebrate!

Lance subconsciously glanced at the stadium’s big screen.

— — — —

BAY (3-3) B04

65:24

— — — —

The match was only 65 minutes in; if they tried harder, wouldn’t they... have a chance to take 3 points from Allianz Arena?

People are easily greedy; before the match, getting 1 point was satisfying.

Once they really drew, Lance began to look forward to 3 points!

If they could win, why would they be content with just a draw?

Why couldn’t they defeat Bayern Munich at Allianz Arena? There was no reason!

After the match resumed, Bayern Munich, having conceded two goals in a row, clearly suffered a major blow to their morale.

Their already somewhat relaxed passing and coordination once again became error-prone.

They were no longer calm; they started to become anxious.

Young Mario G?tze always wanted to be the hero himself, dribbling head-down on the left flank, which led to Bayern Munich’s attacks being constantly intercepted.

Fortunately, midfielders Xabi Alonso and Bastian Schweinsteiger were experienced and gradually stabilized the situation on the field.

”Huff, huff...”

Xabi Alonso was breathing heavily, gradually feeling that he was truly old.

Back in Liverpool, in Real Madrid, when he was at his peak, how could he let a 16-year-old Asian kid be so arrogant?

Now, after being repeatedly tricked by Lance, Xabi Alonso suddenly felt a sense of decline and powerlessness.

He was supposed to stay at Real Madrid this season, but before the summer transfer window, Xabi Alonso suddenly received a personal call from Pep Guardiola.

Pep Guardiola needed an experienced, championship-level midfielder.

”Xabi, I know you are still world-class. Come with me to Munich; I am confident enough to lead the team to victory. How about we win a Grand Slam together?”

Xabi Alonso was tempted.

Real Madrid, under José Mourinho’s coaching, had failed to develop a future for many years.

Xabi Alonso was already tired of the complicated Real Madrid locker room.

With José Mourinho’s departure and Carlo Ancelotti’s arrival, Xabi Alonso believed that ”good guy” Carlo Ancelotti might not be able to control the ”big shots” at Real Madrid.

If locker room factionalism broke out, Real Madrid might falter again.

It was better to follow Pep Guardiola for security.

Xabi Alonso hesitated repeatedly and finally signed with Bayern Munich before the transfer window.

He had no idea at the time of signing that he had already changed the timeline.

Until now!

Facing Lance, Xabi Alonso couldn’t help but feel some regret...

”Would it have been better to stay at Real Madrid?”

Bayern Munich’s weaknesses were gradually exposed; even a team like Bayer Leverkusen was playing so tough against them, let alone defending the Champions League?

20 minutes passed quickly.

Bayern Munich was still struggling to break through outside the penalty area.

Bayer Leverkusen’s players were full of fighting spirit, united as one to resist Bayern Munich’s waves of attacks.

”Mario G?tze!!! A shot!”

”Oh no—it went wide!! Just a bit unlucky!”

”...Thomas Müller!! Backheel pass!”

”Mario Mand?uki? couldn’t get the ball!”

”...Mario Mand?uki?!! Header! Oh, just missed!!”

”Bayern Munich’s attack continues. In the last 10 minutes, they’ve really suffocated Bayer Leverkusen!”

It wasn’t just Bayer Leverkusen that was suffocating; almost everyone felt a bit suffocated.

Bayern Munich, with a possession rate as high as 80%, continued their siege.

Bayern Munich fans in the stands had their hearts in their throats; every attack made their hearts jump up and down like a freefall ride.

Bayer Leverkusen fans were the same, watching with bated breath.

Bayern Munich seemed on the verge of scoring, but each time they missed by a hair’s breadth.

Their anxious state made these champion players’ movements a bit distorted.

”I have to say, Bayer Leverkusen was truly tenacious today. Besides having the resilience to equalize from a deficit, they also managed to hold their ground in the last 10 minutes under Bayern Munich’s furious assault, preventing the opponent from succeeding.”

German TV commentator Mehmet Scholl couldn’t help but praise them.

Bayern Munich legend Oliver Kahn hoped Bayern Munich would win, but Bayer Leverkusen’s tenacity had already conquered him.

Especially the 16-year-old youngster Lance, who was still trying to orchestrate an attack in such a passive situation!

He was still thinking about attacking?

He was clearly almost out of energy, yet still thinking about attacking?

Indeed, Lance’s physical stamina was visibly declining on the field; he usually propped himself on his knees to recover as much as possible when not in possession of the ball.

But when needed, he still gritted his teeth and sprinted to compete.

”Holy crap, I’m going to die...”

Lance felt like his lungs were about to explode.

This was his first time playing almost the entire match, already exceeding the physical limits of a 16-year-old player.

But Lance fought on purely by virtue of his strong willpower!

”Should we sub him off?”

Hyypi? was a bit worried about Lance.

At this point, it would be conservative to substitute Lance with Emre Can to strengthen the midfield and allow the youngster to rest.

But!

Sascha Lewandowski had a hint of madness in his eyes; he was like a gambler who had gone all in!

In Lance, he saw a possibility!

A possibility he dared not imagine!

What if?

”Lance, hold on! It’s all up to you!”

...

”Bayer Leverkusen has used all their substitutions, taking off Stefan Kie?ling, Robbie Kruse, and Giulio Donati; they didn’t substitute Lance! The young Lance looks exhausted, but he’s still on the field!”

Duan Xuan was stunned; did Sascha trust him that much?

What use was a young player who couldn’t run and was mediocre defensively, on the field?

Others also wanted to ask.

”This substitution seems a bit too bold.”

German commentator Mehmet Scholl suddenly had a thought.

Could it be that Bayer Leverkusen wasn’t satisfied with a draw against Bayern Munich away from home?

They wanted more!

The match time had already entered injury time, 3 minutes of added time.

91:45!

Time was running out for Bayern Munich!

Almost all Bayern Munich players pushed forward; both fullbacks David Alaba and Philipp Lahm had practically become wingers, staying near the penalty area to cross.

This was also when Bayer Leverkusen was under the most pressure!

Lance glanced at the system.

[Rage Value 100%]!

The match duration was long enough for him to accumulate 2 bursts of rage in the same match for the first time!

With 5 minutes of ultimate skill remaining, was there a chance?

92:27!

The referee was checking his watch; it had entered the final countdown phase.

Commentators had already begun to analyze the Bundesliga situation after the draw.

”Today, Bayer Leverkusen showed their fighting strength to all of Germany! Escaping with a point away from home, they must be satisfied.”

”On the other hand, Bayern Munich’s loss of a great opportunity is somewhat unbefitting; as a champion team, they should have performed better...”

Mario G?tze took another anxious shot, which was saved by goalkeeper Bernd Leno!

The ball flew directly outside the penalty area!

”Here it comes!! A chance!”

Lance had waited for a long time, strolling outside the penalty area to recover his stamina, and finally, it came!

Philipp Lahm and Bastian Schweinsteiger simultaneously moved forward to compete for the ball, but Lance juggled it with his knee and lightly headed it past Philipp Lahm!

Before the ball landed, he juggled it with his left foot, changed direction to the right, and broke through Bastian Schweinsteiger again!

His divine ball control was displayed to its fullest at this moment!

Lance stepped up to be a hero at the crucial moment!

”Lance!! Bayer Leverkusen’s counterattack!!”

Easily shaking off two players, Lance decisively sent the ball into the open space on the right flank! Bayern Munich’s defense was wide open!

Substitute winger Sidney Sam dribbled wildly, his speed and passion igniting the away section of the stands!

However, Bayern Munich fans were not worried; Jér?me Boateng constantly stayed close, not being shaken off, and used his experience to cut off the inside line.

Sidney Sam couldn’t win the physical battle against him and was forced to dribble to the right, squeezed into a narrow space on the right side.

”Oh no! This ball!”

Commentator Mehmet Scholl only felt it was a pity, wasting such a brilliant pass from Lance!

Bayern Munich players tracked back quickly.

Sidney Sam was instantly blocked by David Alaba and Xabi Alonso near the touchline.

Most of Bayer Leverkusen’s other players couldn’t keep up; there was only one white figure still surging into the penalty area.

Whoever you are, it’s up to you.

Sidney Sam blindly sent a low pass across!

As the ball slid, time also advanced.

92:53!

92:54!

92:55!

Bayer Leverkusen’s last chance; if this shot failed, the score would be fixed at 3-3!

With Bayern Munich’s fate hanging by a thread, everyone in the stadium and in front of their televisions held their breath!

”Lance!!”

Duan Xuan exclaimed! The person competing with Dante in the penalty area was actually Lance!

He could still appear in the most deadly position!

It’s just that Sidney Sam’s pass wasn’t good; it bounced on the grass, making a direct shot difficult.

But if he took even 1 second longer to control the ball, Jér?me Boateng would have already arrived, and a two-man press would surely result in a tackle.

The full [Rage Value 100%] state time was also running out, with only 1 second left!

He had just used his ultimate skill to rush into the penalty area, almost exhausting all his strength!

But!

I don’t care about any of that!

Lance emptied his mind, leaned against Dante with his back to the goal, and at the same time, deftly flicked the ball with his left foot!

The ball miraculously went over both their heads to the other side!

”What?”

In his urgency, Dante couldn’t react in time and could only instinctively block Lance’s preferred right-footed shot!

But!

Lance had already completed his turn!

His left foot arched like a drawn bow—

”It’s over!”

Bang—

A volley that pierced the stars! Turning into a meteor, it bypassed Manuel Neuer’s fingertips—

And plunged into the dead corner!

A last-gasp winner!