The youth team players were absolutely ecstatic when they returned to the changing room for halftime.
The atmosphere inside was even more boisterous than when a senior team won a match, as if they hadn't lost by four goals, but had actually won.
At this moment, Neilson was receiving praise from everyone in the changing room. He was as strong as ever, and after every game, people would once again marvel at his skill.
The coach knew this fact all too well. A player with such ability, talent, humility, and drive was truly rare, especially with his obvious and distinct capabilities.
Everyone called him "Little Mbappé," but only he knew that his playing style was fundamentally different from Mbappé's.
Today, Neilson's truly brilliant moment wasn't the beautiful outside-lane overtake at the start of the match, nor the explosive shot from midfield, nor the numerous times he used his explosive speed to break through defenders on the field.
What left the deepest impression on everyone today was the "oil-fried ball" skill he used to get past Cao Baming in the twenty-fourth minute!
This was because Cao Baming was the undisputed protagonist of the match today! Before the game even started, they had thoroughly discussed this issue and even made a bet.
Part of the bet was that whoever managed to get past Cao Baming once in this game would have their meals paid for by the rest of the team for the entire month!
When Neilson executed that beautiful "oil-fried ball" and got past Cao Baming, all his teammates, including the substitutes on the sidelines, stared with wide-open eyes.
This guy actually did it! He made us proud!!!
They were incredibly excited, looking at this simple "oil-fried ball" as if it were the most beautiful and delicious oil-fried ball in the world, the best in the world!
Because this wasn't just any "oil-fried ball"; it was an "oil-fried ball" that successfully bypassed the world's strongest defender, Cao Baming!
Neilson listened to everyone's teasing and even seemed a little shy. This was his personality; he wasn't one to talk much but could always make a stunning impression with his performance on the field.
Of course, he was happy, not just for his teammates' month of free meals, but also for the genuine pride he felt in successfully getting past Cao Baming.
In fact, he knew that intricate footwork like the "oil-fried ball" wasn't his strong suit, but at that moment, he couldn't quite figure out how he had managed to get past Cao Baming so easily.
Was he really that strong? Others had absolutely no chance.
Cao Baming was the only one who knew the truth. The reason Neilson was able to successfully get past him was because he wanted to observe Neilson's performance and intentionally exposed a weakness.
At that moment, the space ahead was open, and with two teammates covering behind, it was the perfect opportunity to see just how strong Neilson's sprinting ability was.
The result confirmed Cao Baming's speculation. Neilson burst through the gap between the two players with no discernible resistance; his speed was something ordinary people couldn't match.
However, his final shot was a bit sluggish, and the goalkeeper rushed out to collect it.
"Let him run as he pleases. The kid does have some skill, but to truly get past me, he'll need a few hundred more years of training."
"Even Mbappé couldn't do something like that. He can't really think he's arrived, can he?"
It was Cao Baming's teammates, however, who essentially saw through the situation. They had already begun to quietly speculate whether Cao Baming had intentionally gone easy.
The intentional ease was perhaps too obvious, and if Cao Baming hadn't held back, the match could have been as exhilarating as the previous one, with a 10-0 scoreline at halftime!
During halftime, players from both sides were chatting cheerfully and joking with each other until the time quickly ran out.
The second half began, with adjustments made by both teams. The youth team replaced an attacking midfielder who was clearly struggling with stamina with a taller player.
Cao Baming's side also made a midfield substitution. These were all minor operations, as the real cores remained unchanged.
Cao Baming sat in his seat, watching all his teammates stand up and head towards the field, before he slowly got up.
As he was about to leave, he met Neilson, whom he had always had high hopes for. Their eyes met at that instant.
And in that very moment, Neilson seemed to suddenly understand something.
The confidence gleaming in Cao Baming's eyes seemed unshakeable; his gaze exuded the undeniable aura of a true king.
How could such a person be so easily bypassed? Was he deliberately letting him through?
Just then, Saunders suddenly patted him on the shoulder.
"How's it going? Any confidence for the second half? Another month of meals on us!"
"Yeah, brother, our collective pride might depend on you. If you can, extend it to several months, or even a whole year, that's fine too!"
"We guarantee you'll have something different to eat every day, and always at a high-end restaurant! What do you say!"
Neilson's attention was momentarily diverted by his teammates who had suddenly approached him. When he looked back in the direction he was just facing, Cao Baming had already disappeared.
The players had already run onto the field, and they quickened their pace.
"Let's go everyone, we all have a chance!"
Once both teams were on the field, the match quickly resumed.
This time, Neilson's mood was vastly different from before. He now harbored a seed of doubt: was Cao Baming truly letting him through? Was he intentionally holding back?
He wanted to know the answer to this question more urgently than anything else, and the way to get that answer was quite simple.
That was to actively seek out Cao Baming, one-on-one!!!
In the first half, he had tried his best to avoid him, yet he couldn't escape, as if Cao Baming were omnipresent, able to roam the entire field without worrying about his stamina.
But now, things were different; it was time to walk right into the lion's den! This shouldn't be too difficult, right!!