Even Cao Baming’s expression showed a hint of regret, but unfortunately, at this moment, a director’s camera perfectly captured his face, allowing the fans watching the high-definition broadcast to directly feel Cao Baming’s regret and disappointment.
If only he had taken that shot just now, for it to actually go wide, the probability of that happening was less than 10%.
Cao Baming gritted his teeth, filled with regret. He truly couldn’t have imagined that Messi would miss the shot from that position. Although it was only a tiny margin off, and his execution was brilliant, the outcome still surprised him.
Just then, the main referee blew his whistle. After the VAR review, it was discovered that the goalkeeper’s fingertips had brushed the ball as he attempted to save it.
While the ball might not have gone in directly, the goalkeeper did touch it, and this touch resulted in a corner kick.
Messi knew in his heart that even without the goalkeeper’s touch, the ball probably wouldn’t have gone in. It had clearly veered wide of the goal. If the goalkeeper hadn’t touched it, it would have at most hit the crossbar, not gone into the net.
"Corner!" The referee signaled with his hand towards the corner flag. The tension everyone felt began to ease slightly.
The spectators in the stands erupted in cheers. Regardless of whether Messi’s shot went in or not, the exquisite play they had just witnessed was magnificent. They felt fortunate to be present in the stadium to witness such a beautiful, picturesque scene.
After all, Cao Baming would likely be with them for a long time to come, but Messi was getting on in years. If they didn't witness these moments now, how many more years would they have to watch Messi play? Even if he were to play poorly, few would criticize him.
At this moment, looking towards the corner, Messi was walking towards it. It was a left-sided corner, and according to tactical plans, it was his responsibility to take it.
Messi wasn't particularly tall, so he wouldn't have any advantage in terms of height. For corners, being strong, tall, and having a good jump were crucial for winning aerial duels in the box. Players like Messi and Henry, who were either not tall or not good at heading, were most likely to be the ones taking corners.
As he walked towards the corner, Messi's face showed a hint of regret, as if he was still lamenting the previous shot. Suddenly, he felt a presence approaching him from behind.
"Don't worry, brother, it's okay, just a minor mishap!"
Turning his head, Messi saw that it was his teammate, Cao Baming, who had come to comfort him.
However, Cao Baming wasn’t just there to console Messi; he had another purpose, which he soon revealed.
"Let me take this corner. You and Henry, wait in the center of the box and try to get a good header."
Cao Baming spoke softly, seemingly trying to avoid being overheard by the opposing players. Yet, Messi looked at him with confusion.
"You're taking the corner? Are you sure?" Messi asked.
Cao Baming completely understood Messi’s confusion and the questioning tone in his voice. He knew that in the past, he had rarely, if ever, taken corners.
The team had always designated Messi to take corners, which was strategically sound. With his unparalleled heading ability, Cao Baming could better help the team score from headers in the box, making it the optimal scenario.
But at this moment, Cao Baming had a different idea in mind: a direct shot from the corner!
"Let me take it. I plan to shoot directly. Just letting you know," he whispered.
Although Cao Baming spoke quietly, Messi heard him. Upon hearing this, Messi suddenly understood. After all, for a direct corner shot, Cao Baming was the most reliable option.
With that, Cao Baming took Messi’s place and continued on the path Messi had been taking towards the corner flag. Messi, meanwhile, stopped midway and turned towards the penalty box, heading towards the goal to join the team’s offensive formation.
The other teammates also showed their confusion, but after hearing Messi’s explanation and seeing his gestures, they instantly understood. They began to strategize on how to best assist Cao Baming in executing this shot.
The probability of scoring directly from a corner is very low, but if Cao Baming were to attempt it, perhaps that low probability could be slightly increased.
The spectators watching from the stands saw Messi heading into the box and Cao Baming approaching the corner flag. As long-time Arsenal fans, they were quite puzzled, as this was a fresh and unusual sight.
However, some experienced fans already had their suspicions. Their gaze subtly shifted towards Cao Baming. As he walked towards the corner flag, each step was steady and confident. His eyes seemed to gleam with the light of scoring.
Yes, he was likely going for a direct shot. This guy had done countless crazy things before; this was nothing out of the ordinary.
The AC Milan players, seeing Messi now positioned near them, were quite bewildered. They had never had to defend Messi during a corner, and with Cao Baming taking the corner, what was his strategy? They had no idea, and at this moment, they felt a surge of tension.
The most tense moments come when facing the unknown. This was precisely their situation. They were unclear about Cao Baming’s intentions and could only rely on their players’ instinctive reactions to adapt. The defensive tactics previously planned by the coach might now be useless.