The scorching sun still blazed in the sky above the stadium, but the air conditioning inside was at full blast, making even the edges feel cool.
Looking at the fans by the sidelines, they were clearly divided. The supporters of the Tang Nation team, clad in red jerseys, were enthusiastically cheering and dancing, as if already celebrating their team's successful advancement.
The fans of the Croatian team, on the other hand, were mostly dejected. Only a small minority persisted in encouraging their team, waving their flags and oversized portraits of Modric.
On the field, the players were forced back to the center spot. The score was three to two, with the Croatian team having pulled one goal back. Yet, the fans couldn't find any joy in it.
This was because the team's performance throughout the entire second half had been lackluster.
Cao Baming couldn't do much about the mistakes at the back; he couldn't control them, nor could he fix them. All he could do now was to score goals. For every few conceded, he needed to score as many.
At this moment, these were not major issues!
A few minutes later, Cao Baming intercepted the ball again. This time, it was a back pass, but after glancing at Wang Gang, he chose a different direction.
This time, his teammate didn't make such a rookie mistake. Facing the aggressive pressing of the Croatian team, he used a feint to deceive an opponent before making a through pass.
Cao Baming's running speed had reached a considerable pace, with the ball almost struggling to keep up.
However, he eventually managed to receive the pass in the opponent's half.
Cao Baming's eyes flickered as he watched the constantly shifting lines, his brain working at lightning speed.
He quickly identified his breakthrough route and shooting position. Although he could only see the future for a second ahead, he could perfectly deduce the upcoming movements of the players in front of him.
In a flash, Cao Baming transformed into lightning once more, with a flurry of dribbling moves, employing the "Lingbo Weibu" (a footwork technique) to bypass two defensive lines.
Even a foul now wouldn't stop him. The defenders couldn't even pull his jersey, which was almost torn apart!
While running at high speed, Cao Baming was like a high-speed train, unstoppable.
Just then, Kovačić suddenly lunged from the left, sliding three meters across the grass with his 180-pound body, aiming for Cao Baming's ankle!
The entire stadium erupted in shock, and the commentator was stunned by the tackle!
Cao Baming had already seen him out of the corner of his eye and continued dribbling forward without hesitation!
Kovačić crashed into him, his foot successfully making contact with the ball. However, this contact not only failed to dispossess Cao Baming but also pushed the ball forward by a step.
The ball was now between Cao Baming and the goalkeeper!
Cao Baming himself was almost thrown off balance by the impact!
"That was too dangerous! That has to be a red card!"
"Is Cao Baming hurt! He can't get injured!"
The fans began to worry. If Cao Baming got injured, it would be disastrous, and there would be no hope for the rest of the match.
However, Cao Baming didn't fall. He took two steps and caught up with the ball!
The goalkeeper, just like Kovačić earlier, lunged forward, attempting to kick the ball away with his feet before Cao Baming could reach it!
This kick also landed squarely on Cao Baming's leg, sending a jolt through the Tang Nation fans.
"Stop it quickly!"
"Is the referee blind? Why isn't he calling it?"
At this moment, the goalkeeper realized the ball had flown over his head. With a despairing gaze, he watched it enter the net...
"Goal!!!"
Cao Baming leaped up in excitement. Who would have guessed that he was completely unharmed!
Only then did the main referee walk over. He looked at the goalkeeper and showed him a yellow-red card. Then, he turned and saw Kovačić lying on the ground, already holding a red card!
Kovačić's current position was at least eight meters away from where he had initiated his slide tackle!
Yet, he lay on the ground, groaning in pain, refusing to look up for a long time.
The referee was also helpless. Had he injured himself with his own foul...
After a few seconds of examination, Kovačić showed no signs of improvement, tears streaming down his face. Seeing this, the referee immediately realized the seriousness of the situation! It wasn't fake, at least!
The medical team was called onto the field, and his teammates surrounded him.
The Tang Nation players, who were celebrating the goal, also cast curious glances.
"When they tackled you like that, we were terrified!"
"What's happening over there? Is he injured?"
"And the goalkeeper, he's sitting on the ground too!"
Cao Baming followed their gazes and shook his head helplessly, then said calmly.
"They ran into me. It's not my fault."
"Of course, it's not your fault!"
While the Croatian fans' hearts were heavy, the Tang Nation fans continued to celebrate.
Soon, the medical team prepared a stretcher and carried Kovačić off the field.
After a brief diagnosis, it was determined that he had at least a minor fracture!
At this point, the main referee walked over and held up the red card he had already taken out.
Don't think injury will let you off the hook.
Lying on the stretcher, Kovačić clutched his face in pain. His gaze swept over the referee's raised red card, filled with helplessness and anger.
He knew his exit was the final nail in the coffin for his team.
Meanwhile, several medical staff attended to the goalkeeper. Fortunately, his injury was much less severe, just an ankle sprain.
After a spray of painkillers and a brief massage, the goalkeeper could continue.
However, his expression clearly conveyed his unwillingness to continue. "Just let me off the field!"
"It's good they're okay!" Cao Baming smiled faintly.
His teammates, still beside him, looked at him in astonishment.
"You call this 'okay'???"
"Never mind, as long as they're alive!"
"Anyway, they don't have any more matches!"
Soon, the commotion ended, and the game was to continue!
The Tang Nation team finally faced a scenario of eleven against ten, a compensation for the previous match perhaps!
The Croatian team's head coach was utterly dejected; he was on the verge of madness!
Looking at Kovačić lying on the stretcher, then at the exhausted Modrić on the field, the goalkeeper stubbornly guarding the goal, and every other player...
There was no hope!
He had never experienced such despair!
The fans felt the same way, still concerned about Kovačić, who had just been stretchered off!
It was the first time they had seen someone carried off after receiving a red card!
It was infuriating!!!
Why could Cao Baming injure people so recklessly and remain unharmed!
In the final twenty minutes, the ten-man Croatian team had clearly lost almost all their fighting spirit, much like the Tang Nation team against the Spanish team. They helplessly set up a defensive wall in front of their own penalty area.