Chapter 150: Chapter 58: Losing Isn’t Scary, Whoever Plays Embarrasses Themselves_3
Now all teams know the strategy of targeting the space behind Bai Zhami.
In previous matches, San Remo’s left-back was almost shut down, struggling under repeated assaults from the opponent’s forwards, and eventually, his exhausted body gave out, causing him to fall ill.
If Lu Yang doesn’t make a comeback in this match, Sotu will have no cards left to play.
Bai Zhami’s defense might as well not exist.
The opponent easily bypassed Bai Zhami, dribbling towards Lu Yang.
Lu Yang and the opposing right winger met head-on.
But the opponent was smart, using a back-heel to pass the ball to the following right-back and then ran without the ball to the end line.
Should Lu Yang follow?
If he follows, then what about Feipi’s right-back? If the right-back runs a few more steps, he can cross from the flank, or even cut inside with the ball if needed.
Not follow?
If Lu Yang doesn’t follow, Feipi’s right-back will inevitably make a direct pass to the right winger at the end line, who can then cross, which is also a successful tactic.
Such successful tactics lead to goals over time.
This was the method everyone used to break San Remo previously.
It didn’t matter what Morici did in midfield; Bai Zhami would still lose his mark, and there’s nothing he could do about it.
Defense sometimes relates to diligence, but sometimes it’s unconnected to diligence.
Bai Zhami is the kind of person who, even if he exhausts himself, can’t keep up with the opponent.
In that instant, Lu Yang took half a step back.
The opposing right-back felt a surge of joy, thinking Lu Yang was preparing to let him go. Indeed, no defender would aggressively attempt a tackle in such a situation rather than falling back.
He comfortably moved the ball forward with his foot.
However... just as his foot was about to touch the ball, Lu Yang, who had originally moved backward, suddenly dashed forward like a spring.
This was a defensive feint followed by a sudden tackle!
Though it sounds slow in words, it was incredibly quick in action. Even if Feipi’s right-back reacted, his body couldn’t keep up.
What everyone saw was Feipi’s right-back overstepping, transforming the ball into a fifty-fifty ball.
Both he and Lu Yang had a chance to control it.
At the critical moment, Lu Yang’s explosiveness was superior, and he stabbed the ball first, brushing past Feipi’s right-back and successfully dribbled past him.
Suddenly, Lu Yang faced nothing but an expanse of green field.
All birds disappeared over the hills, and everyone vanished from the paths.
Lu Yang took large strides with the ball, becoming a side road fast horse, launching his flight!
"Go to the center!" Lu Yang shouted loudly.
Bai Zhami, beside him, also reacted, swiftly dashing diagonally towards the center. Although he couldn’t run automatically, verbal prompts helped immensely.
The two were like two streaks of lightning cutting through the gloomy pitch.
Feipi’s right center-back wanted to cover but was blocked by the moving Bai Zhami, and he hesitated between staying close to Bai Zhami and covering Lu Yang.
Normally, covering the ball possessor is the top priority.
But Lu Yang is a left-back.
And Bai Zhami is a left winger.
Functionally, Lu Yang poses less of a threat than Bai Zhami.
At this stage, left and right full-backs were not the all-around wing-backs of the twenty-first century’s second decade.
Currently, most teams only require full-backs to defend.
A full-back pushing forward to assist, or even cutting inside, was not unheard of, but many head coaches would not allow such behavior.
Because such a push forward also means losing defensive coverage on one flank.
The loss of a flank’s defense, as evidenced in San Remo’s first four games, can have obvious consequences.
A whirlwind of thoughts spun in this right-back’s mind as he made a quick judgment based on his experience and defensive system.
He decided to mark Bai Zhami and let the team’s midfielders cover Lu Yang.
Though the midfielders would be slower to return, San Remo’s midfield was also further back, so this left-back named Lu Yang couldn’t possibly go it alone, right?
Thus, at a spot close to thirty-five meters outside the penalty area, Lu Yang was left unmarked.
It seemed a vast distance from the goal, one where no normal player would choose to shoot.
But from this distance... those familiar with Lu Yang knew what choice he would make.
Bang!
A thunderous bolt shot through the clouds.
With enough power and little spin, the ball was subject to significant airflow, wobbling noticeably in mid-air.
Feipi’s goalkeeper dove to the left but missed the wobbling ball.
Goal!
After a brief lull, the scene erupted with a fierce cheer.
The emperor of San Remo had returned just like that!