Football: My AI System Provides Max-Level Predictions

Chapter 549 - 374: The Master Shines at Itihad! Signature Ground Strike Leaves Klopp Dumbfounded!_2

"Where do you think you’re going!"

Origi charged towards Ranocchia like a mad dog, bringing a gust of wind!

In this moment, the Italian central defender felt a bit at a loss.

Kolarov on the left was already marked by Firmino;

If he passed back to Caballero, the distance was too short, which wasn’t a good choice either;

And after Gundogan passed the ball to him, although he was running for position, Henderson had just closed him down!

In a flash, Ranocchia, adhering to the belief of "when in doubt, pass to Tang Long," pushed the ball with his instep to Tang Long.

"Damn! It’s going to be lost!"

Gundogan shouted urgently, quickly moving forward for support, signaling for the ball to be passed back to him, intending to make a long pass forward to find Toure or Agüero.

Emre Can and Joe Allen had also closed in at some point; suddenly, there were as many as six Liverpool players pressing high in Manchester City’s half!

Gundogan couldn’t help but feel a wave of nervousness.

It’s almost 20 minutes, do they have unlimited stamina?

Even before Joe Allen and Emre Can got close, Tang Long sensed the wind from behind.

At this moment, however, his heart was extremely calm.

In the eyes of his teammates, he might be facing a crisis being trapped between the two;

But Tang Long felt that this was not a crisis, rather an excellent opportunity to break through Liverpool’s defense!

Both Emre Can and Joe Allen were rushing in; Tang Long thought relying on these two to bypass them at once wasn’t reliable;

So he adopted a very smart, circuitous tactic!

Joe Allen, being smaller in stature, was more agile and faster, so he was the first to approach Tang Long.

Just as he touched Tang Long’s shoulder, Tang Long’s foot reached the soccer ball.

"Fortunately, I got close!" Joe Allen rejoiced internally.

Yet suddenly, his hand found empty air!

Tang Long, with his back to Joe Allen, deftly back-heeled the ball three meters away!

Joe Allen, unprepared, was instantly distanced by Tang Long.

Seeing this, Emre Can laughed, shouting excitedly at Joe Allen:

"Keep going together and chase him!"

Joe Allen understood, and the two of them pursued Tang Long like a whirlwind.

An excited Klopp scratched his beard, signaling his players to keep pressing forward, cutting off Tang Long’s passing options.

In his view, for a defensive midfielder in his own half, facing player defense from behind, not choosing to pass or go down for a foul, but rather quickly carrying the ball back—this was a major taboo!

Was this not enticing Liverpool players further into Manchester City’s penalty area?

Should the ball be intercepted, it would be disastrous.

However, Tang Long naturally had his own hidden considerations for doing so.

His anticipation of the game’s situation was often a level higher, reaching a realm most people couldn’t imagine.

Even a famous manager like Klopp couldn’t see it, let alone the likes of Joe Allen and Emre Can.

Being double-teamed simultaneously made it difficult to outmaneuver, but if they spread out and came one by one, Tang Long would surely not be afraid.

[Joe Allen is closing in, Emre Can will join in two seconds]

As swift as lightning.

Just as Joe Allen was about to reach Tang Long’s back, Tang Long suddenly executed a backheel Marseille Spin!

With nimble footwork, he skillfully bypassed Joe Allen from behind!

The Etihad Stadium erupted with gasps of amazement!

In the position at the arc of the penalty area, Tang Long dared to play like this, truly displaying exceptional skill and courage!

After bypassing Joe Allen, Tang Long didn’t pass the ball but instead darted straight towards Emre Can!

[A pendulum step with varying frequency]!

Tang Long actually used the pendulum dribble against Emre Can in Manchester City’s half!

Emre Can was incensed watching this!

This is your own half, do you think you’re a striker?

Do you hold such disdain for me, Emre Can, as to use this dribbling?

Moreover, Joe Allen was still chasing from behind, and with your erratic pendulum, it would have been intercepted ages ago!

So Emre Can didn’t rush to snatch but rhythmically retreated sideways, while calling Joe Allen to disrupt Tang Long from behind.

Even if they couldn’t intercept, it would be worth it to force a tactical foul!

But Emre Can was surprised to find.

Although Joe Allen was chasing right behind Tang Long, yelling, he was always a step short;

Even as he was about to catch up to Tang Long, Tang Long’s last move subtly increased the gap to 50 centimeters, making it seem as if he’d never catch up?

Emre Can didn’t dare to rashly press in, so he continued retreating.

Other Manchester City players were constantly interchanging positions, pulling other Liverpool players, so no opponent continued to close in on Tang Long.

Thus, with Joe Allen and Emre Can enveloping him, the three of them pushed back about 10 meters, crossing the halfway line.

Seeing the timing was right, Tang Long suddenly rushed to the right with the ball, diagonally changing direction, giving the impression that he intended to outpace Emre Can!

Seeing the dagger revealed, Emre Can decisively took a stride, aiming to use his long legs to block Tang Long’s path.

However, as he took that step, changing the retreating rhythm of his defense, it meant the failure of this defense!

Just as Emre Can’s left foot landed—

Tang Long swiftly pulled his right ankle inward, making the ball obediently turn sharply, brushing past the grass, and slipping through Emre Can’s legs~

[Pendulum dribble combined with nutmeg]!

[A pendulum step with varying frequency] skill level increased by 5%!

This sudden and bold maneuver caught Liverpool’s defensive line off guard.

[Agüero is about to launch, counter-offside attempt]!

As they were dumbfounded, Tang Long’s signature ground strike curveball was already unleashed.

The prior dribbling was just a setup; this pass was the lethal attack.

The ball, spinning vigorously like a gyro, emitted a whizzing sound as it scraped a deep mark along the grass, flinging turf in its wake!

Yaya Toure’s brother, the central defender Kolo Toure, reacted quickly, instinctively pressing forward to create an offside for Agüero.

But he didn’t expect Agüero had been watching him~

As Kolo Toure pressed forward, Agüero also retreated, except Toure was facing forward, and Agüero was side-on, so when he looped back and charged forward again, he had a starting advantage!

"Agüero!"

"Agüero breaks into the penalty area with the ball!"

"Liverpool players are raising their hands to signal offside!"

"Agüero one-on-one, bypasses the goalkeeper and pushes into the empty net!"

"Is this goal offside?"

"Camera pans to the linesman, no flag, no flag..."

Zhan Jun, a Liverpool fan, felt disheartened, knowing this goal was beyond hope;

But as a professional commentator, he forced himself to suppress his reluctance, pretending to excitedly shout a line.

"Looks like it’s a beautiful counter-offside goal!"

"An unparalleled offensive collaboration!"

"Tang Long and Agüero’s first connection, and they’ve already breached Liverpool’s goal!"