novelraw Chapter 574 - 392: The Decisive Kill to Win the Trophy! Leaping lightly over the heads of four people, finally bringing the ball into the goal!
Chapter 574 - 392: The Decisive Kill to Win the Trophy! Leaping lightly over the heads of four people, finally bringing the ball into the goal!
87th minute.
Iheanacho pulls out wide!
This center forward move draws the opponent’s central defender Koscielny out of the penalty area, exactly the effect Iheanacho wanted.
After pulling out the opponent’s center back, he immediately passes the ball to Tang Long in the center.
Tang Long doesn’t stop the ball, instead he flicks it gently with the outside of his foot~
This unconventional move gives the ball a very strange, floating trajectory.
However, Agüero understands perfectly, grazing it with the back of his head for a quick one-two with Tang Long.
"You can’t get through!"
Gabriel has already anticipated Agüero’s intention in advance. He rushes towards Tang Long, recklessly diving in for a header, attempting to clear the ball.
However, although Gabriel has above-average anticipation for a Premier League center back, it’s still far inferior to Tang Long’s three-second advance prediction. When his head is still 50 centimeters away from the ball, Tang Long lifts his right foot with his back turned, whipping his leg to perform a scorpion kick!
With a snap, the ball flies to the left again where Iheanacho is positioned.
In this series of plays, the ball is hit in the air three times, all with a single touch.
Wenger, watching from the sidelines, is astonished!
As the first coach to promote possession-based beautiful football in the Premier League, Wenger is all too familiar with this scene.
In the peak era of Arsenal, such intricate passing on the field, like threading a needle, was their signature move, especially in front of the goal area. Van Persie, Fabregas, and Henry were all experts in performing such maneuvers.
But nowadays, with the talent drain, Arsenal hasn’t been able to achieve such coordination this entire season.
Meanwhile, on the Manchester City side, even though Tang Long is severely exhausted, he can still execute these high-difficulty moves.
Both the timing of the pass and the precision in technique are exquisite, without the slightest error.
This move, despite its beauty, pierces the heart of Wenger every time!
Seeing Iheanacho breaking into the penalty area, and facing an onrushing Cech, he shoots towards the far post but hits the upright—this bang signifies disappointment for Iheanacho, but for Wenger and the on-field Arsenal players, and tens of thousands of Arsenal fans, it signifies liberation in spirit!
Just as the Manchester City players are feeling regret over this near goal, Arsenal quickly launches a counterattack.
Ramsey, getting the ball at the midfielder position, sees Podolski waving his single hand and almost reaching the center circle.
Ramsey doesn’t hesitate, he uses all his strength to curl the ball!
As soon as the ball is curled out, Ramsey collapses to the ground.
Podolski rapidly charges along the ball’s path, and beside him remains Kolarov, the final defending full-back.
Podolski’s dribbling isn’t fancy, focusing on rhythm and direction change.
Upon getting the ball, he first taps it with his heel, feigning an attack towards the center;
just as Kolarov finally shifts his balance, Podolski suddenly nudges it back in the opposite direction with the outside of his foot!
This back-and-forth shakes Kolarov to the ground.
Kolarov tries to climb up but struggles because his calves are cramping intensely – he’s having a cramp!
"A beautiful stop and change of direction, Podolski gets past Kolarov!"
"Such a sharp move, reminiscent of his younger days in Cologne!"
"Podolski strides forward, driving the ball towards Manchester City’s penalty area!"
"Ranocchia is still up front and hasn’t returned to defend, Otamendi is chasing back but visibly slowing down!"
"The distance between them is widening!"
"Now the only obstacle in front of Podolski is goalkeeper Caballero!"
With every step Podolski advances, the cheers from the fans grow louder, everyone anticipating the decisive goal.
Wenger on the sidelines clench his fist eagerly, behind him stands a line of Arsenal substitutes.
They all believe in one thing, the team that squanders opportunities is bound to be punished!
Just now Manchester City failed to score a one-on-one chance, and half a minute later Arsenal counterattacks, the best punishment for Manchester City!
"Caballero is coming out!"
"Podolski pushes towards the right, about to get past Caballero!"
"Oh no, he pushed too short!"
"Caballero reaches out to block the ball, and Podolski falls to the ground!"
"Caballero grabs the ball and sends a volleyed high pass towards the frontline!"
As Wenger stomps in frustration and the Arsenal fans at Wembley Stadium let out sighs of lament, Caballero’s precise long pass flies back to Arsenal’s half!
Tang Long is startled, thinking how fast the pace is – was it even 20 seconds back and forth?
But seeing the ball arriving steadily, Tang Long knows this is surely Caballero intentionally looking for him.
In the final moments of the match, this Argentine goalkeeper has precisely delivered the ball to his feet, and Tang Long traps it steadily with his chest.
With a large gap on Iheanacho’s left side, Tang Long intentionally drives the ball with heaviness, guiding him to rush forward.
Because of the hesitation in the earlier one-on-one that failed to score, Iheanacho has learned from it now.
Regardless that it’s on his non-dominant left foot, he leans into it for a low shot attempt, trying to curve the ball past the central defender Koscielny and land it at the far post for Agüero to receive.