novelraw Chapter 597 - 404: Champions League Hat Trick! He left Meazza, and returns still a king!
Chapter 597 - 404: Champions League Hat Trick! He left Meazza, and returns still a king!
The cold rain pelted every Manchester City player’s face.
But in their hearts, a flame was ignited!
According to the current score.
As long as they score another goal, the total score between the two sides can be leveled.
However, our away goals are advantageous, and we can still defeat Inter and advance to the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
"Manchester City has intensified their attack!"
"They have no way out now, only the path of offense!"
"Goals! Goals! Goals!"
"They need to score more goals!"
"Goals like Tang Long’s!"
"Agüero, Sterling, and other teammates all need to step up!"
"This is the charm of the away goals rule in the Champions League knockout stage!"
"Encouraging attack, freeing the visiting team, and instilling a sense of crisis in the home team!"
Seeing Manchester City continue to strengthen their attack after scoring.
Inter coach Leno truly felt the crisis was spreading.
He scratched his head, falling into hesitation.
Should they continue to attack to widen the scoreline, or should they hold firmly onto the 1-2?
Unable to decide for the moment, he asked his assistant coach, who also replied timidly, not daring to make a decision.
When Leno joined the Inter First Team, he cleared out the original Mancini coaching staff and transplanted the core team from the youth team.
These people, though not a ragtag band;
It was the first time they all faced a big stage like the Champions League knockout round!
Playing in Serie A was manageable, but against Manchester City, they didn’t know what to do at this moment.
Veteran Kandrewa remained calm.
He called on his teammates to continue to withdraw, careful not to be caught up in Manchester City’s rhythm of offense.
So, Inter continued to pull back in defense.
Even in Manchester City’s muddy backcourt, Delph, Kolarov, Klichy, and others could control the ball easily.
However, once Manchester City pushed the formation into Inter Milan’s half, they immediately changed the tempo of the ball.
High ball!
The high ball came from two defenders known for their skills.
The high ball from the wing was delivered by Kolarov, mainly connecting from a 45-degree angle to the midfield and forward line.
His specialty is accurate footwork. Although the intent in his crosses is obvious, as long as they’re precise, they can create chances!
The high ball from the central defense came from Ranocchia, focusing on cooperation based on the forward players’ interleaved runs for an unexpected high ball.
The Italian center-back has played with Tang Long for a long time and learned a lot from him.
In terms of reading the game, aside from Tang Long, Ranocchia is the second-best in the whole Manchester City team.
He frequently created threats, making Inter’s defense line tense and wary!
In the VIP box, Inter legends watched anxiously, while Ronaldo was relaxed, saying to Ad:
"Did you notice? Although Manchester City frequently plays high balls, not every ball is contested, but their protection of second balls is significantly better than Inter’s!"
"Yes, I noticed," Ad nodded, "I deliberately counted just now. In the last five second balls, Manchester City won four, and the one Inter won was immediately intercepted under Tang’s pressure because they couldn’t control it."
Ronaldo laughed, "You observed very carefully. My intuition tells me, in ten minutes, Manchester City will score their second goal!"
minutes later!
In the 68th minute of the match.
Ronaldo’s prediction came true.
After Ranocchia got the ball in the backfield, he dismissed the symbolic defending of Bonazzoli.
He feigned to pass the ball to Kolarov on the left flank, then with a flick of his ankle and a shift in weight, bypassed his former little brother at Inter.
"Move!"
With a shout from Tang Long, Agüero, Sterling, and Navas, three small players, weaved through Inter’s four defenders like pinballs!
Inter’s defenders were instantly in disarray. They knew Ranocchia was going for a long pass, but there was no consensus on whether to create an offside trap.
Substitute Di Marco didn’t align with the final center-back, Juan.
Tang Long, with sharp eyes, decisively drilled behind Di Marco.
When Di Marco turned around and saw Tang Long not only leading by a body length but also taking possession of the ball, he was shocked: "When did he run behind me!?"
In a split second, Di Marco’s mind froze, stalled~
His feet were stiff, standing still, just raising his hand towards the assistant referee, signaling Tang Long was offside.
Other Inter players, still in the game mentally, chased back while signaling for offside.
Why did Tang Long obtain the ball so effortlessly?
It was partly due to Agüero and Sterling’s reckless charges, disrupting the rhythm of Inter’s defense;
And importantly, his telepathic connection with Ranocchia!
Tang Long, playing as a shadow striker, is known for his elusive runs.
Especially with his familiarity with the passer’s habits and foot techniques, he can tell where to charge just by seeing his teammate’s lifting foot action three seconds in advance!
Di Marco’s mistake was the last straw that broke the camel’s back.
Facing the high-flying ball from the side and rear, Tang Long was not in a hurry to make a first-time touch.
While sprinting forward at high speed, he first listened to the approaching footsteps of Inter players around him.
Realizing no Inter player was within two meters initially, he then looked towards Inter’s goalkeeper Sepe!
This 24-year-old young goalkeeper just joined Inter in the last summer window.
His strengths are height, long legs, excellent jumping ability, and goal-line technique.
His weakness is also clear; he’s not good at coming off his line!
So, although Tang Long was waiting for him to come out, even as the air whooshed around the descending football, resounding in Tang Long’s ears, Sepe remained guarded in the goal, not moving.
"Then I won’t be polite!"
Originally thinking of evading him after he came out and scoring into the empty goal, but since you’re not coming out, I’ll just skip you.
The soccer ball was descending, with its vertical projection perfectly aligned over Tang Long’s head. At this moment, Tang Long didn’t bother to look up, as he didn’t need to visually track the ball’s trajectory; he had already anticipated its landing spot in his mind well in advance.
A magical scene unfolded!
Without meeting the soccer ball with his eyes, Tang Long moved his arms and legs aggressively right in front of the Inter goalkeeper, swung his body sideways, and kicked the air a meter away from him!
Pia!
Just as the ball fell twenty centimeters from the ground, Tang Long’s iron whip-like right leg fiercely struck it!
The whole action flowed like water, completed in one stroke. Every node was executed with impeccable precision.
Sepe’s calf suddenly tightened, trying hard to discern the ball’s route amidst the hazy rain;
The sound of the soccer being struck and the piercing flash both overwhelmed his senses, leaving him utterly confused about where to dive.
The ball whispered into the net, just beside Sepe’s hand!
The robust white nylon cords of the net seemed to be pulled suddenly by an invisible giant hand at Tang Long’s fierce volley strike, causing it to rise high up into the air!
The dense raindrops clinging to each net cord were shaken off!
The entire net behind Sepe, measuring 7.32 meters wide and 2.44 meters high, shivered violently as though stricken by a severe chill, causing rainwater to pour down in torrents.
Thud, thud, thud thud, thud thud thud thud thud...
The ball, hindered by the net, eventually dripped slowly to the ground, bounced, and rolled towards Sepe’s feet.
He raised his head slightly, his gaze firm and profound, looking towards the towering Meazza north stands behind the goal.
That area was a sea of blue and black, with Inter’s die-hard fans clustered densely together, forming a grand and staggering spectacle.
But at this moment, the stands, which usually bristled with passionate cheers and enthusiastic yells, remained eerily silent;
Everyone seemed stunned by Tang Long’s astonishing shot, leaving only faces frozen with astonishment and disbelief amidst the rain.
However, when Tang Long looked back, it was a completely different lively scene!
All his teammates were rushing towards him!
Agüero slid in fiercely, wrapped his arm around Tang Long, pulling him to the ground, and screamed with a ferocious expression.
"I love you like crazy!!!"
For the next 30 seconds, Tang Long couldn’t get up at all.
Because players kept jumping onto the pile.
...
Inter coach Leno was devastated!
to 2.
Total score 3 to 3.
Manchester City had two away goals, and if the score stayed like this, Inter would be eliminated!
Leno furiously yanked his already thinning hair, pulling out a big handful with force.
But Leno didn’t feel the pain on his scalp; his heart hurt more than his head~
Being knocked out by Manchester City wasn’t disgraceful.
Yet, I meticulously planned two aces before the game, watering the field and shrinking the playing area, which took effect in the first half, leading 2 to 0, victory seemed within grasp. How did Tang Long suddenly cash in two goals?
A cooked duck was about to fly away, Leno raged in embarrassment, jumping and shouting:
"Press forward, everyone press forward. If we don’t score, you’ll all be rolled out at the end of the season!"
This roar was so hysterical.
Such that it could be heard clearly by the group of Inter alumni on the high-level VIP stands.
Materazzi and Cambiasso looked at each other.
They couldn’t understand either.
Just praised Leno in the first half, saying he could use strategy, a strategist;
But why did all the plans fail in the second half?
On the contrary, Manchester City seemed reborn, like a changed team.
Ronaldo laughed with glee!
He teased Ad: "Did Leno say if there’s no goal at the end of the season they’ll all be rolled out? Who does he think he is, the one to roll out, is him, right!"
Ad chuckled foolishly, saying: "Interesting, Ranocchia assisted Tang in scoring, two former Inter players linked up, eliminating Inter. Leno, as a coach, was incompetent, his pre-match preparations were inadequate, he didn’t understand the opponent, especially Tang’s capabilities."
Ronaldo said: "Leno knows P! Back in the youth team, if not for Chiwo, Tang would’ve been released by Leno."
The conversation between the two sparked discontent among other Inter alumni.
Especially Ronaldo!
Several chubby fellows, as superstars during their player days, it was disposed of;
After retirement, they thrived in business, worth several billion.
Why do all the benefits go to you? Now Inter lost, you’re still enjoying yourself!
Materazzi snapped at Ronaldo: "Hey, big guy, the game isn’t over yet, the current total score is 3 to 3, once we score one more, Manchester City will be rolled out, don’t be happy too soon!"
No sooner had the words left his mouth than another surprise echoed across the Meazza Stadium!
Everyone in the box hurriedly turned their attention to the field.
This exclamation came from the northeast corner, from the mere thousand Manchester City expedition army.
They roared and screamed, seeing Tang Long dribbling and sprinting, bypassing two players, and passing the ball to Sterling on the wing!
This followed Inter’s full press forward with Delph intercepting the ball and countering!
Manchester City was now attacking with 3 against 2!
Sterling drew Santon over and decisively passed the ball low into the penalty area.
Agüero’s tactical presence was evident, successfully pulling little Juan backward and making a decoy move; neither touched the ball.
The soccer ball rolled towards Tang Long’s diagonal insert at the back post!
No one was defending here!
After judging the goalkeeper Sepe’s position as leaning inward, Tang Long decisively shot near the corner!
With a clang, the ball bounced off Sepe’s foot fiercely battling, rebounded against the inner post, struck Sepe’s head, and ricocheted into the net!
to 2!
Manchester City scored three consecutive goals in the second half, reversing the score!
Total score reached 4 to 3!
Tang Long claims a hat-trick in the Champions League!