Football: My AI System Provides Max-Level Predictions

Chapter 869 600: Tang Long's Textbook Breakthrough—Manchester United's Triple Team Becomes a Joke! Zero-Angle Shot! (Part 2)

"We bought tickets from far away just to watch Tang score, not to see you blindly command antics!"

"Refund! I want a refund!!!"

A storm of curses suddenly poured down, and Guardiola felt his head buzzing, his eyes widened as he turned to look at the stands behind him.

He saw tens of thousands of eyes wide open, staring at him, feeling as if his face was being illuminated by countless spotlights, causing his facial skin to burn, making him step back unconsciously and cover his cheeks with his hand.

Actually, according to Guardiola's plan, he intended to use Manchester United's anxious mentality, letting them attack without success, to drag the match into the 80th minute, and then let Tang Long come on to score a winning goal.

At this moment, the fans' frenzy caused him to feel somewhat restless inside. He glanced at his watch, 76 minutes in, and waved his hand to let Tang Long come on and replace Diego.

"Alright, alright, why curse me, wanting me to resign, what a joke, if I resign who will lead you to the Champions League final, eh!" Guardiola bitterly smiled.

When the fourth official's substitution board with number 9 lit up on the stadium's big screen, thunderous applause erupted at Wembley Stadium.

"He's coming, he's finally coming!"

Tang Long replaced Diego!

Manchester United's coach Pellegrini's face instantly turned terrified, as if he saw not a player, but a devil Satan;

And on the field, Rooney, Pogba, and others were also visibly fearful.

"He's really coming on, not afraid of injuries affecting the Champions League final?" Rooney's heart was pounding.

"This is bad, Captain, I'm feeling uneasy..." Pogba said tremblingly.

"What's there to fear, don't be cowardly," Eevee wiped the sweat off his face with his hand, feigning calmness, "We have McTominay, just let him tightly mark Tang Long."

This McTominay is a naive and simple Scottish lad.

If he weren't into professional football, his tall and strong figure might at this moment be hotly engaged in bricklaying on some construction site in Scotland.

After getting instructions from his big brothers, McTominay began closely marking Tang Long.

Honestly, at first, he was quite excited, as he was originally positioned as Manchester United's substitute, and hadn't played in the last two Manchester Derbies, only able to sit idly on the bench, never having faced Tang Long.

The lad has an unconquerable spirit, even though he knows Tang Long is really strong, having once brutally defeated Manchester United, he still wants to see if he can indeed defend this European Golden Boot.

In the second half at the 78th minute, just two minutes after Tang Long had come on.

In a confrontation on the left flank, McTominay followed from afar and, taking advantage of Tang Long's unstable stance after just receiving the ball, went in for a tackle!

This move is commonly used by professional players, exploiting the opponent's unstable stance upon receiving the ball to cause disruption, much like ancient Chinese military strategies, attacking when the opponent is crossing a river, often resulting in remarkable effects.

However, McTominay was surprised to find that this move which had always worked well in training and matches, faced Tang Long yet only resulted in a miss.

Clearly about to touch the ball, just as his toes were about to make contact, with a swoosh, the ball disappeared, and Tang Long was gone as well.

"Eh, where's the ball?"

McTominay looked blankly to the left, then to the right, raised his head to look at the sky, then spun 180 degrees in place, stubbornly unable to see where the ball was.

That bewildered look seemed to say: Who am I, where did I come from, where am I going?

Just as McTominay was wondering if Tang Long accidentally fell into a pit beneath Wembley Stadium, he suddenly heard the center-back Smolin's miserable cry in his ear—

"Don't leave me alone, everyone defend together!!!"

In the bloodcurdling scream, Tang Long used a Matthews feint followed by a quick dribble, finally shaking his body, making Smolin extend his leg;

After Smolin exposed a gap, Tang Long gently nudged the ball with his left foot, slipped through the gap on the other side, executed a nutmeg maneuver, dribbled past the advancing De Gea, and the ball slowly rolled into the net, the slow speed of the ball mocking Manchester United.

"Come on, defend me!"

Scoring such a fine goal within three minutes of coming on, how could Manchester City fans who had been shouting for Tang Long come on from the stands not go crazy, not be enchanted?

They jumped up wildly, hugging strangers around them, while some kicked the back of the seat in front with hands and feet, and the kicked fans not only weren't angry, but laughed loudly, giving each other thumbs up, as if saying, "Just like I said, he can score as soon as he comes on!"

With that goal, Manchester United players were stunned into silence on the field, barely daring to breathe.

Especially Manchester United captain Rooney.

With his rich experience on the field, he could tell at a glance that even though Tang Long had sat on the substitute bench for most of the match, his physical condition was excellent, so they scored a dazzling goal after barely kicking a few balls upon entering.

Honestly, even Rooney didn't see clearly how Tang Long flicked the ball over McTominay and immediately dazzled top center-back Smolin, single-handedly challenging De Gea and scoring.

"Ah, what just happened!"

A befuddled McTominay, after rotating in place by 180 degrees, could only stare dumbly at Tang Long.

Even as a firsthand witness, he still walked uneasily over to the captain, asking him what just happened, why was he so easily bypassed?

In the face of a younger brother's query, Manchester United captain Rooney was at a loss for words as well.

Patting McTominay on the shoulder, he said gravely, "Don't ask anymore, here's the thing, I'll retrace a bit, the two of us will jointly mark him."

McTominay scratched his head, filled with doubt.

We're trailing 1:2 now, if you're retreating from the front line, the two of us marking one Tang Long, then are we even going to attack, aiming to win the championship or not?

Soon, Tang Long made a comeback.

Almost at the same position, same angle, Tang Long received a long pass from center-back Kolarov.

Though Kolarov rarely played as a center-back, his skill level in this position far inferior to Stones, yet as he gradually adapted, his accurate long-pass advantage came into play.

The ball shot from near their penalty area to the flank outside Manchester United's box, covering nearly 60 meters, yet the drop point was incredibly accurate.

McTominay closed in again, this time with Rooney's assistance.

-[Detected three opponent players approaching, probability of breaking out with a combined stop and carry is 67.84%]

In front of Tang Long were only McTominay and Rooney, where did the third person come from?

However, the AI system's prediction wouldn't be wrong, as it had detected Smolin's movements in front, unseen.

Evidently, Manchester United had surrounded Tang Long outside the box with three players like wolves pouncing.

Especially the last one, Smolin, already determined, if Tang Long bypassed McTominay and Rooney consecutively, no matter what, even using fouls, couldn't let Tang Long enter the box again.

Otherwise, letting him score again would completely overthrow Manchester United, losing any hope of victory!

"Pop!"

A crisp strike was heard, without waiting for the trio to fully enclose, Tang Long didn't stop the ball but hooked it with the outer foot, changing its direction, the ball drifting sidelong toward the goal line, with Tang Long chasing it.

This move is the sharpest way to break with three-man defense—the combined stop and carry!

McTominay thought Tang Long would stop the ball, making him taken aback, instantly losing his position;

Rooney although half-prepared, didn't expect Tang Long to directly carry such a high ball toward the goal line using the outer foot, him being on the outside position naturally unable to catch up.

The only one possibly able to obstruct Tang Long was the outer Smolin.

"Now's the chance!"

Seeing Tang Long aggressively approaching, Smolin knew conventional methods couldn't stop him, determined to sliding block before Tang Long's final step into the box, even earning a yellow card, he'd accept!

Bang!

Tang Long left Smolin without any chance, just as Smolin barely extended his leg to slid, Tang Long suddenly, unexpectedly, directly went for the goal in such a tight angle!

"Ah, he actually shot!"