I AM the Football Star

Chapter 251 - 87: A Top Defender Can Steal From Opponents—and Teammates

Versachi likewise ran from the center to the right flank, ready to support Becher’s behind his right side.

Becher’s faced the opponent’s defender in the flank, constantly shifting his balance, then suddenly dribbled the ball to break through.

The opponent didn’t catch up, and he gained some space.

It was a good opportunity for a long shot, but he didn’t shoot.

The opponent’s central defender stepped up, and now it’s a good chance to pass to Sogel.

In the box, 1V1, Sogel as the attacker would have the advantage.

However, Becher’s executed a beautiful Marseille Turn, getting past the opponent’s central defender, seemingly impressing everyone.

Bam!

A midfielder rushing from the other side slid in and kicked the ball away from Becher’s feet.

He should have cooperated with the right-back to defend against Bai Zhami, but Bai Zhami’s threat greatly diminished after sticking to the flank, allowing the collaborating midfielder to focus on Becher’s instead.

It was a good tackle.

Because the distance between Becher’s and the ball after completing the Marseille Turn was somewhat far, it was easy to intercept.

It’s already eighty minutes, Becher’s stamina and explosiveness understandably couldn’t keep up.

Becher’s complained on the ground, signaling to the referee that this should be a free kick, or even a penalty.

The referee ignored him completely.

This defense was clean.

"Defend!"

Lu Yang shouted at Mattia, also running towards the right-back position.

That place was already completely empty.

The opponent saw this gap and sent a long pass directly.

One of the opponent’s two central forwards moved to the flank, running all the way to the baseline.

Lu Yang defended, holding his position, but the opponent passed back to the midfielder outside the big penalty area.

Latu Yidi positioned himself ahead, caught behind by the opponent by two body lengths, unable to do anything.

The opponent advanced with the ball three meters, entering a very good long shot area.

Naji had to rush up.

The opponent midfielder feigned to shoot but actually passed, sending it to the advancing midfielder on the right.

Palacios decisively, directly made a horizontal slide tackle towards the right, preparing to block the opponent’s shooting route.

If the opponent shot a low ball, he could block it.

If the opponent shot a half-high ball, it depended on goalkeeper Jalard’s performance.

This was a high-level cooperation between the central defender and the goalkeeper.

However, the opponent’s midfielder still did not shoot, but sent the ball to the Allez central forward unmarked in the big penalty box.

Bam!

The Allez central forward did not squander the moment given by Kong Rong’s selflessness, scoring a goal.

1:0!

Allez took the lead!

Considering the remaining match time might be less than ten minutes, this was likely a game-killing strike.

As this was a focal match in the Italian Third Division, there was also a television broadcast.

On television, this attack was replayed repeatedly.

From San Remo posing a deadly threat to Allez’s detailed counterattack, everyone saw clearly.

Ordinary fans regretted Becher’s almost successful one-on-three maneuver.

But high-level fans could see that Becher’s mobilized most of the team’s resources for himself but only let those teammates serve rather than partake in the core attacking.

He carried the attack on his own shoulder yet failed to lift it.

Thus, when he lost the ball, most of the team was out of position, making it understandable to be countered.

Especially the opponent’s last three consecutive transfers, Forward No. 11 transferred to Midfielder No. 6, Midfielder No. 6 to Midfielder No. 8, Midfielder No. 8 to Central Forward No. 9.

One set of transfers bypassed Lu Yang, Naji, and Palacios, creating a one-on-one opportunity in the box.

Vividly contrasting Becher’s one-on-three.

"If he were that Argentinian superstar, this ball might have been, but unfortunately...he isn’t." Old Tom expressed regret.

He knew time was running out for Becher’s.

For the entire eighty minutes, Becher’s fully displayed his technical characteristics and threat, yet never brought a breakthrough in scoring.

He was excellent, the type of player San Remo lacked and needed.

But he couldn’t lift the legendary giant ship of San Remo setting sail.

In the next five minutes, Becher’s seemed to know he had messed up his debut and began desperately dribbling forward.

Sogel also started to unreservedly help widen the attack, hoping to change the score.

Versachi likewise settled in the right winger position, helping Becher’s pull away a defensive player.

Mattia dared not move forward.

The left-back Camihong frequently advanced and teamed up with Bai Zhami to create threats on the wing.

Unfortunately, Becher’s never looked this way.

It seemed Bai Zhami and Camihong’s task was simply to help draw away a defender for him.

As his stamina dwindled, Becher’s rapid stops and starts during breakthroughs slowed significantly, reducing his threat. The opponents were getting more chances for physical confrontations with him, and despite constantly falling, he gradually couldn’t even earn a foul whistle.

During this period, the opposition launched another counterattack, nearly scoring.

After this counterattack, Lu Yang’s expression changed significantly.

He gave Becher’s everything Sotu asked for, but Becher’s hadn’t delivered a convincing performance.

Lu Yang wasn’t someone to sit idly by. Even though there was little time left, he decided to fight for the team’s final chance himself.

The match entered stoppage time.

San Remo gained possession again.

But the opponents had all retreated to defend.

Becher’s received the ball again in the flank zone, intending to attempt another breakthrough without any intention of passing to other players.

And this time, the defenders around him were certainly more than three.

Bam!

The ball at Becher’s feet was intercepted.

Becher’s was utterly shocked.

There shouldn’t be any opposing defenders behind him.

In an instant, a jersey identical to his floated past him.

He realized it seemed he was intercepted by his own teammate?

"What’s happening on the field? Lu Yang intercepted the ball from his teammate Becher’s?"

"Lu Yang is advancing with the ball, executing continuous stepovers without losing speed."

"A flick of the ball, a smooth breakthrough."

"Two players rush up to trap Lu Yang."

"Oh! A beautiful Rabona maneuver! Lu Yang breaks through on the right while the ball ricochets out from the left. A Rabona nutmeg combined with ball-person separation is an exceptionally lovely break."

"Lu Yang squeezed past from the right side of the opponent, despite their pulling, they couldn’t stop Lu Yang!"

"The central defender of the opponent approached!"

"Lu Yang, controlling the ball, turned around. Is he going to perform his highly competitive Bengbu Spin? Yes, we’ve interviewed Lu Yang, he calls this move the Bengbu Spin."

"No! Lu Yang didn’t continue the spin; he only did the first half of the move. Using his back against the opponent’s central defender, he lifted the ball up."

"The opponent’s central defender could only watch the high ball because, due to Lu Yang’s blocking, he couldn’t contest it."

"But likewise, Lu Yang couldn’t handle this ball. Replicating his over-the-moon move like before was unrealistic. This lob lacked mobility, merely airborne, having height but no speed or displacement."

"Moreover, Lu Yang was being held by the opponent’s central defender, preventing him from turning. The opponent had clearly done their homework on Lu Yang."

Bam!

Lu Yang leaned back forcefully, creating a bit of space.

Then, as if losing his balance, one leg suddenly exerted force while the other was raised high, and he abruptly leaped, performing an overhead kick.

Bam!

The opponent’s central defender intended to collide with the ball dropping from the air.

But amidst this, a foot kicked the ball away.

The ball, with considerable force, headed straight downwards. As everyone was still gazing at the sky, the ball had already burrowed into the bottom corner of the goal.

This was an astonishingly skillful shot!

An overhead kick inside the penalty area!

As miraculous as ever!

San Remo tenaciously leveled the score in the final moments of the match!

"Roar!"

After getting up, Lu Yang let out an angry roar toward the sky!

San Remo didn’t lose.

But San Remo didn’t win either!

This was not worth celebrating!

Lu Yang’s roar resonated with the entire San Remo team.

They all wore solemn expressions.

Thanks to Lu Yang, they had a shred of dignity and didn’t allow their strongest rivals to take all three points.

But they weren’t happy with how the match played out.

They held the upper hand and could have gained victory.

Allez wasn’t stronger than San Remo, and everyone in San Remo could feel it.

Yet they missed too many opportunities.

In this roar, there was unwillingness, anger, regret, and much dissatisfaction!