novelraw Chapter 342 - 103: The Fall of a Legend, the Curtain Closes on a Miracle?
Chapter 342 - 103: The Fall of a Legend, the Curtain Closes on a Miracle?
Lu Yang’s most badass shot, even with Ameluci’s early anticipation, he couldn’t reach that dead corner.
Unless he were seven years younger, with his body at peak condition, relying on the eruption, speed, body extension, and those abilities from back then, combined with his current experience and mentality, perhaps he could have reached it.
That shot was of Miracle Ball level.
Ameluci guessed right.
It was indeed a Miracle Ball level shot because it was Batigoal!
Each shot could be considered a world wave!
Beep!
A whistle sounded.
Lu Yang started his run, extremely fast, without any hesitation.
Bang!
A powerful shot, aiming for the dead corner in the upper left of the goal.
The football cleanly and swiftly drilled into the net!
Ameluci’s hand followed but arrived too late.
This was the familiar moment of being a step too slow.
Roar!
Lu Yang let out a mild roar after scoring! Despite the increasingly abnormal redness of his right knee, accompanied by a constant stabbing pain, it couldn’t affect his momentum.
In a penalty shootout, it’s all about the mindset, all about the momentum!
Eastern Continent, dragon roar echoes for nine days.
Rome’s pack of wolves shiver with dread!
Shit!
After Ameluci conceded the goal, his expression was grizzled and regretful.
In fact, conceding a penalty is normal, not being able to save it is the norm.
But... for some reason, Ameluci had a strong premonition.
This goal might be the one to kill this pack of Red Wolves!
After scoring, Lu Yang walked dominantly to the goal line, ready to save the second penalty.
His momentum was increasingly rising.
Rome’s number five center-back stepped up.
Generally, he’s the sixth or even seventh penalty taker for the team.
But today, he became the second.
Because of Aguirre’s red card, the penalty taker that Rome’s coach wanted to bring on couldn’t come, so the center-back’s position was advanced.
In fact, center-backs taking penalties later became very popular.
Because at that time, through big data analysis, it was concluded that penalties mainly test mentality, not footwork.
Compared to forwards who naturally have the privilege of squandering chances, defenders are not allowed to make any mistakes in a game, as any mistake could result in the team conceding.
So the latter has more stable psychological qualities.
Moreover, during that period, many center-backs had decent footwork, with both mentality and skills in place.
But honestly, center-backs taking penalties had their disadvantages too.
One is a lack of variability.
It’s not that methods lack variety but that it’s hard to change or decide the final kick based on the opposing goalkeeper’s reaction. They often decided on one direction early on and wouldn’t, nor have the ability to, make any changes midway.
In contrast, top strikers have more advantages in this aspect.
The referee blew the whistle.
Breath!
Rome’s center-back took a deep breath.
He slowly moved toward the penalty spot, no exaggerated action, steadily lifting his foot to shoot.
But just before he shot.
Lu Yang’s left hand shook a little on the left side.
Coincidentally, this center-back initially decided to shoot to the right side of the goal, which is Lu Yang’s left side.
With that shake, he instinctively wanted to change direction, but halfway through the shot, how could he change?
Bang!
The football flew to the left side of the goal, Lu Yang’s dive direction was correct.
But Lu Yang didn’t reach the football.
Because the football flew into the stands!
"Ah!"
Rome’s center-back, frustrated, covered his cheeks, kneeling at the penalty spot.
He was wronged!
He really shouldn’t have changed his shooting direction!
Whether left or right, it would’ve been much better than missing like this.
He was blaming himself.
"Don’t believe his gestures, he’s just a trickster!" Rome’s center-back slightly agitated on returning to his teammates.
"Yeah, I’ve noticed too, don’t let his hand movements trick you!" Drake continued to encourage his teammates. This point he hadn’t warned them about earlier, didn’t expect Lu Yang to repeat the trick.
It’s just too sly!
What top goalkeeper would use such miscellaneous tricks?
No sportsmanship!
After making the save, Lu Yang roared again!
Two misses!
Somer’s awesome!
Yes!
It’s Somer, not Unai Simon.
Because despite Lu Yang’s goal line skills coming from Simon’s Moment Card, the little trick just now was Jan Sommer’s specialty.
In that match, Sommer relied on this move to save two penalties and mislead the opponent into a miss once.
This Moment Card brought Lu Yang a doubly rewarding experience.
He wanted the signature moves of both goalkeepers!
San Remo’s second taker was Sogel.
He looked at Ameluci in front of the goal line, slightly nervous.
Because today, he was held scoreless by Ameluci.
He had some good chances in this match, but without exception, they were blocked by Ameluci.
Ameluci seemed to have a pair of eyes that could see through his shooting choices.
This put a bit of pressure on Sogel.
"Ordinary shots would find it difficult to pass Ameluci’s ten fingers!"
These were Lu Yang’s words.
Sogel made a bold decision in his mind.
Beep!
The referee blew the whistle.
Sogel moved slowly.
Bang!
A shot was made.
Ameluci guessed half of the direction right.
Sogel aimed for the right side of the goal.
Ameluci also dived toward the right side.
But Ameluci went for the lower right and middle area.
While Sogel aimed for the upper right corner.