Team Spirit

Chapter 101 (11th Day of 10,000 Chapters) Kevin Kills His Brother in the EFL Cup, Midfielder Lu Delivers Cards Like Crazy

[Ding! You have won the FA Charity Shield for the second consecutive year. Reward:]

[Stomp Ball Techniques·Black Iron 4-5]

[A Strong Backer - Bronze Level: A good defensive midfielder is a strong backer for the attacking players. This slightly improves the players' defensive positioning.]

[One-Touch Pass - Black Iron: This refers to a pass without stopping the ball. The player's pass animation is slightly improved.]

While Lu Kai was observing the opposing personnel, his skill was activated.

Two amazing skills.

The defensive midfield position has its own specific requirements for space.

Many players have the stats, skills, and physique to be considered defensive midfielders, but they just can't play that role well because they lack a reliable support player.

This position requires extremely high ball intelligence.

The "one-touch pass" is a quick-pick technique that can catch the opponent off guard, whether it's getting past the defense, passing back, or attacking.

boom!
In the fourth minute, the opposing midfielder Sparo took a long-range shot that went wide.

He stared at Lu Kai for a couple of seconds, because Lu Kai's positioning and outstretched leg blocked part of the shooting angle.

This kid's positioning made him a little uncomfortable.

"In a normal 4-4-2 formation, the two midfielders are one attacking and one defending. For Scanso, Sparrow is the main attacker, and Calvo is the main defender."

"But if the main attackers aren't good enough, the defensive players will be under a lot of pressure."

Lu Kai is keeping an eye on Sparrow today.

Because he was Scandinavia's midfield attacking core, but his level wasn't considered very high.

In fact, Parkinson, the team's former core player, was the real sharpshooter, but he was poached by Reading, a second-tier team, a couple of years ago.

If Parkinson hadn't left, Scanthorpe would have been promoted to League Two, or even League One, by now.

In the ninth minute, Kevin and the opposing striker Kim Grant engaged in a fierce battle for the ball.

Both sides are brave and fierce.

Finally, the referee blew his whistle and called an offensive foul on Grant, who was quite unhappy about it.

This was also the first time Kevin received attention during the game.

But once people pay attention, they talk about his previous poor performance.

In the 15th minute, Scansorpe's several runs down the flanks failed to create any threat, and Sparo, as the midfield maestro, inevitably became impatient.

He played a through ball, trying to use his individual skill to break through Dartford's defense.

But this was exactly what Lu Kai was waiting for.

Suddenly, Lu Kai appeared and intercepted the football halfway through the game.

boom!
Lu Kai sets up a long pass, connecting with the attacking third.

This shot completely pierced through Scansorpe's midfield.

Holt fiercely contested for the ball with the opposing center-back Jackson in the attacking third, and ultimately succeeded in controlling the ball.

He dribbled sideways with a half-turn, pulled away from Jackson, and delivered a diagonal pass.

Eastwood outjumped his fellow center-back Wilcox to unleash a powerful shot, scoring a spectacular long-range strike.

The football went straight into the top corner!

"GOAL! One to zero! Dartford have actually scored first!"

"Eastwood, he's Dartford's magic ball specialist."

"This shot perfectly encapsulates his brilliance. From the edge of the box, under pressure from the opponent, he seized the opportunity, turned halfway, and fired a shot that found the back of the net."

"Wilcox is frustrated defending Eastwood. The reason he can still start at the age of 38 is because he has a wealth of defensive experience."

"He did a great job limiting him. If he had been guarding Holt, the ball definitely wouldn't have gone in. But Eastwood is an unconventional player."

As their name suggests, East doesn't practice martial arts!

In the 18th minute, Scansorp began to have their defenders assist in the attack.

Kevin's brother, Andy Dawson, made a run down the left flank and delivered a cross.

Grant's header was interfered with by Williams and went a little over the bar.

In the 23rd minute, Andy once again made a run down the left flank and received a pass back from his left winger teammate Bigley, delivering a through ball.

Grant received the ball on the left side of the penalty area, flicked it to the right, and unleashed a fluid, curling shot!
boom!
An Qi made a diving save to push the ball away.

Grant was stunned.

He was already getting ready to celebrate his goal.

This attack, from passing and ball control to feints and dribbling, felt incredibly smooth.

There's no reason not to go in.

The fans in the stands had the same reaction.

"Hehe, this kind of shot can't possibly break through Anqi's defense!" Victor said confidently.

On the one hand, it is an affirmation of An Qi.

On the other hand, it's also because Ashley Young practiced cutting inside and curling shots during Dartford's training sessions, which had already honed Anqi's ability to save shots at the far corner.

Otherwise, why do you think Ashley Young has been sitting on the bench for the past few games?

He was tackled to the bench by An Qi!

In the 27th minute, Scansop launched another cross from the wing.

Williams headed the ball away directly.

Barton immediately regained possession of the ball and looked for Lu Kai.

Sparo and the others rushed towards Lu Kai, trying to win the ball back in the attacking third.

The situation is very critical.

At the crucial moment, Lu Kai used his body to block Sparrow, and with a quick flick of his foot, he passed the ball to the other player before he could extend his foot.

One-touch pass!
Brad received the ball and orchestrated the play, drawing everyone's attention before passing the ball to the left.

After receiving the ball, Sherry prepared to cross it at his own pace, but a particular spot suddenly came into his view.

boom!
Xiao Li's cross was quite skillful, showing some of the flair of "Left-wing Lukeham".

Beckham:???
"This cross... wait, isn't it supposed to be for Eastwood?"

"It wasn't Holt who was approached; the offer was rather unconventional."

Neither of the two forwards on the first wave of attack found their positions, leading to the general consensus that Shory had made a wrong pass.

Such good footwork, but such poor shot selection, it's rare...

boom!
Outside the penalty area, at the two-point landing spot, Lu Kai rushed as fast as he could and managed to catch up.

With a tuck in of his stomach and a flick of his head, he smashed the soccer ball downwards into the net.

“GOAL!!!”

"Two to zero! Lu Kai! How did he end up in the penalty area?!"

"If it were Lu Kai from last season, I wouldn't have anything to say if he appeared in the penalty area, because he's an attacking midfielder."

"But how could a defensive midfielder..."

Lu Kai pointed at Shaw, and Dartford immediately began celebrating.

In fact, it was precisely because everyone gradually got used to his position as a defensive midfielder that his forward run was so easy this time, with no one interfering or defending against him.

The other party let them pass as soon as they saw that it was "not the person I was guarding against." Everyone thought that someone else would intervene, but Lu Kai insisted on going all the way through.

Ashley Young, sitting on the bench, was furious: "Another bootlicker! He wouldn't pass to Holt for such a good position, but insisted on going to Lu Kai!"

Amorin asked, somewhat puzzled, "Aren't you happy that Lu Kai scored? I thought you two had a good relationship..."

Ashley Young explained, "I was just worried that Lu Kai would get tired."

"Think about it, as a defensive midfielder, it wasn't easy for him to run all the way up. Xiao Li doesn't understand how to appreciate Chairman Kai!"

Amorim nodded, "That makes sense."

This goal thoroughly enraged Scansorp.

From the stands to the coaching bench, everyone was roaring.

The players on the field were under immense pressure and began to fight tooth and nail.

In the 35th minute, Andy broke past Madeira and crossed from the byline.

Quilli volleyed home from the penalty spot.

Unfortunately, this was too difficult to handle, and the football flew directly into the stands.

In the 41st minute, Scansorpe won a corner kick.

The football caused chaos inside the penalty area.

The opposing winger, Bigley, found an opportunity and unleashed a powerful shot.

Lu Kai blocked the shot from the side, while Kevin stretched out his leg to intercept.

The soccer ball bounced off Kevin's foot, struck Lu Kai's shoulder, and went out of bounds.

Scandinavia players complained, indicating a handball.

But the referee did not award a handball penalty.

Because Lu Kai's hands-behind-the-back posture was very standard.

They are even more disciplined than a proper center-back.

Ultimately, Dartford defeated Scanthorpe 2-0 in the first half.

Fifteen minutes later, the two sides switched sides and resumed play.

Scandinavia has clearly been given "performance-enhancing drugs".

The head coach demanded that they score at least one goal in the first twenty minutes, or they might be out of the game.

In the 48th minute, Scansorpe launched an attack.

Sparrow and his teammates executed a brilliant wall-running maneuver to get past Lu Kai.

Kevin immediately stepped in to fill the gap.

Sparrow seized the opportunity to chip the ball behind Kevin.

Right winger Graves easily advanced into the penalty area, creating a three-on-two situation in the attacking third.

Graves ran into Quillie and then drove deep into the penalty area to create space.

Instead of hitting Graves, Quilly knocked on Grant's head.

Grant unleashed a powerful shot.

As the team's top scorer, this goal is crucial and cannot be missed.

Swish!
The football went into the goal.

An Qi was powerless to reverse the situation.

"GOAL! 1-2! Scandinavia pulled one back just three minutes into the second half!"

"That was a beautiful attacking play in the attacking third."

“When Lu Kai was beaten, Dartford’s defense became somewhat vulnerable.”

"It seems Scanthorpe has found the Achilles' heel against Dartford!"

Lu Kai then signaled to his teammates to increase the intensity and prevent the opponent from easily organizing an attack and executing a coordinated attack in Green Gun's half of the court.

In the 53rd minute, Barton made a bold attack and half-intentionally brought down Sparrow, teaching him a lesson.

You dare to get past my Captain Lu!

beep!

The referee showed Barton a yellow card.

But you know what?

After Barton's actions, Sparrow calmed down considerably.

In the 59th minute, Graves dribbled laterally and then delivered a through ball.

Quilli bounced off after running back, trying to escape to a one-on-one situation.

But Lu Kai and Kevin had already switched positions, and with their vision and anticipation, they got off to a timely start and caught up with Quillie.

Just as Quili received the ball and prepared to dribble past his opponent, Lu Kai decisively made a sliding tackle.

His "Basic Shovel" skill is at the maximum level.

The ball was poked out first.

Then Quillie was also brought down.

Quili got up and rushed towards Lu Kai, yelling at him.

He wanted to create the illusion that Lu Kai would take him down, thus making a false claim and causing Lu Kai to lose face.

But he didn't expect Lu Kai to be so uncooperative, directly ramming back with even greater force.

The players from both sides immediately gathered together and began a standoff.

Beep! Beep!

The referee blew his whistle frantically, and after regaining control of the situation, warned Lu Kai and Quili.

But no card was played.

Because he could see very clearly that Lu Kai's tackle was a good one.

Quillie was somewhat sullen.

They originally thought Lu Kai was still young and wanted to bully him to dampen Green Gun's morale.

Unexpectedly, this kid's core was quite stable. Not only was he not suppressed, but his morale exploded.

Unbeknownst to Quili, his move had also added another layer to Lu Kai's "tough guy" image.

In the 66th minute, Lu Kai once again quietly made a forward run.

Brad passed the ball to Lu Kai in time, and Lu Kai then delivered a short through ball to Holt.

Unfortunately, he and Holt lacked chemistry.

Holt tried to receive the ball at his feet, but didn't start moving.

The ball was kicked away by the opposing goalkeeper Evans, and everyone in England will launch a counter-attack.

Then, on Dartford's side, Kevin came up to cover after Lu Kai made a forward run and is now right near the landing point.

This also shows that Evans' long kicks weren't random; they were targeted at Dartford's weak points.

Unfortunately, he didn't expect that Dalford would fill the void left by Lu Kai.

Although Sparo also wanted to contest the header.

But how could he possibly compete with Kevin?
1.75 meters tall VS 1.83 meters tall, the latter is also as strong as an ox.

Kevin pushed past Sparrow and successfully gained possession of the ball.

After losing possession, Lu Kai turned and retreated to the backfield, took possession of the ball, and immediately passed it to the other wing-back, Xiao Li.

Sherry dribbled forward, and Dartford launched another attack.

However, the opponent's defensive formation remained intact, and Shawn couldn't find an opportunity, so he could only make a long, lateral pass to Barton, who was in an open position.

Instead of pressing Barton, Scanthorpe adopted a conservative approach, taking their defensive positions.

The two offensive exchanges just now took a lot of toll on the players.

When singing, one also knows how to find vents to breathe.

Scanthorpe prepared to take a breather, knowing that once they intercepted the ball, Dartford would be unable to keep up with their counter-attack.

boom!
Barton, without stopping the ball, passed it horizontally to a spot two meters in front of Lu Kai.

He does have that much skill.

boom!
Lu Kai unleashed a powerful shot at the ball from more than 25 meters away from the goal.

Shocking.

Heavy Gunner!
Swish!
The football went into the net in a flash!

Evans' save was very fluid, but the shot was beyond human capability and of extremely high quality.

"GOAL! Three to one!"

"Lu Kai unleashed a powerful shot, scoring a world-class goal! His second goal of the brace!"

"None of the Scandinavia players bothered him; they seemed to assume that Lu Kai wouldn't shoot or score."

"They may have forgotten that Lu Kai is a super offensive player who has created over 100 goals in a single season!"

"Whether it's scoring a goal or providing an assist, whether it's a free kick or a long-range shot, whether it's poaching or taking a penalty, he can do it all!"

As it turns out, when you are good enough, your achievements in humble beginnings will also be recognized.

When Lu Kai scored in the fourth-tier match, his statistics in the seventh-tier league also gained some value.

Just when they thought they were about to equalize, they fell behind by two goals again in the blink of an eye.

Scanthorpe's spirits were instantly dampened; he was too difficult to win over.

In the seventy-second minute, this mental breakdown became very obvious.

Calvo, who was supposed to pass the ball to someone, took a long-range shot that sent the ball flying into the stands.

The key issue is that he doesn't have any good angles to score.

Alfred received Lu Kai's signal and immediately made two substitutions.

Ashley Young replaced Shore, and the passer was replaced by a breakaway player.

Marko replaced Madeira, and the speedster was replaced by the dribbling specialist.

Victor nodded repeatedly and asked, "Coach, there's something I've wanted to ask you for a long time. I feel that your substitutions are always just right, and your adjustments are often unexpected yet very reasonable."

"The key is that it always has an immediate effect."

"how did you do it?"

Alfred thought for a moment: "What's so difficult about that? Just change it when you see it."

Victor: "Oh, you mean you'll switch when you see an opportunity?"

Alfred smiled slightly.

They switched commands as soon as they saw Lu Kai's command.

In the 76th minute, Lu Kai had the ball, and Sparrow came over to press him.

He suffered a lot at Lu Kai's hands today and is now in the red-hot zone.

However, Lu Kai actively engaged in continuous confrontations with Sparrow and was not at a disadvantage.

Even after Lu Kai got used to this kind of confrontation, he seized a gap in the rhythm and broke free with a lateral Marseille turn.

Just as he was about to launch a long pass, Grant violently knocked Lu Kai over from behind.

The referee ruled it a foul.

As a result, Lu Kai fell to the ground and then rolled over to his feet, braced himself with his hand on the ball, and kicked it out with his heel in a standard starting position.

He was also thrown out at the same time.

Ashley Young immediately accelerated after receiving the ball.

He was on the outside of the left flank, while Lu Kai was on the inside of the left flank.

Go hand in hand.

The inside is definitely more threatening, so Lu Kai's movement drew away the defenders along the way.

Ashley Young only faced the opposing right-back, Bavic.

boom!
Ashley Young dribbled the ball in and cut inside, scoring against Barwick.

He curled a shot from just outside the left side of the penalty area.

The soccer ball went straight into the far end of the net.

Evans is not like An Qi; he hasn't had extensive, dedicated practice in saving long-range curling shots.

"GOAL! Four to one!"

Dartford bounce back from rock bottom! A resounding victory over Scanthorpe!

"Although there's still some time left, the game has already been killed by this Green Gun Whirlwind!"

"Ashley Young's playing style is the complete opposite of Sherry's; he likes to cut inside, while Sherry prefers to cross."

“Barvik clearly couldn’t adapt to this sudden change in playing style.”

"Alfred's adjustments are always so magical. Including his decision to put Ashley Young, who was an absolute starter last season, on the bench this season, is also a stroke of genius."

"Ashley Young's offensive efficiency has clearly improved, and his threat remains undiminished."

In fact, regarding the use of Ashley Young, Victor believes he should be a starter.

But Lu Kai denied it.

It's not that he thinks Ashley Young is disloyal.

Based primarily on the medical examination results, Ashley Young is about to enter his growth period.

He needs to rest well during this period; he cannot overwork, overexert himself, or get injured.

Therefore, given the choice between playing the first 70 minutes as a starter and playing the crucial last 30 minutes, Lu Kai helped Ashley Young choose the latter.

Ashley Young, who is 1.75 meters tall, is barely passable.

But Ashley Young, who is 1.85 meters tall, probably has to apologize to Ronaldo first!
In the 78th minute, Dartford made their final substitution.

Heavyweight striker Akinfenwa replaced Eastwood.

Holt's defensive effort was more aggressive, which allowed him to remain on the court.

Moreover, Eastwood is an absolute key player and will start every game without fail, so he naturally needs to make the most of his rest time.

In the 81st minute, Bavic launched a high ball from the right wing.

Grant managed a header, but the ball was caught by Anqi.

In the 85th minute, Andy Dawson noticed that his younger brother Kevin Dawson was positioned higher, so he launched an attack with a long pass.

Quillie made a run down this side and then passed the ball across.

Grant scored after a close call.

But the linesman raised his flag.

It turns out that when Andy made the long pass, Duff and Williams deliberately created an offside situation.

Without Kevin's interference, the offside line formed by the two players was easy to manage.

Therefore, Quili's offside assist was disallowed.

boom!
Frustrated by the disallowed goal, Grant unleashed a powerful shot that sent the ball back into the net.

This behavior is extremely disrespectful to An Qi.

Anqi rushed out and confronted Grant.

Players from both sides rushed over, and the atmosphere was tense.

In the 89th minute, Lu Kai sent a long pass directly to Akinfenwa.

Akinfenwa simply collided with a defensive player and was called for an offensive foul by the referee.

He felt wronged, saying that they had fallen down before I even used any force.

Is this my fault?

As a result, the two sides were locked in another standoff.

Got it!

The feud between Ying Bing and Ying Bing has now begun.

Dartford ultimately defeated a strong League Two team 4-1 to advance to the second round of the EFL Cup!
Enter lottery mode!

Because Premier League teams will also be participating in the competition starting from the second round.

After the game, Andy and Kevin exchanged jerseys, showing their brotherly affection.

Andy: "You guys got lucky this time. We'll definitely crush you in the next league match, you lousy bastards!"

Kevin: "Oh yeah, yeah, yeah! When you go home for dinner this week, don't cry and tell your mom that your brother hit you!"

Andy, out!

Kevin wins the "Dawson Derby," proving his worth by killing his brother and regaining his confidence on the court!

Lu Kai scored two goals and provided one assist, earning him the Man of the Match award.

In a post-match interview, a reporter asked them about their performance in the league.

Lu Kai: "Out of 46 matches, only four have been played. I don't think the current win-loss rankings are meaningful."

"Moreover, I must say that the opponents we encountered in the early stages were all very strong. This is an environment that is extremely difficult to adapt to, but we will definitely get through it."

"Kevin? Kevin played well. We won't take him out of the starting lineup. He has proven himself in this game."

Reporter: "You're really stubborn. How do you expect to explain your current bottom-of-the-table performance to the fans who bought lottery tickets to show their support for you?"

"What would you like to say to them?"

Lu Kai looked directly into the camera: "Please make sure to keep your ticket stub!"

[Ding! You have won your first EFL Cup match and received a reward:]

[Arm Exercises - Iron 1-2]

[Mobile Roadblock - Bronze 3-4]

[One-touch pass - Black Iron 1-2]

[Card Dealer - Bronze: Your long passing ability is enhanced when teammates are in their positions. Your short passing ability is enhanced when teammates are out of their positions.]

Inspired by the EFL Cup, Dartford bounced back from their lows.

On August 28th, they thrashed Chester City 3-0 away from home – a team currently ranked last in the English Second Division.

On August 30th, Dartford will host Cambridge United.

This team is ranked tenth in the league.

And the result...

The score was 3-3, and the two sides put on a goal-fest, making it worthwhile for the fans to pay their admission.

On September 24th, in the seventh round of the league, Dartford hosted a familiar opponent – ​​Scandinavia United.

The two teams will meet again after the EFL Cup.

This time, Skanthop United displayed the momentum of the League Three leaders. Yes, they have won a series of matches in the league and have already climbed to the top of the League Three.

But after that competition, their first-place position was taken away by someone else.

Because Dartford and they played to a 2-2 draw.

The two sides shook hands and made peace.

Dartford have drawn two and won one of their last three matches, climbing back to eleventh place in the standings.

Unfortunately, Sherry twisted his ankle during the game and had to leave the game due to injury.

Lu Kai, on the other hand, gained two more skills.

[Acrobatic Escape - Bronze: Your escape skills have been improved. You are less likely to get injured when making unconventional moves]

One word: Amazing skill!
Whether it helps or not is not important; what is important is that it can actually reduce the chance of injury.

Essentially, it's on the same level as the [damage resistance] attribute.

It's important to know that players are very prone to injury when making unconventional moves.

Because unconventional training means you do less of it normally, so your muscles and tendons get less exercise. If you suddenly increase the intensity, it's easy to cause problems.

On the other hand, it also means that your movements may be distorted, and you are forcing yourself to do it.

And those movements performed with difficulty are prone to injury.

The other skill is unlocked by upgrading [Mobile Roadblock] after it reaches max level:
[Gravitational Wave Interference - Silver: Your ability to disrupt opponent's passes is enhanced. Your presence will interfere with the passer, affecting the accuracy of their passes; the closer the pass is to you, the greater the impact.]

Gravitational waves are essentially fluctuations in space, meaning that space has depressions.

On the field, some players have this kind of indentation.

Their strong defensive coverage puts a lot of pressure on the opposing players who pass the ball, and they can intercept the ball if the opponent's pass is not accurate enough.

The more the other party cares, the less accurate the transmission sometimes becomes.

This is a kind of spiritual deterrent brought about by capability.

Of course, players with big hearts can overcome this.

But there are far fewer players with big-game mentality than people think.

Next up was the EFL Cup.

In the second round, Dartford were disappointed to be drawn against the Premier League team they had been hoping for.

"Actually, it's not bad. At least it means we have a chance to go further." Jiang Mengyun brought out milk tea and distributed cups to everyone.

Victor took the Pudding Similac and shook his head, saying, "It's not that easy. Although it's not a Premier League team, this League One team is still not one we can beat."

Following his retirement and new job, Victor has now joined the official VIP group of Pond Convenience Store.

The team often holds meetings here, and they always serve milk tea during those meetings.

At least Victor thought it was a gift.

But in reality, this was just a "milk tea monthly payment" program that Dartford offered to its management.

The cost of milk tea is deducted directly from their salaries each month without being specifically displayed.

Alfred had been drinking for so long that he thought he was being penalized for being late.

Lu Kai then flipped open the whiteboard, on which was drawn the lineup and formation of their next opponent:

Butler, Foster
Rugier, Parkinson, Darius, Jamie

Robinson, Adrian, McGee, Moody

Whitehead
-

Reading Football Club, an English League One team!

If you started watching the games early on, you should have a good impression of this team's name.

Parkinson was the former core player of Scansorpe.

“His situation at Reading isn’t great right now. As a substitute for a key player, his playing time is even lower than that of those workhorse substitutes,” Lu Kai explained.

This is easy to understand.

Dartford's most unfortunate player is Lu Kai's substitute, because Lu Kai's attendance rate is just too high.

Other substitutes can get on the field even with makeshift adjustments.

Of course, Green Gun doesn't have Lu Kai as a substitute.

Currently, the only English player whose technical characteristics can barely serve as Lu Kai's substitute is Liverpool's young midfield maestro, Gerrard.

I'm asking you, will you fall against the Heavenly Generals?

"League One teams, which are in the second tier, are under pressure to get promoted to the Premier League, so they don't play as hard in the EFL Cup as they do in the third and fourth tiers."

"This lineup actually includes nearly half of the substitutes, including the engine, Parkinson."

“We need to make a meticulous plan based on this player’s playing habits. I think the breakthrough point is him.”

The others nodded.

Alfred then summoned Kevin.

Kevin then called his brother Andy to inquire about Parkinson's disease.

Brothers never hold grudges overnight.

After saying things like "I was wrong," "I'm an idiot," "My brother is the best player in the world," and "I'm convinced," Kevin obtained important information.

"The reason Reading initially chose Parkinson was because he had an exceptionally strong through ball!" Alfred said, his brow furrowed in worry.

Because Kevin is easily penetrated by through balls.

Even players like Williams and Duff, who lack speed, struggle to handle tricky through balls.

Ashley Williams is one of the team's strongest players when it comes to countering through balls, and he also possesses outstanding speed among defenders.

English teams almost exclusively use a 4-4-2 formation.

"We need to start Williams in the next game," Lu Kai said, indicating to Victor to handle the matter.

The meeting then adjourned.

As Victor shared the good news with Williams, he felt more confident about the upcoming match.

Such meticulous pre-match research and tactical planning are extremely rare among lower-level English teams.

This is especially true for a team that was playing in the seventh tier last season.

Dartford has extremely high standards when it comes to things that improve the team's strength.

……

September 8th, EFL Cup second round.

Dartford will host Reading at their home ground, Riverside Stadium.

The venue remained packed with 6,100 people.

The EFL Cup is a mere trifle for Premier League teams, but a feast for League Three teams.

After all, you can see higher-level teams and stars.

Reading also made quite a spectacle, bringing hundreds of die-hard fans.

These fans were quite unfriendly, unfurling a highly provocative banner that read: "Wolves eat meat, dogs eat shit! Congratulations to Nicky Shorey on his transfer to Dartford!"

This is a sarcastic remark directed at Sherry for choosing Dartford over Reading.

This match will also be broadcast on television.

The BBC's slogan is "The Green Gun's Last Dance".

It's very simple; a League Three team cannot beat a League One team.

In a pre-match interview, Reading's manager also gloated about Sherry's injury: "Speaking of which, we should thank Dartford."

"If they hadn't rushed to buy Sherry, we might have taken over this mess... You know, this player is showing very obvious signs of being injury-prone now."

"Perhaps this is also the punishment from the god of football for those who are disloyal."

“We had already agreed that he would join Reading, but in the end… Green Gun just beckoned him and he went.”

"This is chilling."

“A player like that doesn’t fit Reading’s core values, and we’re glad we didn’t sign him.”

The BBC reporters, who were struggling to find topics to discuss, quickly took this information to Lu Kai and asked for his opinion.

As expected, Lu Kai burst out cursing: "So Reading has no shame at all?"

"They were the ones who voluntarily postponed signing the contract after Shore was injured; they are the ones who broke their promise."

Which player can guarantee they'll never get injured in their career?

"Reading is the kind of team that will abandon you when you're injured."

"I believe everyone would be terrified to play for a team like this."

"For example, Reading's midfielder Parkinson in this match. I heard Reading is considering cutting him because he's not cost-effective. Unless he can show amazing performance in this match..."

The stadium is small and there is no dedicated pre-match press conference room.

Everything was done on the court.

Both sides were able to hear what the other was saying.

Shore in the stands was clenching his fists so tightly they were about to break. How could Reading say that?

Meanwhile, Parkinson of Reading was equally furious. Damn Dartford, you've angered the god of England's through balls!
Thanks to Sky Sports' manipulation and the cooperation of the two clubs, the viewership for this match increased slightly.

With the sound of a whistle, the "Green Guns' Farewell Match in the League Cup" began.

Their starting lineup has changed today:

Eastwood, Holt
Morgan, Brad, Madeira
Patton, Lu Kai

Dawson, Williams, Duff

An Qi
-

Reading started the match with exceptional initiative.

Because they are a strong team, they should control possession of the ball.

Dartford did indeed obediently adopt a defensive stance.

Both flank guards were recalled.

In the fifth minute, Parkinson passed the ball to Butler, who had dropped back to receive it. Butler then passed the ball to Foster, who in turn passed it to Jamie, who had made a run into the right side of the penalty area.

The latter unleashed a powerful shot towards the goal.

An Qi made no mistake and blocked the ball.

An Qi is unlikely to concede goals from shots that are within the expected range and at a narrow angle.

A goalkeeper like this is generally considered very competent.

If An Qi continues to perform like this, he may receive offers from wealthy clubs.

After all, he is only 21 years old, three years younger than Buffon, who was the record signing this summer for 54.1 million euros.

Three years from now, Anqi, the Green Gunner Buffon, may not be weaker than Buffon is today!

In the eleventh minute, Rugiel attempted to break through Greensfield's defensive wall, but Barton brought him down viciously from behind, and the referee made no call.

This is so English.

In the 14th minute, Butler attempted a long-range shot from outside the penalty area, but the shot was of poor quality.

An Qi easily caught the football.

Reading's manager called Parkinson over, asking him to come up with a way to play a key role.

In the seventeenth minute, Parkinson bared his fangs and made a through pass... to Lu Kai's feet!

Lu Kai had been waiting for this moment for a long time.

Forget about sabotage, it's a perfect interception!
boom!
Lu Kai makes a low long pass and begins to deal the cards!
Madeira started speeding down the right flank, and despite being in a bad position at first, he was the first to catch up with the ball.

He took two more steps, and seeing that his teammates were in position, he crossed the ball while moving.

Eastwood knew Madeira was going to pass the ball, so he made a fake run in the penalty area in advance.

Reading's defenders were unfamiliar with Madeira's habits and lost the initiative.

boom!
Eastwood heads the ball towards the goal.

Whitehead raised one hand to the sky and hit a high note, making everyone think he was a singer.

The football flew over his hand and into the goal.

"GOAL! It's Eastwood again! He's opened the scoring for Dartford in two consecutive EFL Cup matches!"

"This player may not have scored many goals, but he has a really strong shot! This kind of player is more adaptable to high-level competitions."

"One to zero! The third-tier Green Guns have actually pulled off a comeback against Reading! They've taken the lead!"

If you play too easily in a lower-level team, scouts will often think you can't play in a higher-level team because higher-level teams won't let you play so easily.

Conversely, if you struggle a bit in a lower-level game, it actually becomes a kind of "high-value" performance.

And in reality, there are indeed many such examples.

In the 25th minute, Parkinson passed the ball to the wing.

Moody came on and delivered a cross.

But Kevin Dawson made a powerful header clearance.

Reading's manager immediately launched into a tirade of abuse.

They were criticizing Parkinson's disease.

Because what he wanted was direct lethality, that's what Parkinson's was for.

If it's just about dividing the sides, why would I ask you when I could ask anyone else?
In the 27th minute, Green Gunners' attacking midfielder Brad delivered a beautiful through ball over the top in the attacking third.

Eastwood outmaneuvered the opposing defender McGee to receive the ball and create a one-on-one opportunity, but his final shot was affected by McGee, and the ball hit the crossbar and bounced out.

They almost scored another goal.

One scout wrote in his assessment of Eastwood: "His goal-scoring efficiency is not high. He rarely scores a second goal in a game, but he almost always scores a goal every two games on average."

With an attacking efficiency of 0.5 goals per game, he is already at the highest level among strikers of this era.

Lu Kai: So, my 100-goal prodigy is no match for his 2-goal-per-second goal?

In the 31st minute, Parkinson, under pressure, tried another through ball.

To make a through pass, you have to get past Lu Kai.

Because of Lu Kai's powerful backing, there's no way to avoid him.

The more they feared it, the less likely they were to find a way to pass the ball.

In fact, there are many routes that Lu Kai cannot block, but he always feels that "it seems like Lu Kai can block them."

Just as Parkinson hesitated, Lu Kai grew larger and larger in his eyes, eventually filling his entire field of vision.

This isn't just psychological; it's... Lu Kai has made his move!

Lu Kai took the initiative to intercept the ball from Parkinson's feet.

boom!
[Long Pass Guidance] + [Card Dealer] Find Eastwood, precisely lock down the opponent.

Eastwood headed the ball back.

Morgan cuts inside from the left wing without the ball, takes it away, and then charges into the penalty area.

Unfortunately, his ball control wasn't as smooth as Ashley Young's, and Adrian's feint retreat and subsequent tackle disrupted the ball.

Ashley Young: For silky smoothness, you need massage oil!
The ball bounced towards the edge of the penalty area, but Brad came up and unleashed a long-range shot.

Extremely high quality!

"GOAL! Two to zero!"

"what's the situation?"

"Reading's midfielder made a huge mistake and was dispossessed by Lu Kai."

"Datford's counter-attacks were very decisive."

"Brad, who previously played for West Ham United, scored a world-class goal!"

"Reading is a bit too eager to succeed; they actually have a pretty high chance of succeeding from the flanks."

The Reading manager had no words to express his frustration.

Crosses from the wings have a low conversion rate for goals!

Dartford's Duff and Kevin are incredibly aggressive in their tackling and positioning.

Williams is fast and quick to cover, making it difficult for Reading to find any openings.

In the 41st minute, Reading passed the ball around without finding an opportunity, so defender McGee simply took a long-range shot.

The quality is actually quite good.

It was slightly above the goal.

In the 44th minute, Lu Kai, now with renewed energy, expanded his defensive area and actively pressed forward.

Under his interference, Rugier hastily passed the ball.

Duff pushed past Foster to steal the ball.

Reading is also trying to win the ball back.

Duff passed the ball to Lu Kai.

Lu Kai pushed Parkinson aside and passed the ball back to Williams without stopping.

Williams passed the ball across to Kevin, who then passed it to Lu Kai, who was running over to receive it.

After receiving the ball, Lu Kai once again passed it without stopping, to Brad who had returned.

This series of possessions in the backfield directly signaled Reading's failure to win back possession.

Of course, Reading also bought time to get back on defense by counter-pressing.

Just when they thought they had everything under control.

Brad passed the ball back to Lu Kai.

Lu Kai launched a long kick directly at the ball.

Another long pass!

In football, it's not that if you go back to a defensive position, the opponent can no longer pose a threat.

Morgan accelerated directly down the left flank, cut inside without the ball, and entered from the flank.

Reading's defenders, who had just returned to their positions, had to immediately follow up, and both of them had to move toward Morgan.

Morgan stopped the ball five meters to his right front.

They actually wanted to eat McGee raw to replenish his strength.

The key is that with his secondary acceleration ability, he really can do it.

McGee had no choice but to take down Morgan.

The referee blew the whistle.

McGee was shown a yellow card.

"Oh! That's a free kick in a very dangerous position."

"And Lu Kai on Dartford's side is a well-known free-kick taker in the lower leagues of England!"

"Sure enough, Lu Kai came from the backfield and he will take the free kick."

This is a free kick about 23 meters from the goal.

Any kick from this position could result in a direct goal.

Therefore, Reading goalkeeper Whitehead had no way of predicting which technique Lu Kai would use.

He could only make the human wall more numerous.

They didn't give Lu Kai a chance to get around the human wall.

In addition, they had players lying behind the wall to prevent Lu Kai from making a low ground shot.

With a whistle, Lu Kai rushed towards the ball and unleashed a powerful shot.

The football barely made it over the wall of players.

The curvature is not large.

Whitehead was about to make a save when the ball started to wobble.

He inevitably stopped lunging.

"not good!"

"It's a leaf ball!"

Whitehead realized what was happening and quickly lunged forward.

The key to saving a knuckleball is to ignore its exact location and just dive for it.

If you make a save, you might be able to block the ball.

Because such a small-scale movement may not be able to get past a target as big as the goalkeeper.

The worst thing is that you get distracted by small movements and hesitate to make a save.

Swish!
Whitehead was ultimately too slow.

The soccer ball grazed his fingertips and slipped into the net.

Lu Kai immediately turned and rushed towards the corner flag area.

And there, the loyal Ashley Young had been waiting for a long time.

The other players also jumped up along with Lu Kai.

The next moment, a god descended to earth!

The whole place was filled with Luuuuuu!

"Alright, the referee has blown the whistle to end the first half!"

"Three to zero! Dartford have secured a scoreline that couldn't be more secure!"

"If they play normally in the second half, they will advance to the third round of the EFL Cup!"

"This is truly incredible. Who would have thought that a fourth-tier team could thrash a second-tier team 3-0 in just 45 minutes?"

"Lu Kai's performance in the first half was unparalleled; he was absolutely dazzling on both offense and defense!"

"Reading probably shouldn't have provoked him before the match."

Faraway Italy, AC Milan's tactics room.

Ancelotti pointed at Lu Kai on the TV and said, "That's the style of play, Andrea, attacking midfielder deep, perfect card distribution! This is the style of play best suited for you!"

“I watched your game at Brescia. You played a similar style to make room for Baggio, but unfortunately you didn’t continue that style after you went to Inter Milan.”

"And we have the resources to perfectly replicate Dartford's core style of play, but our players are their MAX!"

“Your card dealing skills are better than Lu Kai’s, and Gattuso also crushes Barton.”

"So, are you confident in yourself?"

Pirlo was also excited: "It's worth a try! But won't people gossip if we replicate their tactics?"

Ancelotti shook his head: "Every great coach has gone through this process."

Pirlo still had concerns, but Ancelotti was unwilling to discuss them further, and simply turned off the TV, letting Pirlo go to training.

"Huh? You're not going to watch it already? Isn't there a second half?" Pirlo was taken aback.

Ancelotti smiled slightly, lit a cigar, and said domineeringly, "Three to zero at halftime, if it were me, I'd be popping champagne! What's the point of playing the second half?"

Pirlo grinned and said, "That's true, look at my brain. No wonder you're such a great coach, your perspective is just different! You're already thinking about the next round!"

Ancelotti retorted, "Don't be modest, you will also become a legendary player. We will all be remembered in history! We all have a brighter tomorrow!"

McGrady: ? ? ?
Istanbul: Hehehe!
(End of this chapter)