Starting with playing defensive midfield for Evergrande

Chapter 39: A One-Sided Half-Game Practice Begins! (Please Read On!)

"Boss, this guy... I don't even know what to say anymore! He shouldn't be in China, he shouldn't be playing in this league!"

Su Hao, standing in the corner area, was receiving the cheers of tens of thousands of Evergrande fans with his arms outstretched, while in front of Evergrande's bench...

Madanoni grabbed his boss's arm and spoke incoherently.

Madanoni was startled and somewhat flustered by Su Hao's kick!

Even Marcello Lippi, the Silver Fox who had seen countless top stars, was somewhat moved standing beside him!

It's only been 45 seconds since the start!
A sudden burst of speed broke through the defense, and just as the opposing center-back was closing in, he used a feint to create space and unleashed a high-quality long-range shot to score!

Awareness, footwork skills, and the ability to seize opportunities.

For a moment, Lippi even considered sending Su Hao directly to Italy.

Such talent, which even surpasses that of top foreign players in the Chinese Super League, would be a complete waste if left in the Chinese Super League!
"Fuck!"

"Fuck!!!"

"Fuck!!!!"

One family rejoices while another grieves. Just as the entire Tianhe Stadium was singing praises for Su Hao's incredible world-class goal,...

The away team's veteran coach, Antić, angrily threw away the water bottle handed to him by his assistant in front of the bench.

"I've told you so many times, watch out for number 30!"

"Why?"

"Why?"

"Tell me why?"

Of course, the old man was already mentally prepared for the fact that he would be at a disadvantage in Tianhe.

So after venting for a while, the old man took advantage of the moment when the entire Evergrande team was celebrating to call his players over.

We've already conceded a goal, and Guangzhou Evergrande is currently riding high. We can't afford to let them seize any more opportunities!
"Hao! You come back too! Everyone come back!"

"Let's just hold on for these ten minutes or so!"

"My lord! I don't want to see your blind defensive moves anymore!"

"clear?"

Antich said firmly.

Knowing full well that the goal conceded was his fault, Wang Yongpo immediately nodded obediently.

2 minutes later!
The match restarted with the referee's whistle.

That is, from this moment on.

Almost all 11 players on the Shandong Luneng team retreated to their own half.

Even when they had possession, Shandong Luneng only managed a few simple passes before sending a harmless cross from the wing to their center forward, Aloisio.

"Shandong Luneng has been woken up. This is Tianhe Stadium. It seems that Guangzhou Evergrande has hardly lost at home in the last two seasons!"

"Yes, Mr. Huang. According to official statistics, Guangzhou Evergrande's home win rate in the 2012 season was 73.3%! The only three losses were all in the AFC Champions League."

"Antic's tactical change was quite clever. He retreated when Evergrande was at its peak. Oh, here we go again, Conca is looking for Su Hao again!"

Huang Jianxiang, who was in the commentary booth, was praising Antić's defensive strategy as a wise move.

Tianhe Stadium suddenly erupted with top-notch sound!
The reason for the fans' excitement is naturally that their team's two most captivating players have once again executed that mesmerizing combination play. Against a defensive, parked-parking formation, there are only two ways to score.

Either launch a high ball into the air or unleash a long-range shot!
Heading is not something that Guangzhou Evergrande's current forwards are particularly good at, so their only option is long-range shots.

When it comes to long-range shots, Su Hao, who even Conca can't lift his head in training, is naturally Evergrande's first choice.

Just like when Su Hao scored the goal.

And this time!
After several passes between Conca and the retreating Muriqui, Conca brought the ball into Shandong Luneng's extremely dense backfield.

Conca feigned a through pass with his right foot, but at the very moment his right foot touched the ball, he changed his push to a flick!
This flick perfectly placed the ball at the feet of Su Hao, who was rapidly following behind.

Facing the incoming ball, Su Hao raised his right leg without hesitation, preparing to unleash another powerful shot.

However, this time, although Su Hao's right foot struck the ball hard, at the moment the ball rose from the ground, Wang Yongpo, who had almost been glared to death by Antić, desperately threw his entire body out.

It was this fearless, ruthless spirit that interfered with Su Hao's shot, causing the ball to graz the crossbar and eventually fly into the stands.

Shandong Luneng escaped a disaster!
However, it was this kick that truly sounded the horn for Guangzhou Evergrande's all-out attack!

9th minute of the match!

Because Su Hao posed such a significant threat, Antić on the sidelines shouted for Wang Yongpo and Hao Junmin to double-team Su Hao.

The two-man attack did indeed prevent Su Hao from having another chance to unleash a powerful shot, but when one door closes, another opens!

Su Hao drew the fire, and Conca, unsurprisingly, continued the attack.

Although Conca's long-range shots weren't as explosive as Su Hao's, he was still Guangzhou Evergrande's second-best long-range shooter.

After repeatedly using changes of direction to shake off Zhou Haibin, who was relentlessly entangled with him, he faced Lü Zheng, who came to assist in the defense.

Conca first flicked the ball diagonally toward Muriqui, then quickly bypassed Lü Zheng.

Muriqui, who received the ball, naturally understood what Conca meant by that.

An incredibly smooth ankle twitched!
The moment he received the pass from Conca, Muriqui immediately sent the ball diagonally to Conca's left foot!

No hesitation!

After glancing briefly at the goalkeeper's position, Conca unleashed a powerful slam of his left foot into the ball.

The ball was very fast, and the angle was also very tricky.

However, perhaps Conca wasn't wearing his shooting boots today. This long-range shot, which was clearly the best he could do, ended up hitting the post and going out of bounds after passing Yang Cheng!
Shandong Luneng has escaped disaster once again!
On the field, seeing his perfect shot ultimately fail, Conca was naturally so frustrated that he covered his head in despair.

"Boss! This can't go on!"

Time passed by, minute by minute!
For a full twenty minutes, Shandong Luneng was completely pinned back in their own half by Guangzhou Evergrande, essentially engaging in a half-court attack and defense drill.

Su Hao, Conca, and even Zheng Zhi and Zhang Linpeng all came up and each kicked him twice.

Faced with this passive situation, Antić's assistant coach, Rezad Kunovač, couldn't sit still any longer!
"No! Keep guarding, but have Lowe move his position forward a bit!"

"Also, tell Hao not to drag things out so long!"

After all, he is a top-class coach who has managed elite clubs such as Atlético Madrid and Real Madrid.

Although his team was extremely passive for those twenty minutes, the old man still keenly sensed that his team's opportunity should come soon.

After all, more than twenty minutes of defensive turtling had unknowingly pushed Guangzhou Evergrande's defensive line almost to the center circle!
Now all he needs to do is wait for an opportunity!
One decisive opportunity is all it takes!

(End of this chapter)