I AM the Football Star-Chapter 518 - 141: Missing Out on the European Cup? (Part 4)
Messi, Dybala, both are masters at this.
Of course, their dribbling threat isn’t just about ball control with the instep.
In the forty-first minute of the match.
Morici sends a rocket pass, Bai Zhami breaks through on the left with a solo run.
Facing the goalkeeper, Bai Zhami pretends to pass to Fernandez, who’s inserting on the right, but instead makes a shot at the near corner.
The goalkeeper is deceived and dives the wrong way.
San Remo leads two to zero.
Bai Zhami opens his league goal account for the season.
This is his second goal of the season.
The previous one was scored against Juventus in the Italian Super Cup.
Super Cup, FIFA Club World Cup, Community Shield, these awards can be counted twice.
They can be counted in the last season’s award statistics.
And also in this season’s award statistics.
Very handy indeed!
In the second half, Pisa clearly isn’t willing to just swallow the bitter pill.
They launch a fierce assault on San Remo’s right side.
Canyes is already strong in attack and weak in defense.
Matias is not a dedicated center-back, and the defense managed by these two is shaky.
Pisa utilizes a high ball pass, directly hammering two headers over Matias’s head, nearly scoring.
In the sixty-seventh minute of the match, Sotu signals for a substitution, bringing on Naji for Matias.
From the current situation, Matias might serve as a center-back in a three-back formation, but in a four-back setup, he’s likely only a right-back.
Nonetheless, Matias is on the field and seems happy.
As time progresses, there will be more matches, and Matias isn’t worried about not making the starting lineup.
But on the other hand, five minutes after Naji comes on, he loses focus again.
Canyes, under pressure, passes back to Naji.
The opponent quickly presses Naji.
With an opponent forward lurking between Naji and Palacios, Naji safely passes back to goalkeeper Areola.
But during the pass, he mishits the ball, and Areola, near the goalpost, is three meters away from the ball’s path.
Pisa’s forward reacts immediately, rushing toward the ball.
Areola races for speed but is slow due to being caught off guard.
Moreover, Areola gets kicked in the chest by the opponent’s following through after poking the ball.
San Remo not only concedes a goal but the goalkeeper clutches his chest, struggling to breathe.
After a medical check, Areola is fine but it’s best for him to rest to avoid getting winded again.
Jalard quickly warms up and comes on to replace Areola.
Meanwhile, Versachi replaces the freshly substituted Naji.
After Versachi comes on, he swaps positions with Lam, playing as a defensive midfielder while Lam plays center-back.
Naji looks bewildered when substituted, in disbelief.
So much so that he doesn’t respond to Sotu’s gesture, refusing to high-five with Sotu.
Sotu ignores Naji.
But this moment is captured by the media.
Basically, this is the first time such a situation has happened at San Remo.
Even Becher’s before didn’t express such dissatisfaction with Sotu.
This might be the difference between one’s own kid and someone else’s.
One’s own kid, no matter how authoritative the parents are outside, are never afraid at home, often throwing tantrums.
Because the parents’ fierce methods are hard to use on their own children.
The kid might rely on this, and during rebellious phases, the issue becomes more serious.
Naji is San Remo’s kid, with full support from San Remo’s fans, having brought so much joy, he has never felt Sotu’s wrath.
Yet Naji hasn’t realized the gravity of the situation, as he quickly heads to the locker room after spending some time on the bench.
Lu Yang raises an eyebrow, thoughtful.
In the eighty-fourth minute of the match.
Fernandez, who has played the whole match, sends a direct pass, delivering a good ball.
But unfortunately, Lu Yang’s run is slightly slower, ultimately letting the opposing goalkeeper snatch the ball first.
Lu Yang slips inside the small penalty area and doesn’t hurry to get up.
He’s tired.
Lying down for a while doesn’t hurt.
After all, it’s the final few minutes.
But Pisa has different thoughts.
Pisa’s goalkeeper loudly instructs his teammates to position themselves.
They are down two to one, with five or six minutes left, they’re ready to fight.
San Remo’s right side has gaps, Pisa can create threats.
Therefore, Pisa’s players quickly rearrange.
Meanwhile, Lu Yang quietly gets up.
Pisa’s goalkeeper checks sideways for a moment.
Lu Yang makes a small leap, hiding in the blind spot of the Pisa goalkeeper’s vision.
Focused Pisa goalkeeper then places the ball on the ground, preparing for a long pass.
But next moment, a blue and white figure springs from behind him, poking the ball away directly.
Bang!
Lu Yang holds off the Pisa goalkeeper, turns and shoots!
The ball flies directly into the empty net!
San Remo scores again, leading three to one!
Such a dramatic goal thoroughly shatters Pisa players’ morale.
Pisa’s goalkeeper covers his face and sits on the ground, hoping this nightmare day ends soon.
