Chapter 960: The Most Deserving National-Level Powerhouse

Chapter 960 -3: The Most Deserving National-Level Powerhouse

Wang Dalei’s vision was obstructed, even though he made a desperate dive, barely brushing the ball with his fingertips, he still couldn’t stop it from rolling into the net!

1:1!

“Lukaku!!!! A brilliant assist from De Bruyne! Belgium equalizes!” the commentator’s voice carried a hint of helplessness, “This was a textbook superstar connection! De Bruyne’s passing vision and penetration are world-class, and Lukaku’s start and shooting showcased the qualities of a top striker. At this moment, China’s defense was completely torn apart, with a momentary lapse being seized by elite players.”

Belgium is not some mediocre team; they are also a powerhouse in Europe.

Although their defense is a bit lacking, their midfield and forward lines can be considered ‘top-notch.’

After scoring, Lukaku roared as he rushed toward the corner flag to celebrate, releasing the pressure on the Belgian team.

Chen Zhong stood with his hands on his hips, looking at the ball in the net, his brows furrowed. He clapped his hands forcefully and shouted loudly to his teammates: “Stay calm! Focus! The match isn’t over yet!”

After the kickoff resumed, both teams played more cautiously. The high temperatures were like invisible shackles, as sweat had already soaked through their jerseys, clinging tightly to the players’ bodies. After a few sprints, players with high stamina consumption like Li Ji and Zhang Wenxuan were already gasping for breath, hands on knees.

No further goals were scored during injury time.

Zhao Mingzhe attempted to link up in the middle, but Belgium intensified their midfield stranglehold, with Onana and Tielemans marking him more closely. Hao Chen, under the encirclement of the opponent’s tall central defenders, also struggled to find a comfortable jumping space.

The referee blew the whistle for halftime.

The score at halftime was locked at 1:1.

“The first half is over! China opened the game with skilled coordination, Zhao Mingzhe’s decisive goal giving the team a dream start, but Belgium quickly equalized relying on De Bruyne and Lukaku’s connection.”

“Ancelotti’s tactical adjustments, especially moving Chen Zhong back to a central defender, truly helped stabilize the defense, repeatedly neutralizing Lukaku’s direct assaults. Zhao Mingzhe also showcased threats in the attacking midfield position. But Belgium’s strong individual abilities and overall strength quickly rebounded from behind, seizing a fleeting moment of defensive lapse in the middle for a deadly strike.”

“The high temperatures are a severe test of stamina for both teams’ players, especially for the Chinese players, who need to manage their stamina in the second half effectively after starting with high-intensity pressing. Xu Ping’s side facing Doku’s offensive is a lingering threat. Meanwhile, Belgium’s midfield control, particularly De Bruyne’s performance, remains the source of their attack. Adjustments from both sides are inevitable in the second half.”

“Who can have the last laugh is not certain yet!”

…

During halftime, both teams made adjustments, and in the second half, Belgium initiated the attack first, trying to establish a lead.

Doku received the ball more frequently on the left, with Xu Ping gritting his teeth as he and Shi Hai collaborated in close defense, repeatedly fending off Doku’s drives with difficulty.

In the 51st minute, Doku boldly drove to the baseline and crossed, with Chen Zhong rushing in front of Lukaku, desperately heading the ball out for a corner.

The corner was taken, with De Bruyne’s precise arc finding the far post, and Faes pressed over Xu Lei for a header! This time, Wang Dalei performed another heroic save, leaping to tip the ball over the crossbar with one hand! The stands erupted with a massive cheer of relief.

“Wang Dalei! A divine intervention! Faes’ header was of high quality, with a sharp angle, but Wang Dalei’s reaction and burst speed were simply unbelievable!” the commentator’s voice trembled with excitement.

Belgium continued with consecutive corners, and China’s penalty box was in turmoil.

On the third corner take by De Bruyne, he opted for a tactical corner, passing low to the edge of the penalty area after a short exchange with Tielemans! Onana met the ball with a fierce shot! The ball flew through the crowd towards the bottom left corner of the goal!

At the last moment, a red figure came sliding in! It was Zhang Wenxuan! He blocked Onana’s powerful shot with his body, sending it out for a corner! He rolled painfully on the ground briefly but then tenaciously stood up, signaling to his teammates that he was fine.

The entire crowd of Chinese fans gave a thunderous round of applause.

“Zhang Wenxuan! A critical block! Sacrificing himself to block the shot! At this moment, he embodies the iron-blooded value of the unsung hero! There’s no star’s brilliance, but he stands out at a crucial moment!” the commentator commented with respect.

After withstanding Belgium’s fierce opening attack, China’s team’s stamina ceiling began to appear.

Li Ji and Zhang Wenxuan’s coverage noticeably declined, and midfield control weakened.

In the 60th minute, De Bruyne easily shook off the slightly sluggish Li Ji near the center circle and sent a long, overhead pass! Trossard understood and sprinted forward, seemingly about to go one-on-one!

At this critical moment, a red figure sprinted back with all his might from behind! It was Chen Zhong, positioned behind! He unleashed an incredible burst of speed, and just as Trossard was about to touch the ball, a clean and decisive sliding tackle knocked the ball out of bounds! While also knocking Trossard down. The referee signaled no foul, and the game continued.

“Chen Zhong! A crucial recovery slide tackle! Absolutely crucial! This exemplifies the awareness and explosiveness of a world-class star! Ancelotti was right in having him anchor the defense line! Having a veteran is like having a treasure!” the commentator marveled.

Chen Zhong got up, clapping his hands and loudly motivating his teammates: “Hold on! Just hold on a little longer!”

Ancelotti keenly sensed the changes in the game’s dynamics and the players’ fatigue.

In the 65th minute, he decisively played his first card: substituting Zhang Wenxuan, who was actively contesting but exhausted and technically crude, with Ding Li, a defender at Real Madrid with superior skills, a certain organizing ability, and strong frontal defense!