Chapter 967: World Cup: Burned Out! (2)

Time ticked away, with both sides approaching their physical limits.

Messi’s steps were no longer as light as at the start, and every command and reposition by Chen Zhong felt unusually heavy, his jersey soaked in sweat, breathing heavily. Yet the fire in their eyes, the souls of their respective teams, never extinguished.

In the final minute of regulation, China gained a free-kick opportunity on the right side of the front field. This might be the last attack!

Zhao Mingzhe stood over the ball, taking a deep breath. In the box, high-positioned players like Chen Zhong, Shi Hai, and Li Ji were ready, while Rooney and Sun Fei positioned near the penalty spot for any loose balls. Argentina’s penalty area was in chaos, people falling and colliding.

The whistle blew! Zhao Mingzhe ran up, chose not to go for goal directly, but instead struck a highly arcing cross! The ball spun rapidly, finding the far post with precision!

In the crowd, a figure leaped up, overpowering De Paul on defense! It was Chen Zhong! Using his last ounce of strength, he jumped high, as if breaking free from gravitational shackles! He connected! A header towards the goal!

The ball smashed toward the near corner like a cannonball! This time, Martinez was out of reach!

“Bang!!!” A sharp sound, not from the net, but the post! The ball fiercely struck the outside of the near post and bounced out of play!

Chen Zhong fell heavily to the ground, covering his face with both hands, enormous regret swallowing him instantly.

The referee immediately blew the whistle to end the 90-minute match!

1-1!

The vast Aztec Stadium remained lively despite the draw, the songs of Chinese fans never ceasing, filled with hoarse yet unwavering strength.

The brief hydration break quickly passed.

Ancelotti furrowed his brows, glancing at each tired but determined face. He used his last substitution, replacing the equally exhausted midfielder Li Lei with the tirelessly running Wu Qiang, with one goal: to continue constructing a steel defense in the midfield, pestering Messi, and squeezing Argentina’s core passing area.

He patted each of the players’ shoulders on the field, needing no words, his gaze conveying everything—persevere, keep persevering!

Argentinian coach Scaloni also wore a serious expression.

He subbed out the exhausted Molina (Sun Fei indeed became his nightmare all night), and Lautaro, who repeatedly missed chances, bringing in the younger, more aggressive Moreno and forward dynamo Gomez, attempting to use fresh energy to break through China’s defense during the first half of overtime.

The whistle blew again, and the cruelty of overtime immediately manifested. The movements of both sides were no longer smooth, each sprint accompanied by heavy breathing and muscle pain. Yet the intensity of competition only increased, with every fight for possession resembling a battlefield over every inch of land.

Messi’s figure continued searching.

He tried dropping deeper to receive the ball, attempting to avoid Wu Qiang’s constant shadow.

But Wu Qiang seemed like a tireless machine, working with Ding Li and another defensive midfielder to build a moving triangular cage. Despite Messi’s swift turns and exquisite passes in the narrow space, China’s overall defense, under Chen Zhong’s hoarse yet continuous command, maintained incredible discipline.

Chen Zhong himself, on every turn and reposition, seemed unusually heavy, sweat carving ravines on his face, yet the rock-solid determination in his eyes reassured all his teammates.

Argentinian newcomer Gomez several times tried to use speed to breach China’s left side but was foiled by the experienced Shi Hai and the assisting Wu Qiang. Wang Xiaolei’s attention was intensely focused.

China did not just defend stubbornly.

Sun Fei’s stamina seemed a mystery, as his bursts on the left continued to make Argentina’s newcomer Moreno jittery.

In the 97th minute, Sun Fei once again sprinted past the defense, sweeping a low ball across the goal! Hao Chen fought desperately for position, but amidst Romero and Otamendi’s clamp, only managed to graze the ball without causing any threat.

On the other side, Alvarez received a direct pass from Messi creating a half one-on-one, just when he adjusted for a shot, a red figure darted in like lightning—it was Ding Li!

He performed a perfectly precise sliding tackle, cleanly dispossessing the ball in front of the penalty area! This crucial defense sparked another thunderous cheer from the stands.

Ding Li proved Ancelotti’s intent to prepare him for penalties, manifesting his value before the end of regulation.

And indeed, Ding Li’s moves somewhat resembled Chen Zhong’s.

The first half of overtime quickly passed, and the second half began.

After a brief switch of sides, the physical limits truly arrived, with multiple players experiencing cramps, the medical team frequently entering the field. The pace of the game inevitably slowed down, yet every offensive and defensive transition gripped the hearts of millions of spectators, every body contact potentially creating danger.

In the 107th minute, Argentina was awarded a left-sided free-kick in the front field.

Messi stood over the ball unhesitatingly. The entire stadium held its breath, the air thick with suffocating pressure. China established a firm wall of defense, Chen Zhong firmly staring into Messi’s eyes. Run-up, shot!

The arc of Messi’s shot was like a precision-guided missile, soaring over the top of the wall, with a strong spin, racing directly towards the left upper corner of the goal!

Wang Xiaolei! Again, Wang Xiaolei! He seemed to anticipate Messi’s intent, almost diving sideways at the moment the ball launched! His body fully extended in midair, fingertips once again feeling the ball’s spin! He exerted all his strength to flick it!

“Bang!!!” A dull boom, the ball striking fiercely at the junction of the crossbar and post, rebounding into the penalty area! Amid the chaos, Otamendi attempted to follow up, but Wang Xiaolei, quickly lying down, firmly protected it with his body! Otamendi unable to stop his momentum, brought Wang Xiaolei down.

The referee whistled, offensive foul! China escaped doom once more! Wang Xiaolei lay before the goal, his chest heaving violently, as if he had weathered a storm.

The chants from the Chinese fans were nearly lifting the roof, the name “Wang Xiaolei” echoed through the sky, at this moment, he was undoubtedly China’s hero, the absolute door god,

However, the danger wasn’t over!

Argentina’s corner was taken, but Chen Zhong forcefully headed it out of the penalty area.

At the periphery, Zhao Mingzhe seized control before Enzo, then swiftly passed the ball to Chen Zhong, who held possession, keenly noticing the large gap left by Argentina pressing forward with the corner!

He looked up, his vision seemingly widening instantly. Argentina’s right-back position was empty! Without hesitation, Chen Zhong used all his strength to send a 60-meter precise and low-ground pass!

The ball cut through Argentina’s entire half like a surgical knife, crossing the midfield line, rapidly rolling towards the expansive unguarded right flank!

“Rooney!” the commentator screamed.

The figure sharing a name with a legend took off again!

Rooney caught up to the ball! Ahead of him lay only a clear path and the advancing Martinez! One-on-one! A golden chance in the 108th minute of overtime! The entire Aztec Stadium exploded!

Rooney drove the ball towards the box, Martinez experienced, quickly narrowing the angle. Everyone held their breath, anticipating the lethal strike.

Perhaps due to extreme fatigue, affecting his movement, or maybe the immense pressure suddenly came crashing down, Rooney, at the edge of the box facing Martinez’s blockade, in that moment of hesitation, a familiar voice called from the midfield!

“Rooney!”

It was the captain!

The thought flashed through Rooney’s mind, without a second’s doubt, pushing the ball to the center!

The commentator emitted a piercing explosion of sound: “Chen Zhong!”

“It’s Chen Zhong!”

“But he’s far from goal! About 20 meters!”

“This pass shouldn’t have gone back…”

The commentator’s voice was abruptly silenced as Chen Zhong, from over 20 meters out, unleashed an unreasonable long shot!

Rushing from the goal, Martinez realized the danger, but it was already too late!

How did Chen Zhong end up here?