Chapter 187 180: So Magical

After swapping sides for the second half, the Chinese Team began to defend solidly and counter-attack. The players' performance was incredibly tenacious.

Even after Yang Yang was moved to the right wing, the Sweden Team didn't let up on their tight marking. They were clearly well aware that the three previous teams who had ignored Yang Yang were all ultimately defeated.

Sweden was obviously unwilling to become the fourth victim.

Yang Yang wasn't in a hurry either. After the half began, he continued to make active, crisscrossing runs, specifically targeting the gaps in the opposition's defense. This wore out the Swedish defender marking him, who was often pulled out of position.

Although Chen Tao's position had been shifted to the center, he was also constantly making runs into the space that Yang Yang created, which led to a threatening chance shortly after the half started.

Chen Tao initiated an attack on the right flank and was fouled, winning the Chinese Team a free kick in the attacking half. However, the National Youth Team's Wang Hongliang took a powerful direct shot. It was a very dangerous attempt, forcing the opposing Goalkeeper to fumble the save. Zhu Ting, following up, was a step too slow and failed to pounce on the rebound.

Although it didn't result in a goal, the Chinese Team's counter-attack sent a cold chill down the spines of the entire Sweden Team.

And this attack gave the players a glimmer of hope.

As long as they played patiently and kept their defense tight, offensive opportunities would come sooner or later.

With this newfound hope, the players on the field executed their tactics with even greater resolve.

Their physiques were inferior, their individual skills were lacking—so they would have to rely on teamwork to compete.

The Sweden Team also noticed the Chinese Team's tactical shift and quickly tried to make their own adjustments. But China's strategy was clear: keep attacking down Yang Yang's right flank.

In the forty-ninth minute, another attack came from the right. Once again, Yang Yang pulled the opposing defender out of position, and Chen Tao made a quick, direct run in behind. After receiving a pass, he crossed it in. Zhu Ting was pushed down at the edge of the opponent's penalty area, and the referee called a foul.

This time, however, Wang Hongliang's direct free kick hit the wall.

Two consecutive attacks had created threats, but they hadn't been able to capitalize on either chance. Yang Yang felt a bit frustrated, but he didn't stop encouraging his teammates.

He knew very well that patience was the most important thing right now. They absolutely couldn't afford to get anxious.

The Sweden Team also consciously strengthened their defense, which led to a lull in the game. Neither side seemed willing to launch an all-out attack.

As the match passed the fifty-five-minute mark, Yang Yang could clearly feel that the Swedish player marking him was starting to lose the pace. He, on the other hand, felt full of fighting spirit.

By youth team standards, the Sweden Team's defense was indeed good. But for Yang Yang, who had played in the Champions League and even faced an iron-wall defense like Porto's in the final, Sweden's backline didn't seem so solid.

'It's hard to break through alone, but as long as the team coordinates properly, breaking their formation won't be difficult.'

So, Yang Yang began to pull wide and drop back more actively, frequently raising his hand to call for the ball. But he still didn't rush the attack, instead waiting patiently for an opportunity. If nothing opened up, he would quickly pass back to a teammate to reset and build again.

After two or three probes, the Sweden Team finally exposed a crack in their armor.

On one occasion, when Yang Yang dropped back to receive the ball outside the 30-meter zone, the Swedish defender didn't follow him immediately. A pass from the backfield came to Yang Yang, who controlled it with his chest, brought the ball to a dead stop at his feet, and turned to face Sweden's defensive formation.

Using [God's Vision], Yang Yang could clearly see a full three defensive players around him, on high alert.

But this was exactly what he wanted.

Yang Yang immediately took off, cutting diagonally toward the center with the ball while gesturing to Chen Tao, signaling him to make an overlapping run.

Sure enough, Chen Tao overlapped at top speed. Meanwhile, Yang Yang accelerated, dribbling diagonally toward the box, drawing the three Swedish defenders toward him—especially Lindegren.

The Swedish player was very familiar with Yang Yang. He didn't get too close, instead maintaining a suitable distance, refusing to fall for any feints. He stuck to him like glue, forcing Yang Yang's attacking dribble out toward the sideline.

After Chen Tao sprinted upfield, his speed was indeed impressive, but he also overran the play and paid no attention to his running line, making it difficult for Yang Yang to pass to him. Meanwhile, the right-back Liu Yu hadn't joined the attack from behind, leaving Yang Yang with no passing options at all.

'Our coordination is still too raw.'

With no other choice, Yang Yang executed a feint and then charged toward the right side of the penalty area with the ball, hoping to use his speed to create an opportunity for a cross.

Even though he was surrounded by three players, Yang Yang still relied on his skillful footwork and dribbling, giving the Swedish defenders no chance to make a tackle. In the end, he managed to draw a foul from their defender, Goran West, earning a free kick on the right side of the attacking half.

Lindegren walked over, shaking his head with a wry smile. He pulled the fallen Yang Yang to his feet and complained, "I did my best to stick with you, but you still managed to shake me."

Yang Yang lightly patted his shoulder and laughed. "You must have sold me out. Just wait and see how I deal with you later."

The two had been teammates on the Ajax Second Team, but now they wore the jerseys of their respective National Teams, playing for their own countries. Yang Yang wasn't angry at all; he was just joking around.

Lindegren, of course, recognized Yang Yang's mock threat. But after a laugh, he saw Yang Yang walking toward the spot of the foul and immediately grew alert. He shouted, "Be careful, his free kicks are deadly too!"

Yang Yang turned back and pointed at Lindegren, as if to say, 'Buddy, I was just talking about you selling me out, and you turn around and do it again.'

"I'll buy you dinner later, but we're winning tonight!" Lindegren chuckled.

The National Youth Team players all came forward. Yang Yang exchanged a few words with Wang Hongliang, then called over Feng Xiaoting who had run up. He whispered something in his ear, then patted Feng Xiaoting's shoulder, encouraging him to go forward.

As Yang Yang stood at the free-kick spot, the penalty box was crowded with players. It was a moment that starkly illustrated the Chinese Team's disadvantage in physical and strength matchups. Not only were their bodies smaller, but they were also clearly overpowered in terms of pure strength.

Anyone seeing this would feel a sense of helplessness. No matter where you crossed the ball from, it seemed destined to be headed away. This was precisely why the Chinese Team had failed to create any real threat from their previous free kicks and corners.

After the opposition set up their wall, Wang Hongliang slowly backed away, moving to the edge of the penalty area. This created the illusion that Yang Yang might simply lay the ball off for Wang Hongliang to either cross it in or take a shot himself.

The Sweden Team immediately assigned a player to mark Wang Hongliang.

It was a battle of wits and wills.

When the referee blew the whistle, Yang Yang quickly started his run-up. He planted his left foot at a forty-five-degree angle to the ball, swung his right foot, and swiftly kicked. It was a perfect execution of the curving cross from [Beckham's Cross].

The ball shot off Yang Yang's foot, carving a swift arc through the air. It flew over the wall and dipped straight toward the penalty area, drawing the attention of everyone, including the Goalkeeper. But then, it suddenly swerved on a new trajectory, curling toward the back post.

Everyone was fooled by that curve, even the Goalkeeper. Furthermore, the Chinese Team players had all made a synchronized rush to the near post, leaving the back post completely unmarked.

Feng Xiaoting, who had started in the center, broke away from the crowd and then suddenly darted toward the back post. The ball fell perfectly within his reach. The National Youth Team's most famous aerial threat had been stewing, eager to atone for his past mistakes. How could he possibly miss a chance like this?

...

"GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!"

"THE BALL IS IN!!!!!"

"In the fifty-seventh minute, the Chinese Team has tied the score!"

"A header from number five, Feng Xiaoting, and the Chinese Team has finally equalized!"

"Both sides are back on level terms, one to one!"

"It was a very sudden goal, just as sudden as the Sweden Team's goal in the first half! But we have to recognize the genius behind this free-kick set-piece. Yang Yang delivered a truly world-class ball."

"The curve on that free kick fooled everyone, including the Sweden Team's Goalkeeper, Carlqvist."

...

The moment the goal was scored, an ecstatic Feng Xiaoting sprinted toward the sideline and threw his arms around Yang Yang in a powerful hug.

"That was incredible! Incredible!"

"You really sent the ball to the back post! You actually did it!"

Feng Xiaoting was incoherent with excitement. But it was only then that the other teammates who had gathered around realized, to their astonishment, that this had all been premeditated by Yang Yang. He had planned to send the ball to the back post all along.

But beyond the shock, everyone was overjoyed, because the team had finally tied the score.

One-one. Both sides were back on level terms. The Chinese Team still had a chance.

"Remember what I said! Be patient, keep the defense steady, and we can definitely still win this!"

After equalizing, the Chinese Team regained its confidence. Their desire to win grew even stronger, and everyone was fired up.

The Sweden Team seemed to sense the change in the Chinese Team's morale. Especially as their own players began to tire, they consciously started to tighten up their defense, ensuring there would be no more lapses.

Meanwhile, the Chinese Team repeatedly used Yang Yang as their focal point to create threats.

Less than ten minutes after the previous goal, the Chinese Team launched another fast counter-attack down the right flank.

After receiving a pass from the backfield on the right wing, Yang Yang's first touch took him right past Sweden's left-back. He accelerated, dribbling diagonally toward the penalty area. As Lindegren came up to defend, he quickly passed the ball horizontally to Chen Tao while darting into the space behind Lindegren.

Chen Tao understood implicitly and returned the pass, but he didn't keep it on the ground, sending back an awkward, waist-high ball.

Thinking on his feet, Yang Yang lifted his right leg and used his inner thigh to cushion the ball to his left. Then, before Lindegren could react, he used his left foot to stop the bouncing ball and push it to his right. With another gentle poke from his right foot, he managed to carry the ball into the penalty area while squeezed between Lindegren and Sweden's number four center-back.

This sudden turn of events set all the Chinese fans in the stadium ablaze with excitement.

Yang Yang burst into the space behind, caught up to the ball, and came face-to-face with Carlqvist. First, a feint sent the Goalkeeper the wrong way, and then he calmly slotted the ball into the Sweden Team's goal.

In less than ten minutes, the Chinese Team had scored two goals!

Overcome with excitement, Yang Yang sprinted off the pitch, shouting nonstop along the way.

All around him, the other Chinese players chased after him. Even head coach Tie Sheng rushed to the sideline and pulled Yang Yang into a tight embrace.

Two to one!

The Chinese Team had completed the comeback!