Chapter 296: I Can Score Another Goal

May 15th, 1:30 PM.

Rosendal, Mariflex Field.

Eredivisie, Round 33. Ajax away against Rosendal.

The match fell into Ajax’s rhythm from the very beginning.

For this match, Ronald Koeman made adjustments to the starting lineup. The Romanian left-winger, Mitja, was in the starting eleven, forming a forward trident with Charisteas and Yang Yang.

Pinaar, De Jong, and Sneijder formed the midfield trident, while the two full-backs with outstanding assisting abilities, Maxwell and Maicon, also started.

The message behind Ronald Koeman’s lineup was crystal clear.

They were going to help Yang Yang fight until the very last moment, refusing to give up on the honor of being the Top Scorer.

And as soon as the match started, Ajax proactively launched an attack on Rosendal, pressing them relentlessly.

Rosendal clearly knew Ajax’s intentions and focused on defense from the start, giving Ajax no opportunities.

The two sides went back and forth at a fast pace. But despite Ajax’s intense offense, they couldn’t find an effective way to break through Rosendal’s goal. This left the Eredivisie giants unable to score in the first twenty minutes.

Yang Yang quickly realized this. He knew his teammates were consciously trying to set him up, but this was actually hindering their attack. If Rosendal could just shut down Yang Yang, Ajax’s entire offense would suffer.

‘This is definitely not a good strategy!’

Yang Yang immediately made an adjustment. He started to actively create opportunities for his teammates.

In the twenty-third minute, after receiving the ball on the right wing, Yang Yang didn’t just dribble into the box. Instead, he used a Pendulum Move to force his way past the defender and crossed the ball to the near post just before the goal line.

Charisteas headed it in from close range, easily breaking through Rosendal’s goal.

In the previous thirty-two rounds of the season, this team had conceded a full seventy-five goals, the most in the Eredivisie. If Ajax played to their full potential, scoring wouldn’t be difficult.

While celebrating Charisteas’s goal, the teammates gradually understood Yang Yang’s message.

The Top Scorer title was worth fighting for, but winning the match was just as important.

Especially at this point, the championship race between Ajax and Eindhoven had reached a fever pitch. Either team could make a mistake, yet neither could afford to.

In previous matches, there was still a chance to recover from a mistake. But now, a mistake was tantamount to handing the championship trophy to their rivals, which was unacceptable to everyone.

Hiddink’s team had been extremely consistent all season; aside from their loss to Ajax, they had barely lost a match.

But the more this was the case, the more likely they were to crumble under pressure when it mattered most.

So, no matter what, Yang Yang couldn’t let the team lose hope in the championship race for the sake of his personal honor.

Head coach Ronald Koeman had already given him immense consideration in the lineup. Otherwise, against an opponent like Rosendal, and with the pressure of the UEFA Cup final during the Midweek fixture, Ajax wouldn’t have needed to go all out; they could have secured a win with ease.

But the head coach still fielded the strongest attacking lineup. It could be said that he had done everything he possibly could.

Yang Yang had never been a selfish person; he understood the importance of repaying kindness.

Ajax and the coaching staff had been more than fair to him, and he couldn’t be ungrateful.

‘I have to fight for Top Scorer, but I also have to fight for the league title!’

……

……

“This kid… he’s really something else!” Ronald Koeman nodded in praise.

If it were any other player, they’d be desperate for the team to go all out to help them win the Top Scorer title. But for Yang Yang to choose to assist Charisteas at this moment, it spoke volumes about his character and selflessness.

To put it plainly, it was the demeanor of a true sportsman.

He wants to win Top Scorer, but he also wants the team to win.

“To be honest, if the team doesn’t have him next season, I really don’t know how we’ll play,” Luther Carroll said with a wry smile.

Ronald Koeman nodded silently. ‘Who could argue with that?’

A player like Yang Yang was too special, and too useful.

With his rapid progress this season, he basically had no glaring weaknesses left. In fact, many of his previous disadvantages had now turned into strengths.

But his most valuable asset was his diligence and hard work on the pitch. He was always full of fighting spirit and a desire to win. His tactical execution was superb, his stamina was excellent, his ability to break through defenses was exceptional, and now his scoring ability had improved as well.

It could be said he was the kind of player every head coach dreams of having.

Sometimes, to evaluate a player’s value and his impact on the team, you don’t just look at his stats and performance; you look at how the team performs without him.

Ronald Koeman didn’t have to think about it; he didn’t dare imagine what would happen to Ajax if they lost Yang Yang.

He was just too important to Ajax!

“God is fair. I believe He will give the diligent their just rewards,” Luther Carroll murmured.

……

……

Time ticked by, and the first half was gradually drawing to a close.

Like other teams, Rosendal was also focusing on marking Yang Yang.

Their head coach, Dolf Roex, had made it clear before the match that Yang Yang would not take a single goal from them.

And during this match, he did everything he could to shut down Yang Yang, hoping to limit Ajax’s attack.

But in doing so, he somewhat neglected the other players.

Especially with Yang Yang making wide runs to draw defenders away, it was impossible for Rosendal’s defensive formation to be perfect.

In the thirty-eighth minute, Yang Yang got the ball on the right and passed it horizontally to the center.

Sneijder and Pinaar executed a series of one-twos, and Sneijder unleashed a surprise shot from the edge of the penalty area, scoring another goal for Ajax and extending the lead to 2-0.

Although he hadn’t scored, Yang Yang was still the first to run over and celebrate with his teammate.

He knew his teammates all wanted to help him score, but sometimes, that’s just how it is. You can’t force it.

The Rosendal players weren’t training dummies. They wouldn’t let Ajax manipulate them at will. They had their own targeted tactics, and the most Ajax could do was try their best to help Yang Yang.

“Let’s press them hard right at the kickoff,” Sneijder suggested.

The first half was about to end. Pressing them now had a good chance of success.

“That’s a good idea. We’ll handle the press. As soon as Rosendal kicks off, we’ll push up and go for the ball.”

Charisteas had just received an assist from Yang Yang, and now it was time to return the favor. “Once you win the ball, try to pass it to me. I’ve got the number of Rosendal’s two center-backs.”

With that, the Greek striker looked at Yang Yang. “You just focus on making a diagonal run behind them. I’ll get the ball to you.”

“That’s a great idea, I think it’ll work!”

Chatting back and forth, the teammates quickly agreed on the plan.

Soon, Rosendal’s two forwards stood in the center circle to restart the match.

The moment the ball was played, the Ajax players swarmed forward, pressing all the way back to the defensive line.

The Rosendal players were clearly taken by surprise. They hadn’t expected Ajax to come at them again right after conceding a goal.

In the ensuing panic, the ball was quickly intercepted in the midfield. Sneijder stole a pass from the opposing midfielder.

Pinaar shook off a defender and passed to Charisteas in the center of the attacking third.

The Greek striker used his body to shield the ball from the Rosendal center-back and, with his right foot, flicked Pinaar’s pass behind the defensive line.

And there was Yang Yang, like a flash of lightning, streaking through Rosendal’s defense.

There weren’t many fans in the stadium; Rosendal’s field could only hold five thousand, and every seat was taken.

In an instant, all the fans erupted in surprised cheers.

For Rosendal, a team already relegated, the fans’ attendance was more for Ajax and, specifically, for Yang Yang.

So, when they saw Yang Yang make that lightning-fast diagonal run and catch up to Charisteas’s pass, many of them were so excited they had already leaped from their seats, ready to celebrate a goal.

“Yang Yang is onside!”

“He’s on to his teammate’s pass, one-on-one with the Goalkeeper!”

“Altecs decisively charges out of his goal…”

“Yang Yang… a beautiful Pendulum Move!”

“He’s facing an open goal, and it’s in!!!!!”

“GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!”

“Yang Yang! In the thirty-ninth minute, Yang Yang finally breaks through Rosendal’s goal!”

“My God, Ajax scored two goals in two minutes!”

“That was a very sudden goal!”

After scoring, Yang Yang was so excited he ran off the pitch, doing a knee slide right in front of the television cameras.

Behind him, his teammates swarmed over, surrounding him completely. Someone even kissed him on the forehead.

“Three-nil. Ajax has basically secured this match.”

“Yang Yang has also scored his twenty-seventh league goal of the season.”

“What a tenacious and stubborn finisher!”

“Before this match, Yang Yang was three goals behind Kuyt. Everyone thought he should have given up.”

“But unexpectedly, Yang Yang didn’t stop. He played with extreme tenacity the entire first half, patiently searching for a chance to score at every moment.”

“Now, his efforts have finally paid off!”

“And there’s still the second half!”

“Right now, we should be telling Yang Yang: Come on, wonder boy! You still have the second half. Don’t rush it, you still have a chance!”

Yang Yang got up from the ground and hugged his teammates one by one.

He was so grateful to these teammates!

Without their support, he never could have competed with Kuyt up to this point.

“There’s still the second half!” Yang Yang said, gritting his teeth. “There’s still the second half. I think I can score again!”

“Of course! Even if you don’t want to score, we won’t let you off the hook!”

“That’s right! At least one more, or maybe even go for a hat-trick!”

“If I remember correctly, Yang, you haven’t scored a hat-trick yet. Go get one!”

His teammates all cheered him on, encouraging and supporting Yang Yang.