thefictionvixens Chapter 44 Free Kick Combinations
Chapter 44 Free Kick Combinations
A few minutes later.
Ye Xian has pretty much figured out the South Korean team's attacking patterns.
Actually, it's still the same as before. No matter how the ball is played in front, it will eventually fall to the feet of the two wing-backs, who will then cross the ball for the forwards to try and get a header.
The South Koreans simply don't have the same ability as the Japanese team to keep the ball firmly under their feet and penetrate through the middle.
In some ways, the South Korean team's playing style is quite similar to that of the Chinese team in many instances...
These are also the key defensive points that the Chinese team has been practicing in the past few days, and they are basically all within their grasp.
So Ye Xian started standing on the sidelines, waving frequently.
This is forcing Chinese players to increase the intensity of their pressing!
At the same time, they also began to increase restrictions on the two flanks of the South Korean team.
I won't let you send it anywhere!
When the Chinese team picked up the pace, the South Korean team struggled to adapt.
In the past, it was always the Korean team that pressured others; now it's their turn to pressure themselves.
10 minutes.
Liu Xiangtie received the ball in the middle, but Li Tie quickly intercepted it.
Liu Xiangtie immediately tried to win the ball back, but Li Tie used his body to shield the ball and didn't lose it.
To prevent Li Tie from dribbling forward and posing a threat, Liu Xiangtie made a fierce tackle, sending Li Tie crashing to the ground.
The referee then blew his whistle.
Free kick.
This is a spot not far from the edge of the South Korean team's penalty area, slightly to the left.
Shao Jiayi walked over to take the free kick.
He is currently the best free-kick player in the Chinese team, and he also has a very strong long pass.
He started today, and although there was a shortage of players, he definitely had a chance to make a difference!
Under Li Yunzai's command, the South Korean team also formed a four-man wall, nervously watching Shao Jiayi.
Shao Jiayi takes a running start and kicks!
However, he did not choose to shoot directly.
He simply kicked the ball in a very low arc, so that it just cleared the wall and reached the near post.
There, Chinese striker Yang Chen had already sprinted to his position.
Although he is not as tall or heavy as South Korea's two center-backs, Lee Min-sung and Hong Myung-bo, Yang Chen's acceleration is very fast.
Moreover, this free-kick combination was clearly something the Chinese team had practiced!
As soon as Shao Jiayi reached out, Yang Chen started running towards her.
Thus, with the ball in hand, Yang Chen ran to the near post and leaped high, getting to the first touch before the two South Korean center-backs could jump, and headed the ball across to the right corner of the penalty area.
Yes, Yang Chen's shot wasn't a goal either!
He was at the near post at that moment, and if he were to force a shot, he could only glide it with his scalp, which would be very difficult to threaten Lee Woon-jae, the South Korean goalkeeper who is currently in excellent form.
Moreover, Li Mincheng quickly moved to cover the goal the moment Yang Chen rushed to the ball, making it even more difficult for him to shoot.
So he headed the ball across.
This makes it harder for the South Korean team to defend.
Because everyone's attention was first focused on Shao Jiayi, who was taking the free kick, and then on Yang Chen, who was receiving the pass at the near post.
As for the back point?
Is anyone there?
There are indeed people.
Qu Bo, China's number 16 striker, is making a high-speed run forward!
He brought the ball down steadily.
South Korea's left wing-back Lee Young-pyo quickly moved to cover, positioning himself at the corner of the penalty area to create a one-on-one situation with Qu Bo.
But Qu Bo was not prepared to pass the ball.
His dribbling relies mainly on explosive speed to overpower opponents, but now he has very little space, and if he takes too long a touch, he might dribble the ball out of bounds.
So he opted for a triangular cross.
At that very moment, Shao Jiayi, who had just taken the free kick, had already silently made his way to the edge of the penalty area!
Because of the dazzling teamwork of the Chinese team, the South Korean team completely ignored Shao Jiayi's movement.
There is no defender in front of Shao Jiayi right now!
"The South Korean team is in danger now!!!"
"Their central area just outside the penalty area is open, and our Shao Jiayi has already received the ball!"
"He has plenty of time to aim and unleash his power!"
"He swung his leg! He slapped it! He ejaculated!"
"Goal!!!!!"
"In the opening 12 minutes, Shao Jiayi opened the scoring for the Chinese team!"
"It felt like a well-designed free-kick combination. Shao Jiayi served to the near post, allowing Yang Chen to head the ball to the other side."
"Then Qu Bo successfully attracted the attention of all the South Korean defenders after receiving the ball. At this moment, Shao Jiayi had already run all the way to the edge of the penalty area. Qu Bo's pass and Shao Jiayi's positioning were just right."
"Let's take another look at this slow-motion replay. Yes, Qu Bo didn't even look up to see where Shao Jiayi was when he passed the ball. He knew his teammate would be there!"
"The Chinese team's entire offensive strategy was very clear, and it must have been a routine that they had practiced many times! It has to be said that the Chinese team does have a unique approach to designing offensive routines."
"China is now leading South Korea 1-0!"
On the sidelines, Ye Xian hugged Milutinovic, Jin Zhiyang, and others one by one, and then turned around and cheered loudly to Shao Jiayi and the Chinese team players who were walking back onto the field.
Shao Jiayi, who scored the goal, excitedly rushed to the coaching bench and hugged the coaches tightly.
Indeed, as Huang Jianxiang said, this free-kick combination was exactly what they had been practicing carefully over the past two days.
After all, the Chinese team currently lacks a tall striker, so forcing shots would definitely not be effective.
Only through such interlacing runs, from left to right and then to the center, can the South Korean defense be completely disrupted!
……
"Oh dear, we really didn't defend that ball very well."
"Yeah, how could this happen? We were playing well at the beginning, but suddenly we seemed to lose focus."
In the media section of the stands, two South Korean legends were shaking their heads.
One is Cha Bum-kun, the greatest player in South Korean history, and the other is Kim Joo-sung, a three-time Asian Footballer of the Year.
They came as guests to provide live commentary for Seoul TV.
In the opening stages of today's match, the South Korean team seemed to take the initiative on the field, frequently launching attacks from the Chinese team's backcourt.
Instead of employing their usual high-pressing tactics in this tournament, the Chinese team retreated further to defend.
It looks as if the Chinese team is a bit timid when facing the aggressive South Korean team playing on home soil, and dares not push forward to attack.
Therefore, Cha Bum-kun and Kim Joo-sung were initially quite relaxed, believing that the South Korean team could easily defeat the depleted Chinese team.
But then a goal was scored.
This was a free-kick combination, and the reason for this free kick was due to a change in the Chinese team's tactics.
"I feel it's because Hiddink was outmaneuvered by Ye Xian; his initial defensive stance was actually a ploy to lure us into attacking," Cha Bum-kun shook his head again.
"Does the senior mean that they are prepared for the timing and method of our attack?" Jin Zhucheng asked.
"Yes," Cha Bum-kun nodded. "Although we seemed to be attacking aggressively, the Chinese team held firm in the middle, forcing us to cross the ball every time we got to the front."
"But their aerial defense in the middle was very effective, and every time we attacked, we could only return empty-handed."
"As we pressed forward relentlessly, their counter-attacks began. Li Tie could easily make long runs when he had the ball, and Liu Xiangtie had no choice but to bring him down."
"At this point, the Chinese team could utilize Shao Jiayi's footwork, allowing Yang Chen and Qu Bo to combine, and ultimately score this goal..."
Cha Bum-kun was a top Bundesliga star during his playing career, and the all-time leading player in appearances and top scorers in South Korean football history. After retiring, he also served as the head coach of the South Korean national team and several K-League teams, demonstrating a deep understanding of tactics.
He even coached at Ping An Insurance in Shenzhen for a year and a half!
Therefore, he is quite familiar with Chinese players.
Jinzhucheng, on the other hand, is relatively inferior.
He frowned and said, "Could it just be luck? I don't quite believe the Chinese team can play such exquisite tactics and teamwork. It feels like it was just an accident caused by a set-piece opportunity! Judging from the first ten minutes of the game, we still have the advantage and will quickly equalize the score!"
Cha Bum-kun shook his head slightly again: "I hope so..."
……
Not far away.
Current Everton manager David Moyes was also in the stands.
Blue eyes were fixed intently on Ye Xian on the sidelines of the court...