Chapter 106: Savior
After winning a thrilling victory, Inter Milan returned to their home ground to prepare for the 21st round of Serie A against Torino, another must-win opponent.
However, luck seemed not to be on Inter Milan's side. Just 8 minutes into the game, defender Cordoba was cautioned by the referee for a foul while defending.
In the 23rd minute, Concicao suddenly fell to the ground in pain, clutching his thigh. After a brief assessment, the team doctor diagnosed a muscle strain, forcing him to be substituted.
Just 5 minutes later, Cordoba was provoked by an opponent while defending and angrily pushed him down, receiving his second yellow card of the match, resulting in a red card and a direct send-off.
Inter Milan had to play with ten men for the next sixty-plus minutes. Torino's forwards, Lucarelli and Fiorente, frequently threatened Inter Milan's defense, with Wang Feng often dropping back to defend.
In the first half, Inter Milan barely managed to keep their goal intact, with the score remaining 0-0.
In the halftime dressing room, Coach Cooper's roar echoed, "How could you make such a rookie mistake, Cordoba? It's clear that they were deliberately provoking you. You should have been more cautious after receiving the early yellow card."
"And the first yellow card, it's just a mistake that's as basic as it gets."
The twenty-six-year-old Colombian defender remained silent with his head down. He deeply regretted his impulsive actions. As an experienced veteran who had played in the Colombian and Argentine leagues before coming to Serie A, he should have been more mature in handling such situations.
Having finished his scolding, it was time to address the problem. With the situation on the field heavily favoring Torino, Inter Milan couldn't afford to solely defend. They needed to capitalize on their attacking advantage and unsettle Torino.
Coach Cooper then turned to Wang Feng and said, "Wang, I need you to take on the attacking responsibilities in the second half. You can expand your range of movement in the front court as much as possible to distract the opponent."
"For defense, leave it to Zanetti and the others. If you don't need to defend, don't. Stay nailed in midfield and strictly implement the counter-attacking strategy."
Wang Feng nodded and said, "I understand, I'll do it."
Then he turned to Zanetti and the other defenders and said, "The defensive task for the second half is up to you. I hope you strictly follow my previous defensive arrangements. Solorindo will replace Cordoba's position."
"Ronnie, take a rest in the second half. I need to strictly control your playing time." Ronaldo nodded in understanding.
Coach Cooper concluded, "Everyone, the title race is heating up. We must strive for three points in every game, especially against mid-table teams like Torino. Get your spirits up; this is our home ground, the Giuseppe Meazza Stadium!"
After the break, Torino continued to press Inter Milan with possession tactics. They fully utilized their numerical advantage and adopted a tight marking approach against Wang Feng, making other Inter Milan players hesitant to commit fully to counterattacks.
Many times, when Wang Feng tried to launch a quick counterattack, he found himself surrounded by several opponents with no teammates to support him, forcing him to retreat and give up the attack.
It wasn't until the 85th minute that Inter Milan won possession again in their own half. Matrazi passed the ball to Wang Feng in midfield, initiating a counterattack.
Wang Feng instantly accelerated with the ball, darting towards the opponent's half like a meteor. Torino's center-back, De Assentis, tried to keep up but was quickly left trailing behind by Wang Feng's speed.
"Inter Milan launches a quick counterattack, Wang Feng charges forward with the ball. His speed is incredible, De Assentis can't keep up with him and is left behind!"
"In the blink of an eye, Wang Feng reaches the edge of the opponent's penalty area, but Torino's defenders quickly return to their positions. Delicari and Gallante converge on him, while Fatori defends inside the penalty area."
In this critical moment, Wang Feng's mind seemed to accelerate. Scenes from his training and past experiences merged with reality as he quickly found the best solution.
Facing the converging defenders, he suddenly decelerated, then leaned his body towards Gallante's side, seemingly intending to dodge him and charge through on the side, prompting the Italians to block his path.
At this moment, a gap appeared between the two defenders. Wang Feng quickly pulled the ball back to the side, flicked it forward with his toe, and the ball slipped between the two defenders.
Delicari and Gallante, both experienced defenders, immediately realized the situation and tried to block Wang Feng's path, but it was too late. They could only watch helplessly as Wang Feng broke through.
Was this still an eighteen-year-old youth? This display of strength was on par with Vieri's!
After breaking free from the defenders, Wang Feng charged into the penalty area, facing off against Torino's goalkeeper, Bucci, in a one-on-one situation. Employing a wide swing move, he easily evaded the last defender and stood face-to-face with the goalkeeper.
Torino's goalkeeper, Bucci, dived to make a save, attempting to snatch the ball from under Wang Feng's feet. However, at the edge of the small penalty area, Wang Feng lifted his foot and executed a delicate chip shot. Bucci missed the ball and instead grabbed onto Wang Feng's leg, causing him to lose his balance and tumble over the goalkeeper.
Meanwhile, the ball had already sailed over Bucci's head and gently nestled into the net. As Wang Feng fell to the ground, he quickly lifted his head and witnessed the scene.
The Giuseppe Meazza Stadium fell momentarily silent, followed by an explosive eruption like ignited fireworks. Eighty thousand fans roared with excitement, chanting Wang Feng's name throughout the stadium.
Cameras captured the frenzy in the stands—fans vigorously waving banners bearing Wang Feng's name, shaking Inter Milan's flags with vigor, and even shedding their own team jerseys, twirling them in the air.
Watching Wang Feng sprinting in celebration, Coach Cooper couldn't contain his excitement. This goal was simply incredible—a solo run of over seventy meters, evading three defenders consecutively, and slotting the ball into the opponent's net.
Wang Feng had single-handedly rescued Inter Milan tonight!
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