Chapter 142: One big win
After three rounds of the Champions League group stage, Inter Milan topped the group with a perfect record, setting an optimistic tone for their advancement. Ajax, with one win, one draw, and one loss totaling 4 points, sat in second place, while Lyon, with one win and two losses totaling 3 points, occupied third place. Rosenborg, with one draw and two losses totaling 1 point, languished at the bottom.
Both Ajax and Lyon still had a chance to advance to the next stage of the group stage as the second-placed team, but Ajax held a stronger position, having the upper hand in their direct confrontation in the first round.
With eight groups and a total of sixteen teams in the top two positions, there would be another round of four-group matches, with the top two from each group advancing to the quarter-finals. The current format of matches and scheduling posed significant challenges for all participating clubs.
Therefore, UEFA was discussing restructuring, and perhaps the 2003-2004 season of the Champions League would no longer have a second round of group stage matches but would directly proceed to home and away matches in the round of sixteen.
This change would reduce the number of matches for the sixteen teams from six to two, significantly alleviating the pressure on the teams.
On October 6th, in the fourth round of Serie A, Inter Milan faced Piacenza away. The home team's fans in the stands were cheering loudly while enjoying hot Italian ham pies, creating a very lively atmosphere.
In this match, Inter Milan fielded their strongest lineup, aiming for victory. The away team dominated the game, displaying absolute superiority on the field. This "Red Wolf" team, with its distinct Italian characteristics, had been running towards the relegation zone this season.
In the 5th minute of the game, Di Biagio dribbled the ball into Piacenza's penalty area, then cut inside, drawing the attention of the defense, before sending a cross.
Batistuta failed to connect with the ball inside the penalty area, but the ball was cleared out by a defending player, earning Inter Milan a corner kick.
Wang Feng decided to take the corner kick. After observing the crowd in the penalty area, Di Biagio signaled with his hand while moving, and Wang Feng nodded slightly. With a run-up, Wang Feng delivered a curved ball to the near post.
Di Biagio, positioned centrally, suddenly moved, and with a slight block from Recoba on the defender marking him, he successfully arrived at the near post.
Di Biagio managed to touch the ball at the edge of the small penalty area, and it deflected onto the post and into the net.
"The ball's in! Just at the beginning of the game, Inter Milan executed a wonderful corner kick combination, with Wang Feng assisting Di Biagio to score first!"
After scoring, Di Biagio immediately rushed to the sidelines and gestured for Wang Feng to come celebrate with him. Their tactic had succeeded, and Wang Feng's precise corner kick placement played a crucial role.
Wang Feng quickly joined him, and the two of them together acknowledged the Inter Milan fans who had come from afar in the stands.
In the 15th minute, Inter Milan launched a quick counterattack. Zanetti's diagonal pass from midfield found Di Biagio on the left flank, who took two steps before passing to Recoba in the middle.
Recoba, outside the penalty area, curled a right-footed shot over the defensive line into the penalty area. At this moment, Wang Feng surged forward from the defensive line and, using his chest to control the ball, volleyed with his left foot, once again piercing Piacenza's goal.
"Goodness, it's only been fifteen minutes, and Inter Milan is already leading by two goals!"
"This is Wang Feng's fourth goal of the season, averaging a goal per game. He still demonstrates his formidable attacking ability."
With two goals in quick succession, Inter Milan gradually slowed down the pace of the game. However, in the 30th minute, Inter Milan had another excellent opportunity. A backcourt steal and long pass from Materazzi.
Wang Feng, relying on his unparalleled speed in Serie A, arrived at the ball's position before the Piacenza defenders. With a touch of his toe, he continued to push the ball forward, while also pulling away from the defenders, successfully breaking into the penalty area to create a one-on-one situation.
Facing the onrushing goalkeeper, a wide swing was enough to solve the situation, and Wang Feng calmly slotted the ball into the empty net.
He completed a brace! Inter Milan led Piacenza 3-0! All of this happened in just half an hour!
At the end of the first half, Inter Milan's victory was already assured. During halftime, Coach Cooper sought Wang Feng's opinion on whether he wanted to continue playing and complete a hat-trick.
"My personal opinion is not to play anymore. After all, this is Piacenza's home ground, and I'm worried you might get injured due to the host's desperate defending," Cooper said. Although he was a stubborn coach, he treated the team's top player and beloved Wang Feng differently.
Wang Feng nodded and said, "Mr. Cooper, you can substitute me. I don't think it's necessary to deliberately pursue some statistics. The league is still long, isn't it?"
Cooper nodded. Wang Feng's maturity had always been one of his favorite qualities. He rarely acted impulsively and always made the best choices.
As the second half began, Wang Feng remained on the bench, and the young striker Martins replaced him.
The second half of the game was relatively dull, as Piacenza, despite wanting to reduce the deficit, was limited by their limited strength.
To make matters worse, in the 58th minute, center-back Hubner dribbled near the bottom line on the right side of Inter Milan's penalty area. Cocco and Materazzi surrounded him from behind, contesting for the ball, which went out of bounds.
The linesman signaled for a goal kick, but Hubner was extremely dissatisfied. He angrily ran to the linesman, shouting, "How could this be a goal kick? Are your eyes blind?"
The referee hurried over and gestured for him to go back, but he continued to protest incessantly, even trying to push the linesman. This finally pushed the Italian referee Edmondo Sada to his limit, and he directly showed Hubner a red card, sending him off.
With ten men, Piacenza could no longer muster the desire to attack, completely surrendering, and both sides hoped the game would end soon.
In the 86th minute, Inter Milan earned a corner kick, and Recoba delivered the ball into the penalty area. Materazzi's header once again smashed the opponent's goal.
Inter Milan won 4-0 against Piacenza! Although he only played for forty-five minutes, Wang Feng, who contributed two goals and one assist, was named the best player of the match.
After the game against Piacenza, everyone rushed back to Milan overnight, where they could enjoy a pleasant Sunday. With this round of matches over, the league would temporarily pause, welcoming two weeks of national team match days.
When Wang Feng returned to his villa, it was already past midnight, but the lights were still on in the room. Needless to say, it was the two little girls. Wang Feng opened the door and indeed saw them still playing video games.
"Even if you have a day off tomorrow, you shouldn't stay up so late, right?" Wang Feng scolded after entering the room. His sister yawned and said, "Isn't it because someone wanted to wait for you to come back? It's been almost a month since we last saw you."
Since the away game against Rosenborg, Inter Milan had been playing almost every three days, not to mention away games, even when playing at home, they were in closed training at Pinetina. So it had indeed been a long time since he had been home or seen the two little ones.
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