Chapter 171: Sprint !
On April 10, 2003, the first leg of the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals kicked off at the San Siro Stadium in Milan. Hosting the match was the Nerazzurri, while their cross-town rivals AC Milan had to travel to Amsterdam, Netherlands, to face Ajax.
Valencia, who traveled from afar, deployed a 4-4-2 formation. Before the match, Benitez emphasized the defensive arrangements, particularly focusing on Capone, Pellegrino, Ayala, and Raul Albiol, aiming to contain Wang Feng's attacking threat.
Vincente, Albelda, Rufete, and Aimar in midfield were tasked with disrupting Inter Milan's midfield and forward connection, preventing Wang Feng from linking up with other teammates.
Up front, Carew and Sanchez, with one tall and the other fast, collaborated to both contest aerial duels and exploit Inter Milan's defensive line with speed.
Benitez and his team racked their brains, finally crafting a relatively comprehensive lineup to challenge Inter Milan.
Once the match began, Inter Milan indeed encountered trouble. Due to the home advantage, the players' mentality inadvertently became anxious, thinking about winning more to ease the away leg.
Benitez successfully guessed Inter Milan's mindset, instructing Valencia to play patiently from the start, trying to control possession and slow down the pace of the game.
The anxious Inter Milan players indeed made mistakes! In the 21st minute, Cordoba's eager interception fell into a trap, leading to a defensive lapse, allowing Albelda to successfully pass the ball into an open space.
With no one marking him, Sanchez easily scored, contributing significantly to Valencia!
Inter Milan was now in trouble. Their midfield organization became even more chaotic. Under Valencia's defenders' stern pressure, Wang Feng temporarily couldn't find a way through and could only keep roaming on the field, hoping to create opportunities.
Valencia seized the chance to launch several threatening attacks, especially in the 49th minute when Carew's header was blocked by Materazzi on the goal line.
The visiting players protested vehemently, believing the ball had crossed the line. However, after consulting with the linesman, the referee disregarded their claims, sparing Inter Milan.
Replays in the broadcast room confirmed that the ball hadn't crossed the line, but the commentators remained highly skeptical of Inter Milan's chances. "Given their current state, losing to Valencia is a foregone conclusion."
Time passed minute by minute. The Milan weather in April was quite cool, but Wang Feng was drenched in sweat. He didn't know how far he had run. On average, Serie A forwards run about 11 kilometers per game, but Wang Feng felt he had far exceeded this value.
His chest was burning with pain, yet Wang Feng didn't stop running. Defensive support at the back, interceptions in midfield, and attacks upfront—his presence was felt in every corner of the field.
The weight of one person on an eleven-man team might seem insignificant, but Wang Feng seemed to be gradually increasing his impact. Many times, his timely actions saved the team from danger.
In the 86th minute, Valencia's defenders marking Wang Feng felt a hint of exhaustion. Despite rotating in defense, why hadn't Wang Feng stopped yet? Was he even human?
Albelda, contemplating this question, became distracted. His pass was too weak, and the ball slowed to a stop between him and Rufete.
Wang Feng suddenly accelerated, taking the ball with him. Albelda and Rufete were stunned, rushing to intercept, but Wang Feng pushed the ball forward and accelerated past the midfield line, leaving both defenders behind.
Emarle from the left flank hurried to cover, but Wang Feng was already at full speed. He felt just a gust of wind as the figure in front of him leaped forward.
In an instant, Wang Feng had stormed into the penalty area. Valencia's defender Capone, with a serious expression, approached, trying to intercept him or at least slow him down to allow Emarle to assist in defense.
But Wang Feng didn't hesitate at all. While running, he flicked the ball forward with his toe, separating himself from Capone and then fell to the ground, shooting.
"Gooooooooooooooal! Wang Feng! Brilliant! Equalizes the score!"
"As the match approaches its end, Wang Feng covers over seventy meters, bypassing four defenders in succession, and slots the ball into Valencia's net!"
"Hold on to your seats, folks! According to the data we've just received, Wang Feng's average speed during the run reached 22.5 km/h!"
"No wonder Valencia's defensive players couldn't catch up with him. Remember, in the International Association of Athletics Federations World Athletics Championships held in Paris last September, Jesse Owens, the men's 100-meter champion, set a world record with a time of 9.78 seconds."
"If we convert Wang Feng's speed, well, his hundred meters time would be 9.98 seconds! And don't forget, he's been running almost the entire match, with that damned ball!"
Wang Feng's speed was too fast to stop. He crashed into the advertising boards at the edge of the field due to inertia.
There were abrasions on his arms and thighs from the friction, some places even breaking the skin. His whole body was burning with pain. He wanted to push himself up with his hands but couldn't muster the strength.
The Inter Milan teammates who rushed to celebrate felt something was wrong. They quickly called for the team doctor with a stretcher and rushed onto the field. Faced with Zanetti's anxious inquiry, Wang Feng waved his hand, indicating that he was just exhausted.
The team doctor treated his external injuries while complaining, "Wang, you're pushing yourself too hard. I was watching with my heart in my mouth. Now what you need to do is get off the field and rest."
Wang Feng gasped for air, still wanting to continue, but head coach Cooper forcefully substituted him and had him carried off the field on a stretcher. When Wang Feng left the field, all the home team fans at the San Siro Stadium stood up and gave him a warm applause.
The full-time whistle soon blew, and Inter Milan drew 1-1 with Valencia, with the visitors scoring an away goal. It was believed that when Inter Milan went to Valencia's home ground, they would face a fierce battle.
After the match, Wang Feng was taken to the hospital for a detailed examination. The doctor's conclusion was fatigue, and it would be best to rest for a round. But at such a crucial moment in the title race, Wang Feng was very worried.
"Wang, you always step up when the team faces its toughest moments. Now it's our turn. Trust us. In the next round against Brescia, we'll definitely give it our all!" Captain Zanetti said when visiting Wang Feng.
"Just take a good rest and prepare for the upcoming showdowns with AC Milan and Valencia," head coach Cooper nodded. "This is the decision of the coaching staff and the club's top management. You're exhausted. Don't think about anything else. Just rest."
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