Chapter 196: Embarrassment
Serie A has completed two rounds of matches, and in the middle of the week, the first round of this season's UEFA Champions League group stage arrived. Juventus welcomed Galatasaray at home, a match that should have been straightforward under normal circumstances.
Head coach Lippi deployed a carefully prepared 4-3-1-2 formation, ensuring victory at home by connecting midfielders Turdo and Davies through Nedved, and forwards Trezeguet and Del Piero.
However, during the match, their defense on the wings left significant gaps, frequently allowing opponents to counterattack. Finally, nearing the end of the first half, they conceded a goal.
This goal ignited the Juventus fans in the stands. Their insults were relentless, with many calling for Lippi to resign. Although Nedved and Del Piero each scored a goal for the home team, helping them to a 2-1 comeback, the fans remained dissatisfied.
In the past two rounds of league matches, Juventus first won 5-1 against Empoli, then unexpectedly lost 0-1 to Chievo, creating a gap with the Milanese giants, which fans hoping for the resurgence of the Bianconeri find hard to accept. It seems like Lippi's departure is imminent.
AC Milan traveled to London to challenge the "Gunners" Arsenal. They continued their excellent performance from the previous season, securing a clean 3-0 victory. It is worth mentioning that the young talent Kaka made his debut in the Champions League and successfully scored his first goal.
Kaka's arrival at AC Milan has earned him the affection of head coach Ancelotti. The 21-year-old Brazilian talent's unstoppable dribbling skills have caught the eye of the Italian coach, especially his sprinting breakthroughs.
Ancelotti believes Kaka could become the new Brazilian superstar after Ronaldo and Ronaldinho, so he wants to focus on nurturing him. In AC Milan's league opener, he placed Kaka on the bench and brought him on as a substitute.
Kaka did not disappoint Ancelotti. Although he did not score, his overall performance placed him among the top players in the team, earning him a starting spot in the second match.
On such an important stage as the Champions League, AC Milan faced the formidable Arsenal, yet Kaka still received the coach's full trust, which became one of the catalysts for his breakout.
As for another Serie A team in the Champions League, Lazio defeated Besiktas 2-0 away, somewhat surprising considering the current state of the Biancocelesti, who can hardly support dual competitions. It just shows the depth of Serie A teams.
Inter Milan welcomed Ajax at the San Siro. The main lineup of Ajax, who reached the Champions League quarter-finals last season, has not changed much, with only a few players being poached.
Young players within the team are getting better training. Players like Ibrahimovic are progressing rapidly, and it is believed that they will soon make their mark on the stages of the top five leagues.
However, even with their full-strength lineup, Inter Milan slightly outperformed Ajax. The well-rested players were all very active on the field.
Shortly after the start, Dharma sent a cross from the left to Ribery near the edge of the penalty area. The Frenchman, without hesitation, quickly passed the ball to Wang Feng on the right before the defense could block him.
Wang Feng faced Maxwell with intense focus. The 22-year-old Dutch left-back was closely monitoring Wang Feng's every move, determined to stop his breakthrough.
Maxwell is a well-known defensive stalwart in the Eredivisie, with his teammate Ibrahimovic once calling him "Ajax's best defender" in front of reporters.
Wang Feng pushed the ball forward, abruptly leaning his left shoulder downward, tilting his entire body to the left. If not stopped in time, he would cut inside with ease.
Maxwell had to step forward to intercept, but Wang Feng immediately kicked with his left leg. With swift knee and waist movements, he shifted from left-leaning to right-leaning, then used his right foot to push the ball past Maxwell towards the right-wing breakthrough.
Sidestepping his opponent! Such a significant sidestep that even a deity couldn't block! Because no matter which side the defense chose, Wang Feng could adjust with superhuman agility to break through the opposite side.
Wang Feng then passed the ball to Vieri at the far post, who easily shot and scored.
1-0! Inter Milan opened the scoring!
This goal triggered the aggressiveness of Ajax's young players. They launched fierce counterattacks against Inter Milan. Dutch midfielder Van der Vaart planned several threatening attacks, but they all ended without success.
Their best chance came in the 35th minute when Van der Vaart lofted the ball into the penalty area. Ibrahimovic rose high to head the ball, but his powerful shot hit the crossbar and bounced out, failing to equalize.
Before the end of the first half, Inter Milan launched a defensive counterattack. Civu's accurate long pass found Wang Feng, who headed the ball forward. Using his speed to shake off the defenders, Wang Feng caught up with the ball at the top of the penalty area and unleashed a fierce shot.
The ball spun in the air and fell into Ajax's goal in a parabolic trajectory.
"Goooooooooooooal!! 2-0!"
"Inter Milan's quick counterattack caught Ajax's defense off guard! A connection between Civu and Wang Feng, the two were already the best partners in the Belgian League. It seems that their chemistry remains undiminished after many years."
"Let's take another look at this play. Civu's pass was like it had a guidance system installed, directly finding Wang Feng in the midfield. At this moment, he was being closely marked by Maxwell, but Wang Feng's next move was very clever, gaining possession and heading forward."
"Quickly breaking free from the mark, not giving the Dutch any chance. Maxwell even attempted a pull, but Wang Feng was just too fast, instantly escaping his defense."
With a two-goal advantage entering halftime, head coach Mancini made a substitution, replacing Dharma with Pasquale to maintain defensive stability. In the 65th minute of the second half, Vieri was substituted for Carloni.
Two minutes later, Wang Feng broke through on the wing and passed to Carloni in the right side of the penalty area. Carloni, who was about to shoot, was knocked down from behind by the pursuing Haitinga, earning Inter Milan a penalty!
Wang Feng had already contributed with a goal and an assist, and with the team dominating the game, he handed the penalty opportunity to Carloni.
Carloni didn't disappoint, deceiving the goalkeeper and hitting the target! After scoring, he excitedly performed a tap dance. This was a goal on the Champions League stage!
In the harsh world of European football, playing in the top five leagues is already rare, let alone participating in the Champions League. As for scoring in the Champions League, it's not an exaggeration to say that it's the dream of many role players throughout their careers!
In the final moments of the game, Ajax finally pulled one back through Sneijder's through ball, scored by Ibrahimovic.
3-1, Inter Milan achieved a Champions League debut victory.
After the match, Ibrahimovic knelt on one knee, clenched his fist, and fiercely pounded the turf with his right hand.
Lost again! Whenever facing Wang Feng and Inter Milan, he always feels unable to struggle. Is it because his teammates aren't strong enough?
Seeing Ibrahimovic kneeling in frustration, Wang Feng approached him, intending to have a simple conversation to console him. Unexpectedly, when "The Great General" saw Wang Feng approaching, his face changed slightly, and he hurriedly retreated to the dressing room, leaving Wang Feng stunned halfway.
Ibrahimovic didn't want to hear Wang Feng say anything to annoy him again!
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