Chapter 391: Knockout Chelsea
"Cole against his former team, Wang Feng's death curve secures victory!" The day after the game, major media outlets in Spain and England reported on this highly anticipated match.
The three goals scored during the game were all spectacular. Whether it was Ashley Cole's unexpected goal, Drogba's long-range sprint, or Wang Feng's world-class shot, they were all among the highlights of this round of the Champions League series.
The English media generally felt that Chelsea's loss was unfortunate. They stood firm under pressure at the Bernabeu, making it a evenly matched contest. Therefore, returning to Stamford Bridge, the Blues might still have a chance to turn the tide and win.
"Drogba fully demonstrated his formidable talent. Despite Real Madrid's careful attention to him and the tight marking from his former teammates, he still managed to find opportunities to breach the defense of the Galacticos," commented The Times.
"Strictly speaking, the performance of Real Madrid's core, Wang Feng, was not outstanding. Chelsea's tight defense successfully contained him, and apart from the last-minute goal, his contribution was hardly visible throughout the game."
"So the Blues need not fear their opponents. The showdown at Stamford Bridge will unfold the path to victory!"
On the other hand, Spanish media believed that Real Madrid had a great chance of winning, with Wang Feng being the standout performer of the match. Marca commented that the Chinese superstar kept the visiting team's defense on their toes, forcing them to work tirelessly.
"As long as other players are in good form and seize their chances, Chelsea will face the disadvantage of Real Madrid scoring from multiple sources. Moreover, Wang Feng is not easy to contain, as evidenced by his stunning world-class goal in the final moments of the game."
In the other three Champions League quarter-final matches, Manchester United defeated Fenerbahce 2-0 away, putting them in a favorable position to advance. Barcelona also secured a 1-0 victory over Schalke 04 away, while Arsenal and Liverpool drew 1-1 in the English derby, leaving the outcome uncertain until the next leg.
On April 6th, in the 31st round of La Liga, Real Madrid hosted Mallorca. Despite fielding a rotated lineup, the home team maintained a high level of performance, with Casal and Iguain scoring goals successively.
In the second half, Mallorca pulled one back, and in the 70th minute, Wang Feng was sent on to find his rhythm, a decision made after discussions with the coach before the game. The Chinese player hoped to be in the best competitive shape for the trip to Stamford Bridge.
After the game, everyone rested for a night and then boarded a plane from Madrid to London the next morning, preparing for the Champions League battle against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
As the Real Madrid team entered Stamford Bridge, they were greeted with a barrage of insults and jeers. England truly lived up to its reputation as a nation of football hooligans, with the fans displaying extremely hostile behavior towards the visiting team.
"Although I don't understand what they're shouting, I really want them to shut up," Guti said while warming up, with his teammates expressing their agreement.
So, as the game began, Real Madrid launched a strong attack amidst the jeers. Diarra sent a precise long pass from the back, finding Wang Feng in the front.
The Chinese superstar controlled the ball with his foot, facing Terry's defense. He slowly dribbled the ball towards the wing, suddenly accelerating in an attempt to break through. The English defender also immediately sped up to block him.
Unexpectedly, after Wang Feng took two steps, he suddenly stopped the ball with his right foot and pulled it back, while his left foot also followed by hopping backward. Then, he used his right foot to flick the ball forward and accelerated to chase after it.
The change in speed and rhythm caught Terry off guard, successfully shaking him off. Then, Wang Feng passed the ball to Sneijder at the edge of the arc, while he himself ran towards the penalty area.
The Dutchman understood his intention and sent a delicate chip pass, flying over Chelsea's defense line, and finding Wang Feng in the right position.
At this moment, the penalty area was in chaos, with Chelsea feeling the pressure. Goalkeeper Cech quickly moved towards the direction of the Chinese superstar, trying to block his shooting angle, while the defenders next to him also tried to press him and interfere with his shot.
But Wang Feng didn't choose to shoot. Instead, he swept the ball with his left foot to the other side of the small penalty area, leaving an empty goal in front of Raul. If he missed this opportunity, he might as well retire on the spot!
"Goal! The ball's in! Raul opens the scoring for Real Madrid!"
"This is a fantastic collaboration in the frontcourt of the Galacticos, culminating in a strike by the Spanish striker!"
"Let's take a look at the slow-motion replay. It started with Wang Feng's flank attack, using a very clever push-and-pull move to shake off Terry. You can see the English defender stumbling and falling. He tried to regain his balance to keep up, but it was a futile effort."
"Then Sneijder's handling was also very smart. He saw Wang Feng making a run into the penalty area and didn't make any unnecessary moves, chipping the ball into the penalty area before the defense could react."
"Chelsea made a mistake here, they were too nervous about Wang Feng. Both goalkeeper Cech and defender Carvalho thought he would shoot."
"They can't be blamed for that because countless historical records prove that the Chinese superstar's shooting accuracy in the penalty area is terrifying, and they had to give their all to defend against it."
"But it was this nervousness that gave Raul the opportunity to score into an empty net, making it an easy task for him."
"At this point, the Blues are already on the edge of a cliff. They need to score at least two goals to equalize, so let's see what happens next."
As the game progressed into the second half, Chelsea seemed somewhat panicked. They increased their attacking intensity while also becoming more rough in defense. The atmosphere on the field suddenly became very intense, with the referee's whistle sounding frequently.
In the 70th minute, Wang Feng received a pass from Guti in the frontcourt and was about to turn and advance when Baleiti tripped him with a scissors tackle. "Whistle!" The referee decisively stopped the game and awarded a free kick to Real Madrid.
Wang Feng adjusted his shin guards, grabbed Guti's hand, and stood up. "How about this, I'll take the free kick, and you go into the penalty area?" he asked.
"No, let me take it," the Chinese superstar said firmly, having been fouled multiple times and fallen to the ground. He felt a surge of anger in his heart, needing an outlet.
"Oh, this should be interesting," Guti said with a smile, then ran towards the penalty area.
The free-kick spot was about thirty-five meters from the goal, and Wang Feng picked up the ball and gently rubbed it, then placed it in the designated position and slowly retreated.
Whistle, run-up, shot!
The ball soared into the air, not only curving sharply but also descending significantly after entering the penalty area, heading straight for the corner of the goal, a curved elevator ball! Unless Cech was a god, he had no chance of stopping this goal. 2-0! The Galacticos sealed the victory!
If the Blues wanted to overturn the game, they would need to score four goals in the remaining time, which was obviously an impossible task.
With two stunning world-class goals over the two legs, Real Madrid eventually defeated Chelsea 4-1, advancing to the Champions League semifinals!
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