Chapter 409: Key victory
The match against New Zealand was crucial for the national Olympic team, and they had to strive for victory. Therefore, head coach Ying Tiesheng sent Wang Feng to start the game, partnering with 22-year-old striker Gao Lin.
On the day of the match, the Wulihe Stadium was packed to capacity, and lucky fans witnessing the game in person created a fervent atmosphere. Various supporting slogans and giant photos almost covered the entire stands.
Fans who didn't get tickets gathered around their TV sets at home. This was their first time watching world-class football matches during prime time, and everyone seemed very excited and eager. Where could Wang Feng lead this group of young players?
"Beep~" The referee's whistle echoed through thousands of households as New Zealand kicked off the ball, starting the Olympic men's football group stage!
They attacked into the front court for the first time, but Zheng Zhi, with his extensive experience, successfully intercepted the ball from the opponent's forward, initiating a counterattack.
He passed the ball to midfielder Zou Haibing, who then passed it to Chen Tao. The New Zealand midfield pressed fiercely, making Wang Feng worried about passing mistakes, so he retreated to provide support.
The ball came to Gao Lin's feet, and with Wang Feng nearby asking for the ball, he passed it, but the pass was a bit weak. Wang Feng and another New Zealand defender then both chased after the ball.
They reached the ball almost simultaneously. The New Zealand defender tried to push Wang Feng away but felt a huge force on his shoulder. He was directly pushed aside, stumbling several steps.
"Is this how world-class stars compete? So strong!" Before he could finish his thought, Wang Feng had already dribbled the ball towards the front court. Another nearby defender was surprised, hastily sliding to tackle, but instead of touching the ball, he kicked Wang Feng's leg, causing him to lose balance and fall.
The referee promptly blew the whistle, awarding a free kick to the Chinese team in the front court. Since the match had just begun, he chose not to issue a card, only warning the opposing player to be more careful.
Annoyed, Wang Feng rubbed his calf. These young players were inferior to European top players in both skills and physical attributes. In theory, they should be easy to deal with, but their tackles were unpredictable, making them not to be underestimated.
"No wonder, apart from bringing glory to the country, few top professional players want to participate in Olympic games like this. It's exhausting and prone to injury."
"Just now, that move could have easily warranted a card. Even a red card wouldn't have been a problem. The referee was simply too lenient!"
"Yes, we can see that the Chinese team has a chance for a free kick in the thirty-meter area of the front court. Who will take it? Oh, Wang Feng is stepping up, is he going to shoot directly? Gao Lin seems to be asking if he needs cover, but Wang Feng waved him off."
"He has always been confident in free kicks, hardly ever seen teammates faking runs for him. He clearly tells the opponents that he's going to shoot, whether they can defend against it depends on their luck."
"Haha, you put it that way, and the referee blows the whistle, run-up, shot!! Goal!! What a beautiful goal!! Goal!! The first goal in the history of the Chinese team at the Olympics!!"
"Direct free kick goal from Wang Feng, and the match has just begun for two minutes!"
"This is a standard 'elevator ball'. Let's take another look at the replay. After entering the penalty area, the ball suddenly dropped, slipping under the hands of the New Zealand goalkeeper, into the goal, with a perfect angle!"
As soon as the ball entered the net, Wang Feng dashed out of the field, running all the way to the stands, vigorously tapping the crest on his chest towards the fans. This caused waves of exclamations and screams from the crowd, with many shedding tears of joy. Chinese football had achieved another historic breakthrough!
His teammates who rushed over swarmed around him. This goal was not only Wang Feng's glory but also the glory of the entire national Olympic team!
With the lead, the spirited Chinese team continued to put pressure on New Zealand, and the thunderous cheers from the home crowd added immense pressure to the Oceania team playing away.
In the 24th minute, another round of consecutive passes started from the Chinese team's defense. Wang Feng received the ball in the front court and passed it to the wing, Chen Tao, who then made a breakthrough and crossed into the penalty area.
Wang Feng, positioned himself in the penalty area, resisted two defenders, lifted his right leg high and volleyed into the far corner of the goal, leaving the New Zealand goalkeeper only to watch it go in.
2-0! The Chinese team expanded their lead!
"The ball went in again! It's Wang Feng again, and the New Zealand defense is like paper in front of him!"
"Before the goal, the Chinese team had a series of passes with great viewing value, without any mistakes, which is rare. Of course, this is also related to the weak strength of the New Zealand national Olympic team."
"Finally, Wang Feng's pass and shot completely bullied the opponent! From this shot, you can see that the two young defenders' faces were red, and they didn't even disturb Wang Feng."
"Yes, and they didn't dare to commit fouls easily in the penalty area. After Wang Feng scored the first free-kick goal, they became a bit hesitant in the front court, which is the real intimidation!"
In the 67th minute of the second half, Zheng Zhi's long pass from the backcourt found Wang Feng on the right flank. The Chinese star, with his back to the goal, stopped the ball with his chest and then flicked it backward, successfully bypassing the center-backs.
He turned around, caught up with the ball, and crossed it into the penalty area. The ball landed perfectly on the head of Gao Lin, who had inserted himself at the near post, bouncing into the net. 3-0!
In the closing stages of the match, New Zealand finally seized an opportunity. With a defensive error from the Chinese team, their forward stole the ball and broke into the penalty area, beating Qiu Shengjing's ten-finger defense. These young men were full of energy but lacked composure.
In the end, the Chinese team won 3-1 against New Zealand, securing their first victory in the history of the national Olympic team!
After the match, the New Zealand head coach couldn't help but complain to the media again: "Wang Feng shouldn't appear on the Olympic stage. We simply can't handle him."
"The players have tried their best to defend, but he still handles it with ease. This was a foreseeable loss, and I hope China can go further."
Chinese team head coach Ying Tiesheng said: "This is a crucial victory. We definitely have the ability to advance to the knockout stage from the group stage, but to go further, the players need to continue their efforts." He emphasized the late-game mistakes and believed the players needed to learn from them.
As the hero of the match, contributing two goals and one assist, Wang Feng also accepted an interview, "This is a great victory, and we've made history!"
"This victory belongs not only to me but also to the entire team, and even to all the people of our country." Wang Feng said excitedly, "Our form is excellent, and as long as we continue, we can go further!"
Regarding his upcoming appearance as the flag bearer at the opening ceremony, he also expressed his honor: "This is everyone's trust in me, and I will continue to work hard, whether it's for the club or the national team, to bring back more glory!"
In another group stage match, Brazil drew 1-1 with Belgium, so the Chinese team temporarily topped the group. However, in the next round against Belgium, the opponent would definitely go all out to advance, which would be another tough battle.
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