Chapter 486: Reverse
After changing sides, as expected by head coach Ali Han, Argentina was not satisfied with just a one-goal lead. They continued to put pressure on the Chinese team's defense, aiming to extend their lead and prevent the opponents from turning the game around.
The Chinese team was well-prepared and experienced for this. They tried to compress the attacking space, focusing on partial containment of core players like Messi. Wang Feng also worked tirelessly on defense, using his instincts to timely stop penetrations and patiently wait for opportunities.
As a result, Argentina's attack became very uncomfortable. They couldn't truly penetrate the Chinese team's penalty area to pose a threat. Di María and Messi attempted long shots from outside the penalty area, but none hit the target.
"That's right! The Chinese team's defense has been really solid during this period. It's worth noting that Argentina is the most attacking team in this World Cup. Facing our ironclad defense, they seem a bit helpless."
"Achieving this level of defense is not just about technique; it's also about attitude and mentality. Our team is gradually showing the demeanor of champions!"
"Look at Argentina's attack this time. Mascherano sends a through ball to Messi, who then runs along the flank after turning around. Feng Xiaoting comes over."
"Dangerous! Messi uses a clever feint to shake off the defense and prepares to cut inside. His individual ability is still very outstanding. Beautiful! Wang Feng comes over for defense and clears the ball out of bounds!"
"It's so clean and efficient! He took the ball away from Messi before the Argentine player could pick up speed. The defensive awareness of the Chinese superstar is top-notch!"
Similar to the first half, Argentina's offensive gradually weakened over time. The Chinese team finally survived the most dangerous moment and began planning how to break through.
In the 71st minute, Heinze passed the ball to Di María, who then distributed it to Higuaín at the top of the penalty area. The latter paused for a moment to adjust his position. Having been teammates with him for several years, Wang Feng instantly understood that Higuaín was going to take a direct shot.
With his understanding of the Argentine forward, the Chinese superstar knew exactly how he would adjust and where he would shoot. So he decisively rushed over and managed to take the ball away from him.
"Damn it!" Higuaín cursed softly and quickly turned around to chase and try to steal the ball back. If unsuccessful, he would foul Wang Feng to stop him.
But at this moment, the Chinese superstar didn't choose to rush forward himself. Instead, he quickly passed the ball to Shao Jia Yi in the center, while Dong Fang Zhuo on the other side had already started accelerating. So Shao Jia Yi lifted his right foot and sent a diagonal pass.
"China's counterattack is on! Shao Jia Yi passes the ball to Dong Fang Zhuo. He turns sideways to control the ball with his chest and skillfully dribbles past Rodríguez."
"No wonder he's a mainstay for Bayern Munich! Such ball control and dribbling are simply delightful. He continues to move forward along the flank. Is there a chance with a two-on-four situation in the frontcourt? Learning from the lesson in the first half, Argentina's defensive speed is also very fast."
"There's no chance to turn back to the baseline. He passes back to Deng Zhuo Xiang. Wang Feng also runs out from the penalty area to provide support. Deng Zhuo Xiang passes to him, but this counterattack didn't materialize, and the speed of advancement is still a bit slow."
"Wow! A shot! It's in! My goodness, it's in! Wang Feng suddenly takes a long-range shot from outside the penalty area, piercing through Romero's fingers!"
"This shot caught everyone by surprise. Let's take another look. He retreated to the outside of the penalty area, received Deng Zhuo Xiang's pass with his back, flicked the ball to the left with his left foot, turned around, and shot without even looking at the goal!"
"The ball flew straight through the crowd of defenders, with a rising trajectory in the air. It passed over the outstretched arms of the Argentine goalkeeper Romero and went into the net at an almost impossible angle!"
"Such superb shooting skills are truly breathtaking. We thought this counterattack would be fruitless, but Wang Feng seized the opportunity. Argentina's defense focused too much on defending inside the penalty area. When the Chinese superstar came out to support, they didn't follow up in time, probably thinking that the threat was not significant as the attacking rhythm slowed down."
"The score on the field is now rewritten as 2-2. There are less than 20 minutes left in the game. Can either side determine the outcome within regular time?"
After equalizing, both Maradona and Ali Han made substitutions almost simultaneously, but they both left one substitution slot open, seemingly preparing for the possibility of extra time and penalty shootouts.
This is where Wang Feng's role is fully highlighted. Although he frequently exerted himself on both ends of the field, his superhuman physical fitness supported him to continue running, helping the Chinese team launch several quick counterattacks. Unfortunately, some other teammates couldn't keep up and wasted many opportunities.
Messi, four years younger than Wang Feng, covered less distance than him, only about two-thirds. At this moment, he was panting with his hands in his pockets, thinking fiercely, "Is this guy made of iron?"
It was already difficult to deal with him at the club level, but returning to the national team was even more challenging. He recalled the defeat in the Olympic final two years ago and the constant losses to Real Madrid in recent years. For a moment, clouds of worry gathered, and ominous premonitions lingered in his mind.
In the 80th minute, Deng Zhuo Xiang intercepted the ball in midfield and passed it horizontally to Wang Feng. Once again, he quickly advanced to the frontcourt alone, facing the entire defensive line.
Seeing no way to break through, he simply pushed the ball to the right, took two steps, and took a powerful shot. The ball flew towards the left post of the goal, and this time, the Argentine goalkeeper Romero was very focused. He punched the ball out for a corner.
The Chinese team won a corner kick, and Wang Feng and his teammates discussed tactics. "We don't need so many people rushing near the penalty area. Leave a few in midfield to prevent the opponent's counterattacks."
Sun Ji Hai and Feng Xiao Ting nodded and ran back. "Zheng Zhi and Shao Jia Yi, let's have a tactical corner kick. Spread out the defensive line and then cross. Make the pass strong and as far back as possible. I'll go to that area to receive."
The two naturally agreed. As the main referee blew the whistle, Zheng Zhi passed the ball to nearby Shao Jia Yi, who immediately cut inside towards the penalty area. Seeing the Argentine defenders being drawn out, he immediately sent a cross.
The ball accurately reached the back post position, but the angle was slightly off. At this moment, if Wang Feng wanted to receive the ball and adjust, he would fall into a double team. Without hesitation, the Chinese superstar leaned back and lifted his right foot to perform a back-heel shot!
Romero's eyes had been following the ball. Seeing it pass through the penalty area without posing a threat, he was about to relax. However, he never expected Wang Feng to execute a back-heel shot while facing a semi-high ball. By the time he attempted to save it, he was already half a beat slow, and the ball flew into the net!
3-2! The Chinese team took the lead again!
After scoring, the Chinese superstar slid all the way to the corner flag area, pointing to the sky in celebration. Soon, he was overwhelmed by his teammates who rushed to celebrate with him.
The deafening cheers and roars erupted from the stands, and households across the country, accompanied by the commentator's ecstatic shouts, boiled with excitement. "As the game approaches its end, the Chinese team has finally completed a comeback! This confirms an old saying of ours: one can only laugh best who laughs last!"
"Wang Feng used his individual abilities to win this crucial corner kick opportunity for the Chinese team and then scored an incredible back-heel goal into the Argentine net. This spectacular goal will surely be one of the top ten goals of this World Cup!"
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