Chapter 526: Come and go
Manchester United has been dominating the game with continuous pressing, but Real Madrid is not without countermeasures. In fact, they are consciously retreating slowly, luring their opponents to press forward and expose space behind them.
This tactical approach soon pays off. In the 11th minute, the Galacticos quickly intercepted the ball in their own half and passed it to Alonso. Facing the pressing Manchester United players, he skillfully evaded them and then launched a long pass to the front.
Although Wang Feng tends to drop deep to help defend, he always tries to push forward after his team wins the ball back. This time is no exception. Despite being surrounded by Carrick and Vidic, he manages to poke the ball forward.
After receiving the pass, the Chinese superstar accelerates again to shake off the defense. Before Ferdinand can stop him, he takes a powerful shot towards the bottom right corner of the goal, but unfortunately, Van der Sar stretches to block it out for a corner.
Real Madrid earns a corner kick from this opportunity, but after Sneijder takes it, Iglesias's header misses the target.
Although the Galacticos' attack doesn't succeed, it still makes Ferguson on the sidelines anxious. He shouts loudly for his players to calm down and not to leave themselves exposed at the back.
However, players on the field are easily influenced by their teammates and opponents' emotions. For example, when Manchester United players see Cristiano Ronaldo actively pressing forward while Real Madrid retreats, some may naturally want to help, which is a legitimate strategy and an important means of controlling the game's tempo.
Five minutes later, the Galacticos find space again. After two passes to Sneijder in midfield, the Dutchman sends a clever through ball. Wang Feng attempts a long shot from the edge of the box, narrowly missing the post.
Manchester United has significant problems protecting the edge of their penalty area. Except for Carrick, the other two midfielders are not up to par defensively, compounded by the vulnerability created by the three forwards.
Soon, they pay the price. In the 27th minute, Real Madrid quickly advances into the final third. The ball reaches Iglesias in the box, who initially tries to control it but is forced to lay it off due to tight defense.
Outside the box, Wang Feng receives the ball, feints to the left, then quickly cuts to his right foot, causing Giggs to slip and fall. This creates a clear path for the Chinese superstar, who unleashes a powerful shot that flies into the top right corner of the net, despite Van der Sar's attempt to save it.
"Goal! Wang Feng, the great king of finals!"
"Once again, he opens the scoring for Real Madrid! He is undoubtedly the king of big occasions. All the achievements the Galacticos have made so far have been accompanied by the dazzling performance of the Chinese superstar!"
After scoring, Wang Feng rushes to the corner flag, sliding to his knees and pointing to the sky in celebration. Soon, his teammates join him, engulfing him in joy and congratulations.
Meanwhile, Manchester United players look dejected. Cristiano Ronaldo even kicks the turf fiercely, unable to understand why they conceded first despite dominating the game.
In fact, it's just his perception that Manchester United had the upper hand. Since the start of the game, the 70-year-old Ferguson has been standing on the sidelines, issuing instructions. With his vast experience, he has already realized that his team is in trouble.
Taking advantage of the celebration after the goal, Ferguson quickly calls over captain Vidic to convey his instructions. Being a goal down is not severe; what's more important is to get back on track promptly.
Upon resuming play, the players, following the coach's instructions, play more methodically, no longer blindly pressing forward but increasing their threat significantly.
In the 35th minute, Cristiano Ronaldo dribbles directly to the edge of the box from the wing, feints past Pepe with a skillful move, then accelerates inside.
In his early career, the Portuguese was criticized for his flashy dribbling, but as he matured, he became more efficient. However, this doesn't mean he's completely abandoned his dribbling skills, which can still be effective when defenders are caught off guard, as seen now with Pepe.
Entering the box, Cristiano Ronaldo immediately attracts the attention of the entire Real Madrid defense. Instead of forcing a shot, he passes the ball to Benzema, who is unmarked at the far post.
Unfortunately, Benzema misses a close-range shot, and Cristiano Ronaldo looks on with surprise and frustration, while Benzema can only apologize repeatedly.
Manchester United's continuous efforts pay off just before halftime. In the 44th minute, Giggs and Rooney complete a one-two combination, with the latter breaking into the box and sending a pass to Cristiano Ronaldo.
Despite being half a step behind Pepe, Cristiano Ronaldo quickly reacts and takes a shot under defensive pressure. Although Casillas gets a hand to it, he can't stop it from finding the net.
1-1! The Red Devils equalize!
At this moment, the Portuguese star's physical qualities are at their peak, matching Wang Feng's. Whether in terms of speed or strength, Cristiano Ronaldo is exceptionally formidable.
Excited, Cristiano Ronaldo rushes to the sidelines to celebrate his goal. Suddenly, he remembers a cool celebration gesture and performs it without hesitation.
He jumps near the corner flag, turns around, opens his arms downward, and makes a "siu~" sound as he lands.
This powerful celebration ignites the passion of Manchester United fans in the stands, and even his teammates are surprised by it. Rooney looks on with envy at the Portuguese, who seems to be the focal point wherever he goes.
The first half ends with both teams showing signs of exhaustion. At halftime, the players seem somewhat breathless, as the first forty-five minutes of the game have been intense and mentally draining.
Real Madrid took an early lead exploiting Manchester United's momentum, but Ferguson has been alert and timely with his reminders. Coupled with the never-say-die attitude he instilled in Manchester United, equalizing was within expectations.
Both teams' possession and threatening attacks are relatively close, making it likely to turn into a game of attrition. Whoever's form drops first and exposes weaknesses will likely lose the game.
At this moment, the core and captain, Wang Feng, stands up to encourage his teammates: "Guys, there are still forty-five minutes left. Keep fighting! We can recreate legends and carve our names in Real Madrid's history and European football history!"
After firing them up, coach Benitez calmly analyzes the problems that occurred in the first half and the tactics to be implemented in the second half. He mentions that the protection at the back and the containment of Cristiano Ronaldo have not met expectations, and defensive players need to improve.
At the same time, he believes that Manchester United's high pressing will inevitably consume a lot of energy and cannot be maintained throughout the game. Surviving the initial stage without conceding will eventually tilt the game in Real Madrid's favor.
In the second half, the focus remains on counterattacks, relying on Wang Feng's speed to break through the defense, with the vulnerable edge of the penalty area being a key breakthrough point.
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