Chapter 60: In danger
Late at night at the Gelsenkirchen International Airport in Germany, a plane has just landed. The players from Genk FC, weary, disembarked from the plane. They have only one day for rest and training before the UEFA Europa League round of 16 match, which will take place the day after tomorrow.
Wang Feng yawned. Just recovered from his injury, he appeared somewhat listless. At this moment, Gareth Barry approached him, saying, "Want a piece of gum to freshen up?"
Wang Feng accepted the gum handed to him and popped it into his mouth, grumbling, "This damn schedule, four matches in two weeks, it's terrifying just to think about."
Barry nodded, "And all of them are crucial matches. We can't afford to lose. If we get knocked out of the Europa League, or lose in the league, we might lose our top spot."
Assistant coach Quik Martin approached them, "Take it one game at a time. Our coaching staff will observe your conditions and make rotations if needed. If you feel fatigued, make sure to let us know promptly."
During the pre-match tactical briefing, head coach Aimee Antonis said, "In this match, we're missing three key players, so we'll be quite passive. But our goal is not to lose by a large margin. We should try to gain an advantage by scoring away goals, so it'll be easier when we play at home next time."
As the match began, the situation unfolded as expected. Schalke 04 had absolute dominance. In the 21st and 36th minutes, forward Emil Mpenza scored two goals. This Belgian-born player, who came from Standard Liege last year for a transfer fee of 8.5 million euros, has performed remarkably well this season in both the league and the Europa League.
Wang Feng found himself in trouble, as Schalke 04's captain, Tomas Vadócz, marked him tightly. With the absence of central midfielder Bess, Wang Feng had fewer opportunities.
Near the end of the first half, Wang Feng finally got a decent chance. He dropped back to the center to receive the ball, then dribbled it towards the opponent's half. Before the opposing defenders closed in, he passed the ball to Barry in the center.
After passing, Wang Feng quickly surged forward along the wing. Barry, after receiving the ball, dribbled for a distance, suddenly crossed the ball behind the defenders. Wang Feng, relying on his speed, caught up with the ball from behind the defense before Vadócz.
After receiving the ball, Wang Feng shielded it while moving towards the goal line. Vadócz was pressing him closely. Suddenly, he feigned a stop with the ball, shaking off Vadócz who was caught off guard, then used the outside of his left foot to curl a cross into the box.
The ball flew to the back post of the penalty area, where Jason Aldridge, unmarked, headed towards goal. Unfortunately, the angle was too central, and it was saved by the Schalke 04 goalkeeper, then cleared by a defender.
Disappointed with the missed opportunity, Aldridge scratched his head and shook it towards Wang Feng, indicating it was his fault.
Minutes later, the referee blew the whistle for the end of the first half. Genk's players trudged into the locker room with their heads down, looking very dejected. This was the first time this season that they had felt overwhelmed, even Wang Feng wasn't surprised.
The coaching staff discussed the situation and tactics of the first half before reaching a consensus. Head coach Antonis walked over, saying, "Come on, guys, we're not giving up yet."
Pointing at the tactical board, he said, "In the first half, there was a disconnect between our midfield and forwards, which made it difficult to threaten in attack, and our defense had significant gaps. So, in the second half, we need to organize more threatening attacks and not let Schalke 04 have an easy time attacking us and threatening our goal."
Turning to Wang Feng, he said, "Wang, in the second half, I need you to drop back to the midfield to get the ball, playing as an attacking midfielder, just like you did towards the end of the first half."
"Your position will be flexible, whether in the center or on the wings. Run actively to pull apart the defense. I believe with your ability, you can disrupt Schalke 04's defense."
"Everything depends on you!"
Wang Feng nodded solemnly. At the beginning of the season, he would occasionally play like this, but as the cooperation between teammates became more tacit, he would wait more for midfield passes. But with key players absent and midfield support lacking, he had to revert to his old role and assist in organizing attacks.
As the second half began, Vadócz found it more difficult to mark Wang Feng. His range of movement was wide, and his speed and explosiveness were strong, causing the veteran to gradually tire.
In the 61st minute, Wang Feng received the ball in the center and immediately moved towards the wing. Due to a momentary lapse in concentration from Vadócz, Wang Feng broke through to the edge of the penalty area.
Three defenders nearby quickly surrounded him, preventing him from further advancing or passing. Carefully protecting the ball, Wang Feng slowly moved forward, waiting for his teammates' support. When he saw Aldridge making a run, he suddenly accelerated towards the defenders.
The defenders were caught off guard. One defender instinctively extended his leg to tackle, but Wang Feng deftly shifted the ball to the other side, evading the outstretched leg, then cut inside into the penalty area, passing the ball to the far post.
Aldridge, seizing the opportunity, used his right foot to control the ball and shot directly, piercing through the Schalke 04 goalkeeper's hands.
After scoring, Aldridge sprinted towards the corner flag to celebrate, resembling an eagle soaring at the Veltins-Arena. Wang Feng and other teammates quickly joined him, embracing him. The score was now 1-2, and Genk had secured a valuable away goal.
The head coach of Schalke 04, Herbert Visoek, looked displeased. He couldn't sit still anymore and prepared to make substitutions, replacing the exhausted Vadócz with a younger defender to closely mark Wang Feng.
In the 79th minute, Genk won the ball in their own half and launched a counterattack. Wang Feng was actively involved in defense, so he was positioned deeper. Christian Civu passed the ball to Wang Feng, who then dribbled through the midfield.
At that moment, Aldridge ahead was accelerating. Wang Feng sent a high lobbed pass with his right foot. Aldridge succeeded in beating the offside trap, getting to the ball before the defenders, but he lacked the explosive power to reach it fully, and was immediately caught by the recovering defender.
Wang Feng also ran forward after passing the ball. With only Aldridge ahead of him, he shifted to the center, receiving the ball with his left foot, dribbling continuously, then switching to his right foot along with the ball's momentum, bypassing the defender on his left.
As Wang Feng entered the penalty area, there was only one defender blocking his way. Feigning a shot with his right foot, the defender hastily moved to block, but Wang Feng executed another feint, shifting the ball to his left foot.
The defender struggled to adjust his position, but Wang Feng's rapid movements had already destabilized him, causing him to fall to the ground.
Wang Feng struck the ball with his left foot, sending it into the goal along the inside of the post. The Schalke 04 goalkeeper, confused by Wang Feng's consecutive feints, dove slightly late.
2-2! Genk equalized!
After scoring, Wang Feng opened his arms and sprinted in celebration, like an eagle soaring over the Veltins-Arena. The defender who fell to the ground sat there with a desolate expression. This scene was perfectly captured by the cameras and appeared on the front pages of major sports media across Europe the next day.
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