At the top of the penalty arc, Modric suddenly fired a cannon.
The Quagliarella in front of him instinctively ducked his head.
Swoosh!
The ball flew over Quagliarella’s head.
Clang!
Swish!
The ball hit the crossbar and deflected into the net, stirring up countless white waves.
Modric didn’t have the “Long Shot” skill boost.
But that didn’t mean he couldn’t hit a long shot.
As long as the position is right and no one interferes, everyone has a chance to score a world-class goal by luck!
Not to mention the boost from He Tianqi’s “Bandit Coach Roar”!
“GOAL!
Earth-shattering!”
“This shot by Modric was earth-shattering!”
“Two to two!
Palermo has stubbornly equalized!”
“The performance of the Croatian youngster Modric today was indeed good.”
“He has kept the hope of promotion alive with a goal and an assist.”
“But this score still means a loss for Palermo, because Perugia’s two goals are away goals!”
Simply put, away goals are worth more than home goals, like half a goal more.
Of course, being able to tie with a Serie A team—the Palermo fans were already satisfied with this result.
The Palermo players came to the sidelines to celebrate.
He Tianqi took the chance to squeeze in: “Quiet down, listen to my arrangement!”
“After the kickoff, everyone except Filippo in the front should retract; focus on defense.”
“When we have the ball, kick it directly to the right wing; let Ribéry and Ashley Young fight for it.”
“Ribéry, you feint and create opportunities for Ashley Young to pass the opponent faster.
Ribéry, try to stay behind him for support; don’t cut inside, don’t go to the right half-space.”
“Ashley Young, your footwork is not good, don’t cross randomly.
You can carry the ball near the penalty area and try to find Modric as much as possible.”
“Modric, this right half-space point is yours.
Ribéry and Ashley Young have drawn away the defenders; it’s up to you how to create a threat.”
“Quagliarella, you came on as a substitute; use your abundant stamina.
I need to see your figure in both attack and defense!”
Beep beep beep!
The referee kept blowing the whistle, pushing away Palermo’s “celebration circle.” Perugia complained that Palermo’s celebration was too long.
They wanted to take advantage of the last few minutes for another blitz.
With the same score, the stronger side would definitely be unwilling.
Perugia then kicked off.
In the eighty-eighth minute, Grosso again showed Zhang Fei-like delicate work, easily bypassing the defensive-weak Ashley Young.
Bang!
Cross!
Vidic headed clear.
Perugia got a corner.
Corner taken, Vidic again won the header.
Perugia continued with another corner.
The third time, Chiellini cleared the ball to the outside of the penalty area.
Modric flicked and turned but was immediately pulled down by Miccoli.
This was a tactical foul.
The referee gave Miccoli a yellow card.
But Perugia also used this to return to their own half and prepare for defense.
The time arrived at ninety-two minutes.
There was only half a minute left in injury time.
This attack by Palermo would be the last attack of the match.
Palermo didn’t directly kick the ball to the front court with a long ball; instead, after kicking off, they gave it to Ashley Young on the right wing.
The back-line players didn’t push up either, to prevent being counterattacked by Perugia.
Boos erupted from the scene.
Ashley Young pushed forward and then gave the ball to Ribéry, making a forward run himself.
Ribéry showed off his footwork, forcing the opponent back step by step.
Finally, Grosso, with no room to retreat, lunged with a teammate for a double-team.
Ribéry took the chance to pass to Ashley Young.
Ashley Young got the ball and dribbled inward, proactively approaching the opponent’s left center-back who came to cover.
Bang!
Ashley Young played it back.
The commentator sighed longly: “This is a terrible choice!”
“Ashley Young has wasted the ball Ribéry made for him.”
“If he directly challenged the opponent’s left center-back, once successful, he could break into the penalty area for a shot.”
“But he was too weak; he actually passed back so early.”
“This ball went to Modric, but Palermo played too conservatively.
Only Modric moved up in the midfield; everyone else is in the back.”
“Is this planning to let Modric try another long shot by luck?”
“No chance!
The Perugia defenders are ready; the penalty area is full of their men.
They won’t let Modric hit another world-class goal.”
The penalty area was full of Perugia’s white away jerseys.
There were only two small pink dots.
One was Filippo, rooted at the penalty spot.
The other was Quagliarella, being pushed out by an opposing defender.
There was no hope at all.
Bang!
A crisp sound, and everyone was stunned.
Filippo was still laboriously fighting with the opponent’s center-back; when he stood his ground, he would reach out to Modric for the ball.
However, now the ball had flown over his head.
Filippo didn’t expect it, and the Perugia players certainly didn’t expect it either.
After all, if you pass, someone has to be there to receive it, right?
The commentator was angry: “This Modric again!”
“Not even looking, just a first-time pass!”
“Isn’t this squandering the opportunity?”
“This player is too idealistic!
He doesn’t consider the actual situation at all!”
But in the next moment, many people were stunned.
Especially the Perugia right center-back who had just completely pushed Quagliarella away.
Relying on his experience and strength, he easily outmatched the young Quagliarella and pushed him to the edge of the penalty area.
This way he could focus on covering Filippo.
Little did he know that the ball from Modric was flying toward the “no man’s land” behind him!
He personally sent Quagliarella into that area.
And to avoid being called for a foul by the referee, while he clearly could have knocked Quagliarella down, he pulled back some force, making Quagliarella merely stumble as he was pushed away.
So…
everyone turned to look at Quagliarella.
He was staggering and backing up, his body leaning backward.
But in the end, relying on a youngster’s excellent core strength, he stopped his retreat.
However, at this time the ball had fallen.
Quagliarella didn’t have the conditions to handle the ball; he hadn’t fully regained his footing.
Even if he successfully trapped the ball, three or five opponents would immediately pounce on him.
He simply couldn’t threaten the goal.
“Shoot!
Quagliarella!
Fall down and hit it directly with a side-hook!” He Tianqi roared from the sidelines.
The terrifying thought that had just popped into Quagliarella’s mind but was immediately suppressed by him was hooked out by He Tianqi.
What youth doesn’t chase the wind?
What striker doesn’t volley!
Every professional footballer has dreamed of a cool goal.
The higher the difficulty, the better.
But the consequence is being scolded by the head coach and teammates.
Isn’t a steady shot better?
Why do fancy clearances?
This conservatism has led to many goals in football, but also lost many classic goals.
And now, head coach He Tianqi opened the Pandora’s box in Quagliarella’s heart!
(END CHAPTER)