Stepping Up to Equalize Germany!

Stepping Up to Equalize Germany!

"Who's number 23?"

"No idea!"

"That old man Klopp actually took off Chen Tao for some nobody? Has he lost his mind?"

"Did that German take money to deliberately fix the match?"

"I'd say that's probably it. They're playing the German team—he's German himself, so of course he wants his own country's team to win!"

"Damn it, that filthy German! How shameless!"

Klopp's substitution was so baffling that all sorts of conspiracy theories began flying around.

Even the China Central Television commentator admitted he could not make sense of it:

"To be honest, I don't quite understand Coach Klopp's substitution either, but he must have his reasons."

Chen Tao had been playing so well. Why take him off?

However, as an official commentator, he could not directly criticize Klopp at a time like this.

Still, he could already foresee the fierce backlash Klopp would face after the match over this substitution.

Unless the player replacing Chen Tao could produce an even better performance after coming on, leading the China Youth Team to equalize or even turn the match around.

But was that possible?

"There isn't much time left for the Chinese team!"

Huang Jianxiang sighed as he delivered that classic line.

Although the fans at the stadium and in front of their televisions were thoroughly disappointed with the China Youth Team's performance, they resisted the urge to turn off or even smash their TVs. They cursed as they watched, while silently hoping for a miracle deep down.

After all, they were their own children. No matter how harshly they cursed, they still hoped they would improve.

Faced with the fans' doubts, Lin Feng's expression did not change. After high-fiving Chen Tao, he quickly sprinted onto the field.

Once the substitution was complete, the match resumed. The China Youth Team immediately launched an attack against the German team after kickoff.

Countless fans inside and outside the stadium widened their eyes, staring fixedly at the young player in the number 23 shirt.

Their thoughts were simple: Let's see what this guy who replaced Chen Tao can actually do.

Compared with Chen Tao, who excelled at dribbling and breaking through, Lin Feng had a completely different style of play.

He covered more ground, pressed aggressively in the frontcourt, and carried greater attacking force!

His technical ability was well-rounded. He could pass, receive, organize, and link up play, but none of those skills were as eye-catching as Chen Tao's.

But he was simply too fast. After he came on, the Chinese team's swift counterattacks had the Germans on edge, jumping at every shadow.

Fast, powerful, wide-ranging, and involved in the team's overall defense.

Wasn't that the way a modern attacking midfielder played?

The scouts at the stadium brightened up, quickly recognizing Lin Feng's style.

At a time when classical attacking midfielders were steadily fading away, top clubs were becoming increasingly fond of modern attacking midfielders.

Compared with classical attacking midfielders, modern attacking midfielders were faster, more explosive, and more aggressive. The most typical example was Kaka of AC Milan.

Though he was not a striker, he had to shoulder Milan's attacking burden.

And Lin Feng's style was unmistakably that of a modern attacking midfielder.

He could run, defend, break through, dribble, pass, and shoot. He was practically an all-around player!

Ordinary fans might not possess the professional eye of a scout, but they were not blind either.

After watching for only a few minutes, they noticed Lin Feng's strengths. It seemed that after he came on, the Chinese team's attack had started to improve?

The Germans' back line seemed a little unable to cope?

For a while, the voices shouting about some shady conspiracy and attacking Klopp quieted down considerably.

The ninety minutes of regular time had ended. The referee was conservative with stoppage time, giving only three minutes!

There really was not much time left for the Chinese team!

"Score one!"

"Shoot already!"

The fans at the stadium and in front of their televisions began to grow anxious as well.

As they watched the seconds tick away, everyone felt as though a rope had been looped around their necks and was gradually tightening, leaving them unable to breathe.

But the German team defended stubbornly in the penalty area. Several direct attacks from the China Youth Team were either cleared by defenders or saved by the goalkeeper.

Although the China Youth Team had completely seized the initiative and were laying siege to Germany's goal, they could not turn their advantage into a score and were unable to break through.

Realizing that they would advance as long as they held on for the final few minutes, the German team pulled everyone back in defense, practically parking a bus in front of their own goal!

In the second minute of stoppage time, the score was still 3:2, with the China Youth Team trailing by one goal.

The players on the pitch were frantic. Even the goalkeeper had left the goal he was guarding and come into the opposition half to join the attack, hoping to seize that final chance to equalize.

But the overcrowded frontcourt instead reduced the available space, disrupting the team's attacking combinations.

Seeing this, Lin Feng took the ball toward the right flank, trying to pull the opposition formation outward.

Sure enough, the German defensive shape began tilting to the right because of his move.

That created space on the left.

Gao Lin, who had a sharp footballing mind, was the first to spot the opening.

He had originally planned to move outside the penalty area first, then raise his hand to call for the ball from his teammates.

But before he could even raise his hand, he had barely stepped out of the box when he saw the ball flying toward him.

The timing of the pass was perfect, and Gao Lin was shaken. Who had predicted my movement?

The answer was naturally Lin Feng. He had seen Gao Lin's movement and immediately sent the ball over!

But Gao Lin seemed caught off guard. He nearly miscontrolled the ball and lost the chance to shoot directly.

Seeing the defender rushing at him, Gao Lin gave up his chance to shoot. He glanced at his teammates' positions in the box and sent the ball into the penalty area with one kick.

I'm counting on you, King Dong!

Unlike the caught-off-guard Gao Lin, Dong Fangzhuo had been following the ball's trajectory all along.

Seeing Gao Lin preparing to pass, Dong Fangzhuo, built as strong as a young tiger, shoved away the defender grappling with him and charged toward Gao Lin. After receiving the ball, he turned halfway and swept a shot into the net.

The score became 3:3!

The Chinese team had stubbornly equalized in stoppage time!

Boom!

Thunderous applause erupted throughout the stadium!

Fans holding high the Chinese flag roared themselves hoarse, venting the excitement in their hearts.

"It's iiiiiin!!!"

"3:3! The Chinese team has equalized in the final minute of stoppage time!"

"The match isn't over yet! Our Youth World Cup isn't over yet!"

In the Commentary Booth, Huang Jianxiang leaped to his feet in excitement the moment Dong Fangzhuo scored, not even noticing that his voice had cracked.

He absolutely loved this newly substituted number 23!