Feng Xiaoting's real strength was not in defense, but in attack!
He possessed exceptional passing ability, and even his dribbling was quite impressive.
In a match against the German team, Feng Xiaoting had once started dribbling from midfield, beat four German players in a row, and left Germany's Head Coach utterly stunned.
After taking the ball from Mikel, Feng Xiaoting did not pass to a teammate. Instead, he charged forward with the ball himself.
Seeing their captain lead the charge, the other China Youth Team players naturally refused to lag behind.
In an instant, China Youth Team completed the transition from defense to attack.
A center-back carrying the ball forward on an attack sounded a little fantastical.
After all, as the last line of insurance in the team's defense, they were supposed to play more steadily and focus on their own duties.
Yet not only did Klopp not stop Feng Xiaoting's decision, he greatly approved of it and even shouted encouragement.
In his view, Feng Xiaoting's choice was neither reckless nor blind. It was the optimal solution under the circumstances.
As Feng Xiaoting carried the ball forward, the Nigeria team's formation completely broke apart.
Their forwards were still inside China Youth Team's penalty area and could not pressure Feng Xiaoting immediately.
Mikel, who should have formed the second line of interception, had just lost the ball and been left behind by Feng Xiaoting.
As for Nigeria's defensive midfielders, they were equally unable to spare any attention. They had to keep their eyes on China Youth Team's four midfielders.
Under those circumstances, no one could stop Feng Xiaoting.
He could carry the ball forward without obstruction!
Just like that, Feng Xiaoting dribbled all the way past the halfway line.
Nigeria's defensive midfielder could not take it anymore. Abandoning the player he was marking, he rushed at Feng Xiaoting.
He was only a defender. As long as he was stopped and denied the chance to pass forward, he could not do much.
Could he possibly dribble past him?
Yet in the next second, Feng Xiaoting's move left him dumbfounded.
Seeing his opponent charge in so fiercely, Feng Xiaoting nudged the ball to the side, changed direction, and accelerated, slipping right past the opponent charging at full speed.
Nigeria's defensive midfielder was beaten cleanly and decisively!
The Nigerian fans at the stadium erupted in an uproar. They never expected their own defensive midfielder to be beaten by a center-back.
Was that even reasonable?
China Youth Team fans said this was basic stuff, not worth making a fuss over. Compared with big brother Fan Zhiyi, Feng Xiaoting was practically restrained.
After all, some people looked like center-backs on the surface, but were actually the team's Top Scorer.
China Youth Team had already held a numerical advantage in this attack. Now, with the opponent's defensive midfielder losing his position after rashly pressing forward, China Youth Team's advantage in numbers became even greater in the attacking third.
While sprinting forward with the ball, Feng Xiaoting calmly observed his teammates' runs and the opponents' defensive positioning.
Ahead and to his left, China Youth Team's left midfielder Lu Lin was already in position, ready at any moment to take the ball down the flank and cross it.
To Lu Lin's right, Lin Feng was also sprinting toward the left side of the penalty area, raising his hand to call for the ball.
The opponents' attention was inevitably drawn to the two Chinese players on the left, forcing their entire defensive formation to shift in that direction.
Seeing this, Feng Xiaoting passed decisively. But unexpectedly, he did not pass to Lin Feng. Instead, he sent the ball to Chen Tao in the middle.
Chen Tao had already taken the initiative to slow down. After receiving Feng Xiaoting's pass, he deliberately paused for a moment, then, when the opposing defender stepped up to intercept, passed the ball to Lin Feng on the left.
Lin Feng did not choose to shoot himself. Instead, he passed to Gao Lin, who was positioned right on the edge of the penalty area.
Gao Lin did not shoot either. He played a quick one-two with Lin Feng and passed the ball out again.
By the time the ball reached the penalty area, Lin Feng had already used his speed advantage to leave Nigeria's defenders behind.
The moment he received the ball, he was through one-on-one!
Nigeria's goalkeeper had already done everything possible to narrow Lin Feng's shooting angle, trying to save the team all by himself.
But Lin Feng gave him no chance. He calmly slotted the ball into the far corner, scoring steadily amid the despairing gazes of the opposing goalkeeper and defenders.
The score became 2:0, and only thirty minutes of the first half had passed!
In half an hour, the National Football Team had already established a huge lead.
The scales of victory had completely tipped toward China Youth Team!
"Beautiful!"
"China Youth Team Awesome!"
"It's 2:0! Are we really going to win the championship?"
"Someone pinch me, I'm scared this is just a dream!"
The instant Lin Feng scored, fans back home went completely crazy.
If 1:0 had merely established a lead, the fans had not dared to celebrate too soon.
Then 2:0 was completely different.
That goal had almost secured the victory.
It paved the way for their championship run!
As long as China Youth Team's players did not pop champagne in the locker room at halftime and celebrate early, this match was basically in the bag!
What excited the fans even more was how brilliant that goal had been.
From capitalizing on the opponent's attacking mistake with a counterattack, to the rapid expansion and advance of the formation afterward, to the wonderful combination play among several China Youth Team players at the edge of the penalty area.
That goal fully displayed China Youth Team's level.
Cover up the team names, and anyone unaware would think Arsenal were playing out there!
And when Arsenal's Head Coach Wenger saw the goal on television, a smile appeared on his face.
The little guy played really well!
But unfortunately, he had no connection with Arsenal for the time being.
At the same time, inside Barcelona's club offices, Barcelona president Laporta and the team's Head Coach Rijkaard were also watching the match.
"Is that the one who led his team to defeat Messi?"
Laporta pointed at Lin Feng, who was celebrating on the television screen, and asked the assistant beside him.
"Yes, Mr. President. In the match against the Argentina team, he scored two brilliant goals and helped the Chinese team come back to defeat the Argentina team."
Laporta nodded upon hearing that.
"He truly is a very capable player, but unfortunately, we cannot make use of him."
Barcelona already had Ronaldinho and Messi, so they did not lack attacking midfielders.
If they really bought him, he would most likely end up managing the water bottles.
Moreover, considering his relationship with Messi, if Lin Feng truly came, Messi would probably feel uncomfortable.
That was clearly not worth it. After all, Messi was Barcelona's treasure and their hope for the future!
However, being unable to sign Lin Feng did not mean they could not select other players from China Youth Team.
"Frank, what do you think of their Number 5?"
Laporta pointed at Feng Xiaoting and asked Rijkaard.
"Very strong. Very talented!"
Rijkaard answered without hesitation.
Feng Xiaoting's performance just now had left a deep impression on both of them.
In the Football World, good defenders were always scarcer than good forwards.
Because forwards were judged by their strengths, while defenders were judged by their weaknesses.
No matter how lacking a forward might be in other areas, as long as he had one Shining point that could help the team score, that was enough.
But defenders were different. If a defender had even one obvious weakness, he was not suited to play center-back!
Any weakness could become an opening for the opponent and bring a fatal threat to the team.
So players in this position could not have weaknesses!
Yet in the match just now, Feng Xiaoting had not exposed any weakness at all. He had even displayed his outstanding qualities.
His technique at his feet, his passing ability, his Football IQ, and his overall vision were all things Barcelona valued highly.
Center-backs who relied on their physique were easy to find. Defenders who relied on their brains were not.
Considering that he was only nineteen years old and still had plenty of room to grow in the future.
Laporta and Rijkaard were almost instantly tempted!
"Make an offer to his club. Bring him to Camp Nou this summer!"
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