Just as Messi's through ball at the World Cup had directly given Virgil van Dijk, the world's best defender, a psychological demon.
Lin Feng's assist just now had likewise dealt an enormous psychological blow to Japan's players on the field.
Over the next few minutes, Japan's players looked dazed and muddled, each of them absent-minded and completely out of form.
By contrast, after taking such a commanding lead, the Chinese team had completely cast off all psychological burdens, and every one of them was in unbelievably good form!
In the 52nd minute, less than thirty seconds after play restarted, the Chinese team won the ball back and once again drove into the opposing penalty area.
Han Peng laid the ball back inside the box, but Lin Feng's driven shot from 22 meters out was blocked by Yasuhito Endo.
Zhao Xuri, who had yet to be substituted, launched a powerful throw-in from the touchline and sent the ball back into the penalty area.
Han Peng beat Yuji Nakazawa in their aerial challenge, but his headed effort was saved by the goalkeeper.
The ball fell to Gao Lin, whose follow-up shot was blocked by Marcus Tulio Tanaka with his body.
Yet the danger had not been cleared, as the rebounding ball remained at the Chinese team's feet.
Outside the penalty area, Zheng Zhi received the ball, took a look around, calmly cut past a charging player from Japan, and passed to Zhou Haibin on the left ahead of him.
Zhou Haibin feinted as if he were about to charge into the box, but after drawing the defenders in, he played a cutback pass to the middle.
The Chinese team's sustained attacks had long since thrown Japan's defense line into chaos. Nearly every defender's attention was drawn to Zhou Haibin on the ball,