Yang Yang had just taken up position on the left side of the edge of the penalty area and raised his hand for the ball when Miranda and Godín came rushing over as well.
Miranda in particular used his physical advantage to forcefully shove Yang Yang aside from behind, taking over his position and claiming the best spot. He then tried to clear the ball directly.
But Yang Yang was no pushover. He knew a physical contest would put him at a disadvantage, but he still harried Miranda from the side.
His thoughts were simple: If you won't let me have it easy, I won't let you have it easy either.
Marcelo's diagonal pass reached the edge of the penalty area. Miranda tried to clear it with one kick, but Yang Yang's interference threw him off. Though he got a touch on the ball, he sliced his clearance badly and failed to strike it cleanly.
The ball hadn't been cleared!
In that instant, Yang Yang, Miranda, and Godín were all stunned. All three reacted at the same time.
Perhaps it was because he had trained in the Super Training Ground for years, or perhaps Yang Yang was simply born with lightning-fast reactions. Either way, in that incredibly short moment, he charged forward almost on instinct and flicked the falling ball upward with his right foot.
It had taken him no small effort to win the ball, and Yang Yang had no intention of losing it again. So he flicked it toward himself.
After slicing his first clearance, Miranda immediately tried to recover, but he was a step too late. Yang Yang got there first and flicked the ball away, yet Miranda's recovery motion had already begun, leaving him no way to stop Yang Yang's next move.
Godín's reaction was just