"Beautiful!"
Dick Van Pool shouted from the sidelines.
Originally, he had held no hope for Yang Yang at all. He had simply been treating a dead horse as if it were still alive, yet he had never expected that after Yang Yang came on, Baken Academy's right-side defense would actually stabilize, blocking the opponent's powerful attacks time and again.
Van Pul could completely imagine that regardless of the match's result, everyone would praise this substitution after the game.
But he still had little confidence in Yang Yang's ability, especially his attacking ability. His fundamentals were simply too poor.
"Get it out quickly! Give it to Henk Dimer!" Dick Van Pool shouted.
Yet Yang Yang on the field seemed to have no such intention at all. He did not hear Van Pool's shout either, instead charging forward at high speed with the ball. In the blink of an eye, he had reached the halfway line and was closing in on the defensive zone of Omnibus's left-back.
"Pass it quickly!" Van Pul cried out in alarm.
Don't miss the opportunity. Pass it now!
Although Henk Dimer had made many mistakes in this match and was performing extremely poorly, he was still the team's midfield core. Even at this point, in Van Pul's eyes—and in the eyes of everyone else—he was countless times more reliable than a rookie like Yang Yang.
Because of that preconceived impression, passing was naturally Yang Yang's only reasonable choice.
Yet on the field, Yang Yang still kept his head down and charged toward the defender in front of him.
For a while now, he had been doing the simplest and most basic training. Last night in the Super Training Ground, he had even specially trained [Ronaldo's Rush], practicing the Pendulum Dribble until he had mastered it. On top of that, his several successful defensive plays after coming on had given him tremendous confidence. He wanted to try his Star Skill in front of the opponent.
If he failed? Then he would just hurry back and defend.
After seeing Yang Yang carry the ball across the halfway line, everyone finally confirmed that he did not want to pass. He wanted to break through with the ball.
Dick Van Pool was surprised, but there was also some reproach in his expression. In his view, there was no way Yang Yang's dribble could succeed. He had never shown anything like this during nearly a year of training. How could he possibly do it on the field?
It was not only Van Pul. John Rep, the Dutch Middle-aged Man on the sidelines, and even quite a few fans all wore expressions of unbearable anticipation, as if saying, Wouldn't it be better to defend properly? Why make a fool of yourself?
If you don't have the skill, don't take on the job.
The closer Yang Yang got to the defender, the calmer he became. His speed slowed slightly, but his eyes remained fixed on his opponent.
Clearly, Omnibus's left-back, like everyone else, thought Yang Yang would pass. Yet Yang Yang did not, which caught him off guard and caused him to position himself slightly too far toward the inside.
There's an opening!
Yang Yang made up his mind. He continued driving toward the defender at an even pace while silently calculating the distance.
Closer. Closer still.
The defender was experienced as well. He did not rashly lunge forward, instead retreating continuously and waiting for the right moment.
But as he retreated, he saw Yang Yang suddenly glance toward the outside. The next instant, Yang Yang accelerated sharply, lowering his right shoulder while making an obvious feint with his arm. It was unmistakably a sign that he intended to force his way down the outside.
I absolutely can't let him past—even if I have to foul him!
Already positioned slightly toward the inside, the defender immediately rushed forward without hesitation to block him.
But the moment he stepped in, he suddenly saw that Yang Yang had not broken through on the outside as expected. All he saw was a blur. Yang Yang, who had been leaning to the right, suddenly hooked the ball and changed direction, intending to break through on the inside.
Not only was Omnibus's left-back on the field caught off guard, but even the fans on the sidelines were stunned. They only saw Yang Yang shake off the left-back with a feint in the blink of an eye, cut inside with the ball, leave the defender stranded after his challenge, and race away.
Only then did a wave of shouts and cheers erupt from outside the field.
"The Pendulum Dribble?!" the Dutch Middle-aged Man cried out.
John Rep rose from his seat on Baken Academy's bench, staring incredulously at what had just happened on the field. If he had not seen Yang Yang continue charging forward with the ball, he would have thought his eyes were playing tricks on him.
He had once been a famous right winger in Europe. Although he had not seen that breakthrough clearly, he could still reconstruct the entire sequence in his mind. The name that sprang to mind was the same as the Dutch Middle-aged Man's: "The Pendulum Dribble!"
"What?" Dick Van Pool exclaimed.
"You've got to be kidding!"
The Pendulum Dribble was Ronaldo's signature move. Yang Yang had actually used it in a match? It was simply unbelievable.
"Is he really Yang Yang?" Van Pul murmured in disbelief.
John Rep could only give a bitter smile, unable to find any words.
Yang Yang had brought them far too many surprises today. They were having trouble processing them all.
Yang Yang on the field did not stop because of everyone's shock. He quickly carried the ball to the right side of the edge of the opponent's penalty area. With the left-back beaten and the midfield unable to recover in time, the left center-back could only move over to cover.
What should he do next?
Everyone watched Yang Yang intently, waiting to see his next move.
The defense and breakthrough had been beautiful, but if he mishandled this next step, all his previous work would be wasted.
Baken Academy's forward was also surging upfield. Omnibus's right-back had retreated into the box and was defending together with the right center-back, but there was a huge open space to the right of the penalty spot. Henk Dimer was sprinting forward from midfield, preparing to enter that area.
Had Yang Yang, who was keeping his head down as he dribbled, seen the opening?
Henk Dimer and the others had not wanted to pass to him earlier. Would he be willing to pass to them now?
Under everyone's gaze, Yang Yang charged to the vicinity of the right byline outside the penalty area. Facing the opposing left center-back's block, he first made a feint as if to cross, then suddenly stopped and hooked the ball back. His right foot quickly sent a low cutback toward the right side of the penalty spot.
At that moment, Henk Dimer finally reached the spot. He stopped the ball with his left foot, then followed through with a low shot from his right, sending it into the far corner of the goal.
He saw it!
This was unbelievable. He had really seen it!
John Rep and Dick Van Pool stood dumbfounded, unable to believe their eyes.
Even the Dutch Middle-aged Man standing on the sideline had a strange light flash through his eyes. He had not expected Yang Yang to spot that opening either. Could Yang Yang have had eyes in the back of his head?
That was obviously impossible.
The only reasonable explanation was that he had been observing the entire time and possessed an outstanding ability to read and anticipate the match.
Beep!
When the referee's whistle sounded, thunderous cheers erupted from all around the stadium.
It was the loudest applause and cheering since the match had begun.
"Chinese kid, I'm starting to like you!"
"That assist was beautiful! Keep it up!"
"I believe in you, Chinese kid!"
Henk Dimer, the hero of the goal, stood blankly where he was, having forgotten to celebrate. Cheers from the fans rang in his ears, but they were not for him, the scorer. They were for the useless player he had always looked down on.
Before this, he would certainly have been furious and perhaps even thrown a tantrum. But now, he could not feel angry at all.
Because that useless player he had always despised had just given him a brilliant assist and helped him score.
With this goal, everyone would forget his poor performance in the match.
In a sense, that Chinese player had saved him.
How could he possibly hate him?
Not only did he not hate Yang Yang, he even felt somewhat ashamed. Earlier, he had told his teammates not to pass to him.
Yang Yang's thoughts were not that complicated.
He had indeed been keeping his head down while dribbling, but God's Perspective had allowed him to know everything happening on the field.
The two forwards inside the box were both in unfavorable positions to receive the ball. Passing to them would most likely only result in a clearance. The opening to the right of the penalty spot, however, was much larger, and Henk Dimer was making a forward run. He could shoot directly after receiving the ball, so Yang Yang had not thought much about it and simply passed.
To him, his grudge with Henk Dimer was an internal team conflict. But now they were two goals behind, so they should temporarily set their internal conflict aside, point their weapons outward together, and do everything possible to defeat the opponent and win the match before discussing anything else.
Of course, he had not forgotten Henk Dimer's humiliation. That was why, after seeing the goal, he did not go over to celebrate like his teammates. Instead, he silently walked away.
But the cheers from the sidelines were almost all for him, which surprised him.
After successfully completing his first dribble past a defender, Yang Yang became even more confident, especially in his understanding and use of the Pendulum Dribble.
Omnibus seemed to have sensed the threat Yang Yang posed after coming on as a substitute. After conceding, they immediately replaced their number seven, their main attacking player, whose stamina was nearly exhausted, with a substitute, placing even greater emphasis on defense.
With the pressure on the right side eased, Yang Yang began taking a more active part in the attack.
He had always seen himself as an attacking player. It was only because of his situation within the team that he had been forced to defend actively.
As Yang Yang began to play more freely, both John Rep and Dick Van Pool, as well as the Dutch Middle-aged Man on the sideline, began paying attention to his movement.
No matter how the situation on the field changed, Yang Yang could always run into open space. Yet even after his impressive performance just now, his teammates still had not adjusted. For the moment, no one passed to him.
John Rep could not stand watching anymore. He reminded Van Pul from the sideline, "Have them pass to Yang Yang more often. Once the right side opens up, the center will come alive."
Dick Van Pool's eyes lit up. Wasn't that exactly right?
Hadn't the opponent's central defense opened up after Yang Yang successfully broke through on the right, allowing Henk Dimer to seize the opportunity?
His only concern was Yang Yang's fundamentals, but they could not afford to worry about that now.
After the head coach gave the order, everyone—including Henk Dimer—had no choice but to obey.
Yang Yang soon received a pass from the center-back and once again advanced with the ball along the right flank. But this time, the player blocking him at the halfway line was Omnibus's left midfielder, who had just come on as a substitute.
One-on-one again.
Should he keep breaking through?
Yang Yang was brimming with confidence, and the head coach had given him permission to do so. Why should he care about anything else? He would get past him first and worry about the rest later.
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