Seeing Dejan Lu standing by the touchline, Zoff's heart skipped a beat.
The legendary goalkeeper even felt that being born early had been a good thing. Otherwise, with someone this formidable in Italian football, his career might have taken a serious hit.
These foreign players were all fucking extraordinary.
Diego Maradona, Lothar Matthäus, plus the Three Musketeers were already something to talk about.
And now Sampdoria had produced another one.
He even doubted whether their one-goal lead could hold.
If they dropped two points at Alps Stadium, the fans would not be so easy to placate.
Only when he reached the touchline did Dejan Lu remember that he had not drawn a card today.
Ding. Because your good brother Marco Lanna was someone who gave his whole heart easily in love, you have drawn a player who never gave his true heart in a relationship. You have obtained a 2014–2015 Premier League, Chelsea vs. Stoke City, John Terry single-match experience card.
Dejan Lu: ...
Had he finally run into a ghost after walking night roads for too long?
Was Terry strong?
He was incredibly strong!
He was one of the greatest defenders in football history, especially in physical contests and aerial defense, where he stood at the absolute pinnacle.
But getting Terry when they were behind felt somewhat off.
Fortunately, Dejan the Football King still had a pass in him.
It was not completely unplayable.
Before he had even high-fived his teammate for the substitution, Dejan Lu had already decided on his approach for the match.
After high-fiving Srećko Katanec, Dejan Lu jogged onto the pitch.
Vialli finally breathed a sigh of relief. "Good thing you came on."
He was not someone who liked to complain, but it was true that he and Salzano lacked chemistry. The two rarely played together.
That would not have mattered much if the midfield had provided enough support, but Juventus's pressing in midfield was too fierce today. The two of them had been trapped up front and could not get the ball at all.
Dejan Lu gave him a thumbs-up.
Wasn't it just a contest of midfield toughness? Then bring it on!
Dejan Lu walked over and exchanged a few words with Dossena, and the two switched positions.
Pari looked at Dejan Lu in surprise and asked, "Are you coming to play as the midfield organizer?"
"You can push forward if you want. I can defend too."
Dejan Lu said.
"Really?" Pari asked.
"Mm, a little!"
Dejan Lu said with a smile.
Pari shook his head, feeling that this was not very reliable.
Play restarted from the back, and Carboni immediately passed the ball to Dejan Lu. Dejan Lu did not rush to distribute it, instead holding the ball as he surveyed the field.
Schillaci charged at Dejan Lu like a rabid dog.
The small forward who had transferred from Serie B to Juventus played with tremendous desperation, but determination did not mean he could change his physical limitations. Dejan Lu shielded the ball with his back to him, and no matter how Schillaci stretched out his leg, he could not reach it.
Zoff could not help covering his face and shouting from the sideline, "Get the fuck up there and help him!"
Were they all standing around like uncles, watching the show?
Alexander Zavurov quickly rushed over.
This wide player known as the Soviet Maradona was not much of a ball-winner either, but Dejan Lu still cautiously knocked the ball sideways to Pari.
Pari immediately sent it forward, and Giancarlo Marocchi charged out once again.
The pass was slightly too heavy. By the time Lombardo brought it under control, Marocchi was already behind him, leaving him no way to accelerate.
Lombardo tried to turn suddenly, but his intentions were seen through at once. Giancarlo Marocchi hooked the ball away with his foot.
"Juventus on the counterattack!"
Before Rossi had even finished speaking, Dejan Lu, who had crossed the halfway line, kicked the ball straight to a teammate.
"Well, this counterattack did not get going."
Possession returned to Juventus. Napoli did not immediately release the ball after receiving it, but Dejan Lu had already chased him down.
During the run, Dejan Lu tripped over his leg, but the instant he fell, he planted one hand on the ground, drove through his core, and knocked the ball back to his teammate with his leg.
"Beautiful!!!"
Boskov could not help applauding.
Zoff, who was also standing on the sideline, nodded in approval.
These days, star players, especially attacking ones, hardly defended.
But look at this young man. He had already earned the recognition of Beckenbauer and Pelé, yet he still worked this fucking hard.
If Juventus's players had that kind of spirit, they would be firmly holding first place in the table right now.
After Dejan Lu came on, the two sides returned to a stalemate.
Pari discovered in surprise that Dejan Lu had not been joking. Fuck, this young teammate was remarkably hard in defense. He could even see shades of Baresi in him.
Marocchi, who had looked like an iron-blooded warrior in the first half, was now completely ineffective.
Whether it was Pari or Dejan Lu on the ball, they could easily connect with the front line.
Most crucially, Dejan Lu's counter-pressing was too fast and too fierce. Almost none of his sliding tackles missed.
A few minutes later, Juventus launched another counterattack. This time, a long pass from the back found Alexander Zavurov directly.
Sampdoria's center was wide open. Their players had all gone up to join the corner-kick attack, leaving very few men at the back.
Pellegrini delayed too long before closing him down on the flank, allowing Alexander Zavurov to spot an opportunity. Zavurov scooped the ball with his right foot and chipped it straight into the box.
"Danger! They might concede again!"
Rossi said.
In the away section, quite a few Sampdoria fans closed their eyes.
There were no defenders in the middle of the penalty area!
But at that moment, a blue figure appeared on the broadcast camera. Dejan Lu got there first and headed the ball out over the end line in front of goal.
As Zoff watched the field, the affection in his eyes was impossible to hide.
He even felt that Dejan Lu could become the next Beckenbauer. Judging by his performances over the past few matches, that was not an exaggeration at all.
He was simply complete, with no weaknesses anywhere.
Whatever the result of this match, Zoff planned to personally invite Dejan Lu to join Juventus.
The corner was taken. Dejan Lu and Verchowod both rose at the near post, giving Juventus no chance as they headed the ball straight out of the penalty area. Pari got the ball and immediately hoofed it forward.
Seeing that, Vialli sprinted forward desperately.
He got it!
Juventus's penalty area was empty.
Vialli was somewhat excited, but his feet still maintained their original rhythm.
De Agostini chose to close in immediately but did not make a tackle. After the two tussled all the way to the byline, Vialli turned and fired, winning a corner.
Boskov could not help sighing.
Vialli's scoring efficiency was not low, but in crucial moments, he truly did not perform as well as Dejan Lu.
If it had been Dejan Lu, De Agostini's legs would probably have been twisted apart by feints.
Failing to create a one-on-one chance left the old coach rather disappointed.
He pulled himself together and shouted, "Corners are important opportunities too. Don't be careless. You must take hold of them!"
There was not much time left in the match. If they wanted to win the title, then even if they could not win today, they absolutely could not lose.
Pari looked toward Dejan Lu.
With Roberto Mancini off the field, Sampdoria had no one left to take set pieces.
"Let Attilio take it."
Dejan Lu waved his hand. Lombardo was not strong in physical confrontations, but his passing was good.
"Me?"
Lombardo was somewhat surprised.
After all, newcomers rarely got set-piece duties, even if it was only a corner.
"Then go ahead."
Pari waved his hand.
If Dejan Lu had not taken it, Pari had planned to do so himself.
But Dejan Lu had said so.
Lombardo walked toward the corner flag.
He was even a little excited.
This was his first time taking a corner since transferring to Sampdoria.
Where should he send it?
He still remembered that they were behind. This chance was important.
Lombardo looked into the penalty area, where the contest between both sides' players in the center was extremely fierce.
Dejan Lu, who had asked him to take the corner, was also standing in the middle, but Lombardo noticed that Dejan Lu's hand seemed to be pointing toward the near post.
Had he seen it wrong?
The afternoon sun was somewhat dazzling.
After confirming carefully, Lombardo still chose to trust Dejan Lu.
After exhaling a long breath, he began his run-up and sent the ball flying with one kick.
Only then did Lombardo notice that Dejan Lu, who had just been standing in the center, had somehow already left that dangerous crowd and moved to the left side of the penalty area.
No one was marking him!
He took a run-up, then after only two short steps, pushed off with his left foot and leapt into the air.
Only then did Marocchi notice Dejan Lu.
But it was too late!
The ball was right there. In midair, Dejan Lu violently snapped his head into the side of it.
Bang—
Almost instantly, the ball smashed into the net.
They had equalized!!!
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