This Is Just Routine

Monaco had clearly stepped up their targeted defensive arrangements against Chen Anno in the second half.

Jemerson and Glik stood in front of him like two iron gates.

Glik tightly blocked his route inside, while Jemerson positioned himself two steps behind, cutting off any chance of a break down the outside.

One to the left and one to the right, they formed a seamless iron door, forcing Chen Anno into the dead end by the byline.

Even Liverpool fans, who had absolute faith in Chen Anno, thought this attack was about to be strangled outside the penalty area when they saw the situation.

Facing the double-team, Chen Anno did not slow his charge, nor did he pass to Coutinho, who had drifted wide in support.

Instead, he gently nudged the ball forward with the outside of his right foot, then leaned sharply to the right, as though he intended to force his way past Glik by cutting inside.

Glik took the bait!

He hurriedly shuffled a step to his left and stretched out a leg to block him, trying to use his body to shut off Chen Anno's path toward the middle.

His weight was completely committed inward, his whole body half-turned.

As long as Chen Anno dared to cut inside, he would use his body to block both man and ball.

But just as Glik's weight had fully shifted toward the middle and his left foot had taken that step!

Chen Anno flicked his ankle sharply.

His right foot had just pushed the ball forward, but the inside of that same foot immediately hooked it violently back in the opposite direction at an almost impossible speed.

Elastico!

As though pulled by an invisible string, the ball instantly changed trajectory and darted through the space on the outside of Glik's