Chapter 328 Savior

This year’s Brazil Team was composed mainly of Black players, which made the golden-haired Raphinha stand out conspicuously. Moreover, he wasn’t tall, at only 1.71 meters and sixty-six kilograms.

The nineteen-year-old Brazilian right-back was renowned for his offensive capabilities. He had already scored four goals in this FIFA U-20 World Cup, including a last-gasp winner in the quarterfinals that sent the Brazil Team into the semifinals.

It was fair to say Raphinha was the core player of this Brazilian Youth Team, as well as their most important offensive initiator.

In contrast, Yang Yang’s teammate at Ajax, Filipe Luís, was merely a substitute on the team.

Raphinha’s idol was Cafu, but this fiery Brazilian right-back’s attacking drive was clearly even more intense.

According to the intelligence Yang Yang had gathered, Raphinha spent over half his time on the attack, and his chemistry with players like Soube was impeccable. This made him seem like a right-back, but in reality, he played more like a right winger making runs from deep.

The Brazil Team’s players clearly had immense trust in him. When passing from the midfield or defensive line, they always preferred to play the ball to his flank and have him initiate the attack.

And this was precisely the opportunity Yang Yang wanted to seize.

...

Over the past season at Ajax, every training session began with a game of rondo.

And Yang Yang always played the role of the "piggy in the middle," the one chasing the ball.

It wasn’t that he was a masochist, but that the constant changes in direction and the shuttle runs required for the drill were a form of training for him.

Yang Yang’s ability to handle physical contact had improved significantly, and his muscles had become much more solid. Yet, his speed and agility hadn’t declined; on the contrary, they had improved. This was most evident in his explosive first step, which always allowed him to instantly shake off opponents.

This was all related to the comprehensive, tailor-made physical conditioning program designed for him by Winston Bogard, of which the rondo drill was one component.

And after long hours spent playing rondo, Yang Yang gradually developed his own insights. He had a great feel for how to run and how to press, especially the feint-and-reverse—a fake run in the opposite direction—which he had honed to perfection.

But one person alone wasn’t enough.

To snatch the ball from Raphinha, Yang Yang needed Gao Lin’s cooperation.

So, he quickly found an opportunity to briefly explain his idea to Gao Lin.

His intelligent teammate grasped Yang Yang’s intent at once and immediately nodded in agreement. "I’ll back you up."

The two high-fived, then went their separate ways.

......

......

With a one-goal lead, the Brazil Team continued to leisurely pass the ball around, in no rush at all.

This style was a bit odd. For Yang Yang, who was accustomed to the fast-paced matches of the European League, it felt rather awkward.

But there was nothing to be done; their passing and ball control were simply too good.

Yang Yang wasn’t anxious either. He was patiently waiting for an opportunity.

Some things had to be done right on the first try. Once the opponent was prepared, it would be much harder to succeed.

Time ticked by, drop by drop.

Gao Lin tried to create an opening a few times, but he was unsuccessful.

Yang Yang, meanwhile, kept reassuring his teammates, continuing to wait patiently for the right moment.

Not until the forty-fourth minute of the first half did the Brazil Team pass the ball back to their defense again.

The moment center-back Fabio received the ball, Gao Lin immediately closed in, pressing him head-on and forcing him to play the ball out to the flanks.

Yang Yang had been lurking in the channel on the left side of Brazil’s formation, but positioned slightly deeper than Gao Lin. The moment he saw Gao Lin press forward, he instantly sprang into action.

Every player’s passing range is fan-shaped. With Gao Lin pressing from the front, Fabio could only pass backward or to the sides.

And with Yang Yang prowling in the left channel, the Brazilian center-back’s passing lanes were restricted even further.

Raphinha’s strategy was to drop back, raising his hand to call for the ball.

Facing Gao Lin’s pressure, Fabio first feigned a pass to the left but then suddenly cut back, turned to his right, and passed the ball to Raphinha.

In that exact instant, Yang Yang suddenly accelerated, sprinting at top speed directly toward Raphinha.

Before receiving the pass, the Brazilian right-back had felt the space around him was safe. As he trapped the ball, he angled his first touch toward the attack, preparing to launch his next offensive move.

He’d lost count of how many times he’d controlled the ball that way during the match.

But this time, just as he was bringing the ball under control, Yang Yang suddenly appeared right in front of him.

Raphinha had just been thinking, ’I need to control this and quickly launch one last attack before halftime.’

But before he knew it, Yang Yang was already bearing down on him.

Gao Lin had also instantly tied up the center-back, Fabio, leaving Raphinha with no available passing lanes.

His first instinct was to pass back to the Goalkeeper, but first, he had to shield the ball.

But just as he moved to shield it, Yang Yang suddenly closed the distance and went for the tackle.

At just over 1.8 meters, having gone through more than half a year of strength training, Yang Yang surpassed Raphinha in height, weight, and physical power. The moment he got close, the Brazilian right-back was simply shouldered off the ball.

There was a time when Yang Yang was always the one being tragically pushed aside. But now, he could actually use his own body to muscle an opponent off the ball. Even though it was a Brazilian right-back who was a head shorter than him, he was still delighted.

Raphinha was clever, too. After being shouldered away, he realized he’d lost any chance of stopping Yang, so he immediately threw himself to the ground, making it look as though he’d been brutally shoved in an attempt to draw a foul from the referee.

But the referee didn’t blow his whistle this time, because Yang Yang had made no illegal moves from start to finish.

"Yang Yang wins the ball!"

"The Chinese Team launches a counter-attack from the final third!"

All the fans in the stadium erupted in cheers.

After winning the ball, Yang Yang paid no mind to Raphinha and quickly raced onto the loose ball.

As long as the referee didn’t blow the whistle, he wouldn’t stop!

After reaching the ball, Yang Yang dribbled straight into the penalty area.

Fabio scrambled back desperately, but he was still a step behind Yang Yang.

By the time the Brazilian center-back made it back inside the box, Yang Yang was already to the left of the penalty spot, one-on-one with the Goalkeeper.

Goalkeeper Renan positioned himself toward the left, hoping Yang Yang would be wary of Fabio’s pursuit, but Yang was no longer the player he had been a year ago.

As the top scorer in the Eredivisie last season, Yang Yang was no stranger to finishing in front of goal. It was hard for any sudden development to catch him by surprise, including this one.

After a quick feint, he coolly slotted the ball into the far corner with his right foot.

The goalkeeper, Renan, reacted instantly, sticking out a foot to try and block the shot, but the ball slid right past him.

Fabio only arrived, far too late, after the ball had already been struck.

The moment the ball left his foot, Yang Yang turned and began to run.

It’s in!

"GOAL!!!!!!!!!"

"GOAL!!!!"

"Yang Yang! Yang Yang! It’s Yang Yang again!"

"At the critical moment, it’s Yang Yang who steps up for his team!"

"One-one!"

"The Chinese Team has fought back to equalize!"

"That is an absolutely incredible goal!"

"Yang Yang’s aggressive high press wins the ball from the Brazilian right-back Raphinha, creating a one-on-one situation, and he scores with a calm finish inside the box to equalize for the Chinese Team!"

"This is the forty-fourth minute of the first half!"

After scoring, Yang Yang ran off the pitch and all the way to the stands filled with Chinese international students and overseas Chinese fans. He waved his arms the entire way, urging everyone to let their cheers grow louder and more intense.

Right now, the Chinese Team desperately needed the support of all their fans!

"The magnificent Yang Yang!"

"It’s just unbelievable!"

"After the Chinese Team conceded a crushing goal to Brazil, Yang Yang has equalized for the Chinese Team right before the end of the first half."

"This goal will change the course of the game! Both sides are finally back on level terms."

"Judging by their performance in the first half, we still have a chance in the second."

"This is all thanks to Yang Yang! He is the savior of this match! With his unflagging effort, his indomitable fighting spirit, and his cool-headed finish, he has kept the hope alive for the Chinese Team!"

"We have every reason to believe that as long as we have Yang Yang, we definitely still have hope for the second half!"

...

On the pitch, Yang Yang couldn’t hear the passionate commentary from National Television being broadcast to fans across the country, but he could hear the cheers and applause from all the fans in the stands.

Countless fans shouted Yang’s name in familiar Chinese, and Five-Star Red Flags once again fluttered in the stands. All of it made him, sliding on his knees below the stands, feel incredibly emotional.

Savoring this beautiful moment, this deeply moving feeling, he felt that all the effort and sweat he had poured in—both in the past and just now—was all worth it.

His teammates all rushed over, surrounding Yang Yang in a tight embrace.

In this match, every single one of them had given their absolute all.

Every one of them was drenched in sweat, but as they embraced, feeling each other’s ragged breaths, there was a sense of shared destiny, of brothers in arms.

...

On the sidelines, Klauen, forgetting his age, clenched his fists and pumped them forcefully, venting his elation and excitement. Behind him, everyone—from the Chinese coaching staff to the players on the bench—had leaped from their seats, cheering loudly.

Perhaps they did have their ideological conflicts, but they all shared a single goal: to help this National Youth Team go as far as possible.

On this point, there was no disagreement among them.

And in this moment, they were all celebrating for Yang Yang on the pitch, for all the players.

This goal was just too precious, and too important!

Not only was this Yang Yang’s seventh goal of this FIFA U-20 World Cup, but it would also change the entire complexion of the match.

Having their lead erased would be a huge blow to Brazil’s morale, while simultaneously serving as a massive boost for the Chinese Team.

This was a fragile team—fragile in terms of their on-field ability, and fragile in terms of the players’ mentality.

Years of being the underdogs had left them severely lacking in confidence; they were quick to doubt themselves.

But Yang Yang’s goal didn’t just tie the score; it also made them start to believe that falling behind wasn’t so terrifying after all.

Even when facing the mighty Brazil Team, even when they were a goal down, as long as they gritted their teeth and persevered, they had a chance to equalize.

And in the second half, fueled by this fighting spirit and willpower, they were fully capable of holding the line—or even defeating Brazil.