Chapter 626 68: Chen Is Too Unruly
Chapter 626 68: Chen Is Too Unruly
Santiago Bernabeu StadiumAll eyes were on the goalkeeper and the attacking player.
Guaita resolutely decided to abandon the goal and charge out, but Chen Zhong's speed was faster than he anticipated. He watched in dismay as Chen Zhong, like a seal balancing a ball, flicked it upwards.
The ball had an upward trajectory, just perfectly beyond Guaita's control range.
Guaita turned around in panic, scrambling back towards the goal, but it was to no avail. He could only watch helplessly as the ball landed inside the goal.
"It's a goal!"
"Chen Zhong!"
"Facing the goalkeeper, he was very calm."
"He headed the ball into the net!"
"1:0"
"Real Madrid finally scored in the second half and took the lead!"
Emery finally let out a sigh of relief. He looked up at the sky and listened to the ecstatic cheers of the Real Madrid fans, feeling a myriad of emotions and momentarily at a loss for how to express his inner feelings.
Meanwhile, Mourinho laughed heartily, looking at Chen Zhong with complete admiration.
He had expected Chen Zhong to score in this match and never doubted whether Real Madrid would win at their home stadium, but he did not imagine Chen Zhong would score in such an imaginative and skillful way.
The Real Madrid players swarmed towards Chen Zhong.
Chen Zhong, with Cristiano Ronaldo on his left arm and Kaka on his right, ran towards the corner flag under Benzema's envious gaze.
The three of them performed the same celebratory gesture together.
Jumping, waving, showcasing numbers.
"If in not too long."
"Chen Zhong could win the Ballon d'Or."
"Then when they celebrate again, it'll be three Ballon d'Or winners."
This Ballon d'Or-worthy goal for Real Madrid also rendered Valencia's bus strategy meaningless.
After all, now they were behind, and Real Madrid, having scored a goal, would be even more patient. They had to seek change.
Using this mentality of Valencia, Real Madrid almost breached their goal again in the 55th minute.
It was a small interplay between Chen Zhong and Kaka. After shaking off the defenders, Kaka delivered a lob pass to the advancing Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Portuguese's positioning was very elegant. Just outside the goal area, he attempted a left-footed volley to breach Valencia's goal.
Unfortunately, the ball went just over the crossbar.
The Real Madrid fans in the stands let out a sound of regret.
Emery was on the sidelines calling out players' names, making some adjustments, which had an immediate effect.
"Valencia's attack."
"Mata on the flank with the ball."
"Great dribbling skills."
"Diagonal pass!"
"Joaquin!"
After receiving the ball, Mata stretched Real Madrid's formation. Joaquin seized the opportunity to position himself towards the penalty area, and Mata's diagonal pass found him on the right side of the area, where he immediately chose to shoot.
But Casillas reacted very quickly.
He batted the ball away with both hands.
However, Valencia's attack had not ended there.
"Casillas' reaction is very quick."
"A miraculous save."
"The ball flies out!"
"Soldado."
"Advancing towards the right side of the penalty area."
"Another pass!"
After getting the ball, Soldado dribbled horizontally, disrupting Real Madrid's defensive cohesion in the penalty area.
He noticed Joaquin advancing again and opted for another cross.
Despite the defensive player's interference, Joaquin managed to execute a difficult sweep shot.
The shot was accurate, but not powerful enough.
Casillas easily gathered the ball into his arms.
This was Valencia's most threatening attack in the second half.
Joaquin's two threats to the goal also showcased his sharp instincts in attack.
On the sidelines, Mourinho couldn't help but take several glances at the Bullfighter.
"Concentrate!" Chen Zhong shouted loudly: "Don't relax."
Clapping his hands, loudly boosting the players' morale, Real Madrid's players quickly pulled themselves together, continuing with the match according to the established tactics.
"60th minute of the match."
"Real Madrid's attack."
"Marcelo with the ball."
"Cross."
"Chen Zhong head pass."
"C. Ronaldo!"
Real Madrid reciprocated, looking for a breakthrough from the flank.
Marcelo's bold advance took him directly into Valencia's intolerable sensitive area.
Facing Valencia's players, Marcelo didn't continue but crossed diagonally into the middle. Chen Zhong overpowered Valencia's defender, completing a header pass to Cristiano Ronaldo.
Faced with Chen Zhong's pass, the Portuguese didn't stop the ball or dribble, and instead, directly executed a backheel volley, in a move similar to a scorpion's tail flick, delivering the ball to the advancing Benzema.
This bold move caused an uproar at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.
When Benzema took control of the ball, he had just broken through Valencia's defense.
This one-on-one situation drew everyone's attention to Benzema.
"Benzema!"
"C. Ronaldo's brilliant pass!"
"In this position, he takes the ball!"
After receiving the ball, Benzema broke in from the right side of the penalty area. Facing the goalkeeper, he attempted a narrow-angle shot, aiming to catch him by surprise.
But Benzema's intention was too obvious.
Guaita crouched down and easily caught the ball.
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