Chapter 409: Heel Pick
Real Madrid overtook the score in the 83rd minute of the game, and the Real Madrid fans at the new Wembley Stadium were extremely excited, and the huge cheers rose higher and higher.
In their hearts, they don't think that Dortmund, who has one less player, can make any waves.
The championship will belong to Real Madrid!
However, Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp immediately chose to make a substitution, replacing Schmelzer with Grosskreutz, who has stronger offensive ability and running ability, a very obvious signal to strengthen the attack!
The formation then changed and became more sloppy.
Tang Zheng, who plays as a double midfielder with Gundogan, is no longer limited to the area in front of the central defender, he can cover the entire stadium.
Of course, the premise is that the physical fitness can keep up.
Although Dortmund played one less, they relied on the mentality of losing the title if they didn't score and suppressed the Real Madrid players in the kick-off period.
As Dortmund's time of possession increased, Mourinho became more hesitant.
Real Madrid have too many attacking players in front of the field, and there are three strikers alone.
In addition to Benzema's dedication and willingness to assist in the defence, Cristiano Ronaldo and Iguaz are basically doing the same.
In addition, Mesut Ozil and Modric are both strong and weak in attack, and finally said that only Xavi Alonso has some defensive ability in midfield, which is a huge hidden danger for the team.
Must make up!
Mourinho turned his head to look into the warm-up area and saw that the only players suitable for the pitch were Coentrão, Raphael Varane and Essien.
Coentrão can play at the back, but left-back and left wing-back are the first choice, and this situation is not suitable.
Raphael Varane came on to free Pepe into a central midfield position, but Varane was still young and it took a lot of courage to use him in central defence.
In this way, only the experienced 'Buffalo' Essien is the most suitable substitute.
He had played in the Champions League final for Chelsea in the 2007-2008 season and has a wealth of experience.
All things considered, Essien is the best fit to come off the bench.
However, Essien is not in great shape when he comes in, and there will be hidden dangers when he replaces.
"What should I do?"
Mourinho's brow furrowed, his brain engaged in a battle between heaven and man.
At this moment, Tang Zheng received a direct pass from Hummels, and even stopped and easily dribbled past the combined defense of Modric and Ozil, and Benzema, who was making up for the defense, reached out and did not pull it.
Tang Zheng, who entered the 30-meter zone, was in a no-man's land, and Reus and Grosskreutz were running on both sides, so that Xavi Alonso did not dare to step forward.
Lewandowski is very smart, he is between Pepe and Ramos, so neither Pepe nor Ramos dare to support Xavi Alonso.
Between the lightning and flint, Tang Zheng got a chance to get started.
About 27 meters from the goal, Tang Zheng suddenly flicked the ball to the right, picked up his right foot and directly completed a long shot.
“Boom~”
Xavi Alonso, the defender in front of him, heard the shot and made a block, but it was too late.
The ball whistled into the goal, and the Dortmund fans standing behind the goal raised their arms as if they were welcoming the goal.
At the same time, Casillas moved at such speed that the Spanish national television commentator shouted hoarsely: "- San Igor!!"
It was clear from the broadcast footage that Casillas single-handedly lifted the ball over the crossbar, leaving only a corner for Dortmund.
Tang Zheng felt very good at the moment when he first came out of his foot, so he almost decided that the ball was there, but he didn't expect Casillas to hold the ball out......
Despite this, Tang Zheng was not discouraged, he turned his head to look at the scoreboard, and there were still five minutes before the end of the regular game.
There is plenty of time!
※※※
As the football went over the crossbar, Klopp in front of the home team's coach's bench covered his mouth with his hands in regret.
Just now, he once thought that this ball was there, if Tang Zheng's long-range shot really scored, it would be really a stroke of genius!
In stark contrast to Klopp's expression, Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho rushed to the sidelines with a roar and a poised outcry of frustration.
Immediately, he asked his assistant Faria to call Essien over.
Faria was a little puzzled: "Do you really want to go to Michael?"
"Hmm" Mourinho nodded his head: "Now the midfield is not hard enough defensively, and Michael is needed." ”
After that, his assistant Faria, who turned around, added: "According to the No. 3 tactical diagram, I believe that Michael can complete the defensive task very well. ”
At the same time, Yang 5 commentator He Wei praised Dortmund's attack: "Grosskreutz and Reuss are very smart in their positioning, they won time for Tang Zheng to shoot, but it is a pity that Tang Zheng's long-range shot angle is not completely opened, otherwise it will be difficult for Casillas to save the ball, but it is a pity that ......"
It is not difficult to hear his great regret from Hovey's voice, and even more so the Dortmund fans at the new Wembley Stadium, especially the die-hard fans behind the goal, who once thought there was.
Outcome...... The difference is a fraction of a centimeter.
Gundogan's corner kick was met by a trio of Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Mesut Ozil, and the ball was topped by him, but the power and angle were not well controlled, and Casillas easily confiscated.
At this point in the game, Casillas, as captain, knew that the most important thing for the team was not to seal the win, but to control the tempo of the game.
So he took the ball in his arms and didn't rush to throw a goal kick.
Mourinho is very satisfied with Casillas's choice, Dortmund now has a particularly strong desire to attack, if the fast attack is not successful and they fight back, then there is really no place to cry.
Half a minute later, Real Madrid's overall formation advanced to the midfield, and Xavi Alonso saw a Dortmund player with a yellow and black shirt approaching as soon as he received a cross pass from Luka Modric, and he subconsciously pulled the ball back.
But the action was still half a beat slower, and the ball was kicked off the sideline by Grosskreutz.
Xavi Alonso shook his head as he watched the ball go out of the touchline, he was getting older and his movements had decreased, but fortunately the ball was still in his own control.
At that moment, referee Rizzoli blew the whistle and pointed his finger to the sidelines, signaling for a substitution.
Wearing the number 15 jersey, Essien stood next to the fourth official holding aloft for substitutions, waiting for his team-mate to leave the field.
German Sky commentator Marcel Leif saw the substitution electronic card and muttered: "Jose Mourinho's choice to replace Karim Benzema with Michael Essien is a clear signal, defending, and holding on to the 2:1 score until the end of the game." ”
The Spanish national TV commentator did not reproach Mourinho for his conservative substitutions this time, but supported it: "With the last three minutes of regular time left, plus six minutes of injury time at most, what Real Madrid needs most now is no longer attacking, but defending!
King Juan Carlos of Spain, who came to the scene, also nodded his head and expressed his approval of the substitution.
Essien hugged and high-fived Benzema and quickly explained to Xavi Alonso, Luka Modric and Mesut Ozil how to stand for the next game.
There were few surprises that Xavi Alonso, Essien and Luka Modric were in a back three, albeit in different positions and divisions.
Modric is a little higher up and has little defensive responsibility, mainly responsible for the offensive organization that moves from defense to attack.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Mesut Ozil were left and right, with Gonzalo Higuain at the top.
In other words, the four-two-three-one formation is more appropriate.
Real Madrid's return to the defensive 4231 formation is understood by most commentators, after all, Real Madrid is now leading the score, and there is one more player on the field, so reasonable consumption of game time is the most important thing.
It's not that Real Madrid don't attack in the last few minutes, but hide the attack in the defense, waiting for the opportunity to give Dortmund the fatal blow!
After all, Dortmund's desire to attack is very strong now, and Real Madrid, which is leading in numbers, may have an advantage, but he is not afraid of 10,000, just in case.
What if Dortmund scores first?
To be on the safe side, a solid defense is the right thing to do.
※※※
Marcelo threw the ball from the sideline and Modric did not kick it forward, but handed it back to Marcelo, who in turn passed it to centre-back Ramos.
It is obvious to control the rhythm of the game, so the central 5 commentator He Wei said that he was worried: "There is not much time left, and Dortmund does not have an advantage in numbers, and now the game time is consumed by minute and second ......"
As soon as the words fell, Ramoston, who had the ball, paused, and Lewandowski accelerated violently towards Ramos.
Ramos has participated in countless tournaments, so he is naturally not afraid of this kind of pressure, and he calmly flicked the ball to the right to hand it to Arbeloa, but what he didn't expect was that Grosskreutz quickly stepped up.
Intuition tells Ramos that it can't be passed!
Xavi Alonso and Essien in the ribs were both very good passing points, and just as Ramos was about to pass the ball, he saw Tang Zheng accelerating.
I can't pass it on!
That...... What should it be?
"Be careful!"
Ramos was still hesitating how to pass the ball, Lewandowski was already close at hand, and Pepe, as a partner, had to be reminded of the victory.
In order not to have the ball cut off, Ramos opted for the safest defence - kicking the ball off the right touchline.
The sideline ball changed hands less than ten seconds after it was thrown, and manager Jose Mourinho looked particularly annoyed!
If Ramos had been cleaner, how could he possibly give Borussia Dortmund a chance to play the ball on the sideline?
Ramos didn't think Dortmund posed an actual threat to their defence, so he didn't care about relinquishing control of the game and didn't even wave to his team-mates.
Yang 5 commentator Horvey was thrilled with Dortmund's quick possession: "Dortmund forced Ramos to clear the ball off the touchline with their best pressing press!
Grosskreutz threw the ball from the sideline, and Tang Zheng made an early right turn with his back to Essien.
Suddenly, a capital 'stunned' word appeared on Essien's face.
This football hasn't come over yet, so why should it give way in advance?
Take the initiative to give us back control of the ball?
Live Lei Feng?
In a flash of light, he realized what kind of medicine was being sold in Tang Zheng's gourd.
Tang Zheng moved in advance for the next action, a very ornamental and extraordinary action.
He dragged the heel of his left foot and knocked the falling ball up, and Essien looked at the ball flying in front of him and subconsciously jumped upwards to clear the ball with a header.
But his knee-jerk action was made only when he saw the football, which is equivalent to saying that he was half a beat slower......
"Whoa—"
Most of the Real Madrid defensive half was Dortmund fans, so there were deafening huge cheers over the new Wembley Stadium, cheering for Tang Zheng's wonderful pass.
Ozil, who was assisting in the defense next to him, didn't expect Tang Zheng to make such a choice, and he also couldn't react, and witnessed Tang Zheng's entire passing move.
Essien has a strong sense of defense, he knows that he has to make up for the mistakes he has made, so he hugged Tang Zheng behind him for the first time.
Referee Rizzoli blew the whistle for a foul on Essien and also gave him a yellow card.
The basis is very good, Tang Zheng is very crisp, Xavi Alonso and Modric are some distance away, and it is obvious that there are tactical fouls.
Despite the yellow card given by the referee, Dortmund fans booed Essien, who they thought was destroying art!
It's a crime!
Listening to the wild boos in his face, Mourinho, who was standing in the coaching area of the visiting team, could see it clearly, so he felt like he was going to explode.
Touchline kicks could have been avoided, and yellow cards could have been avoided.
Faria patted Mourinho on the shoulder: "Jose, don't be nervous, we have the advantage in numbers and the score is ahead." ”
"That's exactly what worries me. Mourinho shook his head and said.
Although the game is coming to an end, this time period happens to be one of the easiest times to score goals, and there is no room for sloppiness.
Besides, the advantage is obvious, which is more likely to lead players to make mistakes.
At the same time, the live director gave a slow-motion replay of Tang Zheng's heel pick over Grosskreutz on the sideline.
"God! It's so beautiful! I really don't know what Don's head is made of, and he was able to come up with this way to get past Michael Essien!" German Sky commentator Marcel Leif was indignant: "Regardless of the outcome of the game, Don's performance is world-class! I think Dortmund will have a hard time keeping this green artist this summer!"
Yang 5 commentator He Wei also said: "We see the ball with his heel more in cartoons, and I can't imagine that I can see it in reality, I have to say that Tang Zheng's personal ability has reached its peak, and any passing action is easy to come by, full of spirituality." ”
Commentator Zhang Lu continued, with high passion: "In the whole European football world, although Tang Zheng is not the first midfielder, the top three can still be ranked, especially after the baptism of the Champions League final, I dare to guarantee! The first midfielder in European football today is well deserved!"
Every Chinese fan sitting in front of the TV feels sincerely excited and proud, they were originally watching the Champions League final to support Tang Zheng, Dortmund can win the best, even if they don't win the championship, it is enough to see Tang Zheng perform well.
Just when the commentators of various TV stations were praising Tang Zheng endlessly, there were still two minutes left in the regular game time.
Every opportunity is crucial for Borussia Dortmund.
Tang Zheng's brilliant pass was exchanged for a well-positioned set-piece opportunity, about 40 meters from the baseline, on the left.
With the exception of Piszczek and Grosskreutz, the rest of the players entered the Real Madrid penalty area and waited for Gundogan's free-kick.
Oh yes...... There is a minute and a half left in the game.