Villa Park Stadium.

In the first game of the FA Cup semi-finals, the match between Millwall and Middlesbrough began.

Middlesbrough took the lead in attack, and after two successive waves of attacks, nearly two minutes later, Millwall held the ball steadily before launching a wave of frontal advances.

This ** entry is opened from the middle lane.

Smitchell and Livermore teamed up to find Darren Bent in front, Darren Bent returned to Braniff, Braniff passed to the right side from outside the box, Livermore followed up with a bombardment, directly threatening the Middlesbrough goal, but goalkeeper Schwarzer made a timely save and took the ball into his arms head-on.

"This is the first threat of the game! From Millwall midfielder Livermore. ”

"Livermore's long-range shooting has played a signature and characteristic, and the data shows that Livermore has scored nine goals with long-range shooting this season, and his long-range shooting threat has caught up, or surpassed, Lampard!"

"That's pretty impressive stats!"

"Millwall can threaten with a wave of counter-attacks, so you can see that they can be ranked first in the league, and quality is a very important factor. However, Middlesbrough also started well, with two successive attacks in front of them, and also hit the edge of the penalty area, threatening Millwall's defensive ......"

“……”

At the beginning of the game, the two teams could be said to be evenly matched.

Middlesbrough fans were also active, with the media talking about the game before the game saying 'there was no suspense' and that Millwall would be victorious.

The media reports mainly give McClaren a negative evaluation, Middlesbrough fans have different opinions, Middlesbrough's results have been really disappointing recently, but McClaren's coaching work in Middlesbrough has been successful on the whole, they have no ill feelings towards McLaren, and many fans wish McClaren from the bottom of their hearts that McClaren can lead England to achieve good results.

For this game, Middlesbrough fans still feel very bad, they don't want to hear the 'Millwall must win' rhetoric, and the time before the game also proves that Middlesbrough have a chance.

Seeing Middlesbrough doing well, they also have higher expectations for the game.

Zhang Yang sat in the coach's seat, watched the game seriously, and was also very satisfied with the previous game, mainly because the team's defense was good and did not give Middlesbrough a chance.

As for playing an 'equal'?

Actually, it's normal.

Millwall's overall tactics still tend to be conservative, and the focus is still on defense in the pre-game layout.

It's a must-choose.

If they meet Middlesbrough in the league, even if it is an away game, Zhang Yang will definitely make the team play more open, and scoring goals early can also make the team play easier.

But it's not a league, it's a cup, it's an FA Cup!

The FA Cup is a one-game format, even in the semi-finals, where a match is the winner, with extra time for a draw of 90 minutes and a penalty kick for a draw in extra time.

In short, the winner must be decided.

In this kind of cup competition, stability becomes very important, just like many people complain that 'the Champions League final is the most boring', and the fact is that in a decisive game, both sides will play very conservatively, lest there be any irreparable mistakes, and it is more important for the opponent not to score than to score for their own side.

As long as the opponent does not score, the team is invincible, even if it drags on to extra time and penalty shootouts, there is still a chance to win.

This is the basic principle of laying out tactics.

The tactics formulated by the coaching staff are also based on this principle, and the style of play requires the two central defenders not to be inserted, so as to ensure the stability of the defense at the back at all times, so that there is no need to worry about attacking.

On the field, the two teams fought fiercely.

Millwall and Middlesbrough both want to win, and there is no conflict between the two managers, but it does not mean that the two sides can 'play peacefully', and when it comes to the battle for victory, both sides will fight hard and go all out.

In the first ten minutes of the game, the referee blew five timeouts, all for fouls committed by players.

Middlesbrough midfielder Boateng has already received his first yellow card for defending Morris, and Livermore has also been given a serious warning for squeezing down opposing players during a scramble.

Both teams played with fire.

In terms of the game, Middlesbrough and Millwall were evenly matched in attack and defence, but Millwall's attacking efficiency was significantly higher, and they soon had two direct shots, both of which hit the woodwork, and Middlesbrough did not even have a single threatening shot on goal, so far they have not been able to get the ball into the box.

The difference in the attacking efficiency of the two teams has also made Middlesbrough more confrontational, and their players are not stingy with small actions on the field, and Millwall's players have also made big moves.

Seeing the competition getting stronger and stronger, Zhang Yang and McLaren reacted very differently.

Zhang Yang was a little worried.

In the heat of the game, it is easy to get injured and can lead to accidents, and if the players are obsessed with the confrontation, it is not easy to maintain their mentality, and the overall performance will also be affected.

McLaren thinks the opposite.

McLaren's judgment of the game, in fact, is the same as the media, and he also believes that Middlesbrough does not have a high winning rate, but his judgment is not based on recent results, or the importance of his own coaching, but the difference in strength between the two teams, Millwall's performance is too strong, and the league can beat Chelsea and Arsenal, and it is difficult for Middlesbrough to beat this kind of team.

However, if the confrontation is enhanced, the 'fire' of the two sides will not be the same, and the game will be variable, and the players will really kick out the fire, and the strength and cooperation will be put aside, and there will be a lot of uncertainty about the outcome of the game.

This is in the favor of the 'weak' Middlesbrough.

McLaren's idea was good, but when the referee's toughness let him know that it was unlikely that the game would turn into a fierce confrontation, the game was from the tenth minute to the twentieth minute, the referee showed two yellow cards, Middlesbrough defender Southgate, Millwall full-front Branifer were respectively strongly warned, especially Branifer's yellow card, he was really wronged, he just grabbed the ball when he raised his feet fiercely, there was a possibility of kicking the opposing player, and he was warned by the referee with a yellow card.

The referee's tough tactics also calmed down the players on the field, and the actions of the players on both sides were a little restrained.

Zhang Yang also took a long breath.

When the two sides continue to fight, the pressure brought by Middlesbrough is still not small, if the game continues like this for a long time, it will definitely make the players more irrational, Millwall has the advantage, there is no need to keep fighting with the opponent.

Next, the two sides also entered the stage of 'fighting technology'.

Millwall began to show an efficient attacking mode, their high efficiency is mainly reflected in the individual ability of striker Darren Bent and the ability of midfielders Smitchell and Jody Morris, the two wings Josh Simpson and Braniff contributed a lot, Braniff broke through with the ball individually, it is easy to provide support to the middle, Josh Simpson is frequently inserted, he is almost equal to half a striker.

In terms of possession time and number of goals, Millwall and Middlesbrough are not much different, but the efficiency of the two sides is not on the same level, and soon the media and fans also discovered this, and the British BBC TV commentator used data to analyze the game, "Millwall had six shots on goal, four of which hit the frame of the goal, and so far, Middlesbrough has only two shots on goal and has not created a threat." ”

'There's a big difference in efficiency between the two sides up front, and Middlesbrough seem to be weak enough to break down the Millwall defence......

Millwall's efficiency up front also gave Middlesbrough a sense of crisis, and they had to strengthen their defence to deal with it, but in doing so, they sacrificed some of their attack.

By the thirtieth minute of the game, Millwall had been in control of the game, spending more time on the ball and attacking more than Middlesbrough.

The Middlesbrough media are also starting to worry, "Hopefully Middlesbrough can hold on to the goal and find an opportunity to finish the goal!" ”

"But as things stand, Millwall are strong and maybe Middlesbrough should be on the offensive as well? But it's not bad to be able to hold on to the half, and it's not easy for Millwall to score......"

The media's advice, of course, is meaningless, and will not affect Middlesbrough's performance at all, nor will it change the judgment of McClaren and the Middlesbrough players about the game.

In the fortieth minute of the first half, Middlesbrough's attack came to an end, and Millwall stabilized the formation and launched a frontal push.

This is not the first time.

Millwall's successive attacks have not been able to break the Middlesbrough goal, but they must also pay attention to it, because Millwall can hit the edge of the box every time and bring a threat every time.

Middlesbrough's attention didn't stand in the way, as Millwall played a fluid combination and a single player burst out with great individual ability.

No one expected that it was Smitchell who broke out!

Smitchell is a veteran, and after leaving Liverpool, many people feel that the Czech's choice to join Millwall must be the last stop in the Premier League, and it is also considered to be a 'retirement team'.

The same is true for the average star player.

After leaving a big team, joining a small club, it is difficult to perform well, and then 'mess around' for two or three seasons, and wait for the day of retirement.

Smitchell certainly won't retire sooner, but with Millwall, he will almost certainly return to the Czech Republic.

That's basically the same as retirement.

No one is optimistic about what Smitchell can do at Millwall, and it is already good to be able to maintain his form normally, but what he didn't expect is that Smitchell has become a core player in Millwall, and he is about to win the Premier League title with the team.

Incredible!

Smitchell himself found it incredible, and he also felt that choosing to join Millwall was the most correct decision, and his form did not fall, but ushered in another peak.

Now in the FA Cup semi-finals, Smitchell is hoping for a good performance.

This time after getting the ball in the middle line, Smitchell turned his head to look at the position of his teammates, he seemed to be about to pass the ball, Parall and Hasselbaink came to block one after another, but Smitchell chose to carry the ball himself, he suddenly took the ball forward, and before Parall could react, he was already left behind.

Next up is Boateng.

The young Boateng had already proven himself in the Premier League schedule, but he was still a little too immature, with Smitchell just a slight change of direction, fooling Boateng with his upper body movements and continuing to take the ball forward.

After successive breakthroughs through Parlour and Boateng, there was an empty space in front of Smitchell, and he continued to carry forward for 10 metres, and opposition defender Southgate had to face his head.

That's when Smitchell passed.

Southgate had been keeping an eye on Darren Bent and when he went up, team-mate Eshiogu went over to make up for it, and between the rotations of the players, Josh Simpson was left unguarded, and Smitchell spotted the opportunity and found Braniff with a shot.

The ball rushed to the left side of the penalty area.

Braniff ran forward, swung his right foot comfortably, and kicked hard behind the ball.

"Bang!"

"Shot ——!"

Middlesbrough goalkeeper Schwarzer made a flying save, and by the time he got into the right position, the ball had already flown away.

“Goooooooooal！！！”

"The ball is in!"

"Braniff breaks the ice for Millwall! 1 to 0! Millwall lead Middlesbrough! ”

The BBC TV commentator made an excited voice and announced the goal to all the goals.

Millwall had an advantage.

In a decisive game, to be able to score a goal first, especially in the final stage of the first half, the advantage is too obvious, the difference in the score can put pressure on the opponent, and the psychological advantage for the players is more important than the goal itself.

Then came Middlesbrough's troubles.

Should they attack?

Or continue to defend solidly?

It's hard to grasp the bias of the game, and it can also affect the mentality of the players, and in turn, the performance of the players.

Branifer's goal was too important.

Zhang Yang saw the goal, his face smiled, and his expression was obviously much more relaxed, but when the game restarted and then used 'foreknowledge' to judge the situation, his face became a little strange, but more excited, at the same time, he also got up and walked to the sidelines, as if he wanted to watch the game up close.

The camera captured this scene, "Zhang Yang walked to the sidelines. In previous tournaments, it was rare for Zhang Yang to be on the sidelines, and most of the time, he would rather sit and watch the game with a deck of playing cards in his hand...... It's interesting, it seems to have become his personal character......"

When the BBC TV commentator talked about it, the screen also gave a picture of playing poker with a flamboyant appearance, and that focused look made people feel completely immersed in 'fun', rather than focusing on the fierce game on the field.

Two minutes later, the narrator gave an intense commentary.

Millwall played a wonderful combination, the football was sent to the penalty area after a seven-foot pass, Darren Bent squeezed the opposing defender Eshiogu, turned hard to complete the shot, the moment the action was unfolded, Ehiogu had a leg stretching movement, just in front of Bunt's right leg, the legs of the two made contact, Bent could not maintain his balance, and fell sideways on the grass.

"Beep......

The referee blew the whistle for the timeout and stepped forward without hesitation to show Ehiogu a yellow card.

It's all too obvious what that means.

The next moment the referee pointed to the penalty spot and motioned for Millwall to take the penalty.

Penalty!

Zhang Yang was not surprised to see this scene, he was a little worried about Darren Bent's body, but fortunately, Bent quickly stood up, stretched his body and waved to his teammates to signal that he was fine.

Darren Bent then took a penalty and fired a shot straight to the right of the goal, straight through the Middlesbrough gate.

2 to 0!

In less than five minutes, the game had changed its mind.