Chapter 53: Eliminate Tulips
”goal!!!!!! goal!!!!!! The ball flew into the net, and it was a shocking elevator ball! The wonderful arc of the fall is simply a moving arc that cannot be described in words! It is the curve that is sexy in the eyes of countless Argentinians!! In the final moments of the game, just when the defeat was almost on the horizon, Saint-Tiago blasted the gloom with a long-range shot!! “
"Santiago!! What a beautiful long shot! He helped the Argentine Olympic team equalize, leaving the Dutchman, who had been jubilant a moment ago, thinking that he was about to eliminate the defending champions, into a state of sorrow! Timely rain, this precious goal is the best timely rain! This is the moment that belongs to Santiago, this is the moment that belongs to him!! The game isn't over yet! The competition will continue!! “
"Maybe we're going to see a tight extra-time, a penalty shoot-out, and it's all because of Santiago! It's all because of him! His long-range shot equalised for Argentina! It's an absolute turner! “
The moment the ball entered the net, countless drinks and snacks were thrown into the sky, the Argentine fans cheered, people shouted loudly, released their hearts, and the Dutch fans threw their items on the ground, sighing helplessly. Even though they haven't lost the game yet, can there be anything more demoralizing than being equalized at the last minute?
It looks like the future is dark.
And after scoring the goal, Saint-Tiago was also very excited, he took off his shirt, and roared freely in the wild run, venting all his emotions, this is the best moment! It was his first goal of the tournament and it was worth a thousand gold for him! No, priceless!!
After throwing the jersey at the fanatical fans in the stands, San Tiago was immediately crushed by his teammates who kept chanting about his goal as if he had scored it himself. Banega was the first to arrive, holding Santiago under him and screaming in his ear, giving his teammates a good start, and the human Tarzan was stacked at this moment.
And the Argentine coach Batista on the sidelines finally let out a long breath and was saved! As long as there is time, then he is confident that his team will be able to win, because they are the strongest! Clenched his fists and swung forward, Batista's eyes lit up!
"Santy! You've done such a beautiful job!! Looking at Saint-Tiago, who was almost "dying" by his teammates, no one cared about his life or death at this time, and was discussing excitedly, although he received a yellow card for the indecent act of stripping, but Saint-Tiago didn't care, he wantonly shared his joy with his teammates, what is a yellow card in comparison?
In the end, the Argentine players who returned to the field after reluctantly ending the celebration under the interference of the referee were demoralized, and not only did not give the Dutch any more chances in the next game, but also launched another very threatening attack. When regular time ended 2-2, a brutal extra-time game came as scheduled, and the team doctors, staff and substitutes rushed up after the whistle blew to help the main players prepare.
And Santiago was also able to breathe, he blocked the grass and refused to allow the staff to rub his legs and massage him, because Santigo knew that his physical strength was completely dried up, and there was no trace left. If he was not mistaken, coach Batista, who still has a substitution, must have noticed this, and it is no surprise that he will soon be substituted. Sure enough, Mr. Batista, after complimenting San Tiago, told him what he thought.
For such a substitution, of course, Santhiago is willing to accept it, his own physical condition he knows best, in the stubborn play will only become the person who pulls the team's back, Santigo does not want to ruin everyone's efforts because of his temporary stubbornness.
Taking a sip of water, Santhiago looked at his teammates who were still nervous and didn't say anything impassioned, just silently wished in his heart that they could hit the ball in extra time and not drag the game into a brutal penalty shootout.
"Girls, gentlemen! Welcome back, we saw that after a short break and preparation, the boys from the two Olympic teams stepped onto the pitch again and extra time began!! “
"Argentina made the last substitution at the beginning, coach Batista replaced the exhausted goal-scorer Saint-Thiago with Gago, and the Argentine fans in the stadium gave him a warm applause!"
After hugging Gago, Santhiago handed over the baton in his hand and sat down in his seat, feeling the warm applause from the Argentine fans in the stadium, and he felt a real satisfaction from the inside. However, Santi did not rest on his laurels, watching his team-mates perform in the future, hoping that his side would be able to make it to the semi-finals.
Because Saint-Tiago's equalizer at the last moment of regular time did greatly boost their morale, in the next game, the Argentines undoubtedly had the upper hand, in the 105th minute, Messi's right rib left foot passed a long distance diagonal roll, the opponent's substitute Billens made a tackle error, Di Maria burst into the left side of the penalty area, and drilled a low left-footed shot into the far corner from 14 meters in front of the goal, 3-2! Argentina overtook the score!
At the moment of the goal, Santhiago and the substitutes next to him rushed excitedly to the middle of the field, running towards Di Maria, at this moment everyone knows that the overall situation has been decided! Argentina, who scored two goals in a row after changing sides, was already victorious, and in the 107th minute, Zoe Verlong pushed Messi behind his back and was yellow carded. In the 114th minute, with Bakar's left-footed volley from the edge of the penalty area on the left, the orange team was finally powerless, and the game ended, Argentina reversed the Netherlands 3:2!
A resounding game is undoubtedly memorable, from leading to being equalized, overtaking, and then equalizing by themselves, and overtaking, Argentina took another solid step towards the dream of defending champions after a difficult 3-2 victory over the Netherlands in extra time to advance, and Santiago scored a goal and an indirect assist in this game, undoubtedly the biggest contributor to Argentina's promotion.
After the match, the Argentine newspaper Ole praised Santhiago as an angel, and it was thanks to his decisive performance that Argentina became one of the best teams in the Olympic Games so far. Not only Argentine newspapers, but most of the mainstream football media praised Santilago's performance in this cup so far, with one goal and three assists in his three starts, which can be called the best Argentine player comparable to Messi.
Before the game, some people thought that Italy's Rossi, together with Argentina's Messi and Sergio Aguero, were the three kings of men's football at this Olympic Games, but at this moment Santhiago undoubtedly replaced Aguero's position. People were amazed by what Santilago had done, and they were eager to know what the player had gone through since AC Milan's departure to give him a second life.
Like Riquelme, does Boca Juniors really have their own unique charm?
In such a situation, some football experts even shouted that AC Milan will regret it sooner or later, but most people scoffed at this, Santiago's performance at the moment is really bright, but this is just an Olympic Games, not to mention the level of competition, like you blow, how can Argentina win the championship!!
You must know that this is not easy, Argentina's next opponent, but their old enemy Brazil Olympic team, led by Ronaldinho, has not conceded a goal in six games!