Chapter 926: This Is Also a Champion (Part I)
Liverpool's victory over the South China team is expected, the gap between the two teams is almost a world apart, and it is not worth touting fans and the media, although the score of 7:1 is a little bigger, many people think that 4:1 or 5:1 is about the same, after all, the Hong Kong South China team is playing at home, and Liverpool does not need to score too many goals, but football is like this, and the result is unpredictable. Pen, fun, and www.biquge.info
Chen Yu's performance in this game was not unexpected, but it was hyped by the media. Originally, Chinese fans were full of expectations for Chen Yu's return to the national team, but now when they see Chen Yu against the Hong Kong South China team, the goal is like picking up mustard, and the fans' happiness is simply bursting, and they can't wait for Chen Yu to return immediately, leading the Chinese team to break Japan and South Korea, and rush into the World Cup in South Africa.
Undoubtedly, in the post-game interview, Chen Yu was asked the most about the national team, but Chen Yu's mouth was very strict, and he just said that he would defend the country and participate in the war at the right time, but the time was not certain.
Although Chen Yu refused to answer when he would return to the national team, his reassurance that he would return to the national team reassured the fans, and they just had to wait patiently to watch Chen Yu's performance.
Although the match between Liverpool and South China attracted the most attention, this game was not the highlight of the Asian Premier Cup, the highlight was the match between Fulham and Portsmouth.
Fulham are ranked 17th this year, with a thrilling relegation success, while Portsmouth has performed well this year, ranking eighth, and is almost ready to travel to the European arena.
It's a real powerhouse for veteran fans, and it's a rare warm-up game for Fulham and Portsmouth.
The game was a hard-fought affair with 90 minutes before Portsmouth, who finished eighth last season, beat Fulham 1-0 to reach the final of the Asian Premier Cup.
Undoubtedly, this is the favorite result of Asian fans and Premier League fans, and the dark horse upset is certainly exciting, but it is best in major events such as the World Cup and the Champions League.
Portsmouth manager Redknapp and Liverpool coach Benitez are old rivals, just past this season, the ambitious Liverpool in the first half was forced to draw 0:0 by Portsmouth, and in the second half Chen Yu returned to defeat Portsmouth 4:1.
Before the game, Redknapp's attitude was very relaxed, he said that Liverpool is the best team in the world, and it is exciting to play against such a team, but he will not worry too much about winning or losing, although he wants to get a trophy in Asia, compared to winning a trophy, it is also very important to test his team, the Premier League will start soon, this is the last warm-up game for Portsmouth, he will take it seriously.
Benitez is always serious, he thinks that the warm-up game can be against the Premier League opponents is valuable, he will try to make the most of this opportunity to hone the squad, at the same time, Benitez also hopes to get the first trophy of the season and start the Premier League.
In the subsequent Q&A with reporters, Benitez complimented Redknapp and Portsmouth again, but he still didn't pay enough attention to Portsmouth in his words, which made Redknapp very unhappy.
There are three or four finals before the Asian Premier League Cup final, and it is also a good warm-up game for Fulham and South China who have been eliminated, Fulham lost the game against Portsmouth, and they did not show mercy in this game against South China, scoring one goal in each half, and finally beating Hong Kong South China 4:1, which can be regarded as a justification for their status as a Premier League team.
Liverpool's match against Portsmouth is obviously much more popular than Liverpool's match against South China, in Asia, Liverpool fans and Chen Yu's fans have the ability to go to the scene to watch the game, and now that Chen Yu and Liverpool are playing on their doorstep, die-hard people naturally must not miss it.
The original expensive tickets were hyped even more this time, and the ticket record of Liverpool against the South China team last time was rewritten again, and the number of reporters who came to the scene to cover the scene also hit a new high, not only Asian reporters, but also European and American reporters came to the scene.
Liverpool and Portsmouth also take the game seriously and have fielded the strongest squad at the moment in this game.
Benitez didn't think Portsmouth could beat them, but he didn't underestimate Portsmouth's quality, and he didn't even put new signings Volenen and Benayoun on the pitch in the game, both of which were veterans from last season.
When the two teams took to the pitch, the applause and singing of the audience, the flying flags and the red jerseys made the Liverpool players feel as if they were back at Anfield, while the Portsmouth players suddenly felt that they were playing at Liverpool's home stadium.
The on-site commentator introduced the starting line-ups of both sides: Liverpool line-up (4-4-2): goalkeeper Reina; Defenders: Arbeloa, Carragher, Ager, Reese; Midfielders: Gerrard, Alonso, Colwill, Pennant; Forward Kuyt, Chen Yu; Portsmouth's line-up is also 442: goalkeeper James; Defenders: Heredasen, Ebel, Distin, Lauren; Midfielders: Taylor, Mendes, Muntari, Kranich; Forwards Nugent and Kanu.
The Hong Kong commentator commented on such a line-up: "If both sides take it seriously, it's an authentic Premier League game, and it's a strong conversation, of course, given the nature of the game, maybe both sides will have some strength, then maybe it's a little bit worse than the Premier League, but it's definitely better than any level of competition in Asia, and fans should feel lucky to be able to see such a game on their doorstep...... Portsmouth and Liverpool are old rivals in the Premier League, and Portsmouth's new signings Muntari and Chen Yu are also old rivals in Serie A......
Undoubtedly, Chen Yu is still the brightest star of this game, almost all reporters' cameras are aimed at him, the vast majority of fans cheer for him, and his every move is concerned about the hearts of fans.
Although Chen Yu didn't have much smiles, he was still very relaxed, he kept waving his hand to greet the fans, as if he was coming to the stage to perform, and this kind of lightweight star fan was even more intoxicated by his fans.
When shaking hands before the game, Chen Yu and Muntari laughed and talked a few words, the two sides are opponents in Serie A, and they are still opponents in the Premier League, but because of their experience in Serie A, the two are obviously familiar and friendly.
Before the game, it was very friendly, but with the referee's whistle, the players on both sides tore off the veil of warmth and got to work.
Portsmouth, who kicked off first, showed the Asian fans the pace of the Premier League from the start, and after the kick-off in the centre circle, the ball only returned to midfield, and Mendes played a long ball into the Liverpool penalty area to find their high striker Kanu.
African striker Kanu is 1.90 meters tall, is a veteran who has been in Europe for many years, skilled and experienced, he is very good at taking advantage of his height, after the ball hits, he not only did not stay away from the defender, but relied on Liverpool's defender Carragher, with height to suppress, want to control the ball.
Carragher is a big difference in height from Kanu, and the other centre-back is attracted to Portsmouth striker Nugent, with only Alonso coming to help.
Two of Liverpool's players stuck Kanu, and it was useless for Kanu to get the ball, but Kanu didn't want to get the ball, he just wanted to make a wall and ferry the ball to his midfielder.
With the interference of the Liverpool players, Kanu didn't get a good header, but it hit it crookedly, and the ball fell right in front of Portsmouth midfielder Muntari.
Muntari saw that in front of him was a complete back line of Liverpool, and when his teammates plugged in, he basically lost the opportunity to shoot, this was a warm-up game, not a serious competition, Muntari also wanted to show that he stopped the ball with his chest and shot with his feet.
Liverpool's players are not very familiar with Muntari, who has just moved to the Premier League, but in this position, long-range shooting is an option, so Liverpool midfielder Pennant immediately blocked it.
The ball hit Pennant solidly, and Pennant crouched down with his chest, and the ball bounced out.
In Liverpool's half, there were still many Liverpool players, and the ball fell to Liverpool's Australian midfielder Colwill this time.
Colwill was injured last season and didn't play much, but now that he is back from injury, he is very positive and wants to regain his place in the main team, and after getting the ball, Colwill is ready to move forward with the ball, and the Portsmouth players have been ferociously pressing.
At this time, it is best to play the ball quickly, but Colwill did not do so, after he recovered from injury, he has not yet adapted to the fast and intense rhythm of the Premier League, Colwill dunked the ball, and wanted to pass the pounced Mendes, but Mendes reached out and pushed Colwill when he was shaken by Colwill, so that Colwill's center of gravity was unstable, and when Colwill just adjusted his center of gravity and wanted to continue to dribble the ball, another Portsmouth player had already shoveled over, Colwill couldn't dodge, and the ball was destroyed.
Seeing that Colwill's ball was destroyed, Benitez on the sidelines frowned, dissatisfied with the way Colwill handled the ball, he thought that Colwill should pass the ball out at the first time, instead of controlling it himself, after having Chen Yu, Benitez's tactical thinking is different from the original, now in Liverpool's team, only Gerrard and Chen Yu can control the ball in the middle, and everyone else had better get the ball out quickly, hand the ball to the striker, and let them get the ball into the opponent's door, but the game has just begun, Benitez didn't speak, just wrote it down in a small notebook.