Chapter 11: Highlights
“Ah push it!”
“Ah push it!”
“Drenthe here!”
“Goal here!”
The Madeijski Stadium reverberates with the sound of singing.
This song from the group Salt-n-Pepa was adapted by Reading fans to sing the player's own team song.
This time, the object of their praise is the former Dutch rising star Drenthe.
It was his active performance that helped the team score the decisive goal in the final moments of the game.
The fans behind the goal watched Rossi chase back the ball that was about to go out of the bottom line, and used sarcastic words to stimulate him.
"Hey, skinny monkey, you can't catch up, football is not a banana."
In Rossi's mind, there was no extra capacity to put the gossip of the fans, he only had one thought, this ball could not be saved, and the game would be completely lost.
[This ball, No. 14 is chasing, see if you can save it.] 】
The narrator's tone was relatively flat, and he didn't even know what the name of the kid who had just come on the field was.
[Even if he barely saved it, Reading's defender Bridge also returned to the defense, and there was no chance to pass the ball, so he could only use his body to protect the ball and wait for his teammates to respond. 】
Adkins elegantly pushed his glasses with his fingers, a completely different style from Pearson's tough guy, and he appeared more calm and steady when directing his team.
According to his observations, this U21 rookie, who does not have the strong body of a center at all, does not give him too much speed advantage, even if his foot skills are good, he cannot make up for the difference in body.
I really don't understand why Pearson sent such an immature young player to play, Chris and Knoket on the bench are better than him.
Despite the poor decision-making, Pearson did not give up and as long as there was a glimmer of hope, he would spare no effort to cheer the players on the sidelines.
I don't know if it's because the ball rolls too long, and the turf cancels out some of the forward momentum and gradually slows down.
Slow enough for Rossi to save the ball before it went off the line.
However, after saving the ball, the body will inevitably have forward inertia, and a pause of less than a second is enough for the opponent who is chasing behind him to step forward to block and break the ball.
If you stop the ball in the direction of the sideline, although you can protect the ball, Mahrez, who was supposed to receive it on the left side, is still lying on the ground, and he can't follow up in time due to physical exhaustion, and he can easily fall into the two-man trap.
The ball cannot be stopped in the usual way.
The fleeting thoughts in Rossi's mind made him judge.
"Marseille slalom?"
This is Rossi's only trump card.
But this technical move is the technique of holding the ball after getting rid of the defense.
In front of me is the bottom line, is this a roundabout line?
Since the regular "Marseille slalom" is to turn forward, change it and let the ball turn in the direction of the goal.
Rosie, who made up her mind, the only remaining "highlight moment card" exploded in her mind.
Due to the slowing down of the ball, there was plenty of room for Rossi to make moves.
Before touching the ball, Rossi made two small step adjustments to cushion the forward speed.
Then position your left foot behind the ball and gently kick back the inside of your right foot in front of the ball to counteract the forward velocity of the ball and turn your body 90° to the left at the same time.
Then step quickly with your left foot and adjust to the back of the ball, while your body completes a 90° turn.
This 180° turn can not only unload the forward momentum of the body, but also face the defenders who are chasing behind you and observe the defensive movements while turning.
Reading defender Bridge, who was chasing back, saw that the ball was about to roll out of the bottom line, and was miraculously saved by the kid in front of him with a "Marseille slalom".
But the black-haired boy had already stood outside the line in order to counteract the momentum, losing his protection from the ball.
At this time, when you play your feet, you will definitely be able to break it and hold the ball firmly in your hands.
Just as Bridge stretched out his foot to break the ball, Rossi's right foot tiptoed the ball towards the goal at a faster pace, and then followed, into the box.
Ooh!
Behind the goal, the home fans in the front row clearly saw Rossi's entire turning action, his body seemed to be concentrated by electricity, and his body was covered with goosebumps.
God, how is that possible?
It can perfectly combine Marseille slalom and lob the ball, and the whole action is not a little superfluous, it is like a work of art.
The home fans didn't have time to exclaim loudly because Rossi, who had driven into the box along the baseline, had only goalkeeper Alex McCarthy in front of him.
McCarthy bent his knees slightly, his arms drooping, and he moved quickly in small steps to seal the near corner of the goal.
Rossi wanted to shoot, and there was no angle at all.
At this moment, Rossi saw the veteran Phillips inserted in the middle and passed the ball without hesitation.
Kevin Phillips leaned behind defender Morrison, who was tugging at his clothes, his tongue licking his lips unconsciously, his eyes revealing a desire to score.
His career began at Watford, where he played less than ten competitive games for the club before moving to Sunderland in 1997.
Sunderland were in the Championship at the time, and two seasons after Phillips joined, they helped the team reach the Premier League.
In his first year in the Premier League, he ushered in a big explosion.
He scored 30 goals in 36 games and won not only the Premier League Golden Boot that season, but also the European Golden Boot that year.
But injuries and the ups and downs of form have made it difficult for him to develop into a superstar.
In 2003, Sunderland were relegated and Phillips left the club to join Southampton.
After that, he went to Aston Villa, West Brom, Birmingham, Blackpool and Crystal Palace, and although he did well, the European Golden Boot is no longer what it used to be.
Age and injuries have made Crystal Palace decide not to renew his contract, and Kevin Phillips, who is already 40 years old, is a free agent and has no ball to play.
But he still has a heart that will not retire.
Phillips, who was politely rejected by many teams, threw an olive branch to him when he was disheartened.
Head coach Pearson worked with him at West Bromwich Albion, who was an assistant coach at the time and admired Phillips' abilities.
Pearson believes that although he is now 40 years old, as a former European goalscorer, Phillips has an irreplaceable role and will definitely play an important role in Leicester City's rush to the top.
Impressed by sincerity and trust, Phillips eventually joined Leicester City.
Although his ability is not as good as before, he has been doing his best on the court.
After Leicester City qualified for next season's Premier League, the 41-year-old Phillips announced his retirement at the end of the season.
He wants to use a championship as the perfect curtain call for his career.
However, his arrogant self-esteem made him unwilling to follow behind this group of young people and touch the light of their youth.
In less than ten games and only one goal, such a title is not what he wants.
He has to score goals and help the team win the title.
Now, here's your chance.
While Rossi chased back the ball that seemed impossible to save, he used all the strength of his legs and rushed to the middle to pick it up.
Every chance to score should not be missed.
That brunette kid knows how desperately he is chasing the ball, why can't he trust him?
Even if you fail, you have a clear conscience.
Sure enough, Rossi saved the ball and passed it to goal.
What he had to do, he had done, and now, it was his turn.
Under the interference of the defenders, Phillips was as steady as a mountain.
The height of 170cm did not give him air superiority, but the stability of the chassis, no matter how much Morrison pulled, could not stop him.
Reading defender Morrison knows he will score if he doesn't stop Phillips.
He had to be brought down, and the red card was not spared.
Morrison tackled Phillips from behind, but only broke his centre of gravity, not hurt.
However, the experienced Phillips fell forward, stretched out his right foot to shovel before falling to the ground, and stabbed the ball with his toe to score the ball.
1:1!!
In the second minute of stoppage time, Leicester City miraculously equalised.