Upon receiving the ticket stubs.

Xu Yun followed Zhang San back to the sidelines, using the two original tickets to enter the venue.

The area of Ju City is much smaller than a modern football field, with square walls surrounding it, and at the center of the field stood one team in blue and another in white.

The goal is supported by bamboo poles, leaving a net at the opening.

However, unlike in later generations.

Each team has two goals, called the Left Pole Net and Right Pole Net.

"Captain Ma Zeben, Qiaoqiu Gao Shu, Zheng Jia Huang Bo, Head Jie Shi Ze, Left Friend Shen Wenyao, Left Pole Net Shen Yusun, Right Pole Net Qian Gengyuan, Scattered Li Xueyu..."

Seeing the 'starting lineup' handed out when entering, Zhang San showed great confidence:

"Gao Shu and Ma Zeben have been partners for many years, last time against the Hezhong Imperial Guard, Ma Zeben scored seven goals by himself!"

In ancient Cuju.

Everyone can be categorized based on their position and duties into ball workers, ball heads, and main and assistant defenders, among others.

The ball workers mainly handle receiving and passing, being the most numerous in a Cuju match, somewhat similar to modern midfielders.

The ball heads are those responsible for scoring, equivalent to forwards.

As for the main and assistant defenders, they are quite special:

This position allows the use of hands.

They can use their arms to hold the opposing offensive players, primarily tasked with blocking opponents' shots and passing the ball to their own ball workers or ball heads.

Without considering the former, they are equivalent to modern football defenders.

The scattered Li operates freely, being able to do anything except using hands in the opponent's area, except overall goalkeeping.

As the players took the field, the audiences were also becoming very lively.

Perhaps due to the home court atmosphere, they even gave the Western Army team a rather friendly greeting:

"Hey you tricky Western Army birds, dare you come before me? Grandpa will slap you twice!"

"You worthless rascal, know me, I'm Mei Dong from the 'Wind-Swaying Lotus' of the west city!"

"You thieving bastard, not even your damn luck!"

And amid these greetings, the match began.

Bang——

With the referee striking the gong.

The Zhongjing Western Army, having got the serve, immediately launched an attack.

At the moment the gong sounded, the tall, strong Ma Zeben energetically dashed forward, bursting with incredible explosiveness, pulling out half a body length.

His partner Qiaoqiu Gao Shu gently made a feint, pretending a direct pass but actually making a juke to dodge a Western Army player attempting to intercept the pass.

"Beautiful, what a skillful dry-land fish-picking!"

Facing the incoming opposing player Zheng Jia, Gao Shu lightly stepped on the ball and executed a spin in place.

Zhang San's voice grew louder:

"Gao Shu's special move, turning the universe!"

After dodging two opposing players, Gao Shu did not hesitate with ball control anymore.

With an instep push.

He accurately passed the ball to another ball worker running into an open spot.

The ball worker, taking advantage of the opponent's disordered defense, skillfully controlled the ball and quickly made a centering pass.

This centering pass accurately locked onto Ma Zeben who was at the opponents' 'Self-defense District'... that is, a no-hands zone, of such precision to make even Ashley Young envious.

Now, Ma Zeben's position was behind the net guard, if he handled it right, this opportunity could be considered an open goal!

However, it seemed Ma Zeben was not quite himself, as he didn't go for a direct shot but opted to stop and adjust.

By this time, the opposing players were closing in, and he could only kick the ball hastily.

Ultimately, this weak and powerless shot was firmly captured by the opponent's Left Pole Net net guard.

Seeing this situation.

There was a burst of regretful murmurs from the stands.

Xu Yun clicked his tongue softly, shaking his head.

It was quite clear.

The game had just started, and Ma Zeben hadn't found his rhythm yet.

However, before the regretful murmurs fully faded, the situation on the field suddenly changed.

The Western Army's net guard, after securing the ball, quickly stood up, making a big kick that accurately found a teammate ball worker.

The ball worker faced the imposing Central Capital Team Head Jie without changing his expression, coldly smirking.

He then gently flicked the ball, kicking it onto his own back.

Zhang San called out once more:

"Double Shoulders Holding the Moon!"

Though the Head Jie could use hands, they could only block the opponent with their arms.

They could not touch the ball.

Nor could they initiate an elbow strike.

Thus, facing the opponent's maneuver of flicking the ball behind them, Head Jie Shi Ze was unable to stop it.

And the Western Army's ball worker did not linger.

First juggling the ball a few times on his back, he managed to land the ball onto the heel of his right foot.

While his left foot flicked...

"Crossed Flowers..... Oh dear!"

This move, similar to modern day flower stepping, caught everyone by surprise, even leaving Zheng Jia momentarily stunned.

And in the direction the ball worker played to, a figure was rushing forward.

As the figure sped forward, their right foot's instep slightly turned, effortlessly receiving the ball.

Now in front of him, aside from the two pole net guards, there was a vast, empty open space.

In other words...

A one-on-one with the goalkeeper!

The Western Army's ball head hesitated not a bit, slightly adjusting his pace, rushing towards the Left Pole Net.

Then, facing the severely focused net guard, the ball head calmly crafted out a chip shot.

Seeing this Cuju wrapped in leather, it drew a beautiful arc skimming over the net guard's fingertips.....

Plop——

The ball flew into the net!

"1 to 0!"

Meanwhile.

A suddenly annoyed male voice resonated beside Xu Yun:

"Damned Ma Zeben, couldn't you have just tapped it into the open goal earlier?"

......

Note:

You can guess who this is, guess correctly and earn three extra updates, until the next chapter is updated.