CHAPTER 1878: CHAPTER 982: EVENLY MATCHED, OUTCOME UNCERTAIN (PART 2)

"Dear viewers, we can see now that the players from the national team and the Baxi Team are all on the field. This highly anticipated showdown is about to begin, so let’s wait and see."

Commentators from various livestreaming platforms are eagerly starting to commentate on the match between these two teams.

Before the match starts, the commentators can’t provide specific commentary on the game, so most of them are offering detailed introductions about the national team and the Baxi Team to the audience.

As for the national team, the domestic audience is already quite familiar since the fans have watched them progress step by step to where they are now.

However, many domestic viewers still don’t know much about the Baxi Team.

The Baxi Team, containing stars like Neymar in the past, has players who have now retired. The last World Cup, which was the 2022 World Cup, was Neymar’s final participation. Afterward, Neymar announced his retirement.

The current batch of Baxi Team players are young and fierce. Their efforts have once again placed the Samba football on top of the world, which is no easy feat. They’ve gone from the doldrums to the peak in twelve years.

As the referee’s whistle echoes through the stadium, the match is underway.

Baxi Team has the kickoff.

The national team’s players are all on high alert. Although they approach Baxi Team with a relaxed mentality, they cannot take it easy in the actual match. Instead, they must remain vigilant, and every player needs to perform at their best.

After gaining possession of the ball, Baxi Team didn’t go all out in attack. During their tugging at midfield, it seemed like they were looking for an opportunity.

Or perhaps they were observing the national team’s defensive and offensive rhythm?

In short,

Baxi Team’s kickoff was quite skillful. They didn’t swiftly push the attack but instead kept the ball firmly in their possession. In the opening three minutes, Baxi Team maintained control of the ball while the national team’s players made several attempts to intercept.

The result was that Baxi Team seemed well-prepared, causing several interception attempts by the national team to fail.

"What’s Baxi Team trying to do? Neither attacking nor defending, just controlling the ball like this?"

Huang Youjie couldn’t help but complain while observing the situation on the field.

"This Baxi Team is playing quite smartly. They intended to disrupt our rhythm from the start. They also used this gap to observe the condition of our team, achieving two goals with one shot."

Ding Yue analyzed and said.

Suddenly, Principal Xu Dongcheng beside him also offered some analysis: "Moreover, controlling the ball like this is a bit of a psychological tactic."

"Yes, yes, it’s kind of a mind game."

Xu Bin quickly nodded, feeling that Principal Xu Dongcheng’s analysis was quite reasonable.

Ding Yue also believed that Baxi Team’s approach was a kind of psychological tactic.

However, thankfully, the national team players had a very stable mindset, honed through numerous trials. If it were any other team, this method where Baxi Team holds onto the ball without much action could slightly disrupt their mentality.

Seeing three to four minutes pass with no movement from Baxi Team.

Thus,

At four minutes and thirty-nine seconds, Baxi Team suddenly accelerated as if they slammed the accelerator, instantly creating tension in the stadium’s atmosphere.

The national team’s players, having been tightly wound by Baxi Team’s "mind game strategy," showed a moment of "stiffness" in reaction when Baxi Team suddenly sped up, causing the national team to react a bit slower initially.

However, thankfully, the national team’s players had strong mobility.

Even though their reaction was slightly slow, it wasn’t a big deal. The national team’s players quickly fortify their defensive line thanks to their powerful mobility.

Baxi Team’s attack found it difficult to strike the goal under the national team’s tight defense.

Thus, Baxi Team repeatedly tugged back and forth at the national team’s defense line, while the national team players attempted interceptions. But since this match is crucial for advancing to the semifinals, interceptions should avoid fouls as much as possible since any penalty might disadvantage the remaining match progress.

Seeing no clear opportunity, Baxi Team eventually had an offensive player take a direct shot after receiving the ball, but unfortunately, it was directly blocked by the national team’s defenders.

The national team finally got possession of the ball.

In midfield, Zhu Tan, along with offensive main forces Li Shuangying, Liu Zhan, and Zhao Xuanming, were ready to take action.

Soon.

The ball was passed to the midfield, landing at Zhu Tan’s feet.

After a brief tug with Baxi Team’s players in the midfield, Zhu Tan carried the ball forward in attack.

As a midfielder, Zhu Tan often attempts to attack because attacking isn’t solely the task of forward offensive players. Sometimes, when the ball comes here and there’s an opportunity, even midfielders can carry the ball forward quickly.

Nevertheless,

Zhu Tan still didn’t have a great opportunity to attack.

Because Baxi Team’s players were tightly defending him, blocking ahead and chasing behind.

Seeing this, Zhu Tan passed the ball to Liu Zhan.

By chance, it seemed one of Baxi Team’s players anticipated this pass and rushed over to intercept.

Seeing this, Liu Zhan had to quickly unleash his speed.

At this moment, if that midfielder interception succeeded, he’d embarrass himself greatly. Not only that, but Zhu Tan’s reputation might "take a hit" for this intercepted pass.

Given the situation, Liu Zhan had no choice but to push forward and contest that intercepting player aggressively.

Liu Zhan, small in stature, quick in speed, and possessing strong explosive power, faced a pre-positioned Baxi Team player, who had the advantage of closeness and stance.

Yet.

Liu Zhan proved himself, showcasing why he’s one of the three main offensive cores of the national team, living up to his nickname "Wind Fire Wheels." Right now, Liu Zhan charged forward like he was on "Wind Fire Wheels."

Even the commentators were using the term "Wind Fire Wheels."

"We can see Liu Zhan charging like he’s on Wind Fire Wheels; he’s got it!"

The commentator exclaimed excitedly.

After gaining possession, Liu Zhan swiftly maneuvered with the ball, bypassed the intercepting Baxi Team player, followed by two more defensive players, creating a fantastic opportunity.

"Shoot!"

"Goal!"

"Congratulations to the national team for temporarily leading 1-0!"

In less than ten minutes, with Liu Zhan’s stunning performance - intercepting, bypassing three Baxi Team players - he managed to break through Baxi Team’s goal and secure the first point.

After securing the first point, the national team felt a surge in confidence.

However.

Baxi Team didn’t lose heart. At the twenty-seventh minute, they reached their limits against the national team and found a chance to score.

At this moment, goalkeeper Zhu Cheng had just saved a ball. But this ball, just slightly off, and despite Zhu Cheng reaching it, bounced off the post into the goal.

"Oh, what a pity!"

Domestic football commentators regrettably expressed.

Seeing this ball, Ding Yue also felt very sorrowful.

If only it were slightly different, goalkeeper Zhu Cheng would have saved it, marking one of the few occasions he didn’t block a shot in this World Cup.

"It seems this Baxi Team is truly strong, playing on par with us; the outcome is hard to predict."

Ding Yue shook his head and voiced his thoughts.