The second half of the game was not as uneventful as the beginning of the first half.
Clattenburg's whistle had just sounded.
Both teams immediately got into the game, and following the instructions given by their respective coaches in the locker room, they started attacking each other!
Forty-seventh minute.
Rodriguez made a diagonal pass from the right flank, Adriano received the ball in the penalty area and passed it back to Modric, who followed up with a shot, but Carrick interfered and the ball flew out of bounds.
Two minutes later.
Manchester United launched their attack down the flanks.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Scholes played a one-two, and Ronaldo dribbled past Mascherano before heading down the wing into the penalty area.
Facing Sun Jihai's defense, Ronaldo couldn't find a particularly good opportunity to cut inside. In the end, he tried to force his way past, but just like the last time the two faced each other, Sun Jihai used his body to block the ball behind him and shield it out of bounds.
In the 51st minute, Leeds United launched another attack.
It was Rodriguez again. This time he moved to the right wing, found the right position, and delivered a long ball across the field, sending the ball to the left side of Manchester United's penalty area.
Kolarov arrived in a flash and swept the ball across the field, sending it rolling along the grass toward Adriano, who was waiting in front of the Manchester United goal!
Adriano was about to turn and shoot.
But this time, Manchester United's two center-backs reacted very quickly and cooperated very well.
Vidic, who was sticking close to Adriano's back, pressed his thigh tightly against Adriano's while his hand, hidden behind his back, gripped Adriano's jersey tightly, his aim being to prevent Adriano from turning around immediately.
Then Ferdinand, who was standing next to him, quickly moved closer.
Taking advantage of Adriano's momentary hesitation after receiving the pass, he poked the ball out of bounds!
Manchester United focused their attacks down the flanks.
Leeds United, on the other hand, combines a midfield and a wing game.
As both sides battled for possession, some fouls that were almost nonexistent in the first half inevitably began to emerge, the atmosphere became increasingly tense, players fell to the ground, and there were numerous instances of players from both sides clashing.
Fortunately, "Draw Master" Clattenburg has excellent control over the game, always managing to keep the players' emotions in check at the most crucial moments, which allowed the game to continue to flow smoothly.
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Li Shiguang knew very well that Sun Jihai could not keep up with Ronaldo. This was due to the difference in individual strength, and even if he had the system, he could not make up for it.
But Sun Jihai's diligence on the defensive line at least made Ronaldo's game less comfortable than in the first half.
That's certainly true.
After Sun Jihai came on, Ronaldo was indeed less active than in the first half, but the Portuguese player, who has been in superb form this season, was still able to find opportunities even under tight defense.
Fifty-ninth minute.
Cristiano Ronaldo received a pass on the left flank again. Facing Sun Jihai, Ronaldo lowered his right shoulder and simultaneously flicked the ball to the right with his left foot, as if he was about to cut inside to the right.
Sun Jihai and Mascherano, who was helping to defend behind Sun Jihai, reacted quickly, and both of them shifted their defensive focus to Ronaldo.
The football rolled sideways for about half a meter, at which point Ronaldo's right shoulder dropped to its limit, looking like he was about to use all his strength to rush into the middle.
Seeing this action.
Without further ado, Sun Jihai decisively extended his right leg, blocking Ronaldo's path. At the same time, Mascherano accelerated, rushing towards them.
But what's surprising is...
Cristiano Ronaldo did not choose to cut inside.
His raised left leg swept over the soccer ball, and after landing, he deftly flicked his toes in the opposite direction, regained his balance, and with a "whoosh," he darted past on the left!
"Cristiano Ronaldo! Beautiful feint, he's broken through the one-on-one!"
Amidst Jon's shouts, Cristiano Ronaldo, freed from his restraints, dribbled the ball rapidly toward the penalty area.
This happened too quickly and was completely unexpected.
Silva didn't come to cover until Ronaldo was about to break into the penalty area. Seeing that he was about to miss, the Brazilian center-back made a desperate tackle, thinking that even if he got a card, he had to keep Ronaldo out of the penalty area!
But perhaps because he was too anxious, Silva, who was still in the penalty area when he fell, forgot something important: he forgot to hide his right hand, which was raised in the air, behind his back.
Cristiano Ronaldo keenly noticed this.
The moment he realized he was likely to be tackled by Silva.
Cristiano Ronaldo made a decisive move and took a shot.
The next second.
The football slammed solidly into Silva's outstretched arm and bounced out of the penalty area.
A piercing whistle rang out.
Clattenburg was standing right on the edge of the penalty area, and he could clearly see where the ball hit and changed its trajectory.
So when all the players on the field turned their attention to this "master of draws".
Without hesitation, Clattenburg extended his right hand and pointed to the penalty spot.
"What, a penalty... a penalty kick!?" Lineker was a little confused when he saw Clattenburg's gesture.
Jon's tone was firm: "Yes, Gary, not to mention Clattenburg, even I, sitting here, saw it clearly, it was definitely a penalty! Cristiano's shot... or rather, his pass hit Thiago Silva's arm, and Silva was in the penalty area at that time."
Led by Kompany, Leeds United players immediately surrounded Clattenburg, trying to persuade him to change his decision by arguing that the ball had hit a hand.
But Clattenburg was adamant in his decision, sticking to his ruling and even showing Silva a yellow card, who was standing at the back of the crowd looking somewhat annoyed.
Sidelines.
Li Shiguang's face was somewhat gloomy.
Simone had long since lost control of his emotions and ran to the fourth official, shouting and yelling.
"Is Clattenburg blind? I can see it clearly from this far away, it was a ball hitting a hand! Thiago was just making his tackle, how can that be a penalty?"
The fourth official was very clear-headed. He took two steps back to maintain a safe distance from Simeone before speaking: "Diego, the referee communicated with the refereeing team immediately. He saw it clearly: Silva's arm was raised too high, completely affecting the flight path of the ball, so this is undoubtedly a penalty!"
Simone persisted, taking a step forward, wanting to argue a few more points.
But the fourth official was stern, gripping his headset and looking at Simeone: "Diego, watch your attitude. This decision is irreversible. If you don't want to be sent off, I advise you to get back to your position immediately!"
Simeone has always been the type of person who responds better to gentle persuasion than force.
Hearing such words, one can't help but feel a surge of emotion.
Just as he was about to roll up his sleeves and charge forward, Li Shiguang's voice came from behind him.
“Come back, Diego,”
She turned around and looked at Li Shiguang, who had already walked behind her.
Simeone forcibly suppressed his anger, glared at the fourth official, and followed Li Shiguang back to the Leeds United bench...
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