Gu Ran concentrated his mind and looked for a target to seize.
Sheffield United does not have any big football stars, but their interim head coach Mickey Adams was Southampton's top left-back star for two or three decades. Mickey Adams' ability on the left was first-class in that era, especially his left foot, which was once known as the golden left foot!
Although Mickey Adams is much worse than Gareth Bale, he is only inferior in speed and goal-scoring. In terms of left foot ability, Mickey Adams in his prime can definitely tie with Gareth Bale!
The left foot has always been Gu Ran's weak foot. Even with the five-star reverse foot skill, his left foot can occasionally perform with a flash of inspiration, but it can never be as balanced as his right foot.
Now, the "golden left foot" is right in front of me. How can I miss such a good opportunity?
Gu Ran then focused his attention on Mickey Adams who was standing in the technical area on the sidelines and tried to take him by force!
Mickey Adams, who was waiting for the kick-off, suddenly felt a slight twitch all over his body, as if something happened, but also as if nothing happened.
A purple arc of light that only Gu Ran could see flew out from Mickey Adams' body and landed directly on Gu Ran's forehead.
Gu Ran suddenly became energetic! Golden Left Foot: Outstanding +1!
That's it! So cool!
Although "outstanding" is not the highest affix in the golden left foot, just like Mickey Adams is not the best golden left foot, it is enough! Let's use it first! Gu Ran felt that his left leg seemed to be getting thicker a little bit.
Beep! With the referee's whistle, the third knockout round of the League Cup began!
Southampton kicked off first.
Garrod knocked the ball directly back to Lambert, then quickly rushed forward.
Sheffield United immediately pushed forward and pressed high throughout the field.
As soon as the players from both sides came on, they engaged in physical combat without the ball.
Lambert controlled the ball steadily, waiting for his teammates on both wings to create space - Southampton's opening strategy was to break through the flanks.
Chamberlain took the initiative to compete with the short Jamie Ward for position, while Gu Ran took the opportunity to advance from the left.
Lambert seized the opportunity and decisively moved sideways to dodge before the opponent's No. 9 striker, the human bulldozer Ched Evans, rushed over, and at the same time made a cross kick to the left.
After the ball was passed, Ched Evans still did not stop and hit Lambert's shoulder hard.
Lambert was hit so hard that he grimaced and almost fell down.
At the same time, on the left side, Chamberlain jumped up and stopped the ball with his chest, and then perfectly unloaded the ball at his feet.
Sheffield United's formation quickly compressed to the left side. Sheffield United's right midfielder, the "quick and agile" Jamie Ward, came up at an extremely fast speed and blocked Chamberlain's breakthrough path with his body.
Jamie Ward is 166cm tall and Chamberlain is 181cm tall.
Chamberlain thought that getting past the corner flag was an easy task, so he just used his body to force his way past it.
Jamie Ward did not flinch and directly withstood Chamberlain's physical pressure! Chamberlain could not move an inch, and even had difficulty controlling the ball!
Chamberlain used his elbow to push Jamie Ward, but he couldn't move him at all!
Jamie Ward single-handedly defended Chamberlain, who was a head taller than him!
The Blades fans at the scene roared and shouted wildly. This reversal of confrontation scene made their blood boil!
Jamie Ward stretched out his foot to steal the ball, and Chamberlain had no choice but to turn around and knock the ball back to Gu Ran who came up quickly.
After Gu Ran got the ball, he immediately accelerated and made a diagonal cut.
Southampton Saints fans also cheered wildly.
The atmosphere in the entire stadium was very exciting right from the start! Jamie Ward immediately pushed away Chamberlain's reverse defense and intercepted Gu Ran horizontally.
At the same time, No. 8 Michael Doyle, who was in the middle, also rushed straight towards Gu Ran.
Doyle was the guy who even the referee dared to chase! His sprinting momentum was full of pressure! Doyle's interception timing and position were very experienced. Whether Gu Ran went down the bottom or cut inside, he could hardly avoid physical confrontation with Jamie Ward or Michael Doyle.
Sheffield United’s tactical thinking is very clear, that is: get close and strangle Gu Ran.
Head coach Mickey Adams knew that Southampton’s tactics were nothing special. As long as they could limit Gu Ran, it would be fine. If they relied purely on physical strength, Southampton would definitely not be able to hold on.
Just before Jamie Ward and Michael Doyle were about to strangle Gu Ran, Gu Ran suddenly stopped and stepped on the ball, then immediately lowered his shoulder like Matthews, pretending to cut across the middle -
Michael Doyle had obviously studied Gu Ran's previous game highlights. After discovering Gu Ran's intention, he reacted instantly, taking a big step forward to get into position, and at the same time reaching out to grab Gu Ran's arm!
It must be said that Jamie Ward and Michael Doyle's strangulation in the rib area was perfectly synchronized! There was almost no space between the two!
Such a wonderful defensive scene is not common in Sheffield United. At the beginning of today's game, Sheffield United also used all their skills to restrict and even kill Gu Ran! While Michael Doyle was crossing the blockade in the middle, Gu Ran suddenly pulled his center of gravity back and transferred the ball to his left foot, avoiding Michael Doyle's steal in advance, and then rushed to the left front with the ball: violent sprint +4!
Jamie Ward had just gotten into position and hadn't yet stabilized his center of gravity. He never expected that Gu Ran would actually use his body to force him down!
Jamie Ward subconsciously lowered his lower body and put all his strength into it——
Bang! Gu Ran directly knocked Jamie Ward back two steps! Jamie Ward's face was twisted in pain, and half of his body seemed to be crushed by the tracks of a tank.
However, Jamie Ward still stretched out his legs to trip Gu Ran despite his unstable body! Michael Doyle on the other side also quickly turned his center of gravity and reached out to pull Gu Ran's black jersey——
At this time, Sheffield United's right back, Jamaican Nylon Nosworthy, also came up! Sheffield United carried out an extremely fast triangle stranglehold on Gu Ran!
This is the moment he's been waiting for! Gu Ran saw the right moment and used the outside of his left foot to pass the ball directly into the space behind Nosworthy! Flexible Breakthrough: Flexibility Control +1!
Golden Left Foot: Outstanding +1!
Outside of the foot pass +4!
The football slid along the grass, leaving a razor-like sharp blade, passing quickly from the side of Noseworthy and rushing to the open area near the baseline! Chamberlain, who had already infiltrated the baseline in advance, instantly sped up and desperately chased the ball! The right-back Noseworthy was obviously half a beat slower in reaction, so he had to turn around and chase back in a hurry! Noseworthy was very fast, but Chamberlain, the rising star of Southampton, sprinted even faster!
Southampton's cooperation on the left side was breathtaking!
Sheffield United's high pressure and close strangulation were very targeted, but Gu Ran only took three seconds to directly penetrate Sheffield United's right side! The Southampton Saints fans at the scene screamed wildly! The little queen Taylor Swift in the VIP box also jumped up excitedly and cheered loudly: "Ah! My God! It turns out that Gu Ran plays so fiercely! So handsome! So fierce and handsome! The game has just begun! I'm almost falling in love with him!"
Female assistant: ...
On the football field, Chamberlain lived up to expectations and stopped the ball near the baseline in one breath.
Sheffield United quickly returned to defense, and right-back Nosworthy immediately blocked Chamberlain's breakthrough and cross path.
Chamberlain tried to make a fried meatball on the spot, but was not very successful and almost tripped himself.
Fortunately, Noseworthy, who was defending him, was also confused by Chamberlain's show and missed the fleeting opportunity to steal the ball.
Chamberlain controlled the ball without blushing or beating his heart, and suddenly accelerated to cut into the small penalty area.
Noseworthy quickly used his hands and feet to intercept.
However, Chamberlain learned his lesson this time. He made an abrupt stop, took a step back and turned, and after getting out of the gap, he kicked the ball back to Lambert who was cooperating on the ribs.
Chamberlain could have chosen to cross the ball, but Sheffield United's defense in the penalty area was very solid, and both Gourlay and Garrod were closely watched.
Therefore, passing the ball to Lambert, then cutting inside without the ball and shooting was the best solution Chamberlain could think of.
Lambert passed the ball directly while running, passing it to the top of the penalty area!
Chamberlain: ...
At the same time, Gu Ran rushed straight into the top area of the arc like a black lightning!
Sheffield United's defense was instantly paralyzed! Southampton's local cooperation was so beautiful that in just a dozen seconds, the ball came to Gu Ran's feet again! Jamie Ward and Michael Doyle immediately closed the door and strangled Gu Ran on the penalty area line.
Gu Ran protected the ball with his back to Jamie Ward, and then suddenly shot with his left foot like a knife! Top shot: Anfield King +1!
Top pass and shot: God’s kick +2!
Golden Left Foot: Outstanding +1!
Heavy artillery long-range shot: Earth-shattering +3!
No need to explain, just hit him in the face! The ball broke through Sheffield United's proud iron barrel defense with overwhelming force and went into the net! The ball went in! All the Sheffield United players were dumbfounded! The Blades fans in the south stand were instantly silent!
The Southampton Saints fans who came from afar were boiling with excitement! This turn shot was so classic and top-notch!
The referee blew the whistle, indicating that the goal was valid!
The score on the big screen at Bramall Lane was changed to Sheffield United 0:1 Southampton! Gu Ran chopped the wind with one hand and ran wildly to celebrate! Lambert, Chamberlain and other players excitedly chased Gu Ran! Less than 2 minutes after the start, Southampton took the lead! ...
There will be another update at 8pm.
(End of this chapter)