In terms of statistics, the two sides' ball possession rate and number of shots are almost evenly matched, so it is difficult to say who will win this third-round knockout match.
But both sides are aware that if they lose, they will completely bid farewell to this season's League Cup, and as long as they win, their opponents in the next round will definitely be opponents from the Premier League.
From this perspective, it is understandable that Southampton, a League One team, lost.
But... Southampton will never give up!
The players fighting on the field are unwilling to give up, and the head coach directing the team on the sidelines is even more unwilling to give up!
Head coach Adkins knew that as long as they made good use of Gu Ran, they would have a chance to win the game!
Coach Adkins made substitutions immediately - young Aaron Martin was substituted, vice-captain Walton was substituted, midfielder Hammond was substituted, and gold medal substitute Dixon was substituted.
Substituting Walton is mainly to strengthen the central defender's defense. Although Walton's physical condition is not good, there will definitely be no problem for Walton in the remaining ten to twenty minutes.
The reason for replacing Dixon was to completely unleash Gu Ran's firepower! With Dixon defending on the left wing, Chamberlain no longer needed to play as a left-back, and Gu Ran could directly stand in the front midfielder position to strengthen the attack! After Sheffield United equalized the score, they were not idle. Mitch Adams used the second substitution and replaced the young midfielder Daniel Filiscock who received a yellow card with the No. 4 Scottish international, veteran midfielder Nick Montgomery!
Sheffield United's tactical thinking is to use physical strength to limit Gu Ran's performance! Just like Coach Adkins knows that as long as he uses Gu Ran well, he can win, Mitch Adams also knows that as long as he limits Gu Ran, they Sheffield United can win!
There are only 15 minutes left in the game, and both teams’ physical strength has reached the second window period, but this game is a game that cannot be lost for both teams!
Even a draw is unacceptable! Because if it is a draw, then overtime will be required! In a schedule with such a high density of matches, overtime is likely to affect the arrangement of the next game! At this moment, the confrontation between the two sides has completely reached a white-hot point! Gu Ran retreated from the front midfielder position to the midfield to get the ball, and the Sheffield United team immediately pressed forward and surrounded Gu Ran.
Sheffield United head coach Mickey Adams was also shouting on the sidelines, asking Sheffield United players to stick close and strangle Gu Ran with their bodies and not give him any space!
Sheffield United defended Gu Ran with the same mentality as they defended Cristiano Ronaldo!
Yes, they didn't defend Messi, but they defended Ronaldo.
When he played against Manchester United, which had Cristiano Ronaldo, in the Premier League, their terrifying defense could easily strangle Ronaldo, forcing him to resort to diving!
Now, as soon as Gu Ran got the ball, at least six players from Sheffield United surrounded Gu Ran from all directions, with their hands and feet making rough and foul-like movements.
Left midfielder Richard Cresswell and newly replaced midfielder Nick Montgomery grabbed Gu Ran's shoulders from the left and right and dragged him tightly!
The Saints fans at the scene booed wildly!
The referee and the linesmen seemed to be blind and had no reaction at all!
Gu Ran did not complain, but his adrenaline exploded, and he directly dragged Cresswell and Montgomery and forced the ball forward! He couldn't pull it! He couldn't pull it at all! The fans of the Blades were all stunned! The entire Bramall Lane Stadium was filled with Gu Ran's passionate and domineering hormone aura!
The little queen Taylor Swift in the VIP box screamed with excitement! At this time, the right forward Lee Williamson slid towards Gu Ran fiercely.
Gu Ran immediately stopped and protected the ball, avoiding Williamson and passing the ball from behind Williamson to Lambert who was following up and unmarked! This pass was a great one! The Saints fans cheered excitedly! The passion was at its peak!
After Lambert got the ball, he moved to the empty wing, while Gu Ran quickly moved straight to the middle without the ball.
Sheffield United's defense still focused on Gu Ran. Even if Gu Ran didn't have the ball, there were at least four defensive players defending him! Lambert didn't have a good chance to pass the ball to Gu Ran, so he had to pass the ball to Schneiderlin on the wing.
However, under the strong physical resistance and high pressure, Schneiderlin did not have a good chance to pass the ball to Guli and Garrod.
The ball was intercepted by left-back Joe Martock! Joe Martock immediately passed it back to captain Charles Morgan, who kicked it directly to the front court! Sheffield United counterattacked!
The Saints fans howled in pain! In this wave of attack, Gu Ran's performance was so brilliant and explosive that he almost single-handedly confronted Sheffield United's entire back line and passed the ball into Sheffield United's dangerous area. However...it cannot be said that Lambert and Schneiderlin were not good enough. It can only be said that Sheffield United is indeed a veteran defensive counterattack team.
Fortunately, the vice-captain Walton, who had just come on the field, was very experienced. He grabbed the first point of the long pass one step ahead and headed the ball back to Sheffield's half.
Gu Ran quickly got rid of the pull of Clayswell and Montgomery and passed the ball to Chamberlain on the left.
The passion of Saints fans is burning again!
Sheffield United is indeed a veteran team that is good at counterattacks, but Southampton is not bad either! Chamberlain immediately dribbled the ball into the penalty area after stopping the ball, and then fired a heavy shot at the goal -
The football hit the crossbar and flew out of the end line.
Chamberlain lay on the grass in frustration, and for a long time he didn't want to get up and face his teammates and fans.
He handled this ball too roughly! As a front midfielder, Gu Ran's role in the midfield is absolutely unquestionable.
If Chamberlain did not cut inside but chose to go to the bottom line, giving Gu Ran even three seconds to shake off or lead away half of the defensive players, then Gurley and Garrod who were ambushing in the penalty area would have a chance.
pity……
Southampton missed a great opportunity to take the lead again.
The game continues.
Goalkeeper Wright kicked the ball out.
Sheffield United made their move from the right side.
The Southampton team was generally a bit anxious. They took the lead twice and were equalized twice. This anxious mentality was understandable.
Gu Ran was not in a hurry.
The closer it gets to this point, the more you need to wait calmly for opportunities. While waiting for opportunities, you need to consume a lot of your opponent's physical energy.
The two sides fought back and forth with a very fast pace of offense and defense.
The emotions of fans on both sides were also pushed to the extreme by the wonderful offense and defense.
This is what truly exciting football is like – both teams are evenly matched and fighting at an exceptional level.
In the 83rd minute of the game, Gu Ran and Lambert formed a joint defense. Gu Ran used his physical strength to steal the ball from Richard Cresswell's feet, and then made a straight pass to Schneiderlin.
Sheffield United's left wing was instantly defeated! Schneiderlin dribbled the ball inside, Shane Lowry retreated to intercept, Schneiderlin withstood Shane Lowry's foul push, and made a beautiful crotch pass to send the ball to Garrod's feet! A great opportunity! Gu Ran's ability to organize and plan in the midfield is too strong! Garrod immediately kicked and volleyed! The football... hit the goal frame and bounced out of the end line! The Saints fans behind the goal immediately hugged their heads and lamented.
The front is weak!
Just when the Southampton players relaxed a little, Sheffield United's ball boy quickly passed the spare football to goalkeeper Richard Wright, who kicked the ball directly to the Southampton team's backcourt!
This was Wright's typical sneak attack tactic! Southampton's defensive players hurriedly retreated, and Gu Ran also desperately chased from the top of the arc of Sheffield United!
However, Sheffield United's No. 10 striker Daniel Bogdanovic had already been lurking in Southampton's half. Bogdanovic broke away from Southampton's defense and scored a goal alone.
Saints fans booed wildly! This ball is obviously offside!
Before Wright kicked the ball, Bogdanovic had already started, at least an arm's length beyond the offside line!
The linesman didn't raise the flag! The Blades fans cheered wildly, their cheers drowning out the boos from the Saints fans!
Bogdanovic controlled the ball outside the top of the arc and continued to drive straight into the penalty area!
Davis took the initiative to attack 1v1——
Bogdanovic made a low shot from the edge of the penalty area!
Davis quickly fell to the ground to save the ball!
Davis judged the direction correctly, but was 0.1 seconds late! The football passed through Davis' armpit, hit the inside of the left goal post, and then... bounced into the net!
The ball goes in! 85th minute of the game!
Sheffield United once again overtook the opponent with a very clever defensive counterattack! The score on the big screen immediately changed to Sheffield United 4:3 Southampton! The three stands of Bramall Lane Stadium were all in a frenzy!
The whole game was full of ups and downs!
The goddess of victory seemed to be walking towards Sheffield United with seductive cat steps and amorous feelings!
The morale of Southampton's players was low, and many of them stood with their hands on their hips, shaking their heads and sighing in pain.
After briefly covering their faces and holding their heads, the Southampton Saints fans continued to cheer for their players in unison.
So far in the game, Southampton players have performed very well, but Sheffield United has the home advantage and referee advantage.
Coach Adkins angrily yelled at the referee, who warned him that if he interfered with the game again, he would be sent off with a red card.
Coach Adkins could only shake his head helplessly.
Mickey Adams in the technical area next to him was full of pride! Little Queen Taylor Swift was also distressed, "Oh, is Gu Ran's team going to lose? Gu must be feeling very uncomfortable now. I really want to give him a big hug right now, and then use my mouth to comfort him. I feel like I am his goal, letting him, letting him release all his unhappiness."
Female assistant: ... Taylor, please don't be so explicit! (End of this chapter)