Chapter 121: It’s too bullying!
December 12, Alvalade Stadium, Lisbon.
In the second leg of the third knockout round of the UEFA Cup, Sporting Lisbon, who lost 0-1 away in the first leg, returned to their home ground to face Thessaloniki of Greece.
As soon as the game started, Sporting Lisbon took advantage of its home advantage and launched a fierce attack on its opponents.
Just like the Green Lions who played away in the first leg, Thessaloniki's players also traveled a long distance to Lisbon after playing in the domestic league at the weekend. The only difference is that they had more time to prepare before the game than Sporting Lisbon.
During the first leg of the match between the two sides, Thessaloniki's players probably belittled Sporting Lisbon in their hearts.
But now, they have finally tasted the hardships of playing away from home.
Especially central defender Mariusz Kukielka who bore the brunt of the situation.
…
The 26-year-old Kukielka is from Poland and once played for Roda JC in the Eredivisie. He is the main central defender of PAOK Thessaloniki this season and also the team's best performing player.
In the previous two rounds of knockout matches, Thessaloniki was able to eliminate Zenit of the Russian Premier League and Grasshoppers Zurich of Switzerland respectively, and Kukielka played a great role. You know, the latter two teams are both well-known European powerhouses.
Thanks to Kukielka's outstanding performance, Thessaloniki's defense was solid in the first leg and did not give Sporting Lisbon any chance. The performance of the three young players was curbed.
This also makes Thessaloniki full of confidence, and they firmly believe that the team has the opportunity to eliminate the Portuguese Super League powerhouse and go further.
Kukielka is full of confidence and fighting spirit.
His agent told him that with his outstanding performance in the UEFA Cup, he has successfully attracted the attention of many teams from the four major leagues, including Bundesliga Nuremberg. As long as he maintains this performance, he will definitely be able to land in the four major leagues.
The first thing is to help Thessaloniki eliminate Sporting Lisbon away from home.
Freezing the opponent's main center forward is the number one task of a central defender.
But at the beginning of the game, Kukielka realized something was wrong.
The first physical contact between the two sides occurred in the second minute, when Su Dong still received the ball with his back to the goal in the frontcourt.
Just like in the first round, Kukielka stuck his whole body forward.
In his impression, he never lost to Su Dong in several physical confrontations in the first round.
This tall and burly center seemed a bit clumsy, slow to react, and overall not excited enough.
But this time, just as Su Dong was about to catch the ball, he leaned back.
Kukielka felt like a mountain was pressing down on him. He tried his best to hold Su Dong back, but he could do nothing.
And what about Su Dong?
I leaned back feeling very relaxed, and turned quickly the moment I caught the ball.
That feeling of agility and strength shocked Kukielka beyond belief.
So tall and yet so flexible?
After turning around, Su Dong didn't wait for another central defender Dionis Chasiotis to get close. He dribbled the ball flexibly with his right foot again, created a gap directly through Nastos, and sent a diagonal pass into the penalty area with his right foot.
Quaresma on the right flank understood what he meant and rushed up to shoot directly.
Slightly higher.
Throughout the whole process, Su Dong seemed to be at ease and calm.
Kukielka, who has many years of experience in professional competitions, felt a little apprehensive.
This kid is completely different from the one we faced in the first round.
Is it because of the physical fatigue from playing away in the first round?
…
Sporting Lisbon took the initiative to attack, and Su Dong frequently got opportunities to get the ball with his back in the frontcourt.
When he got the ball with his back to the goal once again outside the penalty area, Kukielka tried to steal the ball, but Su Dong just leaned against him with his body and he was suppressed again.
Kukielka knew very well that if he rushed forward rashly and Su Dong turned around, he would be finished.
After stopping the ball, Su Dong used his body to press down Kukielka, and he even had enough energy left to gesture to his teammates.
This made Kukielka feel embarrassed and angry, but his body was pressed so hard that he couldn't move.
The Polish center back is only 1.83 meters tall, but Su Dong in front of him is 1.95 meters tall.
The twelve-centimeter gap and the dominant pressure made Kukielka helpless.
But this time, the offensive plan on the left side of the penalty area ended with Su Dong turning around and getting rid of the opponent, and his shot went over the bar.
Kukielka actually felt a sense of relief in his heart.
…………
…………
"Ronnie."
Su Dong walked back from the front of the penalty area.
The shot just now was too high, now it's Thessaloniki's goal kick.
When Ronnie heard Su Dong's shout, he immediately ran over.
"I can suppress Kukielka, but Chas Otis is very experienced and sticks very close to him." Su Dong said with a frown.
"Then hit my side?" Ronnie suggested. "I can handle Nastos."
Although Nastos is a right back, he is 1.87 meters tall, even taller than center back Kukielka.
Players of this height are very strong, but are generally not fast or flexible enough.
"Then you pull him deeper to the outside and use your speed to get in behind him." Su Dong suggested with a raised corner of his mouth.
Ronnie chuckled, "Watch me."
…
Not long after, Sporting Lisbon launched another attack.
Su Dong retreated, but pointed to the left.
Tonito quickly passed the ball to the left and passed it to Ronnie who ran into the open space.
Ronnie just received the ball between the opponent's defense line and midfield, and the full-back Nastos followed up to intercept him immediately.
At this time, Ronnie gave Su Dong a look.
After confirming with his eyes, it was this Greek guy! Ronnie faked a shot, pretended to cut inside, tricked Nastos into following his movements, and suddenly passed the ball to Su Dong.
Su Dong understood what he meant. He used his body to block Kukielka behind him, then stopped the ball and passed it diagonally into the penalty area with his right foot.
After shaking off Nastos, Ronnie used his lightning speed to break through the Greek defense line, inserted into the left side of the penalty area, and after receiving the pass from Su Dong, he stopped with his left foot and then shot with his right foot.
The ball goes in! ! ! ! "Wuhu!!!"
The Portuguese boy jumped up with excitement.
Sometimes, scoring a goal is so simple, direct, rough and boring.
…………
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"Too much! It's really too much! It's too bullying!"
During the half-time break, in the away locker room, central defender Kukielka was panting and roaring.
He was badly bullied in the first half.
"It's like Sporting Lisbon doesn't know anything else. All their attacks are centered around the center forward. That bastard is also very hateful. Not only does he run a long distance, but every time he receives the ball, as long as I get close to him, he uses his body to lean against me."
After saying this, Kukielka cursed angrily.
He made a lot of mistakes in the first half, all of which were against Su Dong. If it weren't for Chas Otis cleaning up his mess, Thessaloniki would have lost even more miserably in the first half, not just conceding one goal.
The head coach of Thessaloniki is the famous Greek coach Angelos Anstastis. After hearing Kukielka's roar, he couldn't help but feel that something was wrong.
The team was exhausted after a long journey away from home, while the opponent was playing at home and was well rested. As a result, Kukielka was at a disadvantage in physical confrontation and the pressure was obvious.
He is now on the verge of exploding.
Thinking of this, the head coach coughed heavily and walked over.
"In fact, you have done quite well, Marius."
The head coach first gave a high evaluation to his defensive core, which slightly eased his psychological pressure.
"I've said it before, the opponent's center forward Su Dong is very special, tall and sturdy, 1.95 meters tall, and excellent in strength confrontation. Although he is only 18 years old, his characteristics are very obvious and his advantages are also great. If it were us, we would definitely do everything possible to use this advantage to attack the opponent, right?"
The head coach has a lot of prestige in the team, and after he said this, everyone felt relieved.
This is also a normal tactic.
"Another point is that Ronaldo on the left wing is very fast, and Quaresma on the right wing is also good at breaking through. These two players must also be taken seriously, especially their cooperation with center forward Su Dong is very tacit."
"So, in the second half we had to adjust our tactics and adopt a more contracted defense. The right back pulled back and we adopted a three-center-back style and five-back defense."
"In addition, in the second half, Chas Otis will be responsible for guarding the center forward, and Nastos and Kukielka should pay attention to assisting and protecting him from behind. No matter which direction Su Dong turns from after getting the ball, they must block him in the first place and don't give him a chance to kick."
"Remember, the front of the restricted area line and the entire restricted area are all within Su Dong's shooting range!"
…………
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While the Greek team finalized the tactics of freezing the Sporting Lisbon trident in the away locker room in the second half, in the home locker room, Sudon, Ronaldo, Quaresma, Albertini, Tonito and others also gathered together to discuss tactics in whispers.
"In the first half they were very tight and didn't have many chances. In the second half they should just play more on the wings and stretch the defense," Albertini suggested. Milan's veteran player had the most experience and the highest tactical attainments.
"Pass the ball more often when I run into open space or in a one-on-one situation, and I will definitely be able to get the ball into the penalty area." Ronnie said confidently.
He had just scored a goal in the first half and was full of fighting spirit.
"Leave the attack on the right to me." Quaresma said concisely.
Su Dong glanced at him and remembered a saying from China.
In society, I praise my brother, he is a ruthless man who doesn’t talk much.
"Then I will pass the ball and assist outside the penalty area, and wait for you to pass the ball in the penalty area!" Su Dong said with a smile.
"Don't worry, I promise to give you an assist!" Ronnie said proudly with his head raised.
"Then let Su Dong go to the penalty area, and I will ambush outside the penalty area." Tonito also said.
Everyone murmured to this, and it seemed to be the case.
"It's settled then!" Albertini made the final decision.
After everyone shouted "Come on" in unison, they dispersed.
At this time, head coach Boloni had just walked into the locker room.
“We played well in the first half, but a score of one to zero is not enough to ensure our advancement. We need to continue to strengthen our attack in the second half…”
Listening to the head coach's analysis, Su Dong raised his eyebrows at Ronnie beside him, and they laughed at the same time.
(End of this chapter)
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