Femana is unwilling to settle for a draw, after all, failing to win in the previous four rounds had already labeled San Remo as a weak team in the Italian Third Division.
If they can’t even defeat San Remo, how can Femana hope to pursue a promotion spot this year?
Femana launched a full offensive, hammering at San Remo’s right flank.
Although Lu Yang’s side is easier to breach during attacks, in terms of difficulty to attack, San Remo’s right side is relatively weaker. After all, the left side has two super defenders, Lu Yang and Latu Yidi.
San Remo’s right-back Matias committed a foul outside the penalty area, earning a yellow card and giving the opponent a well-positioned free kick.
This time, even Sogel came back to be part of the wall.
Bam!
The opponent’s player demonstrated great technique, sending the ball over the wall directly towards the goal.
If it were last season’s goalkeeper for San Remo, this would unquestionably have been a goal for Femana.
But fortunately, San Remo brought in Jalard from Serie B’s Perugia this summer.
Jalard predicted the opponent’s path correctly, positioned himself well, and managed to block the ball with his hands in time.
This had an element of luck.
The ball was caught by Rondo, who booted it fiercely downfield.
Bai Zhami received the ball near the midfield and began a rapid advance.
Simultaneously, two figures from San Remo shot out like arrows, one to the left and one to the right.
The one on the left is Lu Yang, and the one on the right is Morici.
Morici is positioned more forward, but Lu Yang is clearly faster.
Both advanced side by side, and near midfield, Bai Zhami found himself surrounded by opponents, unable to break through.
Bai Zhami initially wanted to pass the ball to Lu Yang.
But at the crucial moment, he unexpectedly recalled Lu Yang’s previous words.
So Bai Zhami looked at Lu Yang, then passed the ball to Morici on the other side.
Femana’s midfielder extended his leg to intercept, having become familiar with Bai Zhami’s playing habits.
This kid, although fast, does not pose much threat. Apart from driving the ball into a dead-end, he only passes to Lu Yang.
Thus, Femana’s midfield had predicted Bai Zhami’s pass.
As long as the ball was intended for Lu Yang, it would be intercepted.
This is the wisdom... intelligence... of soccer defense...
"Oh! Morici gets the ball! Bai Zhami with a beautiful ’look left, pass right’; who knew he had flair after all. With the ball at Morici’s feet, the danger level significantly increases. Let’s see how Morici handles it!"
"Morici sprints with the ball, an opponent intercepts, and Morici passes it to Lu Yang."
"Wow! So fast! Lu Yang passes the ball without stopping it, doing a wall-passing combination with Morici, bypassing the opponent’s midfield."
"Oh my! Morici also passes without stopping it, returning the wall-pass combination to Lu Yang! Ping-pong passing! This is the signature skill of the San Remo twin stars, Lu Yang and Morici, showcasing their incredible chemistry."
"It’s now a three-on-two in the forward area! San Remo has three attacking players, while Femana only has two defenders left."
"Bai Zhami moves to the wing... Oops! Bai Zhami’s terrible positioning; he clearly should have cut directly into the middle. His positioning collided with Lu Yang, who is also moving left."
"That’s Bai Zhami for you, his movement makes San Remo effectively a player short. A Femana defender could even handle both players, just needing to react to whichever cuts inside."
The commentator sees clearly.
Bai Zhami and Lu Yang are one in front and one behind on the left wing.
Morici, facing the opponent’s defense, directly passes the ball to the left wing.
It’s passed to Lu Yang!
Lu Yang takes the ball, maintaining speed, and starts to cut inside.
The opponent’s focus is entirely on Lu Yang.
But after one step inside, Lu Yang suddenly slows down, raising his left foot.
Cross!
Lu Yang actually chooses to cross?
There’s only Morici in the middle; it’s impossible for him to outjump Femana’s central defender.
This is an extremely poor choice.
But admittedly, such a choice is very much "left-back like."
After all, left-backs indeed often choose to cross.
Cross...
Wait!
Is Lu Yang a left-back?
The Femana players were stunned.
Lu Yang didn’t strike the ball with his raised left foot but let it glide over the ball, then flicked it with his heel.
The ball instantly ricocheted from behind Lu Yang towards the right.
C Luo’s heel flick change of direction past the player!
The ball flew out a good two meters.
Lu Yang, having previously decelerated, immediately accelerated after the flick, chasing the ball.
The opponent, completely unprepared, turned around and directly slipped to the ground.
Lu Yang was entirely unmarked!
Lu Yang’s at the white line on the left side of the penalty area; he could choose to pass or shoot, while the central defender aiming for Morici doesn’t even know what to do.
The Femana goalkeeper had no choice but to come out.
A few dozens of minutes ago, Lu Yang scored from almost the same angle but five or six meters farther out with a powerful strike.
Now, from the same spot, his touch is even better, and he’s activated the first layer special effect of Sotu’s Perpetual Motion Machine; there’s no reason not to hit the target!
Bam!
The opponent’s goalkeeper quickly went down, performing a lotus position stop.
He anticipated that Lu Yang would choose to shoot, which was the goalkeeper’s instinct.
He judged it correctly.
But... Lu Yang’s shot was a rapid elevation strike, not a ground roll. The ball flew half a meter above the goalkeeper’s head, leaving him helpless.
"The ball’s in-in-in!"