The battle continues intensely.
Enriquez takes a long shot from outside the box, but Areola dives and saves it.
Lam makes a big clearance.
Morici gets the ball outside the penalty area and launches a rocket pass-shot without even looking at the target.
Sevajos was previously tackled in the frontcourt, and the referee did not blow the whistle. This now becomes an ideal spot to receive the ball.
He receives the football, with only three opponents in the backfield.
One defender is near him, another is charging towards him.
And one more defender is inside the penalty box.
Sevajos takes a glance at the backfield and sees Lu Yang sprinting towards the front field.
So he twists and turns, dribbling the ball amidst the double-team, executing various fake moves.
He moves the ball towards the sideline, not to break through, but to buy some time.
Finally, after Lu Yang crosses the halfway line with a few steps, Sevajos, while retreating with the ball, turns and passes it.
Bam!
Sevajos is knocked down by an opponent.
He held the ball too long, which easily frustrates the opposing defenders, just like Neymar often frustrates opponents.
But the ball has already been passed!
Lu Yang rushes towards the penalty box.
On the edge of the penalty area, there’s only one central defender.
The ball lands about a meter outside the penalty box, so the Spanish goalkeeper cannot advance and has to stay at the goal, remaining vigilant.
Lu Yang and the Spanish center back begin their tussle.
The ball gets closer.
Lu Yang has his back to the goal, leaning against the Spanish center back, who is behind and to his right.
This is to force Lu Yang to the left, minimizing his shooting angle as much as possible.
It’s a very smart defense.
Soon, the ball flies in.
Bam!
Lu Yang uses the inside of his left foot to receive the ball.
But this wasn’t a trap; Lu Yang’s foot imparts force to the ball, subtly changing its path from a "/" direction to a "
The ball flies from the right side of the defender towards the penalty area.
At the same moment, Lu Yang turns to the left, passing the defender on his left side.
Instinctively, the Spanish center back is lost in the dilemma of whether to block the ball or Lu Yang.
And opportunities are only there to be seized for a moment.
Missing it once means missing it forever.
The Bergkamp move, splitting man and ball!
The Spanish center back is like a rock in the middle of a river.
While Lu Yang and the ball, like water, flow around the rock, only to merge swiftly behind it.
The Spanish goalkeeper sees the ball pass his teammate and immediately advances.
But after Lu Yang turns, he appears directly behind the ball.
Facing the advancing goalkeeper, Lu Yang coolly slots the ball into the far corner.
The Spanish goalkeeper dives attempting to save, but the ball curiously carries a bit of curvature, ultimately failing to prevent the goal.
Eighty degree curvature is no joke!
Lu Yang’s shot has long evolved!
The next second, white waves surge.
Lu Yang clenches his left fist, raises his right hand, high-fives the approaching Sevajos in celebration.
Four to three!
Italy takes the lead once again!
And for Spain, less than ten minutes remain!
"Hat trick! Lu Yang has completed a hat trick! He is truly a clutch player! His goal tips the scales of victory towards Italy!"
"This is Lu Yang’s ninth personal goal in this European Youth Championship! He is again tied with Enriquez at the top of the scoring chart!"
"If Enriquez’s performance this game was impeccable, then Lu Yang’s performance is even more astonishing! Though I hate to admit it, so far, Lu Yang has indeed overshadowed Enriquez!"
"This is a perfect blend of teamwork and individual heroism, this is the very essence of football at its finest!"
"Sevajos controlled the ball extensively, seemingly delaying the attack, but in reality, he was waiting for Lu Yang to make his run! In the meantime, had Sevajos’ ball control and dribbling been any less proficient, this chance wouldn’t have materialized!"
"In this tournament, Sevajos’ dribbling and control have been vividly showcased. He can absolutely be the offensive core of any team’s front line!"
"Likewise, if Sevajos’ dribbling is a testament to skill, then Lu Yang’s ball reception transcends skill and enters the realm of art!"
"I can never understand how using the left foot to receive the ball can result in the ball neither stopping nor veering to the right side but instead flying to the back from the right!"
"Using the left foot to flick the ball to the left and have it fly to his rear is possible and quite common. But having it fly backwards in the opposite direction and over someone while complementing Lu Yang’s turn is simply outrageous! This series of movements is as intricate as it gets, yet Lu Yang makes it seem as natural as breathing, without any awkwardness!"
"This is a perfect instance of man-ball separation, something no one has ever done like this before, never!"
"Now the European Youth Championship committee has a headache on their hands; they can’t possibly choose the best goal of this championship because several of Lu Yang’s goals seem like the best! It’s impossible to choose!"
"The Italy National Youth Team players are celebrating enthusiastically!"
"Is the first international tournament trophy in twelve years for Italy about to be born? Let’s wait and see!"
...
Spain, trailing by one goal, is somewhat flustered.
The championship is so close, will they have to hand it over?
Moreover, to a team like the Italy National Youth Team, which hasn’t been very outstanding?