May 12th, the day of the second leg of the UEFA Europa League semi-final.
For San Remo, the fragile Morici makes a timely return.
Sogel, who was injured in a collision, is temporarily out, feeling a bit blue.
Under the true team leader Brother Lu's suggestion, Sotu adjusted the starting lineup.
Lu Yang, Fernandez
Bai Zhami, Morici, Canyes
Latu Yidi, Kaint
Bernulin, Naji, Lam
Areola
Lu Zhongfeng, it's basically confirmed.
The team is trailing by one goal, and placing Lu Yang in the best scoring position is the right choice.
No. 9 sets the floor for a team, No. 7 sets the ceiling.
No. 9 has stable output capabilities; a good No. 9 can give a team a built-in 1-0 lead on the field.
No. 7, on the other hand, can be wildly unpredictable; once in the zone, they can dismantle any opponent and play freely.
What San Remo needs most right now is that 1-0.
That's why Lu Yang says Barça has a fatal flaw without a central forward; the assurance a central forward provides is lacking at Barça, making them easily capable of big victories but prone to going silent in crucial matches.
Camihong has been in great form this season, and a pay raise next season is a certainty, but he also needs proper rotation.
This match is at San Remo's home, and at the Makabaka Stadium, a huge banner appears on the stands, saying "A Miracle is Taking Off!"
Clearly, San Remo fans always believe in their team.
Meanwhile, many Inter fans have also flocked here, accompanying the team to San Remo.
They want to witness Inter advancing to the UEFA Europa League final firsthand.
Inter desperately needs a trophy to continue their legacy.
Whistle!
The match officially begins with a whistle.
In the first five minutes, San Remo launches an extremely aggressive high pressing.
Inter Milan struggles to get the ball past midfield.
Talista frequently drops back, but the effect is poor.
His dropping back provides an additional outlet for his side.
On the other hand, it moderately disrupts San Remo's formation.
Theoretically, once he drops back and then pushes forward, he should create some chances. As long as the midfielders have enough guts and skills, they can take the opportunity to send the ball to the front, even if it's to the wing players.
But Inter didn't do that.
Finger didn't do that!
This is what was previously mentioned — Finger is a good midfielder but not top-tier.
He can seize opportunities when they arise but can't create opportunities when there aren't any.
His frequent back passes seem to control the scene, but... the experts find opportunities to break open the situation after controlling the field.
Finger's back passes really are just back passes; Inter still can't send the ball forward in the next round.
That's where the problem lies.
Bang!
Kaint presses Finger.
Lu Yang is already behind Finger.
The two team up and directly steal Finger's ball.
Finger falls and signals to the main referee that Lu Yang fouled.
But the main referee indicates that it was a legal robbery.
Lu Yang did not foul.
Bang!
Lu Yang directly dribbles forward, taking just two steps to the edge of the penalty arc.
Lu Yang raises his right foot.
Inter's central defender makes a lunge with his hand behind his back, enlarging his body area to block Lu Yang's long shot.
However, after Lu Yang's right foot lands, he touches the ball to the right.
A fake shoot, real dribble.
Inter's left central defender hurries to cover.
Lu Yang lifts his right foot again.
Inter's left central defender promptly goes in for the tackle; it's better to block ahead rather than let Lu Yang shoot.
Yet Lu Yang makes another fake shot.
Lu Yang takes the ball a step further to the right.
In the penalty area, Lu Yang is open.
Two central defenders are closing in from his left, just a step away.
But...
Bang!
Inside the box, Lu Yang goes for a powerful shot with his right foot.
Due to the two consecutive rightward starts, Lu Yang is now on the right side of the goal, and the shooting angle isn't large. The sudden exertion twists his body, causing him to roll on the ground after striking.
Many strong shots often have this "follow-through."
The "wind-up" and "follow-through" of a shot are important parts of the shooting process; players skilled in controlling and using follow-through are less likely to get injured after shooting.
Players who can hide the "wind-up" have highly sudden shots that can catch the goalkeeper off guard.
The ball flies out accurately.
Straight into the top left corner of the goal.
Batigoal!
Such powerful fast shots, the medium range in the high-low divide of the goal; the goalkeeper still has a chance to save.
If the shot goes to the lower or upper parts, especially the upper part, it's really hard to save.
Whoosh!
The ball rubs against the net, creating a crisp sound, like a basketball swishing through the hoop.
"GOAL! Five minutes! Just five minutes in, San Remo takes the lead!"
"San Remo is in high spirits today! They're clearly planning to go all out!"
"One-zero! San Remo. A total score of four-four against Inter Milan over two legs, but because they hold three away goals, San Remo is leading!"
"Inter Milan finds themselves in a passive position! Before scoring three goals, they need to win because San Remo will have the advantage of away goals all along!"
"This goal came from Inter Milan's ineffective organization of offense multiple times, and the joint counter press by San Remo's Kaint and Lu Yang. Finger got careless!"
Up front, Talista gives Finger a disdainful look.
He knows what Finger is thinking.