"Later, when you go up, remember..." Maniero was instructing the players.
On the other side, the Spanish coach was doing the same thing.
After ninety minutes, the match entered injury time.
There were four minutes of stoppage time.
In the second minute of stoppage time.
Ancelotti, rarely seen participating in the back defense, sprung into action.
Praxedes grabbed the ball and passed it to Ancelotti.
Just as Ancelotti was about to take off, he was knocked to the ground by Kolar.
Tactical foul to stop the opponent’s counterattack.
The main referee gave Kolar a yellow card.
After getting up, Ancelotti rubbed his foot but gave a glance at Praxedes.
Praxedes understood instantly.
At this moment, Lu Yang suddenly launched himself, rushing towards the Spanish backfield.
The Spanish players instinctively thought Praxedes intended to long pass to Lu Yang and Perrotta, so they quickly focused their attention there.
Even Morici, known for quick passing and shooting, was under close observation by the Spanish players.
Only near the midfield line on the left flank, there was no one near the limping Ancelotti.
Bang!
Praxedes kicked the ball, directly short-passing to Ancelotti.
Ortiz was suddenly awakened.
How did everyone overlook this ghostly assassin?
He’s the key player who twice leveled the score for Italy.
Ortiz rushed over.
But Ancelotti, upon receiving the ball, drove forward with incredible speed, not resembling a player in his early thirties at all!
Ortiz trailed behind Ancelotti, but the gap between them not only failed to close but grew wider.
Spanish right-back Sanchis saw the situation, rushed to intercept, trying to stop Ancelotti.
However, Ancelotti deftly dribbled and cut inward.
Sanchis reflexively wanted to follow but immediately recalled the earlier turnover.
Ancelotti was obviously in the zone for assisting today.
This time, is he likely to go baseline again?
As Sanchis pondered, Ancelotti swept past him like a whirlwind.
A real inward cut!
No baseline run!
But by this time, Sanchis couldn’t catch up to Ancelotti anymore.
This is why Real Madrid fans have always been dissatisfied with this right-back.
His attitude is beyond reproach, and his skills aren’t bad, enough for rotation or even starting in various clubs.
However... he’s a player who shows no improvement, no hope for the future.
He cannot inspire people with beautiful fantasies.
He can defend those he’s supposed to guard against, but he cannot defend those he shouldn’t.
This player... has no highlight moments.
Using him, it’s practically a paper strategy.
If your left winger is stronger, then Sanchis is the best breakthrough point for you, without exception!
So Real Madrid has been hoping for a new right-back.
To put it bluntly, even San Remo’s Canyes is a better option... Although overall, Sanchis currently outperforms Canyes, at least Canyes often brings unexpected surprises, sometimes performing like a top winger.
Let’s turn back to Ancelotti.
Seeing Ancelotti rushing in again, Rubio didn’t think much, immediately stepped up to engage in a 1V1 with Ancelotti.
On the other side, Lu Yang was being grappled by Burgos.
Perrotta had already entered the penalty area.
Burgos employed various hand-grabbing tactics, Lu Yang couldn’t get through without committing a foul.
But just as Burgos thought he had it under control, Lu Yang suddenly pulled to the left, making a diagonal run into the left side of the penalty area.
Simultaneously, facing the oncoming Rubio, Ancelotti didn’t linger with the ball.
Bam!
Ancelotti swung a 45-degree cross!
The ball sailed over Rubio, heading directly towards the small penalty area!
Spain’s goalkeeper Igor Luis looked troubled.
This ball’s position required him to charge.
But someone might reach the landing point faster.
That person is Lu Yang, who broke free of Burgos and entered the big box!
The bad news was Lu Yang’s speed was faster.
The good news was that facing a high ball from behind, without processing space, no forward, however strong, could turn that opportunity into a shot.
Charge!
Luis charged!
He meant to compress Lu Yang’s space.
Lu Yang frowned.
With his vision, he knew the ball’s position in mid-air behind him.
If he slowed down, Luis would recover the ball after it landed, as the ball bounces forward after touching down, faster than it flies in mid-air.
Therefore, many balls you can catch up with before they land, but the moment they hit the ground, the distance between you and the ball widens.
But if Lu Yang doesn’t slow down, he would overrun the shooting position, unable to handle the ball.
To shoot, you need to be about one to one and a half meters behind the ball.
But at that time, Lu Yang might overlap with the ball’s position.
In a flash, Lu Yang had no choice.
First, he had to ensure Luis didn’t get the ball.
"Oh, a great opportunity!"
"Luis is charging! Lu Yang and Luis meet head-on."
"The ball is dropping fast, Lu Yang is closer to the ball."
"Wait! Luis stopped, he didn’t continue charging? This is..."
"Oh! Lu Yang seems to have overshot the position!"
"I see! Is this the top goalkeeper’s drop point judgment? Amazing!"
"Truly a player who can contend with Audi for the world’s number one goalkeeper! Luis accurately judged Lu Yang’s excessive speed, his charge was to force Lu Yang not to slow down."