LRAB Chapter 64 Is this an insurmountable obstacle?
Chapter 64 Is this an insurmountable obstacle?
"No problem with the penalty kick!"
"The contact area is large enough to warrant a penalty kick!"
The live broadcast director captured the exciting moments clearly through still frames.
Azpilicueta's right cleats landed heavily on Chang Huan's right ankle as he completed the spike.
This... is also the root cause of Chang Huan's fall in the restricted area.
A deafening chorus of boos erupted from Stamford Bridge.
Perotti, unfazed by the fervent atmosphere, calmly converted the penalty, helping Roma equalize.
Both sides are back on equal footing.
Chelsea, having gained possession, played steadily, relying on their wing-backs to push forward and Hazard to create scoring opportunities in the flanks.
However, such conventional attacking tactics are unlikely to break through Roma's highly motivated defensive system.
Marcos Alonso and Zappacosta push forward to provide width to the attack.
Fabregas's precise long passes were able to deliver the ball to Roma's weak side of the defense in a timely manner.
The frequency of crosses has increased.
However, Morata, a striker with two weak feet, had a hard time winning possession against Fazio, who is 1.95 meters tall.
24 minutes.
Fabregas, who had moved to the right flank of the attack, delivered a precise diagonal long pass.
Marcos Alonso, making a high-speed run down the left flank, controlled the ball with his left foot and crossed it directly from about 20 meters out.
The football landed in a tricky spot.
It landed right between the two center-backs.
Morata twisted his waist and flicked his head as Fazio marked him.
I don't know if it was because I was too nervous, but what I was supposed to do was head the ball on my forehead instead of hitting the ball on my right shoulder and it went out of bounds.
The slow-motion replay revealed that Fazio had used a small trick from behind.
A gentle push.
This caused Morata's upper body to lean forward...
The offensive and defensive positions have changed hands.
Roma's attack is similar to Chelsea's in some ways.
By relying on the full-backs to create a diverse attacking system, and by making full use of the width of the pitch, Chelsea players are forced to run back and forth.
When the ball was passed to Chang Huan, the Stamford Bridge home fans booed loudly at Roma's number 99, who had previously "deceived" Chang Huan.
Chang Huan remained unfazed by the overwhelming boos, whether he was on the right or left wing.
If you have the chance, then strike.
If there's no opportunity, control the ball and coordinate with your teammates.
Alternatively, they could use precise long passes to launch attacks down Chelsea's weak side.
Kanté was frustrated because he was assigned to keep an eye on Chang Huan before the game.
In the Premier League and even with the national team, he can complete "ghost"-like defense with accurate anticipation and explosive power.
However, his performance in this match was very limited, giving the impression of punching cotton.
Many times, what seemed like an excellent opportunity to intercept was rendered useless by Chang Huan's casual sudden stop and turn, taut ball, or one-touch pass.
What's even more frustrating is that Chang Huan, with his elusive positioning, can still deliver penetrating through balls while moving!
If Dzeko and Strootman hadn't had their shots saved by Courtois, Roma would have already taken the lead!
Thirty minutes have passed.
Chang Huan made a sudden stop and maneuver on the right flank, then passed the ball directly to Nainggolan.
Kante, with his excellent reflexes, anticipated Chang Huan's right shoulder drop and executed his signature inside-of-the-foot poke.
This defensive approach has proven effective time and again in the Premier League, the Champions League, and with national teams.
But... Chang Huan's realistic right shoulder drop was just a feint!
The ball was stopped to the left with the outside of the left foot in one smooth motion!
Due to a misjudgment, Kante was forced to kick Chang Huan's supporting right foot, knocking him to the ground.
Referee Skomina, with keen insight, decisively blew his whistle to call a foul.
Kanté put his hands on his hips, pursed his lips to reveal a set of bright white teeth, and shook his head and sighed repeatedly.
He found it hard to believe that he couldn't steal the ball from Chang Huan in a regular defensive play.
Not even once!
Chelsea fans in the stands did not believe Kante had fouled, but were convinced that Chang Huan had dived.
"Waaaaahh ...
"Diving!!"
"You bastard! Go back to China!!"
"**Chink!** (a discriminatory term targeting Asians)"
……
Boos and curses filled the air.
Chang Huan stood up and asked the ball boy on the sidelines for a football. Several Chelsea fans near the right flank of the Roma attack made a squinting motion, narrowing their eyes into slits.
Chang Huan understands the common swearing from home fans; it's psychological warfare, after all.
However, the classic discriminatory gestures used by Europeans and Americans against East Asians are intolerable.
He pointed at the few home fans, shrugging and making puzzled gestures.
Bruno Perez, Nainggolan, Dzeko, and Strootman were furious and rushed over to question the Chelsea fans, but were stopped by security.
Fabregas, Azpilicueta, Kanté, and other home team players also angrily ran over to stop their fans from making physical gestures that damaged the club's image.
Referee Skomina realized something was wrong and quickly went over to calm the Roma players down.
Most Chelsea fans in the stands were still committed to justice, and several fans around them immediately stopped the politically discriminatory actions of those few extremist fans.
They even scolded and shoved those few "bad apples" with disappointment and frustration.
Some fans even called the police in indignation.
"These home fans are real troublemakers!"
The broadcast quickly switched to the content it was capturing, and CCTV-5 commentator He Wei changed the subject: "But the vast majority of Chelsea fans still have zero tolerance for political discrimination! That deserves praise."
A short while later.
Stadium security went to the front row of the stands and asked the fans involved to leave.
(P.S.: This actually happened)
……
Chang Huan adjusted his mindset quickly, but head coach Di Francesco was unaware of this. He specifically ran to the sidelines to ask, "Chang, do you want to come off the field and adjust?"
"Boss, no need."
"OK".
Di Francisco returned to the away team's coaching area.
"Beep~"
Referee Skomina blew his whistle.
Standing parallel to the baseline, Chang Huan used Kolarov to draw attention and unexpectedly delivered a direct free kick from the right flank to the near post.
Strootman understood immediately.
He ran to the right side of the penalty area and swept the ball across the face of the goal without stopping.
Morata reacted quickly, disregarding the possibility of an own goal, and kicked the ball that had rolled in front of him towards the byline with his left foot.
Chelsea fans in the right corner area didn't hold back their insults because of what happened a few minutes earlier; they hurled harsh curses, though none of them involved discrimination.
They attempted to distract Chang Huan, who was preparing to take the corner kick, with visually striking, menacing punches and a barrage of vulgar insults.
Sky Sports commentator Andy Gray remarked, "The Chinese teenager, a product of Liverpool's youth academy, was Roma's best player in the entire first half, and Chelsea fans know it well..."
Chang Huan placed the ball at the corner arc and then naturally retreated to a comfortable distance.
He habitually turned around, glanced at the Chelsea fans who looked like they wanted to devour him, and said with a playful tone, "Do you believe we can turn the score around?"
"Stop pretending!"
"Fuck you, you bastard!"
"You clown!"
"I'm going to twist your head off!"
Chelsea fans in the corner stands reacted immediately, hurling even harsher insults.
The uniformed security guards quickly stood up, approached the corner kick area, linked arms, and formed a protective human wall to ensure the safety of Chang Huan, who had raised his right hand to prepare to take the corner kick.
Referee Skomina, positioned at the edge of the penalty area, stopped the game, ran to the corner flag, and showed Chang Huan a yellow card.
In his view, the Chelsea fans' outburst must have been caused by something Chang Huan said.
"Serves you right for pretending! You got a yellow card, didn't you!"
"Haha~ Serves you right!"
"Keep mocking me, how about you score a goal?"
The excited Chelsea fans got even more excited, and applause, cheers, and jeers quickly filled the stadium.
Chang Huan looked at the referee, Skomina, who helplessly spread his hands, expressing his confusion.
After writing down the number on the yellow card face with a pen, Skomina said sternly, "You're young, and I have to teach you a lesson. You should focus your energy on the pitch, not on the home fans. You're a professional player, understand?"
"All right."
Chang Huan shrugged and didn't argue.
The away team's coach directed Di Francesco, who was standing in the technical area, while the Roma players on the field expressed their dissatisfaction through a variety of body language.
Skomina, who has officiated the UEFA Super Cup and UEFA Europa League finals, personally ran to the sidelines to explain, then ran back onto the field and called Roma's on-field captain, Nainggolan, aside.