Chapter 227: Chapter 227

Of course, Buffon knew the ball had gone in!

He stood at the goal line and fished the ball out from half a meter inside, no one understood better than him that the ball had completely crossed the goal line.

In 2011, during the match between Juventus and AC Milan, he performed the same act.

Back then, he managed to fish Muntari’s shot out of the goal, so why not do it again four years later against Inter?

Four years ago, Buffon’s teammate Vidal had just transferred to Juventus.

He was also involved in that match against AC Milan and personally witnessed Buffon’s miraculous save!

If back then Vidal was still a fresh-faced youngster, now he could certainly be called an old hand in football.

So when Buffon shouted and threw the ball at him, Vidal had no hesitation and pushed the ball forward, charging toward Inter Milan’s half.

Meanwhile, all the Inter Milan players surrounded the referee, so anxious they could jump!

Vidal didn’t care, he kept his head down and charged forward.

He even did a one-two pass with Pirlo.

Pirlo was a bit bewildered, instinctively passing the ball back to Vidal.

Vidal sprinted forward with the ball, the sound of the wind roaring in his ears.

He even closed his eyes.

He thought, as long as I run fast enough, the wind won’t catch me, and the referee will think the ball didn’t go in!

In the commentary booth of Sky Sports, Ronaldo slammed his fist on the table.

"What the hell! The ball crossed the goal line, and Buffon’s pulling that damn save again!"

Trezeguet felt guilty.

Despite the guilt, he kept commenting:

"What a save! Goalkeeper Buffon stopped Tang Long’s penalty!"

"He’s started a counterattack right away with a throw!"

"Vidal is fast, he’s charging forward, charge on!

Vidal has already rushed into Inter Milan’s penalty area, facing the furious Handanovic, he blasted the ball into the goal~

At the same time, the referee’s whistle sounded.

Vidal shouted with joy!

Oh my, did it really succeed?

However, this time the referee couldn’t condone Buffon’s saving skills.

One must admit, when Buffon fished out Tang Long’s chip shot from the goal, the referee did hesitate for a moment.

But the linesman’s waving flag and the earpiece prompt clearly informed the referee that the goal had been scored.

The main referee paused, blew the whistle, indicating the goal for Inter Milan was valid!

The Inter Milan players instantly scattered from the referee’s side, rushing towards Tang Long.

At this moment, Tang Long still stood at the penalty spot.

Tang Long was also bewildered by Buffon, "Damn, you can play !"

Bonazzoli, the one who earned the penalty, was the first to rush towards Tang Long.

He did a long-distance triple jump, landing on Tang Long.

"Haha, you tricked Buffon twice with the chip shot, you’re awesome, your guts are too big!"

"Hehe, your positioning and that fake move were great too, you tricked me twice consecutively, you’re the real deal!"

"That positioning, you taught me during training, and that fake move, didn’t you do it before? I learned from you!"

Now it was Juventus’ players surrounding the referee.

The loudest one was Buffon, the one who had saved from inside the goal.

He kept pretending to be innocent, repeatedly saying he clearly fished the ball out, how could you call it a goal?

Referee, are you blind?

Do you want to continue in Italian football?

Looking at the teammates yelling in a frenzy,

Juventus’ midfield core Pirlo put his hands on his hips and sighed deeply.

He brushed back his hair that was at eyebrow length, his hands sweaty.

"That Tang guy is truly terrifying..."

In the league, in today’s Coppa Italia final, Tang Long tricked Buffon twice with the chip shot penalty.

And the chip shot penalty happened to be the favorite move of this midfield maestro and penalty specialist Pirlo.

Turn the clock back to 2012.

In the European Cup quarterfinal against England, in the penalty shootout.

He likewise scored against Joe Hart with a chip shot penalty!

After the match, Pirlo said firmly during an interview.

"I wanted to use this chip shot penalty to completely destroy the English psychological defense!"

That year Pirlo did it, and he indeed accomplished it!

Soon after, an English player missed his penalty, and Italy won the penalty shootout duel.

Now it seemed Tang Long was doing exactly what Pirlo did years ago.

Coppa Italia final, over 70 minutes, 0:0, after being suppressed for half a match, they finally won a penalty even more precious than gold!

For an ordinary player, in such a nationally watched match, even attended by the President of Italy, they would mostly likely choose to use the instep to steadily push towards the left or right.

But Tang Long, facing Buffon, used the unconventional chip shot penalty.

Tang Long had one goal in mind—not only to score the penalty but to destroy Juventus’ psychological defense!

Real Madrid assistant coach Zidane was watching the match at home.

Beside him was former Real Madrid teammate Raul.

Seeing Tang Long score the chip shot penalty against Buffon the second time.

Zidane tossed the remote onto the coffee table, confidently said to Raul:

"The game is over. I can assure you, Inter Milan will 100% win this match."

"It’s not possible, Juventus still has at least 20 minutes, they have plenty of time to turn things around." Raul said disapprovingly.

"I don’t think so, I can bet with you," Zidane smiled, "In such a tense match, Tang easily scored a chip shot. What does it say? It’s deliberate, showing Juventus players that he’s very relaxed, Inter Milan’s mindset is relaxed too, you can’t beat us."

Zidane took a deep breath and slowly exhaled.

Watching on TV the handsome 18-year-old oriental youth, he couldn’t help but be amazed:

"At less than 20 years old, he’s doing what even a 30-something Pirlo could accomplish, this kind of strong psychological quality, even I have to admire him."

Zizou’s prediction was correct, and the match proceeded as he anticipated.

The Juventus players were completely flustered!

They attacked Inter Milan mindlessly.

Originally, in this Coppa Italia final, Juventus was the side with an absolute advantage of mentality.

In the first half, they utilized Pirlo’s long passes to continuously exhaust Inter Milan’s stamina.

The second half continued with the dull knife cuts, until the 60-minute mark, suddenly erupting with a storm of attacks, Inter Milan’s goal wobbled, the victory scale had tilted towards the Juventus Corps.

Yet, unexpectedly, over 70 minutes into the match, an accidental penalty instantly changed the game’s situation!

And amid overwhelming boos, facing world-class goalkeeper Buffon, Inter Milan’s Tang Long casually scored a chip shot penalty.

Not only tricking Buffon, but the entire Juventus team.

Such calm and poised demeanor left every Juventus player, including midfield core Pirlo himself, feeling somewhat guilty.

Time was running out, how could Juventus not be anxious with a disrupted mindset!

They were like ants on a hot pot, continuously attacking Inter’s players while looking back at the ticking scoreboard at the Olympic Stadium, hoping time would pass slower, slower, even slower...

Meanwhile, Inter Milan stood united.

The power of example is infinite!

Now Tang Long was not only the offensive core of the team but also the spiritual support of the 11 players on the field.

Tang Long continuously directed and commanded teammates at midfield, filling every gap and hole in the defense line.

Even though Inter Milan’s three lines were compressed by Juventus’ fierce attack, their resilience was like an unfailing spring, tension, this was the true nature of Inter Milan!

With the final long shot, Pogba launched a rocket shot.

The main referee blew the whistle signifying the end of the match.

Inter Milan defeated Juventus 1:0 at Rome’s Olympic Stadium, winning the 2014~2015 Coppa Italia championship!

Upon hearing the whistle, all Inter players raised their arms in a triumphant cheer.

Tang Long shouted the loudest, sweat flying off his forehead with the decibels of his roar!