Chapter 246: Chapter 246
As Berni said, because of the three-horse carriage, there is a deep affection between German football and the club Inter.
At the same time, the Prince of Cologne, beloved by German fans, Podolski, who has played over 100 games for the German national team, serves as the main right-back for Inter Milan.
Therefore, in this stadium for the final, it is evident that the cheers of Inter fans are overwhelming those of Seville!
"Relax, adjust your mindset, brothers, this is our home ground!"
Inspired by Tang Long, Di Marco initiated the first effective forward insertion of the game.
After receiving a direct pass, he crossed directly from the right wing at a 45-degree angle without stopping!
This cross was both heavy and fast, smashing like a cannonball onto Bonazzoli’s forehead.
Unfortunately, Bonazzoli was slightly far from the goal; even though he jumped with all his might and whipped his head with his waist and abdomen, it was ultimately flicked off the crossbar by the opponent’s goalkeeper, Reagan.
Inter Milan won the first corner kick of the game!
In football, the number of corner kicks a team gets can often reflect its offensive firepower.
Inter Milan’s acquisition of the first corner kick also indicates that their counterattack has begun.
Tang Long faced the fans on one side of the stands, raising both hands continuously, shouting out something, hinting at the fans to make more noise!
Encouraged by Tang Long, Inter Milan’s fans in the stands once again erupted with a cheering roar like a mountain and sea.
This scene stirred Zhang Lu’s emotions in the broadcasting room!
"He Wei, looking at it now, Tang Long has quite a significant status at the club Inter!"
"He is not just the offensive core of the team, helping Inter win on the field."
"Off the field, he has become a spiritual pillar for many Inter fans."
"Look at his body language; when Tang Long raises his hand, all the Inter fans at the scene boil over!"
"That’s absolutely right!" He Wei nodded excitedly, "In the current Inter Milan, Tang Long is undoubtedly the top star!"
Di Marco came to the corner flag, looked at the complicated crowd far in the penalty area, raised a single arm high, and made a fist.
This is often seen by fans on TV broadcasts.
Players taking corners sometimes spread a single arm with fingers up, sometimes make a fist, sometimes extend the left hand, sometimes the right.
The fans can’t understand these gestures, and neither can the opposing players on the field.
Di Marco raised his right hand in a single fist, a signal arranged by the team’s set-piece coach Bisik, indicating the ball would go to the near post.
The meaning behind this signal is only known to the 11 Inter players on the field; others can’t understand it.
The purpose is for the corner-kick taker to inform his teammates of the ball’s placement in advance to facilitate subsequent movements and positioning.
Di Marco is proficient in set-pieces, his technique beyond doubt, especially when facing a stationary ball lying quietly on the pitch; it’s the stage for his artistry.
After signaling to his teammates, he calmly adjusted his steps, and the last step saw his left instep whip up like a riding crop, striking fiercely at the bottom of the ball!
With a "pop" sound, the ball traced a rapid arc through the air, heading toward the front point of the penalty area before suddenly plunging sharply.
This critical spot has traditionally been Icardi’s territory.
The Argentine striker’s chest bears a tattoo of a majestic tiger, and his headers at the near post are like a tiger descending the mountain, even in the narrowest angles, he can swing his head and smash the ball toward the goal like a cannonball.
But today, standing there is Bonazzoli.
His core strength might not be as formidable as Icardi’s, but he has his unique talent—longer hang time!
This young man knows his strengths well, confidently leaping 0.5 seconds earlier than center-back Cadiz.
That 0.5-second advantage is crucial; it played a decisive role!
A lion-shake header, a step ahead, nudged the ball toward the center!
Even before Bonazzoli jumped up and the ball had not arrived,
to let his Inter teammates behind him know his intention, he shouted "Middle!"
Inter’s players rushed to the middle, ready to seize the second ball.
Meanwhile, Seville’s players also heard Bonazzoli’s shout and noticed the movement of the Inter players.
Suddenly, the middle of the penalty area was crowded.
But Bonazzoli’s header accuracy was not like Icardi’s, and in turning sideways and back-flicking the ball, he carelessly hit it too far.
The original shout was "Middle," but with this flick, the ball flew to the back point.
"Damn! It’s too far!"
Still airborne and not yet landing, Bonazzoli watched the ball fly to the empty back post, feeling regretful.
What a good opportunity!
The much-contested front point was in vain, a likely assist gone just like that.
However, as Bonazzoli was feeling regretful about the ball, a blue-black figure suddenly flashed across his line of sight—
This figure, this running posture, was all too familiar to Bonazzoli!
Bonazzoli couldn’t help but shout out.
In Seville’s small penalty box, both teams’ players had their own predictions.
Inter players predicted the ball would go to the middle, based on Bonazzoli’s cue;
Seville’s defensive players also heard Bonazzoli’s call and saw the Inter players moving to the middle, which was their prediction too.
Tang Long had his own prediction, but his was different from the other 21 people on the field.
As soon as Bonazzoli leaped up and yelled "Middle," Tang Long started moving from the back point to the center.
However, just as the ball was about to contact Bonazzoli’s forehead, Tang Long suddenly pushed his foot back and flashed, darting back to the back post!
Within that single second, the back-and-forth movement left the right-back Alex, who was marking him, two meters behind!
In Tang Long’s mind, he had already precisely predicted the ball’s next path.
[The ball will fly to the back post]!
Di Marco’s pass was like an arrow released from a bowstring, its speed astonishing; and Bonazzoli’s slight touch added extra acceleration, making the ball’s speed soar by 50%!
The ball flew like a meteor, showing no sign of dropping, about to flash right in front of Tang Long.
"No time left, go for it!"
Seeing the ball about to fly past him, Tang Long resolutely dashed forward!
He leaned forward drastically, pressing his weight onto his chest, his body instantly parallel to the ground in the air.
Using the powerful momentum from pushing off the ground, his body akin to the thick horizontal beam used to strike a temple bell, recklessly crashed forward!
A deafening bang cut through the air!
The ball hit with such forcefully experienced severe deformation, its course suddenly altering by 90 degrees, heading toward the goal!
Goalkeeper Reagan’s vision blurred for a moment.
He saw a white streak flash past his ear, felt a chill that ruffled the hair in the breeze!
Turning back, he saw the net shaking violently from the ball!
The scoreboard at the Berlin Olympic Stadium pointed to exactly 30 minutes!
Tang Long’s header equalized the score!
Not until this moment did Tang Long crash down heavily.
Despite the quality of the grass being good, the immense friction still made his chin sting with a burning pain.
When his body hit the ground, the massive inertia even raised a cloud of grass clippings and dust around him.
Bonazzoli’s mood swung from joy to sadness, and back to joy again—the back flick was perfect, the ball went in, I assisted!
The emotions had already driven this 18-year-old assistant into a frenzy.
"My God, it’s unbelievable, how did you end up in that position!"
Bonazzoli, practically losing his mind, rushed towards Tang Long...