Chapter 441: Chapter 441
However, Manchester United’s long passes and high balls indeed achieved some results, mainly reflected in the connection finally established between the wings and the center forward Icardi.
Although Icardi is only 1.81 meters tall, considered weak among center forwards in the entire Premier League.
But even facing the extremely familiar tall central defender Ranocchia, Icardi still managed to head some high-quality shots on target through his elusive positioning, strong jumping ability, and precise anticipation of where the ball would drop.
In the first 10 minutes of the second half, Valencia delivered the ball to Icardi’s head three times on the wing!
Icardi headed two high-quality balls on target, but unfortunately, Caballero, who had been blasted by De Bruyne at the start, was back in form.
With a single punch, he directly swatted the ball into the stands!
This brilliant save by Caballero made Ranocchia and Kompany high-five him heavily in celebration.
Seeing Manchester City’s confident defense, Icardi was so angry that he could almost grind his molars into powder.
"When your goalkeeper was off form, I had no chance to shoot. I just headed a high-quality ball, and Caballero went god mode. What, is your whole team intentionally targeting me?"
Yes, they’re targeting you!
Icardi’s arrogant pre-match remarks had sparked discontent among many Manchester City players.
No matter if these players were from the French Language Gang, Spanish Language Gang, English Language Gang, Italian Language Gang, or Portuguese Language Gang, they all united tightly in the face of the Manchester Derby.
Internally, they might have grudges among themselves.
But externally, especially in such an important match as the Derby, they maintained a high level of unity!
However they win the opponent and take the three points, a victory is beneficial to everyone.
"There are two goals in this match: to win the opponent, and to shut out this kid Icardi!"
That’s what Kompany instructed everyone before the match.
With united efforts, Manchester City quickly expanded their goal advantage!
Just at 62 minutes, a wonderful combination play worthy of the Premier League’s goal of the week appeared.
Facing the goal kick sent out by De Gea, the 195 cm tall Ranocchia dominated over Icardi in front of their area, a cannonball header directly flew the ball to the center circle;
The second tallest point of Manchester City, the 190 cm Yaya Toure headed it on, dominating over Schneiderlin, nodding the ball back again.
"This ball won’t run away!"
Another Manchester United defensive midfielder Schweinsteiger shouted urgently, approaching Tang Long.
This veteran noticed from the first half’s observation that Tang Long’s passing vision and anticipation were Premier League top-notch, but his heading and physical aspects were not as good as his!
Therefore, when competing for this secondary ball, Schweinsteiger was full of confidence.
He considered himself the most experienced midfielder in the entire Manchester United team, very confident in controlling the backfield.
Then he was fooled by Tang Long.
If Tang Long were to clash head-on with Schweinsteiger, he might lose;
So for this descending high ball, Tang Long feigned jumping up to contest it, then suddenly slipped, turned around, and ran!
How could Schweinsteiger have expected Tang Long to pull such a move?
He had already started to jump, only to see Tang Long vanish!
In the air, he was flustered, watching helplessly as the ball brushed past his ear and bounced backward.
Behind lay in ambush Agüero!
This feint by Tang Long fooled not only Schweinsteiger but also Agüero. However, the Argentine forward reacted quickly and naturally brought the ball down to his feet.
Without any hesitation, he cut to the middle!
[Cross-positioning, goal probability 88.97%]
Almost as soon as this premonition brainwave sounded, Tang Long had already stepped out his right foot, starting a cross-position play with Agüero.
In this forward position, Agüero was definitely the player that all Manchester United defenders dreaded the most, his threat was greater than that of Tang Long.
Whether it was Smolin or Jones, they were all drawn by the fierce Agüero, both beginning to approach him without prior agreement!
"Watch his shooting line!"
"Block it as necessary!"
Just as both Jones and Smolin were drawn to Agüero, Agüero didn’t shoot, instead, his left foot twitched, passing the ball back to the position he originally ran from;
And at that spot, a light blue figure was arriving intact!
This ball, the anticipation of Agüero and Tang Long were identical!
In a flash of lightning, Tang Long had already calculated the adjustment steps, two small steps later, his supporting foot quickly stepped at a distance two fists away from the left side of the ball, his left toe aimed at the top left corner where he wanted to shoot;
The body instantly twisted, the lower leg driving the thigh, the inner part of the right foot hitting towards the middle of the football. As the ball was sent out, under the inertia of the right foot whiplash, Tang Long’s body instantly leaped into the air!
In mid-air, he watched the ball sail over De Gea’s long arm, rushing into the top left corner!
Tang Long has opened his account too!
The moment he landed, a sense of pride spontaneously arose in his heart, this was his first goal in the Manchester Derby!
The joy of scoring in the Derby far exceeded that of a regular match. The source of thɪs content is N0v3l.Fiɾe.net
When Tang Long played for Inter in the Milan Derby, his spectacular performance demolished AC Milan;
And this time, his cooperation with Agüero once again messed up Manchester United’s defensive line into chaos!
Meanwhile, the director gave a particularly suggestive broadcast angle.
The backdrop of the stands behind the goal, where thousands of Manchester United fans were holding their heads in sighs, was overlaid with the scene of the passionately celebrating Manchester City players!