r18novel Chapter 71 Shot with the Pole
Chapter 71 Shot with the Pole
Inside the players' tunnel.
Jiang Ming followed closely behind his teammates, walking at the back of the group.
[Ding! Overall performance score has been calculated!]
[You started and played 95 minutes in this match, scoring one goal, delivering two key passes, completing 4 out of 5 dribbles, achieving a passing accuracy of 93.4%, and a long pass accuracy of 75%...]
Overall rating: 9.1 points
[Ding! Congratulations on completing your daily task: Your post-match rating for this game is 8/9/10.]
[Reward: Special Skill - Tonik Rose "Push Shot"; 5 attribute points can be freely allocated]
[Tony Kroos's push shot: After receiving the ball near the edge of the penalty area, he uses the inside of his foot to push the ball towards the top corner of the goal. The shooting motion is extremely subtle, with a concealed leg swing, making it difficult for the goalkeeper to predict the timing of his shot.]
[Note: A push shot is a level above a regular push shot...]
[Shots 92-94]
As soon as the system notification ended, that familiar feeling appeared.
Memories of this special skill began to flood Jiang Ming's mind.
The shot without stopping the ball, the point of contact with the ball, the force of the strike...
A moment later, Jiang Ming let out a long breath.
"It was Tony Cross's shot!"
Jiang Ming carefully savored the memories of this special skill in his mind.
The main advantages of conventional push-shot techniques are simplicity, efficiency, and stability.
However, it also has significant drawbacks.
That means it's extremely easy for the goalkeeper to see the shot through the net.
It's too straightforward, after all...
But Tony Kroos's push shot is different.
His shooting style is mostly based on the footwork used for passing.
When facing a ball rolling towards you, or a ball that has come to a stop at your feet.
Kroos usually turns the inside of his foot slightly outward when he's about to shoot.
Apply a slight sidespin to the ball at the moment of impact.
Therefore, most of his push shots have a slight curve, bypassing the goalkeeper's reach.
It was less of a push shot and more of a finesse shot.
"Their methods of scoring goals have increased again."
I casually added all the remaining 5 attribute points to Strength.
[Strength 43-48]
With a smile on his face, Jiang Ming followed his teammates out of the player tunnel.
……
Mixed interview area.
As soon as the reporters saw Jiang Ming, their cameras flashed all at once.
"Jiang! That last dragon kill you sealed the game, how does it feel?"
Jiang Ming thought for a moment, then smiled and said, "I'm very excited. Goals like this are the kind that make your adrenaline surge."
"What makes me even happier is that this goal confirmed the team's victory."
There was thunderous applause.
The reporters thought to themselves: High emotional intelligence! The young Chinese man remains as humble as ever!
The remaining reporters surrounded him, asking about the team's condition and the impact of the injury crisis, to which Jiang Ming responded with a smile.
……
Major domestic sports platforms.
News about Jiang Ming dominated the top spots on the homepages of all platforms:
— "Ten-man battle + goal-fest! Monaco, with a depleted squad, pulls out all the stops and fights to the last second to defeat Nice!"
—A clash of geniuses! Ben Alpha's two incredible shots pierce the defense, but Chinese youngster Jiang Ming seals the victory with a single decisive strike!
—Jardin praises: This is a Puskás-level goal! What are the limits of Chinese youth?
—Full Match Highlights: Jiang Ming's solo run from the backfield! He dribbles from his own penalty area to the opponent's, beating several players to score a one-on-one goal!
—World Cup Countdown! The Chinese national football team will face a crucial match in the Asian Qualifiers for the 2022 FIFA World Cup at the end of March. Will Jiang Ming be selected for the national team at this crucial moment?
The comments section was like a Chinese New Year celebration:
"Holy crap! Holy crap! That was a solo run? I just watched the replay. He got the ball in his own penalty area and drove all the way to the opponent's penalty area, beating three people in a row..."
"Is Maradona channeling his spirit or has Messi arrived?"
"Gala Jiangming, Gala Jiangming..."
"I was being stubborn before, saying his dribbling skills weren't as good as Shanghai SIPG's Wu Lei, but I apologize for that! My bad, my bad!"
"It's okay, bro. Wu is a formidable player too! A future star of the national team!"
"Next month we'll be playing in the round of 40, right? If Jiang Ming gets selected then, the two of them together will absolutely tear apart the opponent's defense!"
"Forget about the Maldives and Qatar! I think we should just call over the Koreans and their dogs!"
"They are the real challengers!"
……
The next day.
Jardim, unusually generous, gave the whole team a day off.
After all, in yesterday's match against Nice, the team played for 45 minutes with only 10 men.
By the end, everyone was exhausted.
If he goes to training again the next day, Jardim estimates that in two days, he'll have to bring in the U19 kids to make up the starting lineup.
At that point, they won't even be able to beat a Ligue 2 team in the French Cup, let alone play in the league.
Since it's a holiday, the first thing that comes to mind is muscle relaxation therapy.
After playing football for so long, all my muscles are practically as hard as stone.
So early in the morning, Jiang Ming's phone vibrated; it was a text message from Bakayoko:
"My little brother from China, you must be exhausted from working non-stop lately, right? Let me take you to a great place. There's a massage parlor there with amazing skills. You'll feel so light and refreshed afterward! You'll feel like you're flying!"
Jiang Ming was stunned for a moment when he saw the message.
Oh? There are similar foot massage parlors abroad?
No, no, that's not right.
Jiang Ming reacted instantly.
Is Bakayoko going to take him to a place like that?
After thinking for two minutes, Jiang Ming finally reluctantly declined Bakayoko's invitation.
If it were the old Ronaldinho, he might have gone with him the moment his eyes lit up.
After all, what hadn't the former nightclub prince seen?
But things are different now! We, the well-rounded young people of China who excel in morality, intelligence, physical fitness, aesthetics, and labor, must not stray into bad places!
After having breakfast and resting for a while, Jiang Ming went downstairs with the ball in his pocket.
The detached villa that Mendes helped him with before may not be big, but it is fully functional.
There was even a small five-a-side soccer field set up in the yard, with specially laid turf.
This makes it convenient for him to practice at home when he has nothing to do, without having to go to the training base, which saves him a lot of trouble.
Jiang Ming placed the ball on the grass, took a few steps back, and began to mentally review Tony Cross's shot.
Every detail of the touch, the angle of the ankle, and the way of exerting force were all reviewed in my mind.
Jiang Ming accelerated forward with small steps, met the ball, and gently pulled his ankle, precisely brushing the lower middle part of the ball with the inside of his foot.
A classic Kroos-style push shot!
When the football first flew out, it looked ordinary, just like a regular cross.
But as it flew, it quietly made a small turn, with a very slight side spin, grazed the inside of the goalpost, and crashed into the bottom right corner of the goal!
"This works so well!" Jiang Ming was overjoyed as he watched the ball roll into the net.
Now that I have this special skill, coupled with my shooting stat that has already increased to 94, it's like adding wings to a tiger.
While this move isn't foolproof on the field, it's definitely a goalkeeper's nightmare!
Who would have thought that he would suddenly surge forward from the far post, meet his teammate's cross with a raised hand, and deliver such a powerful kick?
It happened so suddenly that by the time the goalkeeper reacted, the ball had already gone into the goal.
Unless you're a goalkeeper of Buffon's caliber who can anticipate the shot's trajectory.
Otherwise, who can defend against a sniper shot?
Thinking of this, Jiang Ming couldn't help but rub his hands together, a slightly perverted smile appearing on his face.
……
The following days.
Injury problems continue to plague Monaco.
The thing that Jardim fears most every day is the team doctor pushing open the door to his office.
Because that often means that someone else has been injured.
Fortunately, after the Nice match, the team's morale was boosted to a new level.
In particular, Jiang Ming's solo goal from the backfield to win the game has become the most discussed topic in the French media recently.
three days later.
French Cup Round of 16.
Monaco will play away against Ligue 2 side Sochaux.
For most top clubs, domestic cup competitions are more of a burden than a benefit.
But for Monaco now, any championship is extremely valuable.
Imagine if the team had a key player from China Fortune and won the championship.
Imagine how huge the benefits of GG will be then!
Monaco's management couldn't stop smiling when they thought about it.
"Welcome everyone to this French Cup Round of 16 match!"
"Monaco made a significant rotation."
"After all, they still have to focus on the league and European competitions."
"However, Jiang Ming will still start the match."
"It seems that Yardin is becoming increasingly reliant on this young Chinese man."
Sochaux's home ground.
The stands were almost full.
For Ligue 2 teams
Being able to face a strong Ligue 1 team like Monaco in a cup competition is an opportunity in itself.
In particular, they have recently gained explosive popularity thanks to that Chinese player.
If Sochaux can eliminate Monaco in this match...
That would increase the amount of attention their team receives!
The game has just begun.
Sochaux then displayed extremely strong fighting spirit.
The 11th minute of the match.
Sochaux striker, 19-year-old Marcus Thuram.
Using his physical advantages, he forcefully overpowered Raj.
"Thuram is too hard!"
"Monaco, danger!"
"Subasic strikes!"
Snapped!
The football was blocked out of bounds.
A collective sigh of regret rose from the stands.
"So close!"
"The Ligue 2 team played with a lot of ideas today."
"They didn't park the bus at all; instead, they took the initiative to attack Monaco head-on."
Zhan Jun kept analyzing.
"As some viewers may not know, this 19-year-old Marcus Thuram is the son of Lilian Thuram, a legendary defender for both France and Juventus."
"He also has a younger brother who is two years younger, named Kevren Thuram, who currently plays for the Brunbyankur youth team."
"This family of three has all entered the football industry, making them a true football family."
……
The 27th minute of the match.
Monaco are awarded a free kick in the attacking third.
Jiang Ming stood behind the football.
Look up and observe.
Sochaux's human wall was very tightly packed.
The goalkeeper's positioning was also good.
"Should we just knock on the door?"
"It's a bit far," Zhan Jun had just said.
Jiang Ming takes a running start.
Swing your leg.
However, they did not choose to shoot.
Instead, he played a low, straight pass into the penalty area.
"A tactic was employed!"
"Beautiful!" Zhan Jun exclaimed.
Löw understood immediately.
Offside trap successfully broken.
He calmly slotted the ball past the goalkeeper.
1-0!
"Goal!"
"A tactical free kick, with Jiang Ming providing the assist!"
"Monaco breaks the deadlock!"
The live stream chat was flooded with comments.
"He's increasingly showing the makings of a master."
Everyone else is thinking about shooting, but he's thinking about passing.
"team!"
"leader!"
……
The second half.
The two sides switched sides and started the game again.
Sochaux did not give up.
The 57th minute of the match.
They capitalized on a cross from the wing.
Marcus Thuram leaps high into the air.
A powerful header!
1-1!
The home crowd erupted in cheers.
"Sochaux has tied it!"
"The French Cup is indeed prone to upsets!"
"Monaco is in danger."
Sidelines.
Yaldin rubbed his temples.
He noticed that his hair loss had become increasingly severe recently.
Although he is already bald, there are still a few hairs left on the left and right sides.
However, if things continue like this...
He'll become Guardiola sooner or later.
So, in order to win the match, Yaldin didn't want to lose too much hair.
With a wave of his hand, he brought on Lemar, who had just recovered from injury.
……
The 79th minute of the match.
Jiang Ming delivered a pass from the middle.
Carrillo held off the defender on the edge of the penalty area and passed the ball back.
Lemar met the ball and curled a shot directly into the air!
Carrillo's obstruction of vision caused Sochaux's goalkeeper to be a fraction of a second too late.
By the time he realized what was happening, it was too late.
Swish!
The football goes into the net.
2-1!
"Lemar!"
"He scored a goal right after returning from injury!"
"pretty!"
In the subsequent period, Monaco still came out on top.
They maintained control of the situation on the field.
……
"Beep~ Beep~ Beep—"
The referee blew the final whistle.
Monaco defeated Sochaux 2-1 away from home.
They successfully advanced to the quarterfinals of the French Cup.
After the game.
French media comments:
"Kang takes control of the game; Monaco advances to the next round without major incident."
Jiang Ming himself was very frustrated.
The French second division is too weak; they don't even trigger daily tasks for him.
I completed the new mission seven times through this single match.
"Why……"
……
It was as if the priest had used something from heaven.
Time began to accelerate.
February 15th arrived in the blink of an eye.
Ligue 1, Round 26.
Monaco once again travels to Saint-Étienne for an away game.
The latter is one of the most historically significant teams in French football.
Ten Ligue 1 championship trophies.
It still holds the record in Ligue 1.
Although its strength is no longer at its peak.
But it's still not easy to deal with.
"With Mbappe and Lemar recovering one after another, the attacking line is finally not so strained."
"Is it true that Mbappe broke an egg?"
"That's definitely fake. It's only been twenty days since the injury. How could a broken egg heal in twenty days?"
"Even Superman doesn't get better that quickly..."
……
After the match began.
Both sides played very cautiously.
Until the 34th minute.
The situation on the field then changed.
Saint-Étienne intercepts the ball in midfield.
Advance rapidly.
"Cohard sends a through ball!"
"Söderlund surges forward...and is one-on-one with the goalkeeper!"
Swish!
The football went into the bottom left corner.
1-0!
Saint-Étienne took the lead first.
Cheers erupted from the home crowd.
"Monaco has fallen behind."
"This is not good news."
……
The 38th minute of the match.
Jiang Ming retreated to the center circle.
Use positioning to gain control of the ball.
Then, like an eel, he lowered his shoulder and pulled the ball away from the defender.
Create space and deliver a through pass.
B-side makes a high-speed forward run.
He faced the goalkeeper one-on-one but chose to pass the ball horizontally.
Lemar followed up at the far post and made a well-placed run.
He tapped the ball into the empty net and scored.
1-1!
"nice shot!"
"Monaco responded quickly."
"Jiang Ming has once again demonstrated his top-tier ability to break free from the organization!"
……
The second half.
74 minutes.
The competition was rather dull for a while.
Neither side had many opportunities to attack.
"Well, we can't find a good space in Monaco."
"Mbappe, who came on as a substitute, started the attack down the left flank."
"Although there was still a slight stiffness between his legs, his speed was still astonishing!"
Mbappe used his speed to repeatedly overpower Saint-Étienne's defenders.
One of the defenders, Florentino Pogba, even failed to catch Mbappe and fell to the ground.
This caused the entire stadium to gasp in surprise.
The Monaco fans in the away section burst into laughter.
Such humiliation made Paul Pogba's brother remember the 17-year-old boy in front of him.
Fortunately, his brother knew some Gypsy wizards...
"Here it comes! Mbappe makes a cutback pass from the byline!"
"Löw! A powerful shot from close range!"
"Wow! Too bad, the ball hit the crossbar."
"The ball bounced to the edge of the penalty area."
"Oh? What's Jiang Ming doing here?"
"He seemed to have foreseen all of this, arriving at the receiving position ahead of time..."
Jiang Ming was facing the soccer ball rolling towards him.
Without hesitation, he met the ball with his foot.
[Special Skill: Tonik Rose's Push Shot]
The Saint-Étienne goalkeeper swayed from side to side, then suddenly stopped.
He had already predicted the trajectory of the shot.
He leaps, stretches out, and dives to make the save!
The ball flew in the direction he predicted.
The goalkeeper already had the victory in his grasp.
But suddenly, the football changed its trajectory in mid-air.
It drew a slight arc.
He crawled under his armpit.
It went into the bottom right corner of the goal.
2-1!
"Monaco went from equalizing to taking the lead!"
"That shot came from Jiang Ming!"
"He made a run from the far post and met the ball with a low shot!"
"My God! Why did his shot have such a curve?"
"It was practically a Toni Kroos putt shot!"
Jiang Ming stood at the top of the arc, feeling the texture beneath his feet.
This move feels really smooth.
Then the Monaco crowd swarmed him and tackled him to the ground.
They really love this young Chinese player who can lead the team to victory.
……
finally.
There was no further progress between the two sides.
The referee blew the final whistle.
Monaco won both matches 2-1, securing economical victories with a one-goal advantage.
The fans breathed a sigh of relief.
The team is gradually getting back on track.
They also won against weaker teams in the league and domestic cup competitions.
What the team will face next.
They're a strong team from the Europa League...