King Of World Football

Chapter 9: One more time

Time swiftly passed during intense training, and soon, the day of the away game against Danze arrived. Wang Feng seamlessly rejoined the squad, embarking on the journey with the team. It marked his first venture beyond Virton, filling him with a palpable sense of excitement. However, adherence to uniform management protocols by the head coach, Mette Magritte, meant that no one was permitted to leave the hotel privately, leaving Wang Feng with a tinge of regret.

Sharing a room with Wang Feng, Renee Delvaux noticed his despondent gaze.

He smiled and remarked, "Wang, if you're itching to travel, the summer off-season offers plenty of opportunities. Honestly, the beauty of Belgium's landscapes exceeds my imagination. I'm practically planning to cancel my holiday to France; it's that breathtaking."

Wang Feng replied, "I didn't have a particular destination in mind; I just wanted a spot to practice. Unfortunately, I'm confined to the hotel, alas."

Renee shrugged in empathy, and the duo spent their time in front of the TV.

The official match took place on a Saturday afternoon, and the football fervour in Danzig far surpassed that of Virton. The stadium, accommodating almost 8,000 people, saw stands filled with home team fans, cheering in unison. Wang Feng, a bundle of nerves, took to the field with a single leap.

Although he remained on the bench for the start of the game, a few Danzig players eyed him with curiosity. It seemed the news of the previous week's game had piqued their interest.

Unbeknownst to Wang Feng, Genk's scout Andre Diest sat in the stands at that moment, but Anderlecht's Henks was absent. Compared to the previous game, fewer scouts were present, with most continuing to pursue St. Gillian.

With the referee's whistle, the game officially commenced. After a brief test, both teams engaged in attacking and defending. Wang Feng observed from the sidelines that, unlike the last match, Virton appeared composed this time. Danzi and Virton seemed evenly matched in player strength, avoiding any crushing situations.

Paul Chuck's performance in this game proved satisfactory, with minimal mistakes. It seemed the pressure Wang Feng exerted on him didn't hinder his performance after becoming less adhesive to the ball.

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However, Coach Mette Magritte, observing from the sidelines, expressed dissatisfaction with the team's performance. Virton should have had the advantage if not for the main injury.

Casting a glance at the frowning Wang Feng, Coach Mette Magritte made a decisive call. A substitution was made in the 20th minute of the first half, with Wang Feng replacing a midfielder.

The visiting team's coach witnessed this with a contemptuous smile, seeing Virton's coach seemingly treating a 16-year-old as a saviour.

The substituted player hugged Wang Feng, appearing somewhat helpless. No one wanted to be replaced so early, but Wang Feng's substitution aimed to bolster the offence was an inevitability.

Upon entering the field, the possession of the ball shifted to Virton. Rushing forward from the right, Wang Feng faced the opponent's left-back No. 9.

This player seemed familiar with Wang Feng's reputation, muttering, "Little rookie, you were lucky in the last game. I won't be as polite as St. Gillian United."

Wang Feng paid him no heed, focusing intently on the ball's trajectory. Suddenly, he made a move, catching the No. 9 off guard and leaving him in the dust. Shocked, the opponent chased after him.

Leveraging his explosive power, Wang Feng eluded the defender, sprinting into open space. Paul Chuck, in possession of the ball, hesitated briefly, but this delay allowed the defensive No. 9 to catch up.

The opponent's No. 9 attempted a sliding tackle, likely to be deemed a foul due to its ruthlessness, striking fear into the attackers.

After stopping the ball, Wang Feng sensed the danger, kicking it forward with his right foot. He leaped to avoid the sliding tackle, quickly pursuing the ball.

Continuing his run after passing the full-back, Wang Feng neared the penalty area, delivering a cross to the front. With home team defenders drawn by Wang Feng, Paul Chuck, unguarded in the back row, capitalized on the opportunity. Dribbling into the penalty area, he volleyed the ball into Danzi's net.

In the 24th minute, Wilton took the lead, merely four minutes after Wang Feng entered the field.

Paul, visibly surprised by Wang Feng's ability to secure the ball again, started passing to him without hesitation.

Wang Feng's passion for victory was evident. Opting to pass when he saw Paul in a better position, he felt a sense of relaxation after the team took the lead.

Simultaneously, Wang Feng noticed the loose defence in the Belgian Second Division, often relying on targeted area defence. Recognizing the potential for a gap to break through, Wang Feng's improved ball sense and confidence allowed him to execute various breakthrough moves.

Amidst the cheering crowd, Wang Feng spotted Coach Mette Magritte, nodding with a smile as if affirming his performance.

The home team's fans, initially subdued by the early setback, immediately rallied, hoping for a swift equalizer.

The first half concluded with a fixed score of 1:0. Despite the high morale of Virton's players, they recognized the need to secure three points. In the locker room, the head coach commended everyone's performance, urging persistence. The second half called for a solid defence and strategic counterattacks, as a 1:0 lead was deemed unstable.

With the commencement of the second half, Virton's offensive focus gradually shifted to Wang Feng, recognizing his ability to breach Danzi's defence and create threats.

In the 70th minute, Wang Feng seized another opportunity. Attempting to dribble past the opponent's No. 9 once more, the latter tackled more decisively, disrupting the breakthrough and earning a yellow card. Wang Feng, paying attention to his vital points, avoided injury.

Undeterred by the fierce defence, Wang Feng rose, panting, ready to resume the attack.

Another chance emerged for Virton. As the right back prepared to clear the siege after a successful steal, Wang Feng swiftly retreated, signalling the midfielder for the ball. Despite hesitation, the ball was passed to Wang Feng.

Gritting his teeth, Wang Feng skilfully cut inside, eluding the defender. Nearing the midfield, he executed a quick turn, advancing into the opponent's front court.

Danze's defenders rushed forward to block him, but Wang Feng, with a decisive feint, easily passed the weak defender.

Exclamations erupted from the stands as Danzi's backcourt lay exposed, plagued by problematic defensive positioning. Having passed the defenders, Wang Feng approached the penalty area.

The full-back, racing to defend, conveyed a fierce determination—his unspoken promise, "I won't let you tackle me to defeat." Wang Feng, eyes on the right, dribbled the ball, while Paul struggled to keep pace.

Executing a diagonal pass to the front right, Wang Feng caught the defending full-back off guard. Expecting Wang Feng to go solo, the full-back was compelled to redirect and chase the ball.

Paul, receiving the ball, glanced at Wang Feng's position and executed a straight pass through.

Having reached the edge of the penalty area after receiving the ball, Wang Feng left the goalkeeper with no choice but to attack. He decisively kicked the ball, drawing an arc over the goalkeeper, which suddenly sank straight into the net.

The ball found the mark, and Wang Feng scored again!