Chapter 1 A Lucky Start

“China has won a corner kick, the first corner kick of the match. Zhou Yi will take it… Let's see this ball—! Feng Xiaoting!!! Goal!!!"

Accompanied by the passionate roar of commentator Duan Xin, countless Chinese fans in front of the TV jumped up from their seats and cheered with raised arms.

The game had only started for seven minutes, and China had already taken the lead. Such a start was unprecedented in this World Cup.

The surprise came too fast.

In the TV footage, Feng Xiaoting, who scored the goal, ran towards the corner flag area on the other side to celebrate, but he was pulled to the ground by his teammates halfway there.

This goal had a very special significance for both Feng Xiaoting and the Chinese team.

Because this was the first goal scored by a player from the domestic league for China in this World Cup.

This was even the first goal scored by a player from the Chinese domestic league in World Cup history.

Previously, He Ying, Guo Nu, and Zhou Yi had scored for China, all of whom were players playing in overseas leagues.

Feng Xiaoting was the first player playing in the domestic league.

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China taking the lead in the first seven minutes of the game greatly exceeded many people's expectations, especially those who thought this game would be an evenly matched contest, and even more so the Colombian fans.

They absolutely did not expect their team to concede a goal in the first seven minutes.

While Chinese fans were cheering for their team's goal, the Colombian players in the stands were still in a state of bewilderment.

They didn't come back to their senses until the Chinese players finished celebrating and ran back.

Colombia's coach Pekerman immediately made adjustments. He called a player to the sidelines and gave instructions, asking them to stabilize their defense after the game restarted, because China would definitely take advantage of their goal to launch a fierce attack on Colombia's goal. If Colombia couldn't hold on, they might collapse in a short period of time.

Pekerman is a famous coach in Argentina, who has coached the Argentine national team and has a wealth of experience. His adjustment at this time was very timely and very necessary.

After the game restarted, if Colombia had not tightened their defense in the face of China's aggressive attacks, they might have conceded another goal…

In the ninth minute, Zhou Yi took a long shot from outside the penalty area, which was slightly high, scaring the Colombian fans into a cold sweat.

In the eleventh minute, Zhang Linpeng crossed from the right, Gao Lin passed the ball back from outside the penalty area, and He Ying cushioned the ball with his chest before volleying directly. The ball was blocked out of the baseline by Colombian defender Yepes.

This corner kick almost formed a goal.

During this period, the Chinese team's attack was very enjoyable for the Chinese fans, and the Chinese fans in front of the TV kept cheering. Of course, they knew why the Chinese team's offensive was so fierce, of course, it was to score another goal.

The Chinese fans in the stands shouted, "China, score another one!"

The Colombian commentator seemed very anxious, for fear that China would score another goal.

Fortunately, Colombia finally withstood the pressure and did not concede another goal in a short period of time.

It wasn't until the fifteenth minute that Colombia had a counterattack. They won a long-range free kick in China's half. The free kick was taken by Guarin. He chose to shoot directly, but his long-range free kick was too high.

In the seventeenth minute, Colombia also won a corner kick. The corner kick was taken by James Rodriguez. After his corner kick was taken, Guo Nu took the lead and headed it out. As a result, Guarin, outside the penalty area, swayed past Zheng Zhi who was rushing up, and then headed the ball horizontally directly on the left side of the penalty area. This time, Feng Xiaoting cleared the ball successfully before Cuadrado.

"Feng Xiaoting! Beautiful clearance! After scoring the goal, Feng Xiaoting is in great form!"

The World Cup broadcast also gave Feng Xiaoting a close-up shot. After this close-up shot, there was a replay of Feng Xiaoting's previous goal. This time, the whole perspective was on him, watching how he ran into the penalty area, how he suddenly got rid of his opponent, and then rushed to the front of the goal to hit the flying football into the goal. Finally, it was the scene of him and his teammates celebrating the goal.

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In the twentieth minute, China launched an attack and went all the way to the front of Colombia's penalty area.

Here, Yan Min passed the ball forward to Zhou Yi in front of him after dribbling the ball. Zhou Yi was facing away from the direction of the attack at the time. He did not choose to pass the ball directly, but gently rubbed up the football passed by Yan Min. This seemed to be a mistake in stopping the ball, because in front of the penalty area, any stop that would increase the adjustment action was a failure. It would increase the player's ball control time and give the defenders a chance to surround him.

But Zhou Yi's move under the pressure of defense bought Yan Min time to insert forward, even if it was only half a second, it was enough for Yan Min to rush to a position parallel to Zhou Yi.

Next, Zhou Yi's right ankle flicked, and he suddenly picked the football that he had rubbed up behind him!

The football flew over the top of Zhou Yi's head and the head of the Colombian player defending him, flying into the space behind them, when everyone didn't expect it!

At the same time, Yan Min rushed out of the defense line and rushed towards that space, and then beautifully unloaded the football passed by Zhou Yi!

"Beautiful!" Duan Xin exclaimed. "A very imaginative one-two pass!"

After receiving Zhou Yi's pass on the left side of the penalty area, Yan Min stopped the football and immediately sent a ground ball.

The football rolled along the turf to the center.

Gao Lin followed up and took the ball in the center, and then shot!

"Gao Lin! Chance!"

In Duan Xin's roar, Gao Lin's shot was blocked by Colombian goalkeeper Ospina.

The football he pounced out rebounded and flew outside the penalty area.

Yang Muge appeared here, stopped the football, and then shot again from a distance.

Ospina made another wonderful save, blocking Yang Muge's long shot as well.

"Ahhh! What a pity! China had two consecutive shots, but they were both saved!" Duan Xin shouted regretfully.

And in the stands and in front of the TV, many Chinese fans held their heads in their hands, feeling sorry that their team failed to score.

The Colombian commentator was very anxious: "We are being besieged by the Chinese team. If this continues, it is only a matter of time before we concede a goal. We must make some changes!"

The TV broadcast also focused on Colombian coach Pekerman. The famous coach in the lens frowned.

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When Colombia encountered difficulties, Colombian fans naturally turned their attention to their team's core player, James Rodriguez.

He shone in this World Cup, scoring five goals in the four games that have been played, and is currently ranked first in the World Cup scorer list.

However, in this game, Lippi made targeted arrangements for James Rodriguez, and he asked Yang Muge to defend James Rodriguez.

Yang Muge's relentless entanglement is very famous.

James Rodriguez was entangled by Yang Muge like this. In the time from the beginning of the game until now, he has not been able to produce any decent performances.

For example, just now, after James Rodriguez got the ball, he tried to get rid of Yang Muge's defense, but he swayed from left to right and made a series of movements. Yang Muge was still behind him and was not thrown off by him. Instead, he was forced into a dead end in the process, lost a better passing opportunity, and finally had to choose to pass back.

Similar scenes often occur in this game. James Rodriguez, who had been killing everyone before, seemed to have lost all his magic in this game.

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It is difficult for Colombia to organize a decent attack. Because China is leading, the whole team is in high spirits and in good condition. It seems that whatever they do is right.

In the twenty-seventh minute, Gao Lin pulled to the wing to cross. Rong Hao cut inside and received the ball, and then took a powerful shot from outside the penalty area. The football went slightly wide.

One minute later, Yang Muge stole the ball from James Rodriguez's feet. China quickly organized a counterattack. Yan Min dribbled the ball on the left and then passed the ball backwards in a triangle. He passed the ball to Zhou Yi in front of the penalty area.

Zhou Yi picked the ball up with the instep of his foot as he received it!

The football flew over the top of Colombian defender Zapata like this. Zapata's center of gravity was very low at the time, and he was unable to stop the ball.

And Zhou Yi, who had picked the ball over him, went around him!

"Zhou Yi!! Oh oh! Beautiful flick over the opponent!"

Zhou Yi, who went around, did not stop the ball, but took a direct shot. This time, it was Ospina who saved Colombia's goal again, blocking Zhou Yi's shot.

"Ospina! He is the best performing player for Colombia in the first half!" neutral commentator Marcel Reif said. "If it weren't for his wonderful performance, China would probably be leading Colombia 4:0 now… The Chinese team's attacking quality in this game is really too high, and the team's cooperation in small areas is excellent. Zhou Yi's personal form is also excellent, and he has made many amazing attacks… According to this trend, China may really be able to go further and enter the World Cup semi-finals! At that time, they will become Germany's opponent in the World Cup semi-finals!"