Chapter 88 Courageous
The TV broadcast replayed Wu Lei's header over and over again.

"Wu Lei's shot... he wanted to put too much power into it, didn't he? He really didn't need that much force. Just getting a touch on the ball would have been enough... What a pity, what a pity! Yan Min's series of breakthroughs just now were so beautiful! The quality of the cross was also high. If that ball had gone in, it would have been a truly wonderful goal! And in front of Borussia Dortmund, this goal could have saved some face for the Chinese team..." The CCTV commentator sighed, truly regretting the missed goal.

At the same time, deep down, he also felt sorry for Yan Min – he worked so hard, only to hit the post with one shot, and then watch his teammate head his assist high... It was such a pity that all that effort didn't result in a goal...

Unlike those fans who were afraid of injuring Borussia Dortmund's stars, he had been fond of and had expectations for this kid ever since Yan Min came on and displayed a fighting spirit and mentality completely different from the others. He hoped that this young man's efforts wouldn't be wasted.

Although the saying "football doesn't lie, you get back what you put in" is a kind of platitude, it at least symbolizes a state that everyone generally aspires to, which is "heaven rewards diligence."

Seeing Yan Min working so hard, almost single-handedly pulling the Chongming team along as they ran and fought against Borussia Dortmund.

It would be too cruel if so much effort didn't reap some reward, wouldn't it?

The commentator hoped that fate could give this young man a little confidence, allowing him to persevere further on his path...

But now it seemed that fate was playing a joke on him, or rather, fate was too cruel.

Unfortunately, the commentator was in the broadcasting studio, not at the stadium. He could only commentate on the game and understand what was happening on the field through the TV broadcast. So, although he really wanted to see what Yan Min looked like at this moment, he could only see Wu Lei with his hands covering his face and the Borussia Dortmund players who were still in shock, but there was no shot of Yan Min. This young man, who had a series of brilliant performances, was forgotten just because he wasn't the one who took the final shot.

***

At the stadium, the crowd was roaring, with all kinds of voices mixed together, expressing the very complex emotions of the fans in attendance.

The non-Shanghai Chongming fans in the stands, who had originally been supporting Borussia Dortmund, felt sorry for Chongming.

Even if Chongming scored this goal, it wouldn't affect Borussia Dortmund's victory. But as Chinese people, they also hoped that the Chinese team wouldn't perform so miserably. Wouldn't it be great if they could score a goal?

Many people even started scolding Wu Lei, calling him the King of Wasted Opportunities.

Some people online even dug up old incidents of Wu Lei wasting chances in the national team and the national Olympic team...

But all of this had nothing to do with Yan Min.

When the football flew out of Henglian’s reach, Yan Min suddenly squatted down and forcefully slapped the ground, then stood up again.

He was very annoyed and very angry, and all these emotions were expressed unreservedly in his body language and facial expressions.

However, he didn't scold Wu Lei, nor did he directly complain about Wu Lei wasting such a perfect near-assist.

He just cursed once and turned around to run back.

The game wasn't over yet, and he believed that as long as he continued to work hard, he would still have a chance.

The game wasn't over yet, so now wasn't the time to be dejected.

The ever-spirited Yan Min ran back to his position with his head held high.

***

During Chongming's attack, Zhou Yi was sitting on the bench. But when Wu Lei headed the ball high, he stood up from his seat and looked at the field.

He wasn't watching the game, nor was he worried about the team's fate. He was observing Yan Min. Standing allowed him to have a better view.

Borussia Dortmund's China tour consisted of three games, against the club teams of Guangzhou, Shanghai, and Beijing, respectively.

These three games were called warm-up matches, but they were actually commercial games. Although they appeared as opponents in Zhou Yi's virtual world, Zhou Yi didn't choose to play matches against them. For such commercial games where the result wasn't very important, Zhou Yi felt that playing them in the virtual space was simply a waste of time. Wouldn't it be better to use that time for training?

When he reached the final sprint stage last season, Zhou Yi consciously strengthened his shooting training.

Because he realized that his forward shot was an extremely threatening offensive weapon, because everyone knew that his passing was great, but they weren't vigilant enough about his shooting.

Therefore, Zhou Yi hadn't faced the Chongming team in the virtual world, and he didn't know what kind of performance Yan Min would have in this game.

Now, seeing him run back with his head held high, Zhou Yi became even more interested in Yan Min – not because Yan Min's breakthrough and shot that hit the post interested him, but because Yan Min's figure of striding forward with his head held high after missing two opportunities intrigued him.

This kid is the same as always.

***

After the game restarted, Borussia Dortmund launched a retaliatory attack against the Chongming team. They pressed forward with their entire army, launching a barrage around Chongming's goal, seemingly venting the shock and anger they felt after almost being scored on by the Chongming team.

But in Zhou Yi's opinion, this wasn't a very smart approach. It could be understood if Borussia Dortmund's players hadn't seen Yan Min's speed and his sharp dribbling skills before. But after witnessing it, still doing this... honestly, Zhou Yi was a little disappointed in his teammates.

Of course, he wasn't the coach, and he wasn't qualified to criticize his teammates from the sidelines. Anyway, Klopp was right there, and he wasn't saying anything, so what was the point of Zhou Yi jumping out to show off?

Moreover, it would be good if Yan Min really managed to steal a goal with Borussia Dortmund pressing up like this. That kid's stubbornness still needed some reward...

In the eighty-eighth minute, Chongming really got such an opportunity!

At that time, they cleared the ball in the penalty area, and the ball fell forward. Wu Lei, in the center, used his chest to stop the ball. With his back to the direction of attack, he protected the ball, attracted Borussia Dortmund's defensive attention, and then decisively passed the ball to the left flank.

Yan Min, who had switched back to this side, ran wildly along the sideline, and then received the ball passed by Wu Lei!

A thunderous cheer and applause immediately erupted in the stands – this was completely different from before.

Yan Min had already won the support of many people with his outstanding performance and tenacious fighting spirit.

Everyone now hoped that Yan Min could win some honor for the Chongming team and for the Chinese team by scoring a goal!

Just as Yan Min received the ball, Borussia Dortmund's defender charged up from the side.

Faced with such an interception, Yan Min didn't hesitate. He directly took a big touch, sending the ball ten meters away from the opponent. Then he used his speed to accelerate, shake off the opponent, and catch up with the ball!

"That's beautiful! As fast as lightning!" The CCTV commentator shouted excitedly. "Yan Min's running posture at full speed is as graceful as a cheetah, with a sense of athletic beauty!"

If such gushing praise had been said when Yan Min had just come on, it would have given the CCTV commentator another reason to be scolded by fans. Although Yan Min had also made full-speed sprints at that time, of course, that time his full-speed sprint almost injured Piszczek...

But now, no one would think that the CCTV commentator was mindlessly hyping up his own country's players. Yan Min had already won the hearts of many people with his performance.

In the stands, in front of the TV, and online, many fans were cheering for Yan Min.

At this moment, Yan Min surpassed Borussia Dortmund's stars, surpassed Zhou Yi, and became the only protagonist of this game, this stage, enjoying unlimited glory, unmatched by anyone.

As long as he kept running like this, Yan Min would instantly become a hero in the hearts of many Chinese fans...

But the result... just as Yan Min entered Borussia Dortmund's thirty-meter zone, he was directly tackled to the ground by Hohnsch, who was covering!

Because of the excessive speed, which led to excessive inertia, Yan Min rolled several times after being tackled to the ground, rolling a long way...

At this time, boos had already erupted in the stands – these boos were not complaining about Yan Min's fake fall, but were directed at the fouling Hohnsch!

This scene was unprecedented in this game...

At this moment, the audience in the 80,000-seater stadium also reverted to their Chinese identities and stood up for the Chinese team.

The commentator exclaimed, "Yan Min... Hohnsch's foul! This is a very bad foul! Yan Min may even be injured because of it! Such a violent foul should not have occurred in this game!"

On the one hand, he was angry at Hohnsch's foul, and on the other hand, he was worried that Yan Min would be injured.

But he soon realized that he had worried for nothing, because Yan Min, who had rolled several times on the ground, jumped up from the ground and roared towards Hohnsch.

His aggressive momentum made Hohnsch, who had just raised his hands and stood up from the ground, a little scared, and he shrank back.

But Yan Min didn't take any further action, but roared at him, "Fuck your mother! What the hell are you doing!?" At this time, the players on both sides had already rushed up. Wu Lei pulled Yan Min away, while Borussia Dortmund's teammates blocked in front of Hohnsch.

The referee also ran up with a yellow card in his hand, which he showed to Hohnsch. This was the first yellow card received by a Borussia Dortmund player in this game. From this, it could be seen how easy Borussia Dortmund had been playing until now...

But the fans in the stands didn't buy it, and booed loudly.

"Just a yellow card?!" The CCTV commentator was also very dissatisfied. "Such a foul of a vile nature, a red card would not have been excessive! You know, if Hohnsch hadn't fouled, Yan Min could have gone straight for a one-on-one! Giving a yellow card is too..."

Wasn't this being too lenient with the Germans?

The commentator muttered angrily in his heart.

That was a one-on-one! Yan Min had a complete opportunity to score a goal for the Chongming team! But all hope was destroyed by Hohnsch's flying tackle.

A large number of condemnations of Hohnsch and Borussia Dortmund quickly appeared online...

***

Borussia Dortmund's substitutes sat on the bench, looking around, and they were all surprised when they heard the boos from the stands.

They didn't quite understand why such a change had occurred so late in the game.

They had been very relaxed and happy before, and the Chinese fans had been very friendly and enthusiastic to them, which they had enjoyed very much.

As a result, now they were suddenly being condemned by everyone.

Even if this ball might lead to a goal, it was still 1:5. Did the Chinese think that they could defeat Borussia Dortmund with this goal?

Unable to understand, they had no choice but to turn their pleading eyes to Zhou Yi. Reus pulled on Zhou Yi's jersey from behind and asked him, "What happened?"

Zhou Yi spread his hands and smiled, "I think we may have become the villains, ha!"

Then he turned back and looked at Yan Min, who was being pulled away by Wu Lei but was still shouting at Hohnsch.

This kid is capable. He actually managed to turn the situation and the atmosphere of the stadium all by himself. Interesting, remarkable.