Keisuke Honda, currently playing for CSKA Moscow in Russia, had never played against Yang Muge and had rarely heard of him. This was because Yang Muge had not yet participated in European competitions, and had only begun playing for Schalke 04's first team last season.

Keisuke Honda, although playing in the distant Super League, had already participated in the Champions League.

When he transferred to CSKA Moscow, his first official match for the team was the Champions League round of 16.

In his second Champions League match, he scored a goal, helping CSKA Moscow reverse the situation and advance to the quarterfinals.

Such a performance was much stronger than Yang Muge's.

It was normal for him to look down on Yang Muge.

At this moment, he thought of what Shinji Kagawa had said to him.

*Don't underestimate him, or you'll be in trouble.*

*I'll be in trouble?*

At first, these words made Keisuke Honda indifferent, but now they made him burn with anger.

I'll see who ends up in trouble between the two of us!

※※※

Keisuke Honda wanted to go head-to-head with Yang Muge, but Yang Muge didn't only have him in his sights. As the only defensive midfielder in this match, he had to deal with not only Keisuke Honda, but also Shinji Kagawa and others.

Of course, Zhou Yi would also help him in defense, not leaving him to fight alone.

The two had very good cooperative experience in the national Olympic team, and their cooperation complemented each other.

After Yang Muge came on, the Japanese team's attack gradually became less threatening than in the first half. The Chinese team finally had more energy to consider attacking.

But unfortunately, He Ying's condition today was indeed very ordinary. His partnership with Gao Lin did not threaten the Japanese team's defense. Zhou Yi could pass the ball to them, but they would waste the opportunities.

Whenever they missed some chances, the Chinese fans in front of the TV and on the internet would become anxious and uneasy.

Wasting opportunities will be punished!

Many fans also felt strange, how could He Ying, who was unstoppable in the Olympics, perform so poorly today?

In the 58th minute of the match, when Shinji Kagawa took the ball in midfield and advanced, Yang Muge stuck to him. Then, Yang Muge quickly kicked the ball away. At the same time as kicking the ball, he quickly jumped up to avoid Shinji Kagawa, and with a turn, he regained control of the ball!

"Good ball, Yang Muge's steal is very clean and neat!"

Liu Hong was still cheering when Yang Muge made a feint to pass the ball, tricking Keisuke Honda into flashing to the side, but he himself dribbled the ball forward resolutely!

In an instant, he crossed the midfield line!

This startled the Japanese team, because no one expected Yang Muge to dribble forward. His appearance was exactly in the blind spot of the Japanese team's defense!

In a reflexive reaction, the Japanese players rushed up to surround Yang Muge.

Yasuhito Endo and Makoto Hasebe attacked from the front and sides.

Facing such interception, Yang Muge skillfully poked the ball with the toe of his right foot, passing the ball through the gap between the two, and the ball fell at the feet of the unguarded Zhou Yi!

How could Zhou Yi be unguarded?

Because after he pulled to the wing, he only had to face one person's defense, and Makoto Hasebe, who was originally beside him, was attracted by Yang Muge, so Zhou Yi was left unattended!

"Good ball! Zhou Yi!" A wave of sound mixed with cheers and boos resounded in the Tokyo National Stadium. It was a sound made by both Chinese and Japanese fans at the same time.

After receiving the ball, Zhou Yi did not pass the ball out, but decisively dribbled the ball forward, heading towards the Japanese team's penalty area.

Yang Muge also rushed forward after passing the ball, not staying behind, because his forward movement made it impossible for the Japanese defenders to chase Zhou Yi, because if Zhou Yi passed the ball back to Yang Muge, Yang Muge would be closer to the center than Zhou Yi, and he could shoot directly!

Yasuhito Endo quickly chased Zhou Yi, while Makoto Hasebe ran to chase Yang Muge.

At the same time, on the front line, He Ying quickly started and inserted into the center of the Japanese team's four defenders.

Masahiko Inoha, the Japanese central defender who was originally in front of him, was attracted to the wing by Zhou Yi's dribbling breakthrough. A gap larger than before appeared between the two central defenders, and He Ying decisively accelerated and plunged into this gap.

Zhou Yi, who had been dribbling the ball, also saw He Ying's run, so he raised his wrist and pushed the ball out like a golf putter.

The ball rolled quickly forward along the grass!

When Masahiko Inoha saw that Zhou Yi was passing the ball behind him, although he could not see the situation behind him, his experience told him that there must be a gap. So he braked sharply, and the inertia carried his body forward. He could only drag his right leg behind him, hoping to block the ball.

But the ball brushed past his right foot, and he lost his balance and fell to the ground!

"Ahhhhh! Danger—!" the Japanese commentator exclaimed.

"Wonderful pass! He Ying! One-on-one!!" Liu Hong almost stood up at the commentary booth, and he shouted excitedly. This was the best offensive opportunity for the Chinese team in this match!

The Chinese fans in front of the TV also became nervous, staring at the TV screen. Some were apprehensive and some were looking forward to what was about to happen next.

When He Ying broke into the penalty area, he used his body and running position to block Maya Yoshida, another central defender of the Japanese team, behind him, and then stretched his foot to receive the ball. He could feel that Yoshida behind him was not being honest, so he planned to use a sudden stop to shake the opponent away, and also shake down the goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima, who was attacking.

So after receiving the ball, he did not shoot immediately, but prepared to use the inside of his right foot to pull the ball from behind his left foot, which was supporting his body, and then suddenly stop and change direction.

This was a very ordinary feint, and it was not too difficult.

But when He Ying used his right foot to pull the ball, he did not estimate the rolling speed of the ball. When he was about to do so, the ball rolled forward a little more. If he pulled the ball like this, he would not be able to touch the ball, but he had already stopped suddenly, so he could only swing his right foot again and plan to pull the ball from in front of him.

This accident slowed his movement down a bit.

In the penalty area, in front of the goal, with someone defending closely, even half a second slower could lead to completely different results.

Maya Yoshida was indeed shaken down by his first sudden stop and pull movement. If He Ying could pull the ball over smoothly, he would face a larger shooting angle, and Yoshida would have no way to stop him.

But unfortunately, he didn't touch the ball. The ball continued to roll forward, and Yoshida, who had been pulled down, fell to the ground, lying right in front of the ball. Yoshida, who had not given up defending, quickly stretched his foot to poke the ball. He Ying's second pull put the ball on his body...

Yoshida Maya lay on the ground, sweeping his legs and competing with He Ying. No matter how He Ying kicked the ball, he couldn't get the ball out of his control. Finally, goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima leaned over and grabbed the ball, then held it firmly in his arms.

He Ying had no chance to shoot again...

"Aiya—!" Liu Hong shouted with a drawn-out voice, his regret overflowing.

He Ying himself was also very depressed. He stood in the penalty area, with his hands on his hips, looking up at the sky. Japanese goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima rushed forward with the ball in his arms behind him, then threw the ball directly out. The Japanese team launched a quick counterattack.

Yang Muge had already retreated when He Ying didn't pull the ball well the first time, so the Japanese team's counterattack didn't really threaten the Chinese team's goal.

But everyone didn't care about this. Everyone was discussing He Ying's one-on-one opportunity just now.

"Zhou Yi's through ball was world-class, it couldn't have been better. He Ying's off-ball movement was also European-class, but that pull was just like a Chinese Super League player! Too bad!" Some fans complained angrily online.

"Shoot directly! He Ying didn't handle this ball confidently enough!"

"What's wrong with He Ying?"

Liu Hong also shook his head: "Actually, He Ying could have shot directly. If he was worried about the goalkeeper blocking the angle, he could have chosen a chip shot... It's really a pity to miss this opportunity! The Chinese team missed a great opportunity to equalize the score! And failing to score such a good one-on-one opportunity is also a blow to the Chinese team's morale..."

※※※

After passing the ball, Zhou Yi witnessed the entire process of He Ying's run, reception, and final missed one-on-one opportunity. His views might be somewhat different from others.

He believed that it was perfectly fine for He Ying to choose to pull the ball and stop suddenly, but He Ying just didn't handle the ball well when he pulled it. It was a technical mistake, and had nothing to do with his choice.

But why did He Ying have such a problem?

Because he hadn't played an official match since the Olympics. In high-intensity, fierce competition, the precision of his control of the ball had decreased... To put it simply, his feel for the ball was not as good as when he was in good condition.

This was the price of choosing to stay in Barcelona...

He Ying's choice to pull the ball was right, but his choice to stay in Barcelona was problematic.

But at this time, Zhou Yi certainly couldn't shout at He Ying: "Who told you not to listen to me and insist on staying in Barcelona where you can't play?"

He could only shout He Ying's name, to bring him back to his senses: "He Ying! He Ying!!"

After successfully getting He Ying to turn around, he gave He Ying a thumbs up: "Nice run!"

He wasn't lying, He Ying's run on this play was indeed very beautiful. The gap wasn't very obvious at first, but He Ying keenly sensed it and ran into it. Although he missed this one-on-one opportunity, if He Ying hadn't run there, this one-on-one opportunity wouldn't have appeared at all.

How could He Ying not know that Zhou Yi was comforting him? He knew his problem just now. No matter how beautiful his run was before, as a forward, it was his responsibility if the ball didn't go in.

And he himself knew very well why he had made that mistake...

His condition had been very ordinary throughout this match, precisely because he hadn't played an official match in a month.

When everyone else had played two or three rounds of the league, he hadn't played a minute. The difference was huge.

He had played against Yoshida Maya in the Olympics. In the Olympics, he was completely unafraid of Yoshida Maya, but today he couldn't get rid of him...

When he wasn't even on the roster for three consecutive league games before, he was still comforting himself and encouraging himself, that as long as he trained hard, opportunities would always come.

But now he was a little worried, with his current state, even if the opportunity came, could he seize it?

You know, the Top Ten Tournament is already considered the highest level of competition in Asia, but it still can't compare with the Spanish La Liga...