Chapter 174 Blueprints and Reality

Inside Oman's locker room, head coach Le Guen was giving a passionate pep talk to his players, painting a beautiful picture of "defeating China."

"... A one-goal lead isn't enough, we need another goal! Let's take advantage of the start of the second half, using a lightning-like attack to completely defeat China! They're slower to get into the game than we are, which is a great opportunity. Once we have a two-goal lead, they'll collapse. If we have the chance, don't show mercy, keep attacking and try to score more goals!"

Le Guen was no longer just thinking about getting three points, but about racking up a better goal difference. Maybe they'd have a chance to compare head-to-head record and goal difference with China?

Le Guen was thinking a bit ahead, but such a blueprint was well-received by the Omani players.

They also shared this aspiration...

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So, after the second half started, the Omani players roared and continued to launch attacks on China's goal.

They faithfully carried out coach Le Guen's instructions—take advantage of the opportunity at the beginning of the second half, while China was still getting into the game, to try and score another goal.

As a result, Oman pressed forward, besieging the Chinese goal, making Chinese fans extremely nervous. Some with weaker nerves almost turned off their TVs, afraid to watch.

But the Chinese players on the field felt completely different from the fans. They didn't feel any danger, but rather relieved—because everything was exactly as Zhou Yi had told them during halftime.

This gave them great confidence in what they were about to do.

Judging from Oman's offensive, they didn't seem to value China's counter-attacking ability at all. Perhaps the dominant first half gave them the illusion that "we are stronger than China."

Zhou Yi kept observing the situation on the field, while looking for opportunities.

Four minutes into the second half, he finally found a suitable chance.

So he turned to Yang Muge and called out, "Lao Yang!"

Yang Muge didn't need to see his movements to know what he was going to do, and immediately passed the ball.

Zhou Yi pretended to receive the ball. An Omani defender rushed up from behind to try and steal it, but Zhou Yi didn't actually touch it. He simply made a feint, letting the ball slip past him. Then, he turned around and blocked the defender behind him. At that moment, he directly kicked the ball out, a diagonal long pass of more than thirty meters, sending the ball to the left side of the field!

There, He Ying was speeding forward. Within a ten-meter radius around him, there wasn't a single Omani player. At this time, the only players in Oman's backfield were a center back and a goalkeeper.

This was a perfect opportunity for a counterattack!

"Zhou Yi's accurate long pass—great ball!!" Before He Ping could finish speaking, he saw He Ying raise his foot and stop the flying ball about five or six meters in front of him, allowing him to continue rushing forward without slowing down.

"This is China's counterattack!"

He Ping's excited voice was trembling.

The only Omani center back guarding the backfield, Mukhaini, ran over, intending to intercept the ball at He Ying's feet.

Faced with his pounce, He Ying's strategy was very simple—when the opponent approached, he kicked the ball forward forcefully, about ten meters away. Then, he accelerated, shaking off the opponent, and chased after the ball.

In this process, Mukhaini could only watch He Ying slip past him, without even having time to reach out and pull him back…

Since the start of the game, the Chinese fans had seemed wilted by the sun, listless and silent.

But now, as if they had been parched for too long and finally received a sweet rain, they all perked up, shouting and cheering for the Chinese team.

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He Ying dribbled the ball towards the Omani goal. Goalkeeper Al-Habsi abandoned his goal and rushed out. As he just passed the penalty spot, He Ying, who hadn't entered the penalty area, shot!

A scoop shot, the ball flew over his head. He could do nothing but look up.

Of course, he could also pray to Allah in his heart, hoping that his God could help him and stop the ball from flying into the goal.

But unfortunately, there is no God in this world.

After passing over him, the ball fell downwards, and without any suspense, flew into the Omani goal!

"Good—ball——!! Goal! The Chinese team has tied the score! A textbook fast counterattack! Zhou Yi's accurate long pass, He Ying's calm handling! Perfect cooperation!" He Ping couldn't help but wave his fist in the commentary box.

A draw was the result he could accept, especially after the first half. Getting a draw was already the best result.

Anyway, Japan and Australia drew, and after China tied Oman, the point difference with Japan was still one point. What wasn't to accept?

Leaving the suspense of qualifying to the home game against Japan, wasn't that more exciting and stimulating?

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When He Ying scored, the Chinese fans in the stands also jumped up, raising their arms and shouting, not at all like they were wilted by the sun.

It was already six o'clock in the afternoon. The sun was setting further west, the temperature was gradually decreasing, and the sea breeze was blowing from time to time, bringing a hint of coolness.

The hearts of the Chinese fans were finally not as depressed as before…

Maybe the hard days were about to pass?

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This goal greatly exceeded Oman's expectations, which could be seen from their stunned expressions after conceding the goal. But in fact, this was entirely predictable. It could only be said that Oman's self-perception was too good.

They thought that if they almost tied China away from home, wouldn't it be natural to defeat China at home?

But they forgot that during the first leg of the top ten, there was only one overseas player in the Chinese team, Zhou Yi. At that time, the other four little dragons were still in the national Olympic team, preparing for the Olympic Games.

And now, they were facing the strongest Chinese team with all the overseas players playing.

Even with the high temperature helping them, the gap in strength between the two teams was still obvious.

Some of the Chinese players also thought so, so He Ying, who scored the goal, didn't even celebrate much. The Chinese fans in the stands, in the commentary box, in front of the TV, and on the internet were excited about his equalizing goal, but what about He Ying himself?

After seeing the ball fly into the goal, he turned around and ran towards the center circle, then waved his hand casually, as if the goal was not worth mentioning at all.

For He Ying, it seemed that this was really the case. Was Oman a very strong opponent? He Ying didn't think so. So what was worth celebrating about scoring a goal against Oman?

He just ran back like that. Zhou Yi gave him a thumbs up in the backfield, also not very excited.

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He Ying's goal was a big blow to the Omani players. One minute ago, they were still thinking about taking a two-goal lead. Now, in the blink of an eye, it had become a draw.

What to do next?

This task fell on the shoulders of head coach Le Guen.

As the team's coach, he had to solve this directional problem. A team without direction was a team without fighting power.

If it weren't for that first half, Le Guen might have thought that 1:1 was not a bad result. In fact, he had planned that way a week before the game.

But after the performance in the first half, he was not willing to settle for a draw.

He still hoped to defeat China at home.

So he quickly made a decision—continue to attack, and try to score a goal in a short period of time!

He gave the instructions, and the entire Omani team followed suit.

No one knew that this was a wrong decision.

Although they had been running for fifty minutes, the Chinese players now felt relaxed. On the one hand, it was because the sun was setting, the temperature was decreasing, and the sea breeze was still blowing, making the players feel comfortable. On the other hand, it was because He Ying's goal had put everyone at ease. At the same time, they also saw the gap in strength between themselves and Oman, making them realize that Oman could not pose too much of a threat to them.

The first half was just an illusion under special circumstances…

So, just as Oman strengthened their attack, China once again used a quick counterattack, and He Ying scored twice, giving China the lead.

And this goal was only four minutes away from his previous goal…

"He Ying!! Great! Another quick counterattack! China takes the lead! China overtakes!!" He Ping was so excited in the commentary box that he was a bit incoherent.

He knew too well what this goal meant.

But He Ying still had that "matter of course" expression, with a calm smile on his face, high-fiving and briefly embracing the teammates who came up to celebrate with him.

That was considered a celebration.

There was no excitement of "if we win this game, we will qualify in advance."

In He Ying's heart, his two goals were just putting the game back on the right track, just returning to normal. What was there to be excited about?