Lin Hai Ting Tao

Chapter 729 Exhausted

Chapter 93 The Decisive Moment

Mark equalized the score with ten minutes left in the match, immediately filling the game with suspense once more.

Originally, after Bayern Munich took the lead, most people thought it was only a matter of time before they secured victory.

But now it wasn't just a matter of time.

Dortmund had equalized, their morale was high, and even if they dragged the game to a penalty shootout, they would have the upper hand, not Bayern Munich.

After the game restarted, Dortmund, with their boosted morale, indeed launched a fierce attack on Bayern Munich's goal. At this point, they didn't seem to worry about Bayern Munich exploiting the space behind them.

They knew that their opponents didn't have much stamina left either, and launching a counterattack wouldn't be easy.

Some balls, if they were in a ninety-minute game, they could definitely catch up to. But now, they were running out of steam and slowing down.

Of course, Dortmund wasn't in much better shape, but they had been in a defensive shell for most of the first half of extra time, giving them some breathing room.

Bayern Munich also clearly understood their current disadvantage, so they didn't think about attacking anymore, focusing instead on defending their goal. If they conceded another goal in the final moments, they would be counter-killed by Dortmund.

They had experienced such a thing once in the league, and there was no need to experience it again in the Champions League.

As long as they didn't concede a goal, they could drag the game to a penalty shootout, which would be fair to both sides. Dortmund would have a chance to win, and so would Bayern Munich.

Both teams had prepared for the possibility of a penalty shootout, so they weren't averse to it.

In order to avoid conceding a goal, Bayern Munich tightened their defense, retreating into and around their own penalty area, within a thirty-meter radius, trying not to give Dortmund too much space.

Faced with Bayern Munich's dense defense, Dortmund's attacking tactics remained the same: crosses from the wings, headers in the middle, or long shots from outside the penalty area.

However, Bayern Munich also had targeted arrangements, continuing to strengthen their defense against tall players like Hummels and Lewandowski, while also sending more people to defend Mark and Zhou Yi. It became difficult for Zhou Yi and Mark to find the kind of unguarded opportunities in the penalty area they had for the previous goal.

Under these circumstances, Dortmund's attack wasn't very effective.

Time ticked by, minute by minute.

Zhou Yi now rarely retreated to the midfield to receive the ball. He stayed in the attacking third. This wasn't because he was being lazy, but because he couldn't run anymore.

Even though his physical fitness had improved a lot this season compared to before, he still couldn't handle such a high-intensity one hundred and twenty-minute match after playing an entire season.

Often, he didn't even run anymore, just slowly pacing and panting heavily.

Zhou Yi had rarely experienced this feeling of exhaustion himself. When was the last time he felt like this in a match?

He thought about it carefully. It seemed like it was back when he hadn't become a professional player yet, during the reality show filming, in that match against the Barcelona youth team. He played the full ninety minutes and was so exhausted that he could only use his mouth to direct his teammates to pass the ball.

Although he was so tired, they still won in the end, and Zhou Yi was very satisfied.

If he could trade this exhaustion for a Champions League title in today's match, he would be willing to collapse.

But today, he didn't need to use his mouth to direct his teammates to pass the ball.

※※※

"Zhou Yi is basically just walking around on the field now, but luckily the game is mostly being played in Bayern Munich's half, otherwise he would be offside..." The Chinese commentator He Ping said worriedly in the commentary box.

Klopp still had one substitution left, but he hadn't used it. He Ping was always worried that Zhou Yi would be substituted off.

Although it would be normal, even reasonable, to substitute Zhou Yi off, He Ping would still feel it was a pity.

He hoped that Zhou Yi could stay on the field, he still had a glimmer of hope for Zhou Yi, hoping that Zhou Yi could once again display his amazing creativity and help Dortmund achieve victory.

If he was substituted off, none of this would happen.

Out of selfishness, He Ping hoped that Zhou Yi would stay on the field, even if he couldn't run anymore. But he still had hope for Zhou Yi.

Klopp also seemed hesitant, being able to equalize was already very good.

If it really came down to penalties, he would be completely acceptable.

But if that were the case, would he have to substitute Zhou Yi off?

He hesitated and hesitated, but still couldn't make the decision.

It seemed that Zhou Yi was the Dortmund player with the worst physical condition on the field, and he couldn't function normally most of the time. Dortmund was effectively playing ten against eleven.

If he substituted him off, whoever came on would at least be guaranteed to have some physical fitness, and at least they wouldn't be at a disadvantage in terms of numbers anymore.

But if he really substituted Zhou Yi off, it seemed like there would be no hope left, and they could only focus on preparing for a penalty shootout.

If that were the case, Klopp would feel unwilling.

Dortmund had finally equalized the score, and their morale was high. For him, the coach, to actively give up all possibilities and only leave behind a preparation for a penalty shootout... He felt that this was a waste of morale...

※※※

Just as Klopp was hesitating, Dortmund was still besieging Bayern Munich's goal.

Zhou Yi occasionally passed the ball a few times outside the penalty area, but he also ran into the penalty area to look for opportunities. He didn't stick to any one position. Although he couldn't run anymore, it didn't mean he was just standing there like a scarecrow. Even when he was pacing, he was constantly changing positions.

This time, he moved to the edge of the penalty area, while the ball was being passed horizontally outside the penalty area. Zhou Yi didn't raise his hand to ask for the ball. He knew that even if he did, it wouldn't be of any use, and he might even lose possession.

So he watched his teammates pass the ball around outside, looking for an opportunity.

Zhou Yi was also looking for an opportunity.

But he didn't find any opportunities. After being equalized, Bayern Munich resolutely retreated across the board. They planned to defend until the end of extra time and drag the game to a penalty shootout.

In this way, they naturally paid great attention to defense, building their penalty area into an impenetrable fortress.

Even Dortmund didn't have any good solutions.

Faced with Bayern Munich's dense defense, Gundogan, the Dortmund player with the ball, decided to try a long shot.

However, his shot didn't go high. The ball, skimming along the grass, had just rushed out when it was blocked by Schweinsteiger, who slid in for a tackle. Instead of flying towards the goal, it veered to the side, rolling towards... Zhou Yi on the edge of the penalty area!

At this time, Zhou Yi was facing away from the direction of the attack, and Javi Martinez was closely guarding him from behind.

Trying not to let him turn around.

Zhou Yi could feel the pressure from behind.

But he still desperately leaned back, resisting the pressure from Javi Martinez.

Javi Martinez didn't plan to do anything else. He didn't want to try to defend directly in front, stealing the ball before Zhou Yi could get it—if he did that, he might be left behind by the cunning Zhou Yi.

Ever since Zhou Yi had a goal and an assist, Javi Martinez had to be wary of this possibility.

Who knew what Zhou Yi would do next?

So he just pushed against Zhou Yi, not letting him turn around easily. If he wanted to pass the ball out, then so be it, Javi Martinez couldn't do much about it.

In many people's eyes, as long as Zhou Yi wasn't allowed to turn around, his threat to the goal would be greatly reduced.

And with Zhou Yi's physical resistance, it was impossible to back down and take on Javi Martinez.

But just when everyone thought that Zhou Yi could only pass the ball out, Zhou Yi made a move that surprised Javi Martinez.

Originally, his body was in direct contact with Zhou Yi's. He was pushing against Zhou Yi's back, raising his hands and placing them to the side, signaling to the referee that he wasn't using his hands. If Zhou Yi fell later, it wasn't him pushing him, but Zhou Yi was faking a fall.

From this physical contact, he could clearly feel the force coming from Zhou Yi. He was desperately resisting the intrusion of his body, so that he wouldn't be at a disadvantage in this physical contest.

Javi Martinez, who was one meter ninety tall and weighed eighty-one kilograms, was completely "crushing" Zhou Yi physically. He bent over, looking down, pushing against Zhou Yi, not giving him any chance to turn around.

If Zhou Yi wanted to confront him head-on, he was absolutely confident that he could win.

But at this moment, he felt Zhou Yi's body, under his pressure, slide to the side, as if it was about to deviate!