Chapter 125 Carnage in St. Petersburg

The game time passed slowly.

Several "elderly" Spanish midfielders were knocked to the ground.

Only Diego Costa played with extreme ease.

St. Petersburg Stadium was shrouded in boos.

Shen Longtai waved his hand: Let the disciples strengthen the midfield strangulation.

Strangulation?

It really was strangulation!

Some Korean fans still had mixed feelings: they didn't want Lee Kang to get injured, because Korean experts believed that Lee Kang's ancestors were Korean. If Lee Kang won the World Cup, it would mean that Koreans had their own King of Football!

"Lee Kang is advancing with the ball on the left."

"Beautiful, easily getting rid of Ju Se-jong."

"They're not players on the same level!"

"Eh?"

The Korean team's defensive line quickly fell back.

Full-back Lee Yong, taking advantage of the moment the distance changed, suddenly charged out.

His eyes were fierce.

He inherited the Korean tradition of soccer, notorious.

'As long as we get Lee off the field, we'll be halfway to winning.'

At the moment Lee Kang swung his left foot to pass the ball,

The Korean full-back deliberately rammed his right knee hard into the back of Lee Kang's thigh.

Immediately afterwards.

Lee Kang lost his balance, and his left foot landed, stepping right on the instep of the Korean full-back's right foot.

The close-up sound equipment transmitted a heart-wrenching scream.

"The Korean player falls to the ground in pain."

"The referee didn't stop the game, signaling Spain to continue the attack!"

"Diego Costa."

Lee Kang's timing and power of the pass were just right.

The landing point was subtle.

Falling towards the area before the Korean team's defense fell back.

A vacuum.

Diego Costa folded back, with no one to interfere.

Receiving the ball with his back to the goal.

Turning and shooting.

All in one go!

Bang!

His muscular and smooth thigh unleashed a world-class shot!

The Korean team's defensive formation wasn't weak, boasting superstar defenders from the Chinese Super League and the K League; goalkeeper Jo Hyeon-woo was even the champion goalkeeper of the Korean FA Cup.

How could a mere Champions League-winning forward easily break through the Korean team's goal?

The soccer ball turned into a black shadow in mid-air.

By the time the Korean defense reacted, the net had already been lifted high.

0:1!!!

"Beautiful!"

"Goal!"

"Diego Costa!"

"A world-class goal!"

"The Korean team's defense is like paper!"

"A divine through ball from Lee Kang breaks the formation!"

"Too easy."

"Spain breaks the deadlock!"

ESPN live broadcast room.

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[Awesome!]

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[They scored already? Too easy, right!]

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[Peak Lee Ming-deng's pass, the ability to break defenses is too strong. Experts say his ancestor might be Korean, *seumida*!]

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[Is the commentator sick? The Korean team's defense is very strong, *seumida*.]

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[Algeria: Is it really strong?]

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[This game is over, the Korean team's defense isn't bad, I'm betting on a 0:1 finish.]

St. Petersburg Stadium, a scene of cheers and jubilation.

But the referee didn't make the gesture to validate the goal, instead calling for the team doctor while pressing his finger to his ear.

VAR!

This year's Russian World Cup marked the first introduction of VAR (Video Assistant Referee).

"According to news from the scene..."

"The video assistant referee believes that Lee Kang fouled the Korean full-back before passing the ball!"

"Spain's goal might be disallowed!"

"We can see now that both sides' players are surrounding the refereeing team."

"Let's look at the replay..."

"Ah! It's Lee Yong, using his right knee to bump the back of Lee Kang's thigh first!"

"Lee Kang sent out the through ball, lost his balance, and stepped on Lee Yong's instep when his left foot landed."

"The stretcher team is entering the field, the Korean defender can't continue the game, his World Cup journey may be over!"

"No problem, the referee signals that the goal is valid!"

"The Korean team has really lost both the battle and the war!"

The cheers from all sides of the stands gradually turned into boos.

The audience was very dissatisfied.

What kind of high technology is this? Now you have to wait several minutes to celebrate even a goal?

Diego Costa cursed the damn VAR a few times, the passion of the celebration had long since dissipated.

Lee Kang rubbed his thigh, the pain gradually subsiding.

Busquets quickly leaned in to remind him, "Be careful, Lee, those guys' eyes... it's like they want to eat you alive!"

Iniesta was worried: If Lee Kang got injured... the Bull's World Cup journey would be like walking on thin ice.

On the sidelines.

Del Bosque and Minano didn't celebrate, but angrily protested to the fourth official.

The two coaches believed that Lee Yong's knee-checking action should have been a red card.

Even if the sword-bearer of the Bull Corps lost a hair on the field, the coaching staff would feel heartache.

On the other side.

Shin Tae-yong angrily punched the turf.

Losing a goal and losing a player!

He took a deep breath, adjusted his emotions, and conveyed the instruction to strengthen the strangulation to his disciples.

The game restarted in the center circle.

Koo Ja-cheol came on as a substitute.

The Korean team's 'initial' formation changed from 4-4-2 to 3-5-2.

In the corner of the stands, a small group of Korean performance groups... gave the Spanish players the middle finger, angrily denouncing their opponents as cowards.

"The director's camera has turned to the Korean girl group..."

"Is it a boy group?"

"It's a bit hard to tell."

"Oh, oh, oh, both the boy group and the girl group have come to cheer for the Korean team."

ESPN's two commentators have always been unreserved.

Ki Sung-yueng's linking and scheduling ability is definitely at the core level of a mid-table Premier League team.

According to the pre-match deployment.

The Korean team's autonomous attacking direction would take Kim Shin-wook as a bridgehead, and then develop towards the two flanks.

"The speed of advancement is very fast!"

"The Bull's situation is very dangerous!"

"Not dangerous, this is the double defensive midfielder combination of Lee Kang and Busquets."

"If they mesh well, this is a historic interception line."

Kim Shin-wook appeared in the thirty-meter area, receiving Ki Sung-yueng's pass with his back to the goal.

The tactical position of a traditional center forward: hold the ball, then distribute it to teammates cutting in from the flanks.

On the sidelines.

Shin Tae-yong's breathing was rapid, his cheeks flushed, and he clenched his fists, even imagining the complete offensive chain that would follow: Kim Shin-wook would pass to Hong Chul on the wing, Hong Chul would get rid of Carvajal, break into the Bull's penalty area from the baseline, Son Heung-min would then take away Pique and Ramos, and finally Koo Ja-cheol or Hwang Hee-chan would complete the fatal blow.

The idea was beautiful.

Like when you're in the throes of first love, you mistakenly believe that the person you like also likes you.

Ramos looked fierce, eager to try.

Unfortunately, he didn't get the chance to make a move.

Pa!

Busquets stretched out his right foot and 'stuck' the soccer ball from under Kim Shin-wook's feet.

The two La Masia holding midfielders didn't, as in the past, 'cause overlap in running positions and squeezing of space due to consistent judgment of interception direction and unified thinking.'

It was very simple.

The rhythm of a national team bullying the weak could be one on the left and one on the right.

The defensive responsibility was reduced, and space interception was easier.

"Lee Kang's combination with Kanté at the club is very hard, and his combination with Busquets in the national team is very elastic."

"Eh? Kim Shin-wook's elbow hit Busquets."

"It must not be intentional, his style of play in the AFC Champions League is not bad..."

"The referee didn't stop the game."

"Busquets has already passed the ball out."

"Iniesta plays the ball with one touch, passing it horizontally to Lee Kang, who's cutting in."

In God's perspective.

No Korean players cut in to participate in the attack, very professionally guarding the 'second point' in the Spanish frontcourt.

Lee Kang didn't pass the ball.

He stomped hard on the turf.

Starting to sprint.

St. Petersburg Stadium, applause thundered.

Many tourists don't usually like to watch soccer, they just like to watch their favorite stars perform with the ball on the field.

"The speed is too fast!"

"Like a beast!"

"The Korean team is falling back quickly, it's too late... Ki Sung-yueng's defensive positioning is very good, but he's still a bit unable to keep up, he's about to be left behind."

"Studs-up tackle!"

"I heard he raped a boy!"

The World Cup produced the most horrifying moment since the start of the tournament.

Ki Sung-yueng tackled Lee Kang from the side.

The studs, illuminated by the spotlight, reflected a chilling gleam.

He failed to tackle the ball!

Even less did he tackle the person!

The subtle gap between Lee Kang and the soccer ball allowed the Korean captain to tackle empty.

The speed didn't stagnate in the slightest.

Ki Sung-yueng's eyes were fierce, as if he had anticipated this situation... in a fallen state, his knee suddenly lifted.

Bang!

The close-up sound equipment transmitted a fierce burst of hand-to-hand combat.

Lee Kang 'just happened' to dodge the opponent's Brazilian jujutsu.

His calf hooked the opponent's calf.

Continuing to sprint forward.

The Korean's heart-wrenching scream hadn't stopped.

Lee Kang had already broken into the Korean team's empty half!

The Korean fans who were clamoring in the stands couldn't help but gasp.

A butcher!

A butcher wreaking havoc in St. Petersburg!

Shin Tae-yong was trembling with fear...

"Two-on-two in the frontcourt!"

"A beautiful one-two, fooling the two top defenders of the K League and the Chinese Super League!"

"Here it comes!"

"Lee Kang!"

Bang!

The left side of the penalty box, just in front of the line.

Lee Kang unleashed a close-range cannon!

Jo Hyeon-woo was petrified...

European league goalkeepers could react in this kind of moment.

Unbelievable ball speed.

Terrifying arc.

Overwhelming momentum.

The champion goalkeeper of the Korean FA Cup didn't have time to react.

0:2!!!

This time, the referee didn't look at VAR again, and directly declared the goal valid.

And turned around, showing a red card to Ki Sung-yueng, who was on the ground with a distorted face!

It exploded!

St. Petersburg Stadium, the cries praising fairness... drowned out the small amount of booing!

At this moment, a series of ancient Chinese sayings rang in Shin Tae-yong's mind: Playing with fire gets you burned, more harm than good, casting pearls before swine, blame yourself, you reap what you sow, trying to steal a chicken only to lose the bait.

"Looking at the slow-motion replay."

"Ki Sung-yueng's calf had an exaggerated deformation..."

"He's done for!"

"The Korean captain's World Cup journey is over! The stretcher team is entering!"

"The Brazilian referee either doesn't show a card, or when he does, it's a red card!"

"The Korean team is two goals behind, and one player has been sent off... the situation is extremely grim!"

ESPN live broadcast room.

The big screen slowly replayed the process of Ki Sung-yueng's 'injury'.

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[Easy difficulty, the Korean team's speed of falling back isn't fast enough.]

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[Damn, the Korean showed studs trying to cripple Lee Ming-deng, but was taken down by Lee Ming-deng's calf.]

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[It's broken.]

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[Terrifying, does Lee Kang have any professional ethics or sportsmanship? He's simply a ferocious butcher, *seumida*!]

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[The ancestor of this kind of murderous maniac is definitely not Korean! Strongly condemn this behavior! The referee should give him a red card!]

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[Quietly note Lee Ming-deng's black marks: trampling someone's ankle after passing the ball, and breaking someone's leg while dribbling at high speed.]

Lee Kang and Diego Costa high-fived in celebration.

Before they had time to hug,

K League superstar center-back Jang Hyun-soo angrily rushed forward and shoved Lee Kang hard!

Lee Kang fell on the grass.

Diego Costa, signaling Lee Kang not to get up, frantically complained to the refereeing team!

Accompanied by boos.

The Bull's veteran midfielders rushed to the scene of the incident as soon as possible, their short bodies forcefully pushing the tall Korean defender.

Then came Ramos.

Then came De Gea.

Isco, Fabregas, Saúl, Koke, Azpilicueta, Morata, and others on the bench also quickly rushed onto the field.

The Korean team wouldn't be outdone.

The field, which could only accommodate 23 people during the match, instantly flooded with hundreds of people!

Chaos!

The players from Chelsea Football Club showed their rich experience in melee combat.

Letting the Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid players attract firepower on the front lines.

Letting the Barcelona players feign injuries.

Letting the Arsenal players complain to the referee.

While blocking the referee's view and distracting the linesman's attention... frantically kicking black feet.

The chaos continued off the field.

The pot-bellied Del Bosque was stopped by the assistant coaches.

Minano was furiously rebuking the Korean coaching staff.

The small group of clamoring Korean fans in the corner of the stands was also subjected to a "siege" from all directions.

Media reporters from all over the world were frantically taking pictures!

Drafting in their minds:

《The Dirty Moments of 2002 Cannot Be Repeated, Lee Kang Shatters the Darkness.》

《The Dirtiest Team in the World Cup.》

《The Bloody Butcher from the Iberian Peninsula, Wreaking Havoc in St. Petersburg.》

Eight minutes later.

The chaos was completely calmed down.

Jang Hyun-soo, who started the trouble, received a red card.

Ramos and Saúl each received a yellow card for fighting too fiercely on the 'front line'.

That's right.

Saúl rushed in from the bench.

The Korean players were unwilling to accept it, they excitedly complained to the refereeing team about Diego Costa and Fabregas's 'kicking black feet' behavior.

The referee ignored them.

In the stands, security personnel also quelled the chaos.

The Korean fans were physically and mentally exhausted: two goals behind, two red cards, players being beaten, fans being beaten... what did we come here to do?

Lee Kang was receiving treatment from the team doctor on the sidelines.

Actually, he was only pushed.

But Del Bosque and Minano's heartbroken expressions made it seem as if Lee Kang had been gang-beaten.

The game resumed.

"The Spanish team is making a substitution."

"Koke, replacing Lee Kang!"

"This is a like-for-like substitution."

"Koke's fighting experience is still very rich."

"Hopefully Lee Kang's injury won't be too serious, if he says goodbye to the World Cup early, the Korean team may have to bear the anger of many forces..."

Lee Kang was fine.

But Del Bosque and Minano were worried that he would continue to be attacked by Korean players on the field, so they took him off.

After all, Spain eleven vs. Korea nine, if they could be tied or reversed, Del Bosque could go jump in the Thames.

In the following game.

The suspense was completely lost.

The Bull Corps didn't pay attention to any friendship, the King of Qualifiers, showing the kingly aura of bullying the weak!

Continual frantic attacks.

St. Petersburg, a river of blood.

Finally.

The referee blew the whistle to end the game.

Korean team 0:7 Spain.

World Cup group stage, a winning start.