They are agile, fast, and have strong running abilities.
In contrast, Obi has less ga experience and doesn’t have much tactical intelligence.
So while Tang Long and Yuto Nagatomo were moving quickly, Obi stood stationary, feeling sowhat bewildered.
When Tang Long passed the ball to Yuto Nagatomo who was making a forward run.
Sampdoria’s left-back Regini swiftly closed in.
"Hey, Asian shorty, where are you going?"
Regini started trash-talking Yuto Nagatomo.
At the start of the match, when Regini saw that Inter’s starting full-back wasn’t Santon but the slender Yuto Nagatomo, he felt instantly delighted inside~
Regini, standing at 1.83 ters tall, weighing 81 kilograms, and being fast, particularly enjoyed bullying those smaller full-backs.
Especially considering Yuto Nagatomo was from Japan, whose muscular strength wasn’t as robust as that of these European players.
In the first leg confrontation between the two teams, Regini frequently used his powerful physicality and speed to attack Yuto Nagatomo’s side, knocking the Japanese full-back head over heels multiple tis.
In that match, he made two assists through continuous breakthroughs on the wings, becoming Sampdoria’s MVP in their 3:0 victory against Inter Milan at ho.
Regini’s tight marking also left Yuto Nagatomo sowhat nervous.
He didn’t dare to linger and quickly passed the ball back to Tang Long.
anwhile, Palombo, who had been bypassed, quickly charged towards Tang Long.
Tang Long looked at the sowhat clueless Obi and promptly directed him:
"Move! Apply pressure on Regini to create space for Yuto Nagatomo!"
It was a very clear decision.
Compared to Yuto Nagatomo, Obi wasn’t tall either, only standing at 1.77 ters, below Serie A’s average height.
However, compared to peers, the Black player Obi had better physical prowess, often able to make incredible extre maneuvers without ball control, and possessed a strong fighting spirit — sothing Yuto Nagatomo didn’t have.
Upon hearing Tang Long’s call, Obi finally reacted and promptly swapped positions with Yuto Nagatomo.
Obi moved to the side to match up with Regini, while Yuto Nagatomo appropriately retreated, always maintaining the distance with Tang Long.
Yuto Nagatomo’s protection left Palombo’s charge at Tang Long in vain.
"Bang!"
Tang Long passed the ball to Yuto Nagatomo, and then turned to execute a one-two play, bypassing Palombo once more.
"Beautiful! It’s a collaboration from two Asian players."
"Tang Long bypassed Palombo twice, once through dribbling and once through a one-two with Yuto Nagatomo!"
"Sampdoria’s captain seems very awkward within Inter Milan’s small-scale passing plays!"
No sooner said than done.
Almost as Yuto Nagatomo’s horizontal pass touched his foot, Tang Long concealedly flicked his left foot, the ball promptly moving back to the right wing!
This ti facing left-back Regini was Obi.
Compared to Yuto Nagatomo, Obi’s judgnt ability was worse, and his initial ball control was poor.
"Darn!"
It was irretrievable, and Obi gritted his teeth, simply charged forward!
Compared to Regini, Obi didn’t have a speed advantage.
Regini stepped over, trying to use his sturdy hip to directly knock Obi away.
"Where do you think you’re running!"
However, to his surprise.
His sturdy hip collided with Obi’s waist, and although the Nigerian player was hit nearly airborne, his supporting foot left the ground~
But just as Obi landed, his center of gravity suddenly dropped, performing an instant inside-cut to regain the ball.
As Regini had already cast his body weight forward, his defense simply couldn’t keep up—
He was actually bypassed by Obi!
"Wow, how did I get past him?"
The oblivious Obi didn’t even know how he managed to get past Regini.
Anyway, after a series of physical confrontations, when he saw the ball again, he was already near the baseline inside the penalty area.
One must praise the young Bonazzoli.
It seems this kid often observed the main striker Icardi’s movents in training and matches.
He imdiately learned Icardi’s habit and sprinted toward the near post.
With that sprint, he pulled both central defenders Silvestre and Romario out of their original defensive zone.
Everyone’s attention began to focus on the near post of Sampdoria’s penalty area.
"Keep an eye on your position, leave Tang to !"
Sampdoria’s veteran captain Palombo was relentless in defense.
Even though Tang Long had toyed with him twice, he was still glued to him like sticky candy, never leaving.
But Tang Long didn’t concern himself with Palombo.
He glanced to the right, searching for Yuto Nagatomo’s position.
When he saw the small player, like a lurking phantom, had appeared at the vacancy in Sampdoria’s penalty spot.
Tang Long slapped his thigh: Got it!
Obi’s pass was terrible, not close to the ground.
A ground roller sohow got lifted, stumbling towards the center.
"Here it cos!"
Accompanied by this low roar, Yuto Nagatomo, unguarded, leapt like a cheetah, taking quick small steps to mark spot.
This oncoming ball wasn’t just a soccer ball; it was his hope to prove himself!
Just as the ball arrived a ter in front of him during the critical mont.
His supporting left foot suddenly lunged forward, his right foot leveraging the force, his body pressed down, and his right leg swiped like a sharp cleaver, executing a clean side swipe!
Swish!
Slicing cleaver radish!
The football shot like an arrow, almost without spinning, straight towards the bottom left corner of Sampdoria’s goal.
It was a reverse shot!
Although Samp’s goalkeeper Viviano had anticipated Yuto Nagatomo’s shot direction in advance, his extended arm couldn’t stop this extrely tricky shot!
So skillful!
At 11 minutes into the ga, the ho team Inter Milan broke the deadlock!
Leading 1:0!
Assist by Obi;
Goal by Yuto Nagatomo;
But the orchestrator of this attack was attacking midfielder Tang Long!
The 28-year-old Yuto Nagatomo, after mingling in European soccer circles for years, was well-versed.
After scoring, he didn’t rush towards the assist provider Obi, but instead turned and ran towards Tang Long.
"Thanks! Thanks! Thanks!"
Yuto Nagatomo bowed to Tang Long three tis at a 90-degree angle, repeatedly saying "thanks" in Japanese.
anwhile, young Obi dashed back from near the baseline.
He perford a long-range sliding knee towards Tang Long and proceeded to hug his leg, burying his head in Tang Long’s knees.
"I made an assist, I actually assisted, wah wah wah wah!"
Obi was utterly grateful to Tang Long.
Calling Tang Long his rebirth parent was no exaggeration!
In the last match against Sassuolo, Obi scored the first goal in his 4-year career.
And in this match against Sampdoria, Obi gave his first assist in 4 years!
years, a full 4 years!
A good number of professional matches.
Obi always had a "double zero" record.
Teammates jokingly called him "Zero Obi"!
Yet within just two consecutive matches, Obi secured both goals and assists!
Pierced through two barriers!
Obi understood that all of this ca from Tang Long’s generosity!
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