If Toure were five years younger, facing an upcoming double-team, he might rely on his speed and physical advantage to forcefully break through them;
But Toure is now 32 years old, and although his build remains tall and his physique still impressive, the muscle strength and ankle agility have sowhat declined.
Before he could make a next step to control the ball, during a fifty-fifty contest with Rafael, the ball was intercepted!
"Danger!"
Tang Long quickly reacted, rushing to the spot where Toure lost the ball, acting as the first line of defense.
anwhile, Nasri and Sterling are forced to fall back in the front field to provide assistance.
This is the impact caused by a defensive midfielder losing possession!
This position is incredibly crucial, affecting the whole team profoundly.
The defensive midfielder position is the hardest to play; every movent impacts players’ positions all around.
Tang Long promptly occupied the position, blocked Rafael’s advance;
However, another forward, Stindel, has already charged up to the top of the penalty arc.
Rafael decisively passed the ball, bypassing Tang Long, giving possession to his striker partner.
Other Monchengladbach players pushed forward, attempting a quick overwhelming opener — turning guests into hosts!
"Where are you going!"
Ranocchia truly is the anchor of Manchester City’s defense.
In matches without their captain, this Italian center-back acts as the absolute commander of the defense line.
He took advantage of Stindel’s unstable mont upon receiving the ball, decisively pressing close, using an unnoticed hidden action, nudging his hip.
Stindel’s height is only 1.81 ters, below the average height in Monchengladbach’s tall team;
Being nudged by Ranocchia’s large 1.95-ter fra, he stumbled and mishandled the ball.
The football rolled towards Tang Long.
"Close him down, don’t let him turn!"
Since Monchengladbach players have all pushed forward, piling seven players in Manchester City’s frontline.
Three closest opponents near Tang Long quickly closed in, preventing him from turning.
Everyone knew Tang Long’s threat.
If the defense can’t win the ball, but at least prevent Tang Long from turning, force him to pass backward, block forward passes, Monchengladbach would consider this defensive move successful.
Noticing these moves, in the comntary box, Dong Fangzhuo spoke from experience:
"Little Tang’s got it tightly marked, can’t lose this ball — best to use his body to shield and draw a foul, can he manage that?"
Does Tang Long pose no threat if he can’t turn?
For most midfielders, only turning towards the opponent’s goal allows them to see all players’ positioning;
But Tang Long is different!
Even with his back turned, he has clarity on his teammates’ positions.
As three defenders pressed within three ters, about to encircle him;
Tang Long suddenly accelerated, slightly turned sideways, without looking towards the front, and kicked the ball from underneath!
The inner foot fiercely struck under the ball, sending it through the air in a sharp arc towards the front field!
"Haha, you indeed saw it!"
Having already dashed to the offside line, Agüero watched the soccer speeding into the open space, his running path perfectly aligned with Tang Long’s pass.
Monchengladbach paid the price for their early pressure!
This Argentine forward initially just spurred as a test but surprisingly got a one-on-one chance.
Next, Agüero demonstrated in-ga to Sterling and those on the bench like Bony and Iheanacho how a striker should handle a breakaway.
In the sa manner, a chip shot, Agüero drove the ball to within two ters of the goalkeeper before slowing the dribble.
His foot feigned a shot to the left;
After deceiving goalkeeper Somr into diving to the ground, he lightly nudged the underside of the ball with the tip of his foot~
The ball barely rose over one ter high, but gently rolled over Somr’s head, who had lost balance, heading towards the goal.
Even before scoring, it lightly bounced off the goal line.
"Gooooooooooal!"
"Agüero scores!"
"A perfect chip shot, tricked Monchengladbach’s goalkeeper Somr into the net!"
"19 seconds after kickoff, Manchester City has taken the lead—it’s unbelievable!"
"Tang Long made the pass!"
"Even more incredible, his first touch of the match led to an assist!"
"This start couldn’t be more exquisite!"
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