Davis is definitely not a mindless provocateur.
Don’t be fooled by this Canadian midfielder’s age; he’s only 25, but he’s been playing in Serie A for 5 years.
To be specific, during these five years, he spent two years in Serie B and three years in Serie A.
It’s hard to say how high his skill level is; he’s not even a regular in this mid-to-lower Bologna team.
However, after being imrsed in Italian football for years, he’s learned quite a few dirty tricks, filled with sches.
Davis also ca up from being a young player; he still rembers how those old hands used psychological tactics to break his defenses!
"Davis, that starter with Inter, number 99, Tang, is only 18 years old. Go out there, ss up his ntality!"
"No problem, boss, I know how to deal with this kind of rookie."
Davis received instructions from the coach before the match; he was on a mission.
Often, young talents like Tang Long, starting for the first ti, co to the field full of energy, eager to prove themselves to the world.
The more anxious one is, the easier it is to lose control.
On August 17, 2005, 18-year-old ssi made his debut for the Argentine national football team and was expelled with a red card 48 seconds into a friendly match against Hungary.
Davis hopes the sa mistake will happen to Tang Long.
That’s why, after scoring a fluke goal, he deliberately ca over to provoke Tang Long, "Hey, are you scared silly?"
Whether Tang Long was scared silly, I don’t know.
Inter coach Mancini was certainly a bit bewildered!
He wasn’t confused by conceding a goal right off the bat—Manci has experienced scenes like this countless tis in his coaching career and is quite accustod to them.
What surprised him was the players’ remarkably poor condition on the field!
They clearly haven’t snapped out of their winter break yet.
Assistant coach Herrera said dejectedly: "If Gualin could confront Bornerelli in midfield, we wouldn’t have let him turn so easily, and there wouldn’t have been the subsequent goal concession."
Mancini shook his head with furrowed brows, "The key isn’t there; on the defensive line, Ranocchia and Andreolli are clearly not focused, both marking one guy, leaving Destro completely unguarded at the far post. Others may slack off, but not the defensive line!"
Mancini decisively made a swift adjustnt—
Expand Ranocchia’s range of movent!
With his height of 195cm, the tallest on the field, he’s no longer stationed on the defensive line but is instead closely pressing Bologna’s tall center forward Bornerelli.
Bornerelli likes to fall back, using height to bully our midfield?
Fine, I’ll let Ranocchia move up, wherever you go, Ranocchia will follow, giving you a full-field workout!
Mancini is truly a master coach, and this adjustnt had imdiate effects.
In the following ten minutes or so, Ranocchia contested 7 aerial balls against Bornerelli in midfield, winning 6 of them.
That move by the opposing center forward to fall back was thus nullified by Mancini.
Bornerelli stopped falling back and honestly stayed upfront.
The ga returned to a regular tug-of-war.
Bologna, in the lead, focused on defense while Inter controlled possession and attacked.
In Serie A, regardless of the team’s level, once they decide to fall back and form a chain defense, breaching the goal becos a challenging task for any team.
However, such a difficult battle is precisely the opportunity for Tang Long to shine!
In the 36th minute of the first half, Brozovic, Kovacic, and del, the three midfielders at the back, conducted multiple triangle positioning passes.
With such patience, two Bologna players were finally lured out to press.
Brozovic was waiting for that mont!
Bang! The ball was passed to Tang Long, who had run into open space!
This precise pass pushed Inter’s attacking line forward by 20 ters in an instant.
Tang Long swiftly turned and advanced with the ball.
Bologna’s midfielder Davis charged over, watching him intently, "Do you dare to co past , how about a duel?"
Tang Long wouldn’t fall for that trick, not because he didn’t dare to face off against Davis, but because Podolski was already behind the defenders, close to the offside line!
A direct ground-ball pass perfectly aligned with the end of the German forward’s running path!
"Here cos the opportunity!"
Icardi first took a backward step, bypassed the defender, then imdiately charged forward!
The near post is open, just give it a shot!
Near the byline, Podolski swept across, the ball nutgged through!
No one touched it, the ball deflected off a Bologna defender’s leg and was cleared from the penalty area.
Mancini shook his head in disappointnt on the sidelines.
It seems the synergy between the new recruits and the veteran players still needs work!
Icardi’s signature move is to slip through the defense to the near post.
Podolski’s cross was well-struck but aid at the penalty spot.
He didn’t sync with Icardi’s thinking.
If he could target the near post, Icardi was already in open space, and he would score 8 out of 10 tis.
"If Tang were in Podolski’s position, maybe that pass might have been better..."
Just as Mancini was lanting the missed opportunity.
While Podolski was still apologizing to Icardi for the poor pass.
As Bologna’s defenders were relieved over Inter’s botched play.
In Tang Long’s mind, the AI system had already provided a sharp analysis:
"Detected Bologna’s defense line hasn’t advanced tily, Icardi is within the onside boundary, passing within 1.5 seconds has an 88.56% chance to form a shot!"
This 1.5 seconds was an analysis made by the Green Grass Wisdom Engine System after modeling the movent of Bologna’s defensive line.
Exceeding these 1.5 seconds, due to the defensive line’s advancent, Icardi would certainly be offside!
Speed is of the essence!
No ti to think, Tang Long didn’t even have ti to look at Icardi’s exact position—
He charged toward the first drop point and shot as soon as the ball was about to land!
The ball flew back into Bologna’s penalty area!
The sudden change of rhythm caught Bologna’s defenders off guard.
Icardi was also montarily stunned, everyone thought that Tang Long would stop the ball, totally not considering he would do a one-touch pass!
But Icardi is Icardi.
As a top Serie A forward, he has quicker reaction speeds than others.
Lowering his body’s center of gravity, twisting and stepping across, he started spinning to receive the ball!
Eyes tightly trailing the ball’s path, when he finally managed to bring the ball under control at his feet, Bologna’s defender was at least three ters away from Icardi, forming a clear solo chance!
A quick flicking shot, like a water strider!
The diving Bologna goalkeeper could only watch as the ball sailed past his reach, left to helplessly sigh!
"I knew it! You’re the man!"
Icardi clenched his fist and roared, turning around to rush toward Tang Long!
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