In the blink of an eye, it’s already Saturday.
Premier League third round, Manchester City plays at ho against West Ham United.
One of the big focuses of this match is whether West Ham United can break Manchester City’s invincible zero goals conceded!
"After two rounds of the Premier League, five teams have won all their matches: Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool, and West Ham United!"
"But only Manchester City has zero goals conceded, with two consecutive 4-0 wins!"
"However, West Ham United’s start has been stunning, not only achieving two consecutive wins but their forward Ayew has continuously scored goals, two gas two goals!"
"Ayew transferred from Swansea to West Ham United this sumr for 24 million euros."
"This 27-year-old forward is fast, powerful, and especially good at breaking through defenders in one-on-one situations!"
"If Manchester City wants to maintain their invincible zero goals conceded record, they must keep a close watch on this Ghanaian forward!"
"..."
"Wow, Manchester City starts with fierce pressing!"
"Tang Long has pressed West Ham United’s defender Reid near the baseline; he can’t turn around!"
"Reid is forced to pass back to goalkeeper Adrian, Bonazzoli imdiately presses on, predicting the ball’s path!"
"Adrian clears with a big kick!"
"Oh no, it didn’t go far enough; not enough height!"
"It gets headed back by Ranocchia halfway!"
"Bonazzoli stops the ball... doing a bicycle kick? It’s a bicycle overtake!"
"Shot!!!!!!!"
"Goooooooooooal!"
"The ball is in!"
Amidst the comntator’s shouts and the cheers of sixty thousand fans at Etihad Stadium, Bonazzoli doesn’t run towards Ranocchia who assisted him but rushes to Tang Long, lifting him up!
"Well done, Tang!"
Off the field.
Manchester City head coach Guardiola claps and cheers loudly, with Chiwo clapping continuously behind him.
This ti, the upfront pressure displayed the essence of Guardiola Style possession play.
Without pressing, pure possession doesn’t fit Guardiola’s tactics.
Only by exploiting front-field high pressure to the maximum can the ball be regained with minimal cost, saving energy and keeping control of the ga.
On the bench, veteran Sabaleta says to Stones, who was benched due to rotation:
"Did you see? Why did Bonazzoli imdiately rush to Tang Long, instead of Ranocchia?"
"Got it," Stones nods, "It’s precisely because Tang Long pressed their fullback to the baseline that he was forced to pass back, then the goalkeeper’s big kick failed, allowing Bonazzoli to score."
Also sitting on the bench due to rotation, Diego smiles at Stones and says:
"Exactly, back at Barça, we played like this, Henry was in that position of Tang, he also pressed like that, but Henry’s pressing skills were not as good as Tang’s, maybe because Tang played as a midfielder initially and understands defense better."
Stones sniffles and looks at Tang Long’s agile running figure on the pitch.
Just recently, Tang Long had completed a front-field interception; if Bonazzoli hadn’t jumped late, the pass to the penalty area would have been a great chance for a header goal.
"Tang is really too strong," Stones says enviously, "He’s two years younger than , but much more mature!"
...
After 12 passes through the midfield, Manchester City’s formation gradually presses forward.
West Ham United’s defensive line is firmly suppressed in front of the penalty area.
Seeing teammates’ jerseys soaked through one by one, West Ham United forward Ayew has no choice but to retreat from the midfield to the defensive midfield position to help teammates retrieve the ball.
"Get a ball down!"
More than twenty minutes into the ga, having barely touched the ball, Ayew is anxious.
A forward without the ball is like being in prison!
Especially for Ayew, who excels at sprinting and dribbling; he’s not a fox in the box and doesn’t have the patience to be isolated for half an hour, just for one last shot.
Seeing forward Ayew leave his position to retreat, defensive midfielder Ranocchia decisively waves a hand, encouraging right-back Navas to press up boldly!
Perhaps because he used to play center-back, the Italian always observes the situation from the back of the field;
He’s very competent in controlling the ga’s dynamics and has strong commanding attributes!
Ranocchia keenly realizes that Navas pressing up not only increases our passing options in midfield with an extra player;
It also adds variety to wing attacks, allowing Navas to send crosses from the flank when it’s hard to penetrate dense formations.
As expected, with the extensive retreat of West Ham United, Mkhitaryan, Gundogan, Ranocchia kept passing around, unable to find any creative gaps.
Pa!
Ranocchia decisively divides the ball to the right towards Navas.
Navas glances at the penalty area and instantly starts!
In wing overtaking, Navas has a trick called a stroke of genius;
With this skill, during his three-plus years at Manchester City, even with constant changes in team lineup, tactical system, and coach, he’s remained a key player in rotation!
Facing left-back Masiaque’s single defense, Navas first turns slightly, his eyes fixed on the ball;
Then, seemingly casually but with hidden finesse, he lightly nudges the ball forward, followed by a swift chase like an arrow leaving the string.
This ti, the dribbling push lacks complex frequency change or feints, so Masiaque easily sticks to him, hardly shaken by Navas.
Looking at the small-frad Navas, tightly marked by the large and strong Masiaque, Manchester City’s center forward Bonazzoli was anxious.
Without thinking, he turned around, intending to co out to assist Navas.
But as soon as he took two steps, before he even ran out of the penalty area, he was quickly grabbed by Tang Long.
"Where are you going? Stay put in the penalty area!" Tang Long shouted.
"I have to go help Navas, none of you are supporting him!" Bonazzoli replied urgently.
"He doesn’t need you; just wait to head the ball!" Tang Long said with a commanding tone.
Bonazzoli wanted to argue further—
But at this mont, he instinctively turned his head towards the sideline and saw that Navas, in what seed to be an utterly hopeless situation, overwhelmingly marked by Masiaque with no chance of breakthrough, suddenly tapped the ball lightly with his toe. The football, as if enchanted, skillfully dodged Masiaque’s defensive steps.
Imdiately, Navas nudged the ball past Masiaque’s side, swiftly gaining half a body’s advantage!
The two were locked in an intense struggle, with Navas slowly leading the play.
With every few dribbles, his feet moved like agile dancers, rapidly circling around.
This seemingly simple move was actually his signature technique—the reverse bicycle kick!
Each ti he executed this move, Masiaque instinctively extended his foot to block, but each ti he was dodged deftly by Navas.
The two were entangled all the way, neither giving an inch.
When Navas dribbled the ball to within two ters of the baseline, his eyes suddenly brightened. Sizing up the mont, he thrust the ball forward, and just as it was about to cross the baseline, he perfectly passed it into the penalty area!
At the mont Navas crossed, Tang Long forcefully pushed Bonazzoli towards the center of the penalty area.
Bonazzoli, before he could react, felt imnse energy pressing him forward, causing him to stagger almost to the point of falling. When he looked up again, he found himself at the near post, precisely where Navas’ cross ca flying.
"Wow!"
Bonazzoli exclaid instinctively, flicking his head back, sending the ball skimming off to the front post.
Although Tang Long’s intervention helped Bonazzoli locate the point of fall, in the rush his footing and balance weren’t adjusted;
So while the ball skimd towards the middle, it veered towards Tang Long’s back.
Bonazzoli instantly departed the center, the change in West Ham United’s original defensive area startled them!
But thankfully, Bonazzoli’s angle wasn’t well-placed. Seeing that Tang Long could not head the ball, the West Ham United defenders in the box breathed a sigh of relief.
The nearest central defender rushed forward, ready to control the ball and carry it out of the penalty area.
And at this mont, an unbelievable scene occurred!
To the mindsets of the Premier League players on the field, Tang Long was seemingly without a header opportunity at this mont.
Yet, despite it being impossible for Tang Long to head the ball, he suddenly turned his back to the goal and, like a spring, powerfully thrust off both legs, leaping high into the air!
In mid-air, Tang Long’s movents were fluid. First, his left foot reached forward as if grasping an invisible force from the air. Riding this traction, his right foot quickly swung back, his body taut as a drawn bow, building up energy;
Then, his left foot slamd downwards while his right foot, like a cannonball, swung forward forcefully!
The instep struck the center of the football with the force of a sledgehamr, producing a clear yet deafening blast echoing over the Etihad Stadium.
"Bang!"
The ball zood straight into the top left corner!
A dramatic bicycle kick!
"Ah, this..."
The scene fell silent, as if muted.
The West Ham United players were all stunned!
They never imagined that Tang Long would perform a bicycle kick in the penalty area!
Especially the West Ham United defender Obonner, who was about to chest the ball down, looked dumbfounded and incredulous.
"Where’s the ball, where did it go, ah!"
He held his bald head in dismay, continuously berating himself: "I underestimated him, if only I had decisively headed the ball to clear it earlier, oh, thinking I could control it was foolish to the extre, damn, too damn!"
"Tang!"
"Tang!"
"Chinatang!!!"
After the silence, the Etihad Stadium echoed with the famous Tang Long chant!
Every ti Tang Long scores, these three cheers erupt over the Etihad Stadium, but this ti, the Tang Long chant rolled like surging waves, sweeping over the entire stadium!
Each call was more intense than ever, so much so that it resonated with the eardrums of the Manchester City players on the field, buzzing!
Because at this mont, they witnessed a masterpiece, a super masterpiece that absolutely has the qualification to compete for the Premier League’s best goal of the season!
Since joining Manchester City, Tang Long perford a bicycle kick for the first ti!
After scoring, Tang Long was also extrely excited. He pushed away the Manchester City teammates coming to celebrate and first made a knee-slide towards the corner flag.
Three stripes!
Ending the slide, Tang Long quickly got up, grabbed the hem of his jersey with both hands, yanked it off fiercely, and tossed it high into the air!
He looked up towards the sky.
Under the setting sun, the airborne jersey was tinted with a faint golden glow at its edges!
Like a golden eagle breaking free and soaring in the sky.
And behind this soaring eagle were tens of thousands of Blue Moon fans roaring in frenzy for him!
Marking the mont he first perford a high-difficulty overhead kick, Tang Long celebrated by removing his shirt, even if it ant picking up a yellow card—it was worth it!
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