Super Wingstorm

After both sides completed their substitutions, the match quickly restarted.

The instructions Yang Yang brought onto the pitch were quickly carried out by the Ajax players, and everyone managed to steady their nerves amidst the chaos.

Moreover, Ajax soon made a second substitution. Galasek came on for Pinaar, pushing captain Van der Vaart to the left-wing position and forming a double defensive midfield with Galasek and De Jong.

After his serious injury, Van der Vaart no longer possessed his sharp speed, but his awareness and technique were still outstanding.

After the first leg against Arsenal, he took the initiative to reconcile with Ronald Koeman, promising to give his all for the team. In return, the head coach promised to give him more trust and freedom.

This time, Ronald Koeman chose to substitute Pinaar and keep Van der Vaart on the field.

The two consecutive substitutions made the head coach’s intentions crystal clear to every Ajax player on the pitch.

Stabilize the defense, counter-attack quickly.

Ronald Koeman had an incredibly illustrious career and was hailed as the center-back who was best at scoring goals. This gave him his own unique understanding of professional football. After retiring, he studied under two head coaches with extremely strong personal styles, Hiddink and Van Gaal, which greatly improved Koman’s coaching abilities.

Even when he faced a crisis of confidence, the public’s doubts were mostly directed at his in-game management.

He had just turned forty and was one of European Football’s renowned Young Marshals. His experience was naturally not as rich as that of the veteran coaches, but even the most critical observer would find it hard to fault the Ajax team he had built.

Reaching the Champions League quarterfinals for two consecutive seasons was the best proof.

From Almere to Ajax, from the youth team to the first team, every step of Yang Yang’s journey had greatly broadened his horizons. It allowed him to see a much wider football World and learn so much more.

Especially after joining the first team, he truly felt his transformation from an amateur to a professional player.

He absorbed a wealth of tactical knowledge from Ronald Koeman, the coaching staff, and the first team’s entire tactical system. This not only greatly improved his on-field performance but also significantly enhanced his personal tactical understanding, which would be of immense benefit to his future development.

The other players on the Ajax first team were clearly the same.

So, when Ronald Koeman waved his arm from the sidelines, demanding everyone tighten the defensive line and increase the intensity of their pressing against Real Madrid, every Ajax player knew exactly what they had to do.

One person pressing is ineffective, but when ten men work together in an organized press, the effect is astonishing.

Even a team as strong as Real Madrid began to suffer under Ajax’s collective press in the final stage of the second half. Their passing grew sloppy, leading to frequent turnovers, but Ajax just couldn’t find a threatening counter-attacking opportunity.

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Yang Yang ran and pressed relentlessly across the attacking midfield. Whenever Raul Bravo got the ball, he would immediately close in to harass him, forcing him to pass it away quickly.

He could clearly feel that after the two substitutions, the team was united, and the tide of the match was turning once again.

The most obvious change was that Ajax’s pressing was now effective. The Real Madrid players weren’t running much, and their frequent passing errors gave Ajax opportunities to counter-attack.

But Yang Yang understood this was just an illusion. He vaguely sensed something else was at play, but he couldn’t quite grasp what it was.

Since it was the middle of a match, he didn’t dwell on it and instead focused on running into open space.

Real Madrid’s attacking superstars didn’t track back on defense. After Queiroz brought on Boerhaave, the only players really involved in defending from the midfield forward were the double defensive midfield duo of Beckham and Boerhaave. Captain Raul was very active and would occasionally track back as well.

But it clearly wasn’t enough.

Whenever his team won the ball and launched a counter-attack, Yang Yang would immediately run into space to receive a pass. But unfortunately, his teammates either didn’t notice him or saw him but couldn’t get the ball to him. One time, a pass did come, but its quality was poor, and Yang Yang failed to control it, resulting in a turnover.

Time was running out, but the Ajax players continued to press relentlessly.

Every player carried a heavy sense of guilt. No one needed to say anything; they knew it themselves.

Their smooth first half and one-goal lead had blinded them, making them arrogant and complacent. As a result, they were stunned by their opponents at the start of the second half. Four to one—it was a complete and utter rout, and they needed to make amends.

Yang Yang also kept running, believing that his teammates would eventually pass the ball to his feet.

And he would do everything he could to get the ball upfield to Ibrahimovic. He also believed that the Swedish Striker would definitely be able to put the ball in the net.

If they could just pull one goal back to make it four to two, Ajax would at least have a glimmer of hope.

Even if it was only a theoretical hope.

In the eighty-sixth minute, Ajax launched a quick counter-attack down the left flank. Van der Vaart got an opportunity inside the box. A precise cross from Maxwell on the left found the Ajax captain, but Van der Vaart’s subsequent looping header went straight into the hands of Casillas.

Headers really weren’t Van der Vaart’s strong suit.

The Ajax captain let out a frustrated roar, but when he turned back, he didn’t forget to give his teammate a thumbs-up.

Everyone knew that if it had been Wesley Sonck on the end of that cross, it might have been a goal.

On the right wing, Yang Yang sighed helplessly and quickly ran back.

Sometimes opportunities were just like that. Ibrahimovic was the tall target, so the opposition marked him tightly. Even if Maxwell had wanted to cross to him, he might not have had the chance, forcing him to look for Van der Vaart instead.

But in the end, Van der Vaart didn’t have a great angle for the shot. Center-back Elgara was no slouch, and Sergado was a notoriously tough defender. Van der Vaart had already done well just to win the header.

Real Madrid immediately launched the ball forward with a long kick, sending it into their attacking half.

Escude out-jumped Ronaldo to win the first ball, heading it back.

A scramble for the ball ensued in midfield.

Real Madrid’s 4-2-3-1 formation seemed to give them a numerical advantage in midfield, but in reality, only Beckham, Boerhaave, and Raul participated in the press. Zidane and Figo mostly stayed out on the wings, waiting for opportunities.

This evened up the numbers in midfield. In fact, with Yang Yang and Van der Vaart actively tracking back, Ajax even had a numerical advantage and soon won the ball back.

After getting the ball, Sneijder quickly sent it out to the right flank.

Yang Yang burst forward from midfield, chasing after the ball.

Sneijder and Yang Yang’s chemistry was getting better and better. He knew exactly what kind of pass Yang Yang liked, and this ball was perfectly weighted, landing right in Yang Yang’s stride. It allowed him to comfortably continue his run after receiving it, bringing him face to face with Raul Bravo.

The Real Madrid left-back had already been playing for over eighty minutes, but this was the first time he was facing the freshly substituted Yang Yang one-on-one. He was well aware of his opponent’s reputation and knew Yang Yang’s signature moves, so he kept backing away.

But after receiving the ball and steadying himself, Yang Yang suddenly accelerated, rapidly closing the distance to Bravo. This took the Real Madrid left-back by complete surprise. He instinctively realized he had no more room to retreat and had to commit to a tackle.

Just then, Yang Yang dropped his right shoulder as if to break down the outside, baiting Raul Bravo into a quick block. But suddenly, Yang Yang’s body swayed, and to Bravo, his opponent became a blur as he changed direction and cut inside.

The moment they engaged, Yang Yang’s series of feints in a split second caused Raul Bravo to misjudge. As he tried to shift his weight back to block Yang Yang’s cut inside, he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his left foot. He lost his balance and collapsed onto the grass, watching helplessly as Yang Yang sped away.

After shaking off Raul Bravo, Yang Yang quickly dribbled toward the Real Madrid penalty area. Before Boerhaave could close him down, he lofted a curling cross into the box.

Ibrahimovic, anticipating the move, rushed forward at top speed. He leaped high in front of Mejia, chesting Yang Yang’s cross down in front of him.

Mejia, who had been shielded behind the Swedish Striker, desperately tried to get in front and use his body to block him. But to his frustration, he found his opponent was like a mountain; he couldn’t be pushed. All he could do was desperately stick out his foot, hoping to hook the ball away.

But Ibrahimovic was tall and long-legged, and as he chested the ball down, he was already preparing his next move. Even with Mejia stretching his leg out as far as he could, he couldn’t reach the ball. Instead, before the ball even hit the ground, the Swedish Striker struck it on the volley with his right foot.

Casillas was positioned toward the right post, but the Swedish Striker’s shot was aimed at the bottom left corner. Although Real Madrid’s Gate God reacted instantly, he was powerless to stop the ball from finding the back of the net.

Two to four!

Ibrahimovic clenched his fists and let out a furious roar right where he stood.

Yang Yang quickly ran up from behind and jumped onto Ibrahimovic’s back. But instead of celebrating with the Swedish Striker, he roared in his ear, "There’s still time! We still have a chance!"

He had a very strong premonition that if they kept up this rhythm, they could definitely score again.

He couldn’t explain this feeling, but it was real.

The Swedish Striker snapped back to his senses. Yang Yang jumped right off his back, rushed toward the goal, scooped up the ball, and turned to run back.

But just then, the referee suddenly blew his whistle, signaling for Real Madrid’s medical team and a stretcher to come onto the pitch.

Yang Yang, who had just placed the ball in the center circle to wait for the Real Madrid players to kick off, finally noticed that Raul Bravo, the player he had faked out earlier, had never gotten back up. He was clutching his left leg with a pained expression on his face.

He was injured.

Yang Yang wiped the sweat from his face and looked up at the sky, frustrated.

’What great momentum we had!’

’Why did he have to get injured now?’

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