After four days of rest, Cambridge United once again traveled north to the Bescot Stadium in Walsall, over 200 kilometers away, to challenge their strong rival, Walsall.
Having achieved five consecutive victories, Cambridge United finally received proper attention from the media. The odds, slightly lower than those for the home team, indicated that everyone expected Cambridge United to continue winning this match, or at least secure one point from Walsall.
This was the first time the Welshman Richard Money served as a Head Coach. Unlike Huang Hao, Money played as a midfielder, had a 17-year playing career, and was selected for the Wales national team 36 times. Previously, the Welshman served as a Head Coach for six years in the reserve team of Premier League club Bournemouth, giving a very reliable and steady impression.
After taking charge of Walsall last season, he led the team to third place in League Two, promoting them to League One. This season, they are currently ranked eighth, slightly below Cambridge United, led by Huang Hao.
As autumn set in, England grew cooler. The sun hid above thick clouds, and Huang Hao, sitting on the bench, couldn't help but curl up slightly, leaning back against the chair. After kickoff, Walsall's two flanks were exceptionally active. Maurice and Kinneary, like two sharp knives, plunged into Cambridge United's ribs.
Feeling a bit uneasy, Huang Hao stood up and walked to the sideline, while Money remained calmly seated on the bench.
Unlike his usual confidence, today Huang Hao felt he had encountered a very difficult opponent. Although the score on the field was still 0-0, he felt a distinct sense of suppression.
Damn it! Huang Hao muttered before refocusing his attention on the match.
At this moment, Walsall's Maurice received a pass from the midfield and immediately drove the ball towards the byline area! Although Sterri pressed him closely all the way, he was still half a step behind!
After Maurice broke through to the byline, he passed the ball into the Cambridge United box just before Sterri could get a foot in!
Longolo positioned himself very well and headed the ball out of the box first!
But the second ball was still recovered by Walsall's Martina!
Martina quickly threaded the ball to Kinneary on the right side of the box! Kinneary crossed again!
Mark Bola, a meter away from Kinneary, tried his best to lift his left foot but still couldn't touch the ball that was once again crossed into the box!
Left winger Maurice leaped high at the far post in the box and headed the ball towards the goal!
The ball bounced off the ground, just missed Pantilimon's fingertips, and went into the net! 1-0! Walsall scored first!
Huang Hao clenched his right fist and heavily struck his left hand! This feeling of having no defensive lapses yet being helpless was what he hated the most!
Just two minutes after the goal! Cambridge United's attack was thwarted, and it was Maurice again who got the ball in the backfield. As if the ball had a guidance system installed, his long overhead pass directly bypassed Cambridge United's two center-backs and landed at the feet of striker Candlin!
Candlin dribbled the ball to the edge of the right side of the box, then chipped it directly to the top of the box, where Zinsella, who had been lurking for a while, unleashed a powerful shot!
The ball, whistling through the air, rapidly rocketed towards the right side of the goal! Pantilimon dove sideways but didn't touch the ball!
The ball grazed the right post, flew out of bounds, and hit the advertising board behind it with a dull thud!
The home fans let out a huge sigh of disappointment, and Zinsella also held his head in his hands, regretting the missed goal!
Thirty-seven minutes into the first half, still unable to equalize, Cambridge United's players clearly knew that their opponent was not an easy nut to crack.
This attack was once again successfully defended by Walsall, who immediately launched a counterattack!
The ball quickly crossed midfield and was passed to striker Candlin. Longolo seized the opportunity and bravely rushed forward, performing a sliding tackle! He dispossessed the ball!
Candlin instantly lost his balance while running and fell directly onto Longolo!!!
Huang Hao, on the sideline, clearly saw Longolo's wrist bend abnormally! His face instantly turned pale!!!
Oh no!!!
Indeed, Longolo's painful cry immediately echoed from the field. The young man clutched his forearm, writhing in agony on the turf!
The team doctor immediately rushed onto the field with the medical kit, examined Longolo's condition, and then turned to Huang Hao, shaking his head gravely.
Huang Hao sighed and immediately called Hawkins from the bench. Without time to warm up, Hawkins replaced the injured Longolo. Afterward, an ambulance wailed as it arrived and took Longolo to a nearby hospital.
Longolo's unexpected injury made the match even more difficult.
With three minutes remaining until halftime, Grove's free-kick from the attacking third was wildly off target, directly caught by Walsall's goalkeeper Daniels.
Before Cambridge United's players could return to their positions, Daniels launched a long kick, sending the ball directly into Cambridge United's half!
Kinneary headed the ball down to Candlin in the middle. Candlin didn't hesitate, immediately shifting the ball to the left side of the box, where the surging Maurice received it and quickly advanced, once again penetrating Cambridge United's box! Sterri was clearly outmatched in his contest with Maurice. The ball rolled past him towards the goal!
The ball, having slipped past two Cambridge United center-backs, landed at the feet of Walsall striker Healy. The experienced Healy immediately used his body to shield Hawkins behind him! Giving Hawkins no chance to touch the ball!
What followed was much easier. Healy unceremoniously slammed the ball into the net! 2-0!
Huang Hao was no longer as angry as he was with the first goal. He knew that Cambridge United would likely face a grim outcome in this match. What concerned him more was hoping that Longolo's injury wasn't serious. Thinking of Longolo, the scene of his injury just now reappeared in his mind. He quickly shook his head hard to refocus his attention on the game.
As Huang Hao had expected, although Cambridge United, through the efforts of Vardy and Lewandowski, managed to score two goals, Walsall also scored one more, and ultimately Cambridge United lost the match 2-3 away. When shaking hands with the opposing Head Coach Money, Huang Hao clearly felt an unusual composure, especially when Money said, "You did very well." It felt more like a declaration of war.
Back in Cambridge, the team had its usual day off. Huang Hao had learned about Longolo's injury after the match: a torn ligament in his right wrist, which would sideline him for at least 8-10 weeks. It was bad news.
The next day, Huang Hao woke up feeling somewhat uninspired due to the team's loss. After washing up, he decided to visit Longolo in the hospital to cheer the young man up.
From his apartment to Northwick Park Hospital, it was about 5 kilometers, an easy distance for Huang Hao, who was accustomed to morning runs.
Wearing a white training suit, he ran to the hospital entrance in less than 30 minutes. But looking at the hospital map, he fell into thought.
"May I help you?"
This sweet-sounding voice wasn't a genuine London accent, but it made Huang Hao feel especially warm.
Huang Hao quickly turned around and saw that it was indeed a Chinese girl!
She was about 165cm tall, very slender, with fair skin tinged with a hint of pink, which made Huang Hao stare in a daze.
"Sir?!"
The girl raised her voice again.
"Ah! Ah! Hello, hello, I, I, I'm here to see a patient!"
Huang Hao noticed his gaffe and immediately explained, even stammering a bit!
The girl saw Huang Hao's flustered expression and giggled, her laughter as melodious as silver bells, almost making Huang Hao lose himself again!
Although Huang Hao was only 175cm tall, he had a sunny and handsome face, making him appear harmless. Since breaking up with his girlfriend a few years ago due to a long-distance relationship, Huang Hao's focus had been entirely on football, and he had no interest in dating. The Chinese girl in front of him looked very well-behaved, giving him a particularly warm and familiar feeling.
The girl finally stopped laughing and then said to Huang Hao:
"So, sir? Is your friend's butt not feeling well?"
"Ah! His arm is injured! But why is this map all about proctology!"
The girl giggled again, and Huang Hao was somewhat entranced.
"Sir, this is St. Mark's Hospital! You want to go to Northwick Park Hospital, right?" The girl pointed to the hospital next door, explaining with a smile.
St. Mark's Hospital and Northwick Park Hospital are located completely together, and most of their examination facilities are even shared. Huang Hao, visiting for the first time, clearly didn't know this.
"Ah! So that's how it is! No wonder it's all proctology."
Huang Hao awkwardly scratched his head. St. Mark's Hospital is a famous proctology hospital in the UK, while Longolo was currently undergoing rehabilitation treatment in the inpatient department of the general Northwick Park Hospital.
"By your accent, are you Chinese?"
This time, Huang Hao directly asked in Chinese.
"Yes! You are too!"
The girl was clearly happy to meet a compatriot here.
"That's right, my name is Huang Hao. And your beautiful name, young lady?"
"Kexin, Lin Kexin."
While answering, Lin Kexin led Huang Hao towards the inpatient department of Northwick Park. Huang Hao naturally followed eagerly.
"Do you work here?"
"I'm a medical student at Cambridge University, interning here. What about you?"
"Oh, I started working here after studying abroad. I play football."
"Play football? Are you a professional player? That's amazing!"
"Ah, no, I'm a coach."
"That's also amazing!"
The two of them chatted back and forth. Huang Hao learned that Lin Kexin was actually a sports medicine doctor. Because she excelled at acupuncture, she was recommended by her college to intern at St. Mark's Hospital for a year at a young age.
They talked about everything from the climate in Cambridge to traditional Chinese medicine culture, completely forgetting about Longolo, who was still waiting anxiously for Huang Hao in his hospital bed.
It seems this loss wasn't all bad news after all!
Longolo was somewhat flattered!
Although he was injured while playing for Cambridge United, he wasn't too disheartened by the injury. He also confidently puffed out his chest and assured Head Coach Huang Hao that he would continue to charge forward fearlessly after recovery.
But Huang Hao seemed particularly guilty about his injury, visiting him every day!
The only strange thing was that each visit almost never lasted more than 5 minutes!
Until one day, Longolo happened to be looking out the window when he saw his boss, Huang Hao, downstairs, chatting and laughing with an East Asian girl. It was then that he had a sudden realization...