The match progressed to the 30th minute, with Manchester United U21 leading the trial team by 2 goals, but the trial team hadn't even had a chance to stabilize.
Three minutes later, Manchester United U21 won a free kick on the right side of the attacking third, about 35 meters from the goal, and Hansen Allen launched a long ball towards the far post.
Mengji leaped high, getting ahead of the trial team's defender to head the ball towards the goal.
The trial team's goalkeeper, perhaps overly nervous after conceding two goals, fumbled the save, and the ball slowly rolled into the net.
Goal! Manchester United U21 led 3-0.
...
Watching the opposing team celebrate, Gao Nuo felt a bit helpless. Thirty-three minutes into the match, he had touched the ball five times, but facing Fernandes, Gao Nuo didn't dare to be overconfident, quietly choosing to pass back and then create space for his teammates.
On a few occasions, he made offside-beating runs forward, but his teammates couldn't keep up with Gao Nuo's rhythm and didn't choose to pass.
Gao Nuo walked over to Wang Xiaochuan and said, “Captain, this won't do. If we can't attack, we'll collapse sooner or later.”
“The strength gap is a bit big. Look at their passing and receiving; it’s too coordinated,” Wang Xiaochuan panted.
“Let’s go for long balls. Just hit it behind Fernandes, then you make a run forward and wait for me in the middle,” Gao Nuo discussed with Wang Xiaochuan.
“Alright, it’s up to you then. Let’s bring some glory to our Luneng Football School,” Wang Xiaochuan had good footwork, but his physical fitness couldn't keep up. He still had a chance to play in the Chinese Super League in the future.
“Whistle!” The kick-off sounded, and Manchester United U21 continued to push their formation forward, adopting a high-pressing tactic.
Wang Xiaochuan, who received the ball in midfield, looked up at Gao Nuo's position, gathered his strength, and launched a long ball towards the right side of the attacking third.
Manchester United U21's left-back, Fernandes, quickly chased back. He looked back and saw Gao Nuo rapidly approaching, and couldn't help but quicken his pace.
Gao Nuo had prepared to sprint as soon as Wang Xiaochuan looked at him. As the ball took flight, the distance between Gao Nuo and Fernandes grew smaller and smaller: 5 meters, 3 meters, caught up!
Just as Fernandes caught up to the ball, preparing to pass it back to the goalkeeper, he saw a figure appear in front of him. Then, a force came, and the ball at his feet was missed.
Gao Nuo, before Fernandes could pass, used the positioning he learned from Drogba, used his back to push the latter away, then exploded forward, charging towards the goal from the right side of the pitch.
Manchester United U21's goalkeeper, Masterney, remained calm facing Gao Nuo's one-on-one. When the ball was about 20 meters from the goal, he rushed out of his net.
Gao Nuo, facing the charging goalkeeper, didn't force a shot, instead laying the ball off horizontally to the middle.
After hitting the long ball, Wang Xiaochuan, according to Gao Nuo's plan, sprinted with all his might towards the opponent's penalty area. He reached the edge of the box, perfectly receiving Gao Nuo's horizontal pass. Facing an open goal, he drew back his foot like an archer, and shot.
Just as Gao Nuo was about to celebrate, Mengji caught up to Wang Xiaochuan and knocked him down from the side. Wang Xiaochuan missed the shot, and the anticipated goal did not materialize.
“Whistle!” The referee blew his whistle, pointed to the penalty spot, and showed Mengji a yellow card.
Mengji shrugged, without complaint, as it was an internal friendly match; otherwise, it would have been a definite red card and penalty.
The Manchester United U21 players surrounded the referee, complaining, but the referee stood firm on the penalty decision.
In the 40th minute of the match, the trial team's main striker, Doku, stood at the penalty spot. This black forward took a deep breath, calming himself.
He took a run-up, accelerated, and fiercely struck the right side of the ball with the inside of his foot.
Before the goalkeeper could react, the ball, with great power, flew towards… the stands!
A sky-high shot. Doku clutched his head with both hands, squatting at the penalty spot.
“Gao handled that ball well, he completely outmuscled Fernandes, and his choice in front of goal was also good.”
Mike Allen, on the sidelines, didn't pay attention to the striker who had missed the penalty. He glanced at the white coach beside him, a thought flashing through his mind.
“This coach is good. He managed to bring out Gao’s strengths in just a week? Is having him in charge of the trial camp a bit of a waste? Let’s observe a bit more. If he’s good enough, we can promote this guy to an assistant coach for the U21.”
The white coach, at this moment unaware of Mike Allen's thoughts, looked at Gao Nuo on the field, a little lost in thought.
His technique was still so poor, he didn't even dare to try dribbling past opponents, so how did he get a one-on-one? Did he misjudge him? No, it must have been luck.
For the next five minutes, Wang Xiaochuan again tried to pass a through ball to Gao Nuo.
Although Gao Nuo again outmuscled Fernandes, the latter was very focused this time, staying tight to Gao Nuo and eventually knocking the ball out of bounds from Gao Nuo's feet.
In the 45th minute, the referee blew the whistle for halftime, with no added time. The halftime score was set at Manchester United U21 3-0 Manchester United Trial Team.
...
In the locker room, Mike Allen rearranged the tactics:
“I’m not satisfied with your performance in the first half! The team’s attack was disorganized!
In the second half, focus on attacking the wings. If there’s an opportunity, cross the ball in from the byline. If not, pass it back and switch it to the other side. Keep moving, keep the ball circulating!
Midfielders, remember to constantly observe Gao Nuo’s position. If there’s an opportunity, play the ball behind him.”
“Yes, Coach.”
...
After a 15-minute break, the second half began, with the trial team kicking off.
Both teams made substitutions at halftime. For the trial team, apart from Gao Nuo, Wang Xiaochuan, and the striker Doku who missed the penalty, everyone else was substituted, especially the removal of “corridor” Zhao Dong.
Manchester United U21 replaced Garnacho with Elanga, and other positions also saw like-for-like changes, with only goalkeeper Masterney remaining on the field.
After the kick-off, the trial team passed the ball in the midfield and defensive third, organizing their attack.
Gao Nuo, having received instructions from the coach, was even more free, constantly probing the depth of the opponent's defensive line, and every now and then, a burst of acceleration would thoroughly trouble the newly substituted Manchester United U21 left-back.
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In the 48th minute of the match, Wang Xiaochuan received the ball at the center circle, turned, and bypassed the pressing opponent's midfielder. Then, with a long ball, the football flew towards the right corner flag.
“Oh no, it’s too long,” Wang Xiaochuan slapped his hand in frustration.
The players on the field, watching the ball's trajectory, didn't chase after it, tacitly moving towards the trial team's defensive third. Manchester United U21 waited to kick off their attack, and the trial team also began to get into defensive positions.
As everyone slowed their pace, a figure, like lightning, surged from midfield towards the ball—of course, it was the tireless wild dog, Gao Nuo!
It wasn't until Gao Nuo had sprinted more than 10 meters that Manchester United U21's left-back reacted, quickly following him. The two center-backs also sauntered unhurriedly towards their own penalty area; they didn't believe the ball could be caught.
Although Gao Nuo was very fast, the ball was even faster. He chased it until it was about 10 meters from the byline, when Gao Nuo had to admit he couldn't catch the ball.
Just as Gao Nuo began to slow down, he suddenly realized the ball had perfectly hit the corner flag and bounced back.
Gao Nuo instantly accelerated again, took a few steps, and got the ball, moving towards the goal.
The Manchester United U21 defenders, who had just breathed a sigh of relief, were instantly dumbfounded and rushed back towards their own goal.
Gao Nuo dribbled the ball from the byline towards the penalty spot. Since no teammates had followed up, Gao Nuo chose to create an angle and shoot himself.
Masterney once again faced Gao Nuo in a one-on-one situation. He didn't rush out. Gao Nuo's shooting angle was very narrow, so Masterney chose to block the near post.
...