Chapter 100: Final Match of the Season

Fuck, Utrecht is playing dirty, switching head coaches already?

Awesome, I just want to know who came up with this move.

Ten Hag: It wasn’t my idea to put Tang Ye on; it was Head Coach Fan Degah’s suggestion.

Damn, why didn’t you do this sooner?

Well, my King Tang really is too hot to handle.

Before the match even started, Dongqi Di had already begun its hype.

Today is Utrecht’s final match of the season, and this game will directly decide the Eredivisie champion.

This could be the first Eredivisie title trophy won by a Chinese player!

In the player tunnel, both teams lined up vertically; Tang Ye whispered to Ramselaar: “Fuck, I just saw a few guys in yellow holding shields—is the Eredivisie trophy a shield?”

Ramselaar nodded: “It’s a shield. Are you sure you saw it? It’s silver—was it silver?”

“It was silver!”

Tang Ye suddenly grew excited.

The staff holding the shields were clearly preparing the podium in the back.

But…

Tang Ye thought of a problem: “If we lose this match, what will those guys setting up the podium do?”

“What can they do? Go home.”

Ramselaar added quickly: “But why are you nervous? We can’t lose.”

He pointed at the opposing players: “They’re not as good as Eric said. We’re the best.”

“Really?”

Tang Ye leaned back, clearly doubting Ramselaar’s words.

“Definitely true, but watch out—they’ll press you hard. Make sure you pass to me!”

Ramselaar warned, then the referee at the front of the line blew his whistle.

On the field!

…

“Welcome to the 2015-2016 Eredivisie Matchday 34! I’m here to introduce the two teams!”

The live commentator was ready.

“Home team: Utrecht!”

“Wo!”

“Away team: AZ Alkmaar!”

“Xuuuu——!!!!”

The home fans had already raised their noise level; every time the announcer called out an AZ Alkmaar player’s name, the stands erupted with boos.

“This match is crucial—it will decide whether the Eredivisie trophy goes to PSV or Utrecht!”

“Bip!”

The match began; Wang Chao hurriedly introduced the starting lineups to the livestream viewers.

“For Utrecht, the head coach is Ten Hag… no, Fan Degah!”

“The lineup is mostly unchanged, but Yangsen, back from injury, is on the bench—no one knows when Fan Degah will sub him in.”

“But as long as Tang Ye is on the pitch, I think Utrecht is solid.”

“Now, the away team: AZ Alkmaar!”

AZ Alkmaar (4-3-3)

Goalkeeper: Rochet

Defenders: Haps, Steen-Wutengsi, Vlaar, Matthias Johansson

Midfielders: B. Rienstra, Henriksson, Van Oeverim

Forwards: Dos Santos, Vincent Yangsen, Jahanbaksh

Both teams had a Yangsen; to avoid confusing viewers, Wang Chao simply called AZ’s Yangsen “Vincent.”

That solved the problem!

“bijansdoeteenbalprecies”

“wateenbalmoetdoen”

“wehebbengoedespelers”

“…”

Utrecht’s anthem blared across the pitch; the camera panned to the home bench.

Head coach Fan Degah sat on his chair, looking like an assistant coach.

Assistant coach Ten Hag stood on the sideline, looking exactly like the head coach.

The Netherlands’ strict minor protection laws had stripped Ten Hag of his official title, but they hadn’t stripped him of his aura.

The aura of Utrecht’s savior!

“Stay focused, watch for pressure, check the flanks!”

Ten Hag shouted at Tang Ye, who was being pressed by two opposing midfielders.

Pass it out quickly!

To Ramselaar!

“I’ve got it!”

Ramselaar trusted his dribbling skills and took off down the right flank with a burst.

It looked risky, but Ramselaar kept possession!

Tang Ye stayed close behind him, not moving into the center but positioning himself defensively—he sensed Ramselaar would be surrounded.

Sure enough, as Tang Ye predicted, after dribbling twenty meters, the defenders stopped him; Haps and Henriksson charged in from front and left.

Ramselaar was trapped!

“Give it to me!”

Tang Ye shouted from behind; Ramselaar quickly passed.

Open space—no defenders in front of Tang Ye!

Bam!

He sent the ball straight into the box!

【45-degree cross】After leveling up to Lv3, Tang Ye’s crosses from the wing had become bolder.

It was a feeling—a very strange feeling.

Tang Ye knew he could deliver the ball into the box.

“King Tang sends it into the box! The defense is chaotic—Can Ale get to it lower?”

“Ale missed it!”

“No problem—Utrecht still controls possession; let’s see Jostens!”

“Jostens shoots!”

Bam!

Jostens was still too young—he shot directly, and the goalkeeper saved it.

“Damn, Jostens, you wasted King Tang’s perfect pass!”

Utrecht was the first to shoot on target, but they failed to convert the chance.

Both coaches now sensed something was off.

Ten Hag realized Utrecht’s forwards were off-form today.

The away team realized Tang Ye was extraordinary.

They had to mark Tang Ye tightly!

“Utrecht!”

Thud! Thud!

AZ Alkmaar launched a counterattack; forward Dos Santos sprinted down the flank.

Ramselaar was struggling—he had no choice but to ask Tang Ye to help defend.

OK, OK, leave it to me!

Dos Santos was about Tang Ye’s height; Tang Ye wasn’t intimidated—he anticipated where Santos might run and jogged over calmly.

Santos was aggressive—he played a one-two with a teammate and executed a Marseille turn to beat Klebe.

Fuck?

The opponent’s good—Tang Ye had to focus now.

I’m going in with a tackle!

Thud!

Tang Ye tackled Santos, bringing him and the ball down to the ground.

He didn’t know if it was a foul.

But since the referee didn’t blow the whistle, it wasn’t a foul!

“Go go go!”

Fan Demaier caught the ball kicked loose by Tang Ye’s tackle and shouted loudly; Utrecht’s forwards had already started their run.

This is a good opportunity for a long pass.

Directly…

Huh?

Fan De Ma Leier stopped his movement, remembering that a long-pass specialist was standing right beside him.

The long pass became a short one, delivered to Tang Ye’s feet.

“Huh? Thanks!” Tang Ye hadn’t expected his teammate to pass him the ball—it made him feel comfortable, even like he was playing for the reserve team.

He rarely touched the ball; having teammates help him was perfect.

Now he had to show something!

Tang Ye seized the counterattack chance and sent a direct through ball into the forward area.

【De Bruyne-style through pass!】

The ball struck the Alkmaar backline, precisely landing behind Vlaar.

Just as Vlaar prepared to intercept, a familiar scene appeared—the ball curved, rolling past Vlaar to Balazic.

“Balazic, cross to Aale!”

“Aale!”

“Empty net!”

“Empty net!”

!

“Shoot directly!”

“Goal!”

“Sebastian Aale!”

“Utrecht leads!”

“Tang Ye stepped up—a tackle followed by a long pass!”

Dongquedi live report: 17’, Tang Ye’s miraculous through pass, Aale scores—Utrecht opens the scoring!

“Great ball!”

Assistant coach Ten Hag raised one hand triumphantly, as happy as a head coach.

Leading 1-0, if they hold this score, Utrecht will win the match outright.

If you analyze it this way, Utrecht already has one foot in the trophy.

Half a championship!

Utrecht now has half the championship trophy!

“Good ball, Tom!”

After roaring, Aale ran toward Tang Ye; on camera, Tang Ye secretly swapped his gum, then ran toward Aale.

“Safe! Safe!”

In the crowd, Ramseyer kept rubbing Tang Ye’s hair.

They’re really going to win the Eredivisie title!

During Utrecht’s goal celebration, Alkmaar’s two coaches called their players to the sideline to discuss tactics.

“Mark No. 99, can you do it? Mark No. 99!”

“He keeps running around randomly.”

“Then follow him! Can’t you stick to him?”

“Follow him constantly—even know when he swaps his gum, got it?”

“Got it!”

Alkmaar’s midfielders and forwards were all scolded by the coach.

Remember what the coach emphasized, and return to the pitch.

“Play more steadily, just a bit more solidly!”

Ten Hag also set new tactics, signaling De Jong and Ramseyer to avoid being too aggressive with the ball.

Time flew—by the 25th minute, the live stream showed both teams’ possession rates.

Utrecht’s possession was only 43%, which calmed the live-stream viewers.

【Good, good—looks like it’s secure now.】

【Utrecht’s possession isn’t high, so why is it secure?】

【You’re new, aren’t you? Utrecht is strongest at 40%-50% possession—they hardly ever lose.】

【Wait, you actually analyze data like this?】

【Don’t doubt my Tang Ball King, and don’t doubt my Ten Saint!】

“Utrecht’s overall state is still stable—I feel they’ll hold the score before halftime.”

“Look at Alkmaar—even though they have wing attacks, their wing play isn’t strong; for Utrecht, it’s completely…”

“Damn! What a mistake—Aale fell without any contact!”

“The away team will seize this chance—Johnson with a low pass!”

“Tang Ye, intercept! Can you intercept it?!”

Johnson’s low long pass passed right by Tang Ye, who sprinted toward the ball’s location.

But Tang Ye was just a bit too slow—even after diving into a sliding tackle, his cleat didn’t touch the ball.

Johnson’s long pass pierced Utrecht’s defense!

Jahanbakhsh!

Directly blasted a shot!

Score tied!

“Damn!”

Goalkeeper Ruit shouted loudly; Tang Ye sat on the grass, his face filled with helpless resignation.

He was only half a meter away from intercepting the ball.

Damn it!

Away players sprinted across the pitch; Tang Ye stood up, brushing grass off his pants.

“It’s fine, it’s fine, it’s okay!”

The defenders and goalkeeper nearly argued; captain Ramseyer rushed back to comfort his teammates.

This match was already hard enough—if the backline started fighting, it’d be worse!

After the equalizer, the away team intensified pressure; Henriksson and Vincent’s pressing made Tang Ye suffer.

By the 35th minute, Utrecht’s possession dropped to 39%.

Wang Chao’s live-stream viewers were sensitive to stats; seeing Utrecht’s possession, their anxiety spiked.

Things were starting to go wrong!

“No no no! Damn! What’s going on with their No. 8?!”

“They’re passing quickly—Jahanbakhsh cuts to the byline!”

“Jahanbakhsh, cross!”

“Vincent!”

“Feint—Vincent passes to Santos cutting in from the left!”

“No no no! Damn! Goal!”

“Santos’s low shot finds the net!”

Alkmaar executed a textbook counterattack—started on the right, but finished on the left.

They shifted possession from Utrecht’s strong side to their weak side—the coordination was brilliant.

“Damn!”

Santos’s shot sent assistant coach Ten Hag into a frenzy.

With the current Eredivisie standings, Utrecht must draw to win the title.

At least a draw.

A loss won’t do.

They don’t have as many goal differences as PSV!

Following Ten Hag’s instructions, Tang Ye moved his positioning slightly forward.

According to Ten Hag, Tang Ye no longer needed to defend—this was great news for him.

Freed from defensive pressure, Tang Ye played more comfortably and requested the ball more often.

Unfortunately, there wasn’t much time left in the first half, and with Henriksson marking him tightly, Tang Ye never found a good attacking opportunity before halftime.

Dongquedi live report: First half ends, score 1-2, Utrecht trails by one goal.

After the match, the director’s camera turned to Utrecht’s assistant coach Ten Hag on the sideline.

His expression wasn’t good at all!

…

(End of chapter)