Chapter 680: Two Underdogs Meet in the Champions League Final

【Feels good, it's been a while since I watched a penalty shootout.】

【Damn it, it's dawn, holy crap, I have to go to work in the morning, hurry up!】

【It's dawn here too, but I guessed today's match would drag on; by the time the shootout ends, it'll probably be past six.】

【Essential item for Duotezhu Sect fans watching the Champions League: Quick-Acting Heart-Saving Pills.】

This season, Duotezhu Sect has been like this; every Champions League knockout match has been a brush with death.

The statement that watching the match requires Quick-Acting Heart-Saving Pills is no mere figure of speech!

Reus and De Bruyne stood together; the two captains would now toss a coin to decide the order for the upcoming penalty shootout.

"If it's heads, you choose first; if it's tails, you choose first," the referee confirmed with the two.

The referee confirmed with the two.

Compared to De Bruyne's tension, Reus was currently under slightly less pressure.

Since it was Duotezhu Sect's home ground, Mancheng would almost certainly choose the goal end, so the outcome of this coin toss mattered little to Duotezhu Sect.

Slap!

The coin shot into the air; the noisy stadium made the atmosphere increasingly oppressive.

Almost silently, the coin landed steadily on the grass.

Tails!

The referee looked at De Bruyne: "Do you want the goal end or the kicking order?"

"We want the order."

De Bruyne said.

Reus froze for a moment; the next second, De Bruyne turned his head slightly, looking into Reus's eyes: "You kick first."

"..."

Reus took a deep breath and, urged by the referee, made his decision.

Pointing toward the South Stand of Westfalen: "We want that side."

"Wow!!!!!"

The stadium shook instantly.

Seeing it was the South Stand, Tang Ye was completely stunned.

"Are they kicking first or second?"

"We kick first."

Wow!

Tang Ye and Matic exchanged bewildered glances; the Duotezhu Sect assistant coach glanced toward Guardiola's position.

The opposition isn't playing by the rules.

"Mancheng is choosing to let Duotezhu Sect kick first!"

"Hiss... What does Guardiola mean by this? Does he intend to face Duotezhu Sect in a penalty shootout right in front of Westfalen's South Stand?"

Not only the Duotezhu Sect players, but also the commentators and fans found Guardiola's choice somewhat incomprehensible.

"Forget it, it's fine, it doesn't matter!"

Matic comforted them: "If we kick first, then we kick first; no problem."

In Matic's view, Guardiola's approach was somewhat foolish.

Tang Ye's penalty conversion rate ranked among the top five across Europe's top five leagues; was Mancheng trying to start with a 0:1 deficit?

Or were they betting on Tang Ye missing?

That was far too big a gamble...

Forget it!

Regardless of what the opposition intended, Duotezhu Sect just needed to take every penalty well!

"Come on, come on!"

Players from both teams lined up separately in the center circle as Tang Ye slowly walked out.

Halfway there, he turned to face his teammates, clenched his right fist, and thumped his chest: "Watch me!"

"Go Tom!"

"Come on, come on!"

Live match report: Penalty shootout in progress, current score 0:0, Tang Ye kicks first.

Taking the ball from the referee, Tang Ye slowly stepped into the penalty area; the stands were filled with wildly shouting Duotezhu Sect fans.

"Tang Ye!"

Boom boom!

"Tang Ye!"

Boom boom boom!

"Dortmund's Savior! Dortmund's God!"

Boom boom boom!

Placing the ball carefully, Tang Ye avoided making eye contact with Ederson.

"Beep——!!!"

"Here he comes!"

"Tang Ye... following his usual habit, starting with a curved run-up!"

Changing rhythm, Tang Ye swung his left leg.

Shot!

"Tooorrrr!!!!"

Goal!

"Roar!"

Clenching his right fist and thrusting it straight forward, Tang Ye let out a furious roar, successfully igniting the south stand once again.

"Dortmund! Dortmund! Dortmund!"

The camera immediately cut to Escrivá; on the stands, the Dortmund head coach excitedly raised both arms.

Over on this side, Guardiola looked somewhat uncomfortable, his right hand constantly scratching his bald scalp, leaving mark after mark.

【What is Gua-Gua doing? Letting Dortmund kick first? Damn it, wasn't Tang Ye a guaranteed goal?】

【Is Mancheng too confident in their penalties?】

【Tang Ye is awesome!】

【Secure, secure!】

The first player to step up for Mancheng was De Bruyne.

Both sides had sent out their attacking midfielders; furthermore, De Bruyne was also Mancheng's captain.

If comparing only market value, Dortmund's goalkeeper Bürki was slightly less valuable than Ederson.

But if comparing penalty-taking ability,

that was truly hard to say.

Let's see how it plays out!

"De Bruyne!"

Slap!

A pushed shot was delivered; Bürki guessed the wrong direction.

"Beep beep beep!!!"

"Xuuu!!!"

"Trash! Trash!"

Dortmund: √oooo

Mancheng: √oooo

"Both sides converted the first kick with remarkable precision; both shots went into the dead corners."

"For the second kick, Dortmund's shooter is... Haaland!"

Haaland's expression was terrifyingly serious; first, he spat onto the grass, then placed the ball on the penalty spot.

Bang!

A explosive shot was fired.

"Beautiful! Haaland!"

"Dortmund has scored their second penalty!"

Nice!

Tang Ye clenched his right fist, tightly gripping Hummels' shoulder beside him.

The Dortmund defender kept muttering words like "God" under his breath; it seemed he was even more nervous than Tang Ye.

Since Gündoğan had been substituted off, the second player to step up for Mancheng was Mahrez.

Mahrez's footwork was equally excellent; despite Bürki guessing the correct direction, he successfully scored!

Dortmund: √√ooo

Mancheng: √√ooo

"Heja BVB!"

"Heja BVB!"

"..."

"Heja BVB!"

Dortmund's third penalty.

Reus!

"Dortmund's captain!"

"Ooh! So close!"

"But Reus truly took that penalty very steadily!"

"3:2!"

Mancheng quickly retaliated; B-Silva's pushed shot also found the back of the net.

"Beep beep beep!!!"

The Dortmund fans were expressing their dissatisfaction.

"So far, six penalties have been taken, and both sides still have a 100% conversion rate!"

"Yes, haha, after all, having reached the Champions League semi-finals, the players in these squads truly have no watered-down quality; they are all solid, top-tier stars."

Just as the commentator said, facing these top-tier players from Dortmund and Mancheng, even an experienced goalkeeper would find it difficult to handle.

Unless it was a goalkeeper specializing in penalties, otherwise, truth be told, it all relied on luck.

The fourth kick.

Hummels prepared to step up!

"Go for it!"

Tang Ye grabbed Hummels' hand, and the two shared a hug.

Reus hugged Hummels' head and kissed the latter's hair: "Bless you."

"..."

Slap!

A pushed shot struck Ederson's fingers, but after deflecting, it still went in.

"Roar—!!!!"

Tang Ye and Reus jumped up together, along with Matic from the substitutes' bench.

Four out of four penalties scored; Dortmund's penalty form today is truly invincible!

"Four out of four; if this continues, Mancheng will be in serious trouble..."

"..."

"Beautiful! Brandt!"

"Dortmund scored all five!"

Dortmund: √√√√√

Mancheng: √√√√o

So far, neither Ederson nor Bürki has saved a single penalty.

However, as the side kicking first, Dortmund has firmly seized the advantage.

All five penalties scored!

Now it's up to Mancheng!

The fifth penalty taker for Mancheng is Stones.