Chapter 160: Blue Bridge Lingering Dream
The blue team players had no time to celebrate.
Matic immediately picked up the ball from the net and ran back to the center circle.
Diego Costa waved his arms wildly at the stands.
Stamford Bridge was no longer that quiet library!
The young Chelsea fans shouted wildly.
"Chelsea!
"!
"Chelsea!
"!
"Chelsea!
"!
The score was cut to one goal, rekindling hope of overtaking!
The Lewokusen defenders felt bitter inside.
They were overwhelmed in marking, unable to defend.
Lai Nuo kicked the goalpost hard.
He played well tonight, but the back line was too fragile; even Real Madrid's peak super goalkeeper Navas, returning to the Costa Rica national team, could not escape a disastrous result.
Van Dijk patiently encouraged Jonathan Tah: "Don't lose position, learn to retreat!"
Bender and Kramer felt guilty inside.
In open play defense, they were easily overrun by Younes.
VIP box.
Abramovich clapped loudly, jokingly scolding: "Hiddink, wouldn't it have been fine to put Diego Costa on earlier? Remy and Pato are only fit for the lower leagues."
The staff quickly nodded: "The Chinese Super League's offer for Remy is 14 million pounds, paid in full upfront."
Hearing this, Abramovich was stunned for two seconds, then exclaimed: "Don't they need to think when buying players? Really, stupid people with lots of money!"
The 28 million euro Ramires, well, that's fine.
Could Remy still be worth 100 million yuan?
The staff added: "Another Chinese Super League club is also interested in Oscar, with an initial offer of 58 million..."
Their tone could not hide their excitement.
Chelsea is not only a zero-debt European powerhouse, but its operating condition is also very healthy.
If we sold Remy and Oscar as a package to the Chinese Super League, even after two years for free, we could still net tens of millions of pounds!
Abramovich fell silent.
After a moment, he said: "Tell Scarlett to respect the players' own attitudes; Chelsea is not short of money."
Oscar is still young; even if he leaves Chelsea, his ability is more than enough to secure a starting spot in any top-five-league powerhouse.
By the pitch.
Tuopu Laotou urged Calhanoglu and Belarabi to warm up quickly.
Chelsea's attacking force at this stage is fierce.
The match intensity will be high.
Lewokusen players' physical exertion will be intense.
Substitutions must be made between the 60th and 70th minutes.
Dino was nervous, asking: "Boss, would putting them on be useful? I suggest substituting Papadopoulos!"
Tuopu Laotou shook his head: "It's hard to hold them off; we must unleash Li! Build our play around him!"
On the other side.
Hiddink regained the aura of a renowned coach.
He sat back on the bench, hands crossed on his chest, smiling.
No instructions.
These Chelsea players, if they perform at normal levels...
Overtake? Isn't that a matter of course?
The game restarted from the midfield.
Ki kicked off, passing sideways to Son Heung-min.
The Korean forward received the ball and immediately passed it back to Li Kang.
From God's perspective.
Diego Costa and Oscar launched a frantic press.
"The first line of defense" was formed.
Younes charged across the midfield again.
In sync with William, Oscar, Hazard, and Matic.
"The second line of defense" was no longer a sandwich cookie.
Then.
Mikel dropped back, filling the defensive gap on the right flank.
"The third line of defense" steadily advanced.
The Mourinho-style bus is not just for defense.
Chelsea's formation now, like a bamboo-breaking force, domineeringly crushed into Lewokusen's half.
Li Kang ran back and forth in the defensive third, and in the gaps of passing and receiving, he also had to support teammates who were being pressed, while looking for counterattack opportunities.
They wanted to break through the second defensive line of the Mourinho-style bus.
Need to guide teammates' runs.
But the current situation completely lacks this condition.
Leverkusen's players cannot maintain triangular spaces under high pressure like the Spanish national team.
When Chelsea's bus rolled into the forty-meter zone.
A sudden change occurred.
"Oh no, Bender's mistake!"
"Oscar easily intercepted the ball!"
"Chelsea's attack is coming again!"
The blue bus suddenly sped up.
No need for any complex attacking tactics.
Relying on the individual ability of the midfield and forward players, they could smash Leverkusen's defense to pieces!
The covering Kramer decisively won the ball back.
Oscar's passing angle was cut off.
He lifted his right foot and knocked the ball behind him.
Matic came to meet the ball.
He possessed a delicate technique that belied his physique.
No fancy lateral passes or redistributions were needed; there was no need to look for gaps in the defense.
He swept with his thigh.
The ball flew straight into Leverkusen's defensive third!
Because Diego Costa was there!
"Having a strong, top-class striker makes life much easier for the passer."
"That's why Hiddink took off Fabregas."
"To deal with Leverkusen's back line, you don't need extremely high passing precision."
"Diego Costa guarantees impact!"
At Stamford Bridge, Chelsea's anthem rang out!
The ball fell near the top of the penalty arc.
It bounced high.
Van Dijk could not retreat.
He observed that there were no other Chelsea reinforcements coming.
One side he marked Diego Costa's position, while with the other hand he directed Jonathan Tah, the nearest to the ball, to clear it quickly!
That was a perfect defensive strategy.
But.
The Dutch center-back faced the peak-form blue-army god striker.
Since Drogba's retirement, Chelsea's last reliable striker!
The beastly man who makes European defenses tremble at the mere mention of his name.
Diego Costa!
Accompanied by the roars at Stamford Bridge.
Van Dijk collapsed desperately onto the turf.
Jonathan Tah's explosive speed was slow; by the time he rushed to the ball and was about to clear it, he saw the red-eyed Diego Costa.
There was no doubt in the physical battle.
Chelsea's godlike striker had a nimble footwork that belied his powerful physique; he extended his right leg and firmly controlled the ball.
He ignored the black center-back's obstruction.
He launched a fierce charge!
At this moment, Leverkusen's defense was thrown into utter chaos!
Tuopu Laotou stared wide-eyed.
Dino opened his mouth wide.
Hiddink trembled all over.
"Too fierce!"
"What a striker countless teams dream of!"
"Great chance!"
"We can shoot!"
Diego Costa's shooting motion was very concealed, making it hard for the goalkeeper to judge the dive direction.
But unlike Li Kang.
His leg swing was small, yet he could unleash an extremely domineering explosive shot.
After all, he's a killer who has competed with Messi and Ronaldo for the Golden Boot.
Bang!
Not a thunderous boom that echoes across the sky.
At the moment Diego Costa finished his shot, a toe poked the ball awry.
The football floated aimlessly and flew out of the baseline.
Like a broken kite.
Stanford Bridge, sighs never ceased to be heard.
Tens of thousands of Chelsea fans all felt regret for this missed shot opportunity.
Diego Costa looked bewildered: "Is this even possible?"
When he saw the number on the opponent's jersey.
He felt relieved.
He couldn't help patting Li Kang's butt and giving a thumbs up.
"Ah! He can also shoot wide? This isn't Diego Costa's normal level, his shooting..."
"Let's look at the slow-motion replay..."
"Marvelous! Li Kang's left foot affected the opponent's contact point when shooting!"
"A contest between the two Spanish teammates."
"Unbelievable!"
"Only defenders of the caliber of Maldini and Nesta could achieve this, right?"
"Such a god-level midfielder is too rare! Historically the closest template to him might be Gullit?"
Duan Xuan and He Wei worked hard to maintain an objective stance.
On one hand, they marveled at Li Kang's magical performance in both attack and defense.
On the other hand, they felt sorry for him playing like a dad and mom, a hard labor style.
Li Kang had never been this tired before tonight.
In his vision, Nesta's phantom still refused to fade.
"'Red-Black Soul' amplified the second personality of the super god defender."
Arrogant.
Sensitive.
Ferocious.
"Nesta is not the 'elegant' as described by the media; he has an explosive temper."
By the pitch.
"Tuopu Laotou had no posthumous fortune to be glad of, sighing: 'Every time he tracked back to the penalty area before, he gave up a lot...'"
"Dino nodded vigorously, indicating agreement, adding: 'Li seems to have found a loophole in Chelsea's pressing attack, but teammates can't give support on the counter ball...'"
"'If the back line can independently solve the problem and complete the counter transition, Li can fully operate in the front...'"
The other side.
Hiddink glanced at the time, gradually becoming impatient.
"Damn, we still need to score two more goals!"
VIP box.
"Abu furrowed his brow, chattering:"
"'Leverkusen's coaching team — I understand football better than they do!'"
"'How could they let Li, such a genius, drop back to the defensive line?'"
"'Modern football has developed to today; in the same timeline, letting the midfield do defensive work inevitably wastes good chances for counter linking.'"
"'They actually let Li play such ugly football — it's like using a golden spoon to eat Eskimo ice cream!'"
Staff members repeatedly echoed.
"In his mind he couldn't help but imagine: if Li really joined Chelsea, how to build the team around him?"
Match time passed second by second.
All spectators grew more tense.
Chelsea's attacking style is simple and brutal, wildly tormenting Leverkusen's tender back line.
Van Dijk led the team to retreat into the big penalty area.
Li Kang active before the big penalty area, constantly running back and forth to supplement defense, repeatedly resolving dangerous situations.
In God's perspective.
Chelsea's high defensive line, breaches occur frequently.
But he cannot create counter chances amid changes of possession and fierce confrontation.
Only because Mikel, Matic, and Yin Wannuoweiji's pressing is too dense.
Leverkusen's counter-attack linking task fell to the substitute who came on, Calhanoglu.
Unfortunately, this midfield core, under disturbed conditions, lost the passing accuracy of a hundred paces piercing a willow.
A fierce battle.
The extraordinarily intense match intensity caused all Lewokusen teammates' stamina to drain rapidly.
Even Li Kang himself, his movements gradually couldn't keep up with his mind.
"A wavering defense on the verge of collapse."
"In positional warfare, defending players' stamina consumption is greater."
"Chelsea is just one breath away from scoring."
"Every clearance Li Kang makes is crucial, but it consumes tremendous stamina; he is like a moving shield..."
"The match remains full of suspense!"
The livestream room.
The audience was extremely anxious.
-【Is Chelsea still fighting? It's about to be 80 minutes, the score is now 1:2, can they still score two goals to eliminate Lewokusen?】
-【I really hate this situation, if Li Mingdeng keeps defending like this, Chelsea players should lose morale, lose fighting spirit, give up the match... that would be reasonable, I won't watch his matches from now on!】
-【You've read too many novels and gone mad? What old cliché, you can actually say such nonsense as "losing morale"? Professional players get paid to work, the whole world is watching! Try slacking off?】
The 84th minute of the match.
The substitute who came on, Bellarab, blocked Hazard!
But he blocked it with his hand!
Left side of the front of the penalty area.
Facing the unstoppable Premier League dribbling king, the black forward instinctively wrapped his arms around the opponent's waist.
After Hazard fell to the ground.
Beep!
The head referee blew the whistle.
"Chelsea has obtained an excellent free-kick opportunity!"
"The wave-like attack finally brought returns!"
"Bellarab received a yellow card for the pulling action."
"Hope still remains at Stamford Bridge!"
By the pitch.
Tuopu Laotou nervously covered his eyes.
Dino had a conflicted expression: "If we let William take it... this spot is no different from a penalty kick."
The coaching staff had carefully studied Chelsea's set-piece characteristics before the match.
If you don't look, you won't know.
One look and you'll be startled.
William's free-kick success rate this season so far is as high as 22%!
The other side.
Hiddink couldn't sit still; he excitedly walked to the technical area.
He gazed fondly at the wall of players lined up.
There's still a chance!
How can Lewokusen stop us!
Stamford Bridge fell into silence.
Lai Nuo stood at the far corner of the goal, directing the wall.
After William and Oscar communicated by covering their mouths, they dispersed to stand on either side of the ball.
Beep!
Accompanied by a whistle from the head referee.
William moved.
He is the season's freshest free-kick master.
In the Champions League, he has scored four out of five.
His success rate is as high as 80%.
Treat the free-kick like a penalty kick.
Even novels wouldn't dare write it like this.
Pow!
After a three-step run-up.
The samba genius's right foot's inner instep struck the bottom of the ball hard!
In an instant.
Lewokusen's players all jumped up!
But the ball was hugging the turf, about to slip under the wall!
Li Kang didn't jump.
In his vision, Nesta's phantom raged anxiously, and Bergkamp's phantom struggled forth!
Barrier + trap!
Beyond everyone's expectation.
Lewokusen's number 10 stepped out with his right leg and intercepted the rapidly passing ball!
Not a clearance!
It's an interception!
The ball obediently landed fifty centimeters in front of him!
The players from both sides hadn't reacted at all!
"A godlike interception?"
"Too terrifying!"
"Chelsea's ground shot came to an abrupt halt!"
"Li Kang!"
William held his explosive hair, his gaze vacant.
What the hell kind of reflexes are these? Even De Gea couldn't do it!
Dino pried open Tuopu Laotou's fingers.
Xidingke's face turned ashen.
Abu stared, mouth agape.
Tens of thousands of spectators at Stamford Bridge stared in disbelief.
From God's perspective.
Chelsea's backfield was like an empty noble garden.
Pa!
Li Kang nudged the ball and began to accelerate!
Counterattack?
From in front of our own penalty area, counterattack to the opponent's penalty area?
Is that possible?
Possible!
Bellalabi reacted first.
He sprinted and quickly overtook Li Kang, who was dribbling forward.
Mbappe's rise to fame with a single goal in Ligue 1 Monaco hasn't finished yet.
In the speed rankings of the five major leagues, Bellalabi is the fastest black player!
World number four!
!
"Chelsea has committed all its forces to set-piece attacks!"
"Li Kang's speed is very fast!"
"There's still Bellalabi as a forward receiving point!"
"Their only opponents left are Terry lagging at the back of the formation!"
"Oh! William is catching up!"
The traveling Lewokusen fans shouted wildly!
They suffered throughout the second half.
As the match neared its end, hope finally appeared again!
William's professional attitude is very proper.
There was no prolonged shock.
He then exerted all his strength to catch up to Li Kang.
Even if it means fouling, we must stop the counterattack of the genius Bei lai yin!
He reached out and barely grabbed the hem of the number 10 jersey.
Pa!
The ball had already left Li Kang's left foot.
Like an arrow released.
Swift as the wind.
It passed behind Terry!
Chelsea's central defender immediately turned around, only to see a white-robed black person brush past.
"Bellalabi!"
"One-on-one!"
"Courtois has come out!"
Rip!
William stood frozen in place, a patch of white cloth appearing on his right palm.
He failed to stop Li Kang's frantic sprint!
The camera pulled back!
Chelsea's half.
Only three figures could be seen!
Bellalabi, one versus two!
Thirty-meter zone.
The moment Bellalabi touched the ball.
Speed suddenly slowed.
Facing the oncoming Courtois.
He was very nervous.
Terry was still closely chasing from behind.
How can a T2.5 striker take on two T0 defenders?
Lofted shots and chips, etc., there's no space.
His physical condition is excellent, but his vision and awareness are the most criticized.
His mind went blank.
He couldn't see clearly in any situation.
His expression was dull and sluggish.
He watched as Courtois was about to destroy the ball!
The small marinated egg with an exaggeratedly receding hairline reflected the spotlight of Stamford Bridge.
A flash of inspiration.
It was a certain image flashing by!
Yes!
I want to learn Casola!
Although I can't see it!
But Li will surely catch up!
Under the gaze of everyone present.
The black long legs, getting ahead of Courtois's Nike shoes, swept the ball!
"A diagonal pass?"
"Not a knock-on?"
"Waste... beautiful! What vision and game sense does Bellarabi actually have?!"
"Li Kang!"
The force imparted to the ball was not great.
But Chelsea's defense had no recourse left.
In the shot.
The figure of the white-clad number 10 made all Chelsea fans feel despair.
That was an undisturbed position.
It was practically a long-range shot practice on an empty goal at the training ground!
Tuopu Laotou became excited, his eye sockets turning red.
Dino looked astonished.
Hiddink maintained the motion of raising his glasses, his hands unwilling to lower for a long time.
Li Kang met the ball.
In his vision, no phantom of any legendary player appeared anymore.
All negative emotions dissipated.
The shadow in his mind shrank into a black dot.
He had no strength left.
This final strike.
Without any assistance.
His heart was calm as water.
Bang!
An ordinary inside-of-the-foot push shot!
No exaggerated arc.
No mighty momentum.
No dazzling speed like a brilliant rainbow.
The ball simply rolled straight along the turf toward the gate of Stamford Bridge.
Courtois had no time to retreat.
He turned around.
He watched helplessly as Chelsea's concrete defense, which they were proud of.
Pierced by an utterly ordinary shot.
The ball quietly crossed the goal line, lifting the white net.
Stamford Bridge, silent as the grave.
All hope was utterly shattered.
It was like a dream again.
Chelsea fans could not accept the reality unfolding before them.
Hiddink didn't realize when he had sat down on the turf.
In the VIP box, Abu felt a mix of joy and sorrow.
1:3!
!
"One arrow through the heart!"
"No problem anymore!"
"In the 87th minute of the match, Li Kang killed the game!"
"According to the away goals advantage rule, Chelsea must score three more goals to possibly advance!"
"Will Stamford Bridge still witness a miracle?"
"Tonight, Li Kang himself is a miracle!"
"Leverkusen, hold on for just a few more minutes and you can re-enter the Champions League semifinals!"
"He is Bei Lai Yin's strongest shield and also its sharpest blade!"
"Two shots, one assist, single-handedly creating three goals."
"Li Kang has carried Leverkusen this far, and can go even farther!"
The livestream room.
Bullet comments flew everywhere.
-【Big upset!】
-【Chelsea was actually breached by Li Kang using Ballack and Lampard's style, breaking through the goal!】
-【Pjanic, Pogba, step aside—I would call Li Kang the strongest midfielder of the new generation.】
-【I cried, why did Chelsea get drawn against Lewokusen?! Couldn't they have drawn Barcelona?!】
By the pitch.
Tuopu Laotou and the substitute players hugged each other tightly.
Dino wiped his eyes: 'Boss, there's really a lot of sand in London...'
On the other side.
Hiddink sat on the turf, his gaze vacant.
No matter how others shouted.
He also didn't want to get up.
Wrong.
It's my fault.
The proud Dutch head coach, his heart filled with guilt.
VIP box.
The staff were silent as cicadas in winter.
Abu did not explode in anger as he usually did.
"Losing the match isn't disgraceful."
"It's not as bad as you imagine."
"Let Hiddink refocus his efforts on the Premier League."
Berlabi excitedly grabbed Li Kang's shoulder.
"Li, I've long noticed your position!"
"We've thought alike!"
Teammates swarmed forward.
Lai Nuo sprinted all the way, also rushing to the celebration spot.
Amid the celebrations.
Everyone felt as if they were in a dream.
Even many teammates never imagined in their dreams being this close to the Champions League semi-finals...
The closing stage.
Chelsea did not give up.
They continued to frenetically attack Lewokusen's goal.
Nobody bothered to calculate how many more goals were needed to advance.
In the 95th minute of the match, the final moment of injury time.
William, at the edge of the penalty arc, kicked a curling long shot that blasted open Lewokusen's goal.
2:3!
!
No celebration.
Stamford Bridge, as quiet as a library.
Beep! Beep-beep~
The final moments.
The head referee blew the whistle signaling the end of the match.
Someone was happy.
Someone was sad.
"Lewokusen advanced, Chelsea were eliminated."
"This was a result most fans did not expect before the match."
"That's football—one side's joy contrasting with the other's sorrow, humanity's extreme emotions fully expressed and released at this moment."
"William's face was streaked with tears, Courtois buried his head deep in his knees, Hazard received a hamburger from the staff, and Cahill gently stroked Azpilicueta's soft hair."
"Whether you like the winning or losing team, as long as you felt what they showed on the pitch, this match wasn't wasted."
"Li Kang and his companions continued this season's Champions League journey; they might head to Bernabeu, Etihad, Nou Camp, Calderon, Turin, Munich..."
"Bless them, bless this rookie genius midfielder, hoping he can, in his prime, reach the pinnacle of the Champions League and touch that coveted 'big ears' trophy countless players dream of."
He Wei had already prepared two manuscripts.
I thought Xiao Li Zi would be eliminated, and I planned to really stir up my emotions.
Duan Xuan was a bit annoyed, couldn't get a word in.
Li Kang was utterly exhausted, lying flat on the turf.
The wind of the Thames brushed the white jerseys.
Gazing at the night sky dotted with stars.
As if immersed in a dream.
End of Chapter
