Chapter 283: Island Nation's Nemesis! Terrifying Header Monster! (Everyday Transition)
Li Kang's appearance not only made the stands boil over.
The Little Sun players on the pitch were also as if injected with chicken blood, all breathing rapidly, faces flushed, bodies burning.
Even defeating the newly alternating European champions isn't enough! We must crush sword-wielders like Li of the Bullfighter Legion!
Fervor.
Fervor enveloped the Ajinomoto Stadium.
Harry Hodgson kept a clear head; he didn't have the Blue Warriors' aggressive masochistic mentality.
"Calm."
"If we hold the last ten-odd minutes, we'll secure victory!"
"Defend! Keep up the defense!"
"European champions, you cannot escape Tokyo unscathed!"
The match resumed.
Hiroshi Sakai threw the ball in from the touchline.
Keisuke Honda shook off Asensio and received the ball without pressure.
In elementary school, he once wrote in an essay his dream: "I will become famous at the World Cup, be scouted by foreign clubs, then go to a Serie A powerhouse wearing the number 10 jersey and become a team starter!"
The youth training camp was eliminated.
The high school league run ended at the semifinals.
The J League left him feeling frustrated and unfulfilled.
Eerste Divisie Best Player.
In the World Cup life-and-death match, he delivered one assist and one goal, shining brilliantly.
A core midfielder of the Russian Premier League overlord, he delivered a stunning Champions League crescent-moon strike.
The new number 10 of Red-Black Milan.
Keisuke Honda is a highly creative player.
After observing Li Kang's position, he instantly decided: Japan must seize the initiative in attack within their limited possession time!
"His steps are very steady!"
"His speed isn't fast enough, but his footwork is exquisite, making it hard for Asensio and Yin Si Ke to win the ball for a moment!"
"He shook off his marker again!"
"The Blue Warriors grow braver with each fight!"
"They can astonish the world tonight!"
The Japan national team's midfield and forwards sprinted wildly.
Keisuke Honda, while running, sent a long diagonal pass.
Smack!
The ball flew toward the left flank of Spain's half.
The landing spot.
Shinji Kagawa, already in position, held off Alba with his back and headed the ball.
Only then did people realize: the Dortmund midfielder was actually five centimeters taller than Barcelona's full-back!
Compared to European superstars, the Japanese players overall aren't short either!
"What a beautiful ball!"
"Space in the ribs!"
"The number of attackers Japan committed is huge!"
Soriano's covering defense was timely.
The 32-year-old Villarreal defensive midfielder, although temporarily unaccustomed to the backline formed by Barcelona and Real Madrid, judged the ball's trajectory extremely accurately! He was about to intercept the ball...
Suddenly.
A figure with a quicker stride burst out.
Takashi Usami!
He first flicked the ball with his right foot.
After adjusting his body lean, he lofted a pass with his left foot!
The ball sailed over Martínez's head and gently fell into the Spanish penalty area!
"The attack is too smooth!"
"Yuya Osako!"
Harry Hodgson, who had been complaining that the players were too aggressive, couldn't help but be overjoyed!
Miniano was extremely anxious.
Japanese fans erupted in cheers again; the Blue Warriors' number 15 in their sight was so valiant!
Another goal incoming?
Thud!
Pique didn't lose focus.
He used his overwhelming physical advantage to hold off the frail Little Sun striker and powerfully headed the ball away!
The cheers of tens of thousands suddenly stopped.
The ball floated down into the forty-meter zone.
Makoto Hasebe sprinted forward, ready to regain possession.
He had a rich Bundesliga career, having once won the league title as a regular starter.
A tall, strong figure came with great momentum.
Martinez!
The football fell.
The two collided heavily.
「Bayern's fierce player got to the ball first! 」
「Physical advantage! 」
「Beautiful header flick! 」
「Midfield line! 」
「Li Kang! 」
Hasebe Makoto fell onto the grass, quickly got up, waved and called his teammates to hurry back on defense!
The Japanese team's formation quickly fell back.
The camera moved to near the midfield.
Li Kang happened to run to the landing spot, leaned his back against Yoshida Maya, and lightly lifted his left foot.
Smack!
The football touched the instep during its fall, bounced up again, and landed behind the two of them.
Just the right amount of force.
An elegant, smooth parabola.
Li Kang turned smoothly with the momentum.
Man and ball split!
Yoshida Maya reacted quickly, trying to block the opponent's position.
Immediately after.
He misjudged Li Kang's forward direction, looking clueless.
「Left... no, it's the right! 」
「Unpredictable footwork rhythm! 」
「Li Kang rushed past! 」
「The moves were connected too flamboyantly! 」
「Smooth sailing... 」
「Sakai Takahiro! 」
Ajinomoto Stadium, applause thundered.
Li Kang's back-heel lift and turn to shake off the defender were completed in one fluid motion.
His agile and graceful change of steps left the island nation's fans in awe.
The vast, empty backfield, yet it also sparked a hint of fear in them.
Li Kang was familiarizing himself with the 'Precise Footwork' module.
Baggio's permanent passive effect requires a certain amount of training time to be fully integrated.
In God's perspective.
The distance to the Japanese team's goal kept getting closer.
Forty meters.
Thirty-five meters.
Thirty meters.
He didn't care at all about the mixed-race face appearing before him.
「Sakai Takahiro, Franco-Japanese mixed blood, currently playing for Bundesliga Hamburg! 」
「He possesses the delicate footwork of Japanese football and the strong physique of Germans! 」
「Hey! 」
「Li Kang directly crashed into him! 」
Oh dear!
「A sudden stop and change of direction! 」
「Sakai Takahiro was shaken off his feet! 」
「The Japanese team is in danger! 」
「In front of Li Kang, only the Japanese team's goalkeeper remains! 」
「One-on-one! 」
Goalkeeper Kawashima Eiji came out.
He might be the one with the darkest résumé among the Japanese team's overseas players.
But he has rich experience in major tournaments.
His steadfast gaze locked onto the approaching Spanish number 6 against the wind.
Observing his step frequency.
Calculating the distance.
This is the battlefield belonging to me and Li-san!
Come on.
Let me shut down your attack!
「The psychological battle between striker and goalkeeper! 」
Kawashima Eiji's one-on-one block success rate is...
Wow!
Pa!
At the top of the penalty arc.
Li Kang eased his speed, lightly lifting the ball with his left foot.
A flawless lob shot motion.
It made tens of thousands of spectators in the stadium hold their breath in an instant.
East stand, the drumming of Kashima Antlers suddenly stopped.
West stand, the enthusiasm of Yokohama Marinos died out.
North stand, the singing of Kawasaki Frontale ceased.
The massive cage forged from resentment silently shattered.
Kawashima Eiji, who was engaged in a psychological duel while running... suddenly froze in place.
The ball traced a perfect arc in midair, lobbing toward the goal.
The Japanese goalkeeper tried to turn and save it, but it was already too late.
Clang!
Accompanied by a slight shake of the crossbar.
The ball deflected and bounced into the net.
The joy at Ajinomoto Stadium vanished in an instant.
1:1!
!
"Beautiful curve!"
"An imaginative, clever lob shot!"
"This ball, whether in terms of concealment, trajectory, or power, was executed extremely well!"
"Li Kang had just come on the field and quickly helped Spain equalize the score!"
"Lone hero!"
"His presence greatly enhances the entertainment value of the match!"
"The finisher of the strikerless formation!"
"The match time has now reached the 76th minute; can Spain complete a comeback?"
Li Kang didn't celebrate, preparing to rush into the net to pick up the ball, but saw Kawashima Eiji scoop it up first, turn, take a run-up, and powerfully throw it toward the center circle.
The Japanese goalkeeper showed no signs of dejection.
Instead, he gave the opponent a thumbs-up.
This gesture awakened the island nation fans' ingrained worship of the strong.
"Lee!
"!
"Lee!
"!
"Lee!
"!
A roar like a landslide and tsunami left the ESPN broadcast audience momentarily unable to comprehend.
-【The masochistic mentality of the Japanese fans, how sick!】
-【How do I feel that Li Kang has gotten stronger again?】
-【The step frequency isn't fast, but the step-point rhythm is quite perfect! Getting past Japan's defense... is like crossing the street!】
-【Li Mingdeng hasn't even come on for a physical clash yet! Básquez playing as a center forward is just suffering from lack of physicality!】
-【The massacre moment has arrived!】
-【The national team version of Little Li is always T0!】
-【Martinez's thinking is very clear; he will create attacking opportunities for Li Kang!】
-【Has the Spanish coaching staff gone to learn from Arsenal? They've pushed Li Mingdeng so far forward that he doesn't even need to participate in defense!】
By the pitch.
Mininano excitedly said: "Boss, are we struggling to break open the game because we lack a focal point up front? Básquez is too short..."
Bosque stroked his little beard, smiling: "No, we just lacked Li!"
On the other side.
Halilhodžić's expression was somewhat torn.
"Calm."
"Don't panic!"
"Facing the European champions, if we can earn a draw... that's also a result to be proud of!"
The Spanish team didn't waste too much time celebrating.
Thiago watched Li Kang's gesture seriously, saying: "Did you see? Li's index finger made a circle, actually implying a very complex tactical adjustment; we need to move the attack's origin point backward, to give him enough attacking depth space, the distance between midfield and backline must..."
Martinez also couldn't help but remark: "No wonder he's always able to beat Bayern..."
Yin Si Ke quickly waved his hands to interrupt: "It's not that complicated; Li's tactical thinking is simple—we just need to kick casually and lob the ball to him!"
The ball was placed back on the center circle line.
The match continued.
Okazaki Shinji kicked off, passing sideways to Osako Yuya.
He touched the ball with one foot and passed it back to Hasebe Makoto.
The Japanese team showed no signs of flagging morale.
Harry Holichic roared loudly from the sidelines, conveying the plan to strangle the middle!
The ball zipped along the turf, being passed quickly.
Hasebe Makoto's attempt to split the ball to the flank went awry!
The silhouette of Spain's number 6 flashed past!
Possession changed in an instant!
"Li Kang intercepted the ball!"
"Spain's fast break!"
"How was this ball passed back!"
In God's perspective.
There weren't many attackers in the front.
We needed to wait for a timing gap to exploit the Japanese defense's misposition.
With a slap.
Li Kang knocked the ball backward with his heel.
Immediately he shoved off the turf and cut toward the center.
His speed kept increasing.
Morata's phantom coalesced in the wind!
A hybrid striker!
The Japanese team quickly launched a counter-press.
Okazaki Shinji and Usami Yoshihiro charged furiously toward Martinez, who had trapped the ball.
The Bayern tiger general's ball-out speed was high; he decisively gave it to Alba, who had surged down the flank!
The Barcelona full-back hesitated slightly.
"Believe in Li!"
"Even if my long pass is slightly off... he will surely catch the ball!"
"No, Li has dropped back!"
The Japanese defenders were dumbfounded.
They were just about to set an offside trap.
Li Kang, who had been barely keeping pace with the defensive line, suddenly dropped back!
How does this work?
Li Kang didn't want to drop back either.
If it weren't for his God's perspective, following Morata's phantom any further would have put him offside!
At the edge of the pitch.
Harry Holichic's face showed fear.
Li Kang's tendency to drop back caused confusion in the defensive line.
The offside trap failed!
"Alba's pass was too sluggish!"
"Hurry up and pass!"
"Nice!"
Thud!
Alba sent a long pass before the Japanese pressing circle could close in!
At the moment the ball leapt up, Li Kang surged toward the Japanese defensive line!
Ajinomoto Stadium.
All the drumming and singing seemed to play just for him.
Yoshida Maya and Sakai Takahiro couldn't do anything.
The opponent's dropping back and forward runs.
The timing to get the ball was perfect!
It left them no time to turn around!
"No offside!"
"Li Kang!"
"He broke through the Blue Warriors' defense!"
"Alba's long pass was a bit too far ahead... the landing point was a bit deep!"
"Li Kang can't stop it easily!"
Harry Holichic's heart eased slightly.
In his view: if Li Kang were to stop the ball and then follow up with a shot... Kawashima Yoshikatsu and Yoshida Maya could defuse the danger!
Muniain nervously covered his mouth with his fist.
Bosque began celebrating early.
All the spectators imagined: how would Li Kang stop the ball...
On the green field.
A shocking scene has unfolded!
He showed no inclination to trap the ball.
Li Kang stretched his body, arms wide, his feet leaving the turf!
Like a fish leaping from the sea, it sent ripples across the bleak autumn night.
Smack!
The sound of his forehead striking the ball.
It left every island fan's mind blank!
A fish-leap header?
The ball thundered toward Japan's goal!
Like a siege stone.
An elegant rising arc.
A domineering descent path.
A devastating ball speed.
It left Kawashima Eiji stunned.
What the hell kind of header is this?
Too terrifying!
All they could do was watch helplessly as their net was torn open.
1:2!
!
"A divine stroke!"
"!"
"A fish-leap header!"
"!"
"He's scored twice!"
"Alba's pass was decisive!"
"As the ball was about to drop, we all judged and imagined: how would Li Kang deal with it?"
"A direct header!"
"So imaginative!"
"Less than two minutes after the previous goal, Li Kang shocked Tokyo once again!"
"In the dying moments, Spain completed the turnaround!"
The live stream.
It blew up completely.
A dense flood of comments covered the big screen.
-【Awesome!】
-【God-level header!】
-【An ultra-long-distance fish-leap header!】
-【Guys, my 1:5 still has hope!】
-【Bosque: Respect the opponent... unleash the strategic weapon!】
-【You call this a strikerless formation?】
-【This ball is too shocking! It made my legs weak!】
Dong!
Dong dong dong!
Li Kang dove down, his face hitting the turf a few times.
He felt no pain.
He himself felt the header boost was a bit terrifying.
On the sidelines.
Bosque and Minieri frantically urged the team doctor.
Spain's teammates were stunned, rooted to the spot for a long... before wildly joining the celebration!
The first to reach Li Kang's side... was none other than De Gea!
The island fans gradually came to, bursting into even louder applause and cheers.
Kawashima Eiji refused Yoshida's consolation, brushed aside the opponent's hand, and with a solemn expression said, 'Being able to witness Li Sang's legendary moment up close is my honor!'
Harry Hojoki's face went pale as he muttered:
"How can this kid's header be so terrifying?"
"Stay calm."
"Don't panic."
"With little time left, facing the European champions, a one-goal deficit is no disgrace!"
The ensuing match.
It became one-sided.
The 82nd minute.
Carvajal received a pass from Thiago on the flank, quickly went to the byline, and crossed!
The ball swerved sharply, looping into the Japanese penalty area.
Li Kang surged forward and leapt.
That was a height that left Sakai Gaode and Yoshida Maya only able to look up in awe!
Thud!
Another powerful header!
It unstoppably breached Kawashima Eiji's five-fingered guard!
1:3!
!
Island nation fans, it was as if they were watching a sci-fi movie!
The ESPN livestream commentators hysterically repeated: "Hat-trick!"
86th minute of the match.
Yin Si Ke weaved and dodged, creating passing space.
He lightly flicked with his right foot.
The ball floated weakly toward the goal.
The landing point was too close to the goalkeeper.
Li Kang broke through the encirclement, lowering his body to surge forward.
Thud!
At the moment the ball was fifty centimeters above the ground, it was endowed with brutal, terrifying power.
Kawashima Eiji didn't even have time to get off his line, once again watching helplessly as the goal was breached!
Still feel honored?
Honored my ass.
1:4!!!
Finally.
Beep! Beep-beep~
The head referee blew the whistle signaling the end of the match.
Japan 1:6 Spain!
The VIP stand's island nation football association leaders looked fervent.
It was as if Columbus had discovered a new continent, Western cowboys had struck gold in their surveys, and desert wanderers had found an oasis!
A resolute voice rang out:
"Pass it on!"
"Li San, he is a representative figure of European tactical reform!"
"Japan's youth training focus should emphasize heading!"
End of Chapter
