Chapter 47: Everyday Life's Wolfish Ambition (Combined)
Morata looked relaxed: whether playing football or gaming, occasionally bullying noobs is still quite fun.
After the center-circle kickoff was passed back to Li Kang, he swiftly surged toward Japan's half.
Li Kang touched the ball and passed it to the advancing Bellerin.
After Dennis came off, Spain's midfield struggled to execute a static triangular passing game.
Bellerin received the ball, instantly accelerated, and unreasonably blew past Takumi Minamino.
He was wildly sprinting down the flank!
Other Spanish teammates were also making forward runs.
Facing Yuto Nagatomo's interception, the Arsenal prodigy decisively played the ball to the center.
Deulofeu shifted his body slightly, and the attempted double-team by Yoon Dong-soon and Kashiwagi Yosuke both missed.
The ball rolled toward Li Kang's left foot.
In God's perspective.
Morata's movement was eerily ghostly.
Li Kang then shoved the ball forward!
The ball skimmed the grass at high speed.
It pierced Japan's defensive line!
Bosque cheered excitedly.
Halilhodzic couldn't help but want to clap,
"Beautiful!"
"Another scalpel-like through ball! It's become Li Kang's signature skill!"
"Morata completely outclassed Makino Tomoaki! Juventus' top striker facing a J-League domestic defender is sheer domination!"
"Can he seize this one-on-one chance?"
Li Kang had no idea which foot Morata favored.
Even in team training matches, it wasn't apparent.
Morata claimed he was right-footed.
It really wasn't noticeable at all.
The moment Morata received the ball, his sprinting speed suddenly dropped.
Makino Tomoaki and Maya Yoshida quickly closed in, trying to disrupt the ball.
The spectators thought the Spanish forward would bulldoze the little devils aside with sheer strength, just like Li Kang.
Who would have thought.
The ball was poked toward the right side of the edge of the penalty area...
Morata stumbled and fell to the ground, but even as he went down he didn't forget to give Li Kang a thumbs-up.
Bosque's mouth twitched.
Mi Ni Ya Nuo had a dark expression.
This guy's build looks so strong, it's such a waste.
"..."
"Although Morata stands 1.89 meters tall, he isn't particularly good at physical duels, since Maya Yoshida is a mainstay defender for Premier League Southampton."
"If it were Torres or Villa instead..."
"There's still an attacking chance! Japan is in danger!"
Deulofeu suddenly surged forward, took the ball in stride, and charged into Japan's penalty area.
Nishikawa Shuusuke adjusted his position with small steps, blocking the shooting angle of the Spanish youngster!
On the other side, Morata got to his feet!
His acceleration wasn't slow!
He's very good at finding space inside the box.
The defensive ideas of young Yoshida and Makino Tomoaki weren't unified, failing to cut off the passing lane!
Deulofeu decisively knocked the ball sideways!
"That pass was beautiful!"
"Open goal!"
"Morata!"
Japanese fans were extremely nervous!
Bosque couldn't help but rise from the coach's bench.
Halilhodzic felt a surge of helplessness inside!
The happy-bean fans in the live stream excitedly slapped the table.
This is a sure goal!
My eighty-year-old grandmother could kick the ball into the net with a casual poke!
Under everyone's gaze.
Morata turned with flair.
Back to the goal!
He lifted his foot!
He violently swung it backward!
The ball happened to land right at his feet!
Thud!
His heel knocked heavily!
The ball... rolled out of the baseline....
Ajinomoto Stadium, suddenly fell silent.
Not a whisper of noise could be heard.
Minya Nuo's celebration move froze halfway, stiff in place.
Boske's beard trembled with anger.
Xichuan Zhouzuo and Jitiánmaye exhaled, bumped fists and hugged, exchanging two words of encouragement.
Halihuhuojiqi laughed out loud.
Dragon Kingdom livestream.
Duanxuan and He Wei strove to control their emotions and tone.
They had received professional training; they wouldn't easily laugh out loud.
"..."
"The open goal wasn't scored!"
"Obviously a light tap would change the score; why did Morata insist on scoring with his heel?"
"What a pity."
The bullet comments were all joyous.
-【Lewokusen's team report said Li Kang is balanced with both feet; then Morata must be the "God of Two Reverse Feet"!】
-【Left foot no good, right foot also no good!】
-【When he shoots with his left foot, his right foot is the dominant foot; when he shoots with his right foot, his left foot is the dominant foot!】
-【Morata was awesome in last season's Champions League! He consecutively broke through Huangma and Basa's goals; how come playing these little Japanese guys he's so terrible? No physicality, no shooting skill.】
-【Just look at his performance in the league and you'll know: when in good form, he's godlike, blocking and killing gods; when in bad form, he's at the level of the national team.】
-【A bit risky, have you guys watched the J-League? It's the league with the most last‑minute winners in the world! Before the final moment, this bunch of little Japanese guys won't give up!】
Morata stood with hands on hips, spat.
He gave a thumbs‑up to Dewuluofeuwu.
Then he clapped, slowly walking out of the penalty area.
Japanese fans came to their senses: this scene was what they most often saw when watching the AFC Champions League.
They waved flags and shouted, beat the drums loudly, cheering the players to counterattack.
Xichuan Zhouzuo loudly encouraged his teammates, issuing a goal kick.
The match continued.
Morata wasn't completely useless.
His role as a focal point in the front was obvious, although he couldn't handle Jitiánmaye.
But bullying Yin Dongchun and Bai Mu Yangjie was still easy.
This greatly reduced the team's number of passes.
The Spanish side quickly pressed the Japanese team into the penalty area.
Frantic siege.
Morata's movement was extremely threatening; whether making forward runs or hugging the flank, it left the Japanese backline trembling.
"The Spanish forward gradually regained his feel for the game."
"His attacking power in the front is huge!"
"Nice! Another brilliant pass from Li Kang!"
"Morata! He shot!"
"Oh no! What a waste of that ball!"
The Japanese team's morale gradually rose.
They didn't think a 0‑2 score was that scary; scoring two or three goals in the last ten minutes is a script that plays out every round of the J‑League and the A‑League!
Spain can no longer rely on possession to control the match!
This is exactly our chance!
The match passed by second by second.
Li Kang and Dewuluofeuwu kept making passes.
Morata kept wasting passes.
The Spanish side had the upper hand but couldn't score.
Although they were leading by two goals.
But constantly wasting such golden chances is too painful.
Minya Nuo felt as if ants were crawling all over his body.
Boske sighed helplessly; he suddenly missed Tuoleisi from 08 and Biliya from 10.
"A late‑September night in Tokyo is desolate."
Deheya stood outside his own penalty area, inexplicably feeling a bit melancholy.
Suddenly.
He saw a football screaming through the mid‑air!
"Morata's shot struck Xichuan Zhouzuo's chest, sparking a swift Japanese counter‑attack!"
"Nanye Tuoshi!"
He chipped it! Oh no! De He Ya isn't that type of goalkeeper, his positioning...
Nan Ye Tuoshi received a pass from a teammate near the midfield.
Facing Rong Ni's interception.
He lifted his head to check the opposing goalkeeper's position, then decisively chose to shoot!
Midfield chip shot!
The ball flew straight into Spain's penalty area!
Japanese fans went wild!
They never imagined their own player could produce a Beckham-esque stunning chip shot!
Ha Li Huo Ji Qi excitedly waved his fist!
Mi Ni Ya Nuo panicked!
On the coach's bench, Bosike remained calm, he understood the national team's goalkeeper traits very well.
De He Ya was very calm.
The ball's trajectory and landing point were completely under his control.
With his long strides, he quickly turned back into the penalty area!
He pushed off hard with his left foot, leapt high, and easily plucked the ball!
His movement speed wasn't as fast as Nuo Yin Er's.
But his 0.18-second reaction arc was comparable to lightning.
Phew!
Indeed worthy of being Fan De Sa's successor!
De He Ya defused this danger with ease!
Hey! No slowing down the pace!
A powerful throw!
De He Ya landed and then sprinted forward.
His body stretched out as he leaned back.
His right hand gripped the ball.
He pressed down hard with his left leg.
Like a javelin thrower at the Olympic Games.
The ball was like a cannonball!
Above Ajinomoto Stadium, it traced an exaggerated arc!
It smashed hard into Japan's backfield!
Li Kang merely glanced back and already knew where the ball would land.
From God's perspective.
The Japanese team's formation, preparing to counterattack, turned into a mess!
His burst speed wasn't fast.
But his reaction time was earlier than all Japanese players!
Ha Li Huo Ji Qi quickly directed his teammates to retreat!
Too late!
Li Kang happened to be at the ball's landing point, he turned his back, lifted his foot to guide it, then turned and charged into Japan's penalty area!
One-on-one!
De He Ya's powerful throw! Li Kang's vision and awareness are too strong!
Can he score?
Ajinomoto Stadium, the Japanese fans in the stands all around inexplicably became excited.
I don't know why, but whenever Li Kang, this Chinese-heritage, this yellow-skinned person gets the ball.
They just get excited deep down...
Things that Dragon Kingdom people can do!
We Japanese can also imitate!
Xi Chuan Zhou Zuo didn't hesitate, he decisively came out.
He can't let the Chinese-heritage kid complete a hat-trick!
He not only has to defend Japan's goal, but also defend the honor of the J-League!
Li Kang's speed isn't fast.
In the past, at the Lewokusen training base, Sun Xing Min taught him many cutting techniques and experiences.
But facing the main goalkeeper of the Belgian powerhouse.
He deeply knows his current dribbling ability can't shake off the opponent.
Mi Ni Ya Nuo crouched on the grass, he had no hope at all:
In the two-day training match, Li Kang never showed any dribbling ability; now the shooting angle is blocked, could he instead kick a powerful blast to smash the ball into Japan's goalkeeper's face?
Bosike and Ha Li Huo Ji Qi's expressions were, however, very consistent.
The two stared intently at the Chinese-heritage player on the field.
Their eyes revealed undisguised anticipation!
In a flash.
Just as Xichuan Zhouzuo closed the distance, the moment he was about to settle the single blade.
Li Kang's mind surged with countless fragments.
The back view of the white-clad number 7 flashed by.
The football lightly left his left foot.
At an unimaginable speed, it rose sharply.
Nishikawa Sozo looked bewildered.
He kept the motion of diving for the ball, watching helplessly as the football flew over his head!
Then it swiftly fell!
It landed near the twelve-yard mark of the penalty area!
It then bounced into the goal!
0-3!!!
The whole stadium cheered!
"The ball went in!"
"Hat-trick! Hat-trick!"
"A perfect national team debut!"
"Chinese-American youngster Li Kang! For his first national team match, he delivered the perfect answer!"
"No suspense left!"
"De Gea's powerful throw-in assist! Li Kang's chip shot goal! Spain killed the match!"
Dragon Kingdom livestream.
The barrage went crazy.
-【Holy shit, Li Mingdeng is awesome, the J-League pattern completely fails on him!】
-【First time representing the national team and already a hat-trick, kicking against Japan's Europe-based main defensive line, awesome!】
-【You don't know that when we Dragon Kingdom people kick little Japan, we get a bloodline ability boost?】
-【This midfielder doesn't like assists! Haha!】
-【Nonsense, if it weren't for Morata wildly spitting out pastry, Li Kang wouldn't have taken that shot himself.】
-【De Gea is also fierce! Even with a two-goal lead he launched a powerful throw-in!】
Morata excitedly hugged Li Kang from behind.
Held high.
Why is this guy so strong when celebrating?
Teammates gathered around.
They lifted Li Kang high!
Japanese fans also hysterically shouted the Chinese-descent name!
"Lee!!!"
"Lee!!!"
"Lee!!!"
Miniano was dazed for a long time.
Bosque raised both fists, his big belly trembling... He was happy, yet troubled.
The Spanish national team simply doesn't know how to use the Dragon Descendant kid!
Who has a manual?
Does the old Tuop from Lewokusen have a manual?
In the distance.
Halilhodžić felt a myriad of emotions.
He was angry that the team was three goals behind, yet he appreciated Li Kang's performance.
What a contradiction.
Nishikawa Sozo buried his head in the grass, unwilling to lift it for a long time.
Like a startled ostrich.
He could only conceal his guilt this way.
Takumi Minamino trembled all over.
Through this match, he knows the gap between himself and the European superstar is huge...
What's scarier: Li Kang is Chinese-descent.
He gave his all in this match yet couldn't create an attacking chance, while Li Kang easily completed a hat-trick.
He couldn't help but recall the provocation against Dragon Kingdom a few days ago... the words he said in front of media reporters...
Beep! Beep-beep~
Finally.
The head referee blew the whistle signaling the end of the match.
"It's a pity, if Morata had seized the chance in the second half, this match would have been a massacre!"
"Spain defeated Japan 3-0!"
"We can see the fallen bullfighter dynasty is returning to its peak! Perhaps in the near future, these youngsters will be active on the stages of the European Cup and World Cup!"
Li Kang and his teammates did not leave the field immediately.
After shaking hands with the officiating crew.
Everyone together walked toward a secluded part of the stands.
There were several hundred fans supporting the Spanish team.
Dennis suddenly exclaimed: "Oh my God! Li! They must have come to support you!"
Li Kang then noticed: among those several hundred Spanish fans, there were familiar faces—the group of overseas students and ethnic Chinese from the airport!
Compared to the tens of thousands of Japanese fans, the cheering of these few dozen people simply couldn't reach the stadium.
That night.
Japan's sports media went crazy.
《The Empire's Kirin Beast!!! 》
《The Absolutely Ferocious Tiger's Strike!!! 》
《The Overseas Chinese Are Too Strong—It's Impossible! 》
Li Kang's photo on the field became the front-page headline of major newspapers.
In the reports, the media invited Japanese football veterans to analyze the traits of the overseas Chinese genius.
They lavishly praised.
They urged the youth training squads to strengthen physical confrontation!
Soon.
The reports spread to the Dragon Kingdom and to Europe.
End of Chapter
