Chapter 34: Look at This Pie, It's Big and Round

"Kaka has shredded Corinthians' entire backline, helping his team equalize. It's unimaginable how Sao Paulo would fare without Kaka. He's undoubtedly their biggest discovery this season. The current score is 3-2, with about fifteen minutes remaining. The suspense continues."

Kaka had used the card around the 70th minute, with its effect lasting only 30 minutes, so extra time was definitely something to avoid if possible.

Although this goal could be considered the most beautiful he had scored since his debut, he didn't celebrate. Instead, he rushed into the goal, retrieved the ball, and sprinted towards the center. Naturally, his teammates couldn't resist patting his head and shoulders, their expressions and tones conveying, "How did this handsome stud become so awesome?"

Thanks to the Dreamlike Footwork skill boost, his dribbling attribute had increased by three points to 84, crossing the "good" threshold and entering the "excellent" range.

As the match resumed, Kaka was undoubtedly the center of attention on and off the field.

In the 79th minute, Kaka received the ball, but before he could showboat, Vanpeta intercepted it. However, Vanpeta's pass didn't even reach the halfway line before Sao Paulo regained possession. Baptista, Harrison, and Franza completed a triangle pass, with Franza carrying the ball to the edge of Corinthians' penalty area. Fabiano's intelligent off-the-ball run created a gap, and Franza quickly threaded a through ball.

The ball rolled along the grass, penetrating the defensive lines to reach Fabiano, who was about to control it when a cleat suddenly appeared, striking the ball.

The goalkeeper had decisively charged out to clear the danger.

Undeterred, Fabiano leaped sideways, intending to block the ball with his ample backside, but the hasty attempt only deflected it off his shin, narrowly outside the penalty area.

Kaka retrieved the ball, with Vanpeta immediately giving chase.

Without hesitation, Kaka flicked the ball across with a deft touch of his ankle.

Baptista came charging in from behind, feinting a shot.

Vanpeta quickly turned to block Baptista.

Mimicking Fabiano's earlier movement, he shielded his head, twisted his body, and leaped, but the ball never came his way.

Baptista had faked the shot and deftly dribbled into the penalty area.

Although Vanpeta had a bit of a big mouth, he was undoubtedly an excellent defender. After catching his breath, he didn't hesitate to pursue Baptista.

Under pressure from both sides, Baptista couldn't find an opportunity and awkwardly passed the ball back to the supporting Kaka.

Vanpeta immediately closed in, directly confronting Kaka.

"You're afraid of me, aren't you..." Vanpeta's remark referred to Kaka's previous pass, not that he was naive enough to think Kaka had passed out of fear. Still, he habitually fired the verbal jab, reminiscent of certain loquacious busybodies in life.

Their intentions might not be malicious, but they were truly annoying.

Kaka trapped the ball with the tip of his right foot, dragging it back, his feet immediately following its motion behind him.

Although Vanpeta's mouth kept running, his focus remained sharp, and he immediately recognized the move.

This was the Rainbow Flick!

Almost simultaneously, everyone witnessed a rainbow arc rising in front of Corinthians' penalty area.

As the ball sailed over Vanpeta's head, he immediately turned and lunged at Kaka but was a step too slow.

Kaka barely managed to keep Vanpeta behind him, controlling the ball with his chest, preparing to enter the penalty area. But as soon as he brought the ball down, a forceful impact struck him from behind.

Kaka hit the ground.

Vanpeta had charged into him from behind.

For a defender, being beaten by the Rainbow Flick carried the same humiliation as being nutmegged.

"You stinking trash, do you want to die?" Baptista immediately rushed over and slapped Vanpeta.

The equally incensed Harrison was startled and quickly intervened.

Franza had already confronted Vanpeta, and the two were butting heads, appearing on the verge of exchanging blows, but they only engaged in heated shouting without any actual violence.

Two wimps.

The referee's whistle immediately sounded, and players from both teams became entangled.

Sao Paulo felt a yellow card was too lenient for Vanpeta, insisting a red card was necessary, and since Kaka had entered the penalty area, a penalty should be awarded.

Corinthians, on the other hand, argued it was merely a regular foul, and a yellow card was excessive, let alone a penalty kick. Kaka was further from the penalty area than the distance between Sao Paulo and Corinthians, and he appeared lively, possibly even diving...

The experienced referee pushed through the crowd and stood firm on his decision.

Vanpeta received a yellow card, and Sao Paulo was awarded a free kick.

Kaka, who had gone from protagonist to spectator, now stood at the free-kick spot, reclaiming the spotlight.

The fans from both sides, who had nearly come to blows off the pitch, also fell silent.

"Sao Paulo has earned another free kick, almost identical to the previous one, with the goalkeeper and wall in similar positions. Last time, the keeper got a touch but couldn't keep it out. Will the result be different this time?"

Without further ado, Kaka set up his stance, and the referee blew the whistle.

He glanced at the top left corner of the goal, took a few steps, and struck the ball.

The anticipated curling shot didn't materialize.

Instead, another rainbow arc rose from Kaka's feet, soaring over the wall at a quicker pace and lower trajectory than a typical lofted shot, but perfectly timed to clear the defensive line.

This delicate weight couldn't possibly be a direct shot on goal; it was a pass.

Like a black panther emerging from the shadows, Fabiano silently appeared behind the ball, devouring the "big, round pie."

He glanced at the linesman, who kept his flag down.

3-3.

The goalkeeper had witnessed the entire sequence and, with his wealth of experience, had formulated a complete response plan in his mind. However, his previous preparations were solely for a direct shot from Kaka, leaving him unable to react in time. He only managed a slight twitch as the ball sailed into the net.

(End of Chapter)