Chapter 475: King of Asian Football

Chapter 475: King of Asian Football

As the snow began to fall over the stadium, Dynamo Kyiv's players felt a surge of adrenaline. Their spirits, which had been waning, were instantly lifted.

"Finally, the snow! This is perfect for us!"

"Exactly, those Brits aren't used to playing in the snow. The more it accumulates, the more it will disrupt their passing game. This is our chance!"

Seeing the snow start to fall, Guardiola couldn't help but frown. Although the snowfall was light, it was already affecting the players' morale. The opposing team's spirits soared, while his own players seemed disheartened.

City players on the field understood that the longer they delayed, the more the snow would accumulate, making their ground-based attack increasingly difficult. This urgency led to hasty decisions during their attacks, often overlooking better options.

"Calm down, control the pace, don't rush. We still have time!" Guardiola shouted from the sidelines, trying to remind his players to stay composed.

On the field, Lin also noticed his teammates' growing impatience. There were better options available, but his teammates were rushing their shots or passing into crowded areas, which nullified their attacks.

With limited time left in the first half, Lin realized they needed to score soon. Delaying until the second half, when the snow could potentially worsen, would only make things harder.

Stay calm, he told himself. Panicking won't help us score. Observing the opposing defenders' positions, Lin noticed they were constantly adjusting based on the position of the ball, trying to maintain a tight formation. Strong teams like Kyiv maintained their shape well, making it hard to break them down. But constant movement also created small gaps and opportunities.

Even the best teams couldn't maintain perfect synchronization. Differences in reaction times and speeds among defenders would always leave some exploitable space. With the large field and only eleven players, it was nearly impossible to cover every inch.

Dynamo Kyiv's players had gradually adjusted to City's attacking rhythm after thirty minutes. They had initially resorted to fouling to disrupt City's play but now felt more confident after successfully defending several attacks. This boost in morale made them more formidable.

Morale is a strange thing. A team with high spirits can often perform above their skill level, potentially even defeating stronger opponents. Football history is full of such upsets, like the 2004 Istanbul miracle where Liverpool overturned a 3-0 deficit against a vastly superior AC Milan side.

Lin called for the ball from De Bruyne, who immediately passed it and made a forward run, expecting a return pass. De Bruyne's run drew three defenders, creating space. Instead of returning the ball to De Bruyne, who would be immediately surrounded, Lin made a long pass to the opposite flank.

It was a beautiful pass. With the defense shifted right towards Lin, the left side was wide open. If Son Heung-min could reach the ball, he would have a clear path to the goal.

Son hadn't expected the pass but had followed the tactical plan, pushing forward as the team advanced. This positioning granted him an excellent opportunity.

The defenders, having shifted towards the middle, left Son unmarked on the wing. As soon as Lin passed the ball, Son sprinted towards the falling ball.

Lin's pass wasn't directly to Son but in front of him, allowing Son to accelerate and receive the ball in stride, avoiding the defenders.

"Beautiful pass!" Guardiola exclaimed. The vision, technique, and perfect timing of Lin's pass were extraordinary. Lin's ability to combine dribbling, shooting, and passing so effectively made Guardiola marvel. Was there anything this player couldn't do?

On the other side, Son Heung-min comfortably received Lin's pass without slowing down, earning his admiration. "Lin's passing deserves 82 points, the remaining 18 I'll give as 666!" Son thought, using a popular expression to praise Lin's skill.

"Damn, if only my national teammates could pass like this, I wouldn't be struggling so much in international games," Son muttered.

Son Heung-min hadn't been having a great time with the South Korean national team recently, going several matches without scoring. Meanwhile, teammates like Koo Ja-cheol were flourishing, leading to Korean fans questioning Son's abilities and his title as Asia's best player.

Thinking about this made Son feel indignant: Who are my teammates at the club? World-class players! And in the national team? Some are continental-level, but most are just national-level. The difference is huge! At the club, he could score because he had great teammates supporting him. But in the national team, being younger and lower in seniority, he faced bullying and exclusion. The team's tactics didn't suit him, and his teammates couldn't keep up with his pace, leading to a drop in his performance.

Determined to show his true abilities, Son saw this moment as an opportunity to prove himself to his critics back home.

"Wuli Son Heung-min has received a pass from Lin. Is he going to take over the game?" The Korean commentators, covering the match at 4:30 AM Korean time, perked up, their voices rising in excitement. By now, it was past 5 AM in Korea. If it weren't winter, they might have seen the sunrise by now. But for the famously hard-working Koreans, 5 AM was nothing. They could stay up another seventeen or eighteen hours if it meant watching their player score.

Son Heung-min, now running at full speed, found a large open space on the left flank. With increased speed came increased confidence. When an opposing defender attempted to intercept him, Son smoothly performed a body feint, leaving the defender behind. This move left both the crowd in the stadium and TV viewers in shock.

"Who knew City's substitute had such dribbling skills?" Guardiola was also surprised. He knew Son was fast and a good shooter, an excellent scorer. But Son's dribbling and one-on-one ability hadn't stood out as much, making him more suited for counter-attacks than structured play. Yet here was Son, showcasing skills he hadn't before. Guardiola began to wonder: Could Lin's training be paying off?

Last summer, Guardiola had Lin teach players like Kante some dribbling and over-dribbling techniques. Although Kante's development as an offensive player didn't pan out, Son seemed to have benefited unexpectedly.

The Dynamo Kyiv players were equally surprised. They hadn't expected Son to get past their defender, and now they had no chance to intercept him as he charged into the box. Son now had two options: shoot directly at the advancing goalkeeper or pass to a teammate. But given his speed, passing was risky, so Son decided to finish the play himself.

Calmly, he adjusted his stride and observed the goalkeeper's movements before aiming for the far corner. The shot was precise, skimming past the goalkeeper and into the goal, just brushing the post.

The stadium fell silent except for the howling wind and swirling snowflakes. Dynamo Kyiv's fans were stunned: Was their team really losing?

A gust of cold wind swept through, and one of the bare-chested drummers shivered involuntarily. "It's so cold!"

On the field, Son Heung-min celebrated by running to the corner flag and removing his jersey, revealing a vest with a message in Korean: "For my dear father!" The Korean audience watching the game saw this and praised him. "What a good kid!" "So filial!" "Son's family must be so proud!"

Back in the UK, Son Heung-min's parents received numerous congratulatory messages and calls from friends and family. Son's gratitude to his father stemmed from the significant influence he had on his career. Without his father's support, he wouldn't have reached this level. Although his father initially planned to travel with him, Son thought the Ukrainian winter would be too harsh, so he didn't bring him along. He wondered if his parents were watching the game and witnessing his brilliant performance.

(End of Chapter)

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