Chapter 35: Rub, Rub, Rubbing on the Ground

"Kaka's clever lofted pass, Fabiano's composed finish - the twin stars of Sao Paulo combined seamlessly to equalize for their team. We rarely witness so many goals in a crucial final. The match is becoming increasingly enthralling. Fabiano is ecstatic, this is likely his most important goal since joining Sao Paulo."

Fabiano's personality was rather subdued, his expressions generally not overly exuberant even after scoring. However, he now appeared deliriously joyful, frantically gesturing with his hands, his celebratory actions a chaotic mix of jumping on the spot and frenzied sprinting.

Kaka had to grab his shoulders and shake him firmly, saying, "Hey! Calm down, we've only equalized, not won yet. What's with the excitement?"

Fabiano was completely euphoric, exclaiming, "Don't worry, Kaka, give me a few more assists like that, and I'll make them call me daddy."

"...I never realized you had such an unusual hobby."

"Hey! Kaka! Give me an assist too!" Baptista chimed in, disgruntled, "You've fed Luis so many pies, why can't you give me one? My position was great too!"

"You might not believe it," Kaka said solemnly, "but that ball was actually intended for you. I don't know how it ended up with Luis."

"...So, what are you trying to say?"

"The directional keys must be malfunctioning."

Baptista: "...Come here, let me fix your directional keys for you." (ಠ_ಠ)

After the raucous celebrations, the match resumed.

It's often said that the pitch is like a chessboard, but unlike chess where players prefer to open with an aggressive move, in football, teams tend to be cautious initially, often passing back after the kick-off.

However, Corinthians didn't hold back this time.

Whether following the head coach's instructions or Guillaume's confidence surging after scoring twice, he charged towards Sao Paulo's half directly from the kick-off.

However, he couldn't even get past Fabiano, being dispossessed just after the halfway line, prompting laughter from Sao Paulo's fans.

But their amusement only lasted two seconds.

Infected by Guillaume's boldness, Fabiano dribbled towards Corinthians' half after winning the ball, though he fared slightly better, beating one defender before being dispossessed while attempting a one-two with Kaka.

In just ten seconds, possession had changed hands twice.

What chaos...

The battle erupted in midfield before concentrating in front of Sao Paulo's penalty area, but Corinthians didn't commit fully, leaving Sao Paulo's counterattacks somewhat stifled.

Kaka attempted two solo runs, one ending with the defenders closing him down, the other with Vanpeta brutally bringing him down.

Vanpeta conceded another foul for this challenge, but the referee refrained from showing a card, much to Sao Paulo's displeasure.

Vanpeta's expression was grave, no longer having the energy for verbal jabs.

He didn't want to foul, but defending without fouling was proving impossible.

Kaka's style had drastically shifted, initially relying on pace before transitioning to a more technical approach, and now reverting to an explosive burst of speed, leaving Vanpeta in disarray.

Defending against a pace-oriented player differs from defending against a technical one.

When marking a pacey player, the emphasis is on tight, restrictive marking, eliminating space to build up speed, as these players often rely on explosive movements during their surges, with the first step being crucial. If you can't stop their initial burst, it's essentially game over, but if you can, you're mostly safe.

Conversely, when defending against a technical player, you need to maintain a certain distance, adhering to the philosophy of not committing until the opponent does. Force them to make the first move, and if they haven't self-destructed after a series of bewildering feints, then it's your turn to pounce.

As for those who possess both pace and technique, the best approach is to go with the flow, as there's still a decent chance of success, far more reliable than merely reacting to their movements.

Of course, the terms "pace-oriented" and "technical" are merely vague, unscientific classifications. Defending requires constantly adapting to the situation, relying primarily on instinctive reactions and experience. However, the overall defensive strategies generally align with these broad archetypes.

To simplify, the technical player is like a manual transmission - more complex operation, while the pacey player is like an automatic - simple and direct. The truly elite, however, are like a seamless combination of both manual and automatic modes, capable of multiple playing styles...

With Natural Ball Sense, Blistering Speed, and Dreamlike Footwork, Kaka might lack the Emerald Thoroughbred trait, but his inherent pace was already formidable, not too far behind someone like Royce. Therefore, Kaka currently epitomized the seamless fusion of technique and pace.

In other words, the most terrifying archetype.

In the 85th minute, Kaka again dropped deep to link the play.

Harrison provided a comfortable low pass.

Vanpeta relentlessly pursued.

Facing the incoming ball, Kaka gently cushioned it, not killing its momentum but dragging it back, the ball rolling straight through Vanpeta's legs.

Kaka spun, dribbling past the bewildered Vanpeta and surging forward.

Nutmeg, beat the man, spin - a single fluid motion.

Vanpeta extended his arm, intending to pull Kaka down, but remembering his yellow card, he hesitated, allowing Kaka to instantly leave him behind.

Vanpeta hurried to chase.

He quickly caught up to Kaka.

Not because his pace had improved but because Kaka had abruptly stopped.

Vanpeta's momentum carried him forward, nearly colliding with Kaka, who had already sidestepped while flicking the ball through Vanpeta's legs with the outside of his right foot.

The ball rolled through Vanpeta's legs again.

"Ooh!" Various unintelligible cries erupted from the sidelines.

Any fan knew what a nutmeg signified.

It was rubbing the victim's face on the grass, again and again.

Vanpeta's mind went blank, instinctively turning to give chase, but before he could react, Kaka flicked the ball again...

The third time...

Such exquisite torment...

Vanpeta steadied himself and viciously lunged at the now retreating Kaka with a sliding tackle.

Kaka had anticipated this, easily evading with a simple touch and drag before accelerating like an arrow towards Corinthians' goal under Vanpeta's despairing gaze.

He didn't intend to humiliate Vanpeta; it was merely the natural ebb and flow of a competitive match. Although Vanpeta's mouth had been a little disrespectful, prompting personal dislike, there was no need to deliberately trample him into the ground repeatedly.

All his actions were instinctive responses to the situation, with perhaps a hint of showboating, but primarily aimed at fully shaking off his marker. Having spent considerable time playing indoor football recently, many of the seemingly outrageous moves came naturally now that he could express himself freely on the pitch, whereas his previous limited ball sense had restrained him. Unfortunately for Vanpeta, he became the unwitting backdrop.

The feeling was undeniably exhilarating, no wonder Neymar relished such humiliating tricks despite being vilified like a dog for them.

[A reader commented that Kaka's groin injuries stemmed from uneven leg lengths, but after searching, I couldn't find any relevant reports. If anyone has information on this, please share it. I'd be most grateful.]

(End of Chapter)