Cup debut

Time flies, and the tacit understanding between Wang Feng and his teammates is getting higher and higher on the training ground. After a period of hard training, his passing has also improved a lot.

Since Wang Feng has not been officially registered, he cannot participate in the league in December, but he still travels as a team member. In the stands, he saw Genk draw with Liers 1:1 at home, draw with Charleroi 0:0 away, and lose 0:4 at home to Brugge.

This made him feel a fire all over his body as he couldn't wait to play immediately. The two draws and one loss also made the head coach Aimee Antonis furious. In the locker room, he loudly criticized the enthusiasm of the players on the field, "I can't see your determination to win. If this continues, we will never play in the Europa League. The goal of the cup is definitely gone!"

In order to recover in the second half of the league, Antonis shortened the winter break and had an extra three days of training before and after the holiday. The players complained quite a bit, but they couldn't resist. Wang Feng thought it was better this way, he was hoping to train more to improve, but rationally he didn't say this idea, he was afraid of causing public anger.

During this period, he and Carl Beth became good friends. They are young people who live next to each other, so they often go to the training ground together, and occasionally Beth stays to practice with Wang Feng.

Beth's personality is also similar to Wang Feng's, he doesn't like unnecessary entertainment, except for training games. He just stays at the residence and watches TV, but he will go back to his hometown Antwerp for Christmas.

Most of the Genk players are Belgians, and there are also some French and Dutch players. They will go home or travel during the winter break. Only Wang Feng will stay in Genk.

It is worth mentioning that Wang Feng bought himself a mobile phone, a small Nokia, and asked his family to buy one, so that they no longer have to wait for long letters.

Normally, his mother would be worried about the phone bill and would not call him more, but when the new year came, she couldn't help but make a long phone call. Hearing the familiar voices of his family members, Wang Feng felt warm in his heart, and the loneliness in his heart gradually faded away.

On the first day of the new year, the winter break transfer window opened as scheduled, and Genk immediately registered Wang Feng, which meant that he was able to represent Genk in the game.

Wang Feng did not wait long, and ushered in his debut. The first game of the new year, the Belgian Cup 16-to-8 match against Ghent, head coach Aimee Antonis arranged for Wang Feng to start!

Although the teammates didn't say anything, looking at their questioning eyes, Wang Feng understood their distrust. It's true. He didn't play a game for a month, but he started in a single knockout match. The head coach's arrangement was indeed bold. 

Aimee Antonis felt helpless. Genk's striker suffered constant injuries, resulting in a weak attack. He had had enough, so he planned to gamble on Wang Feng.

At three o'clock in the afternoon on January 12th of the millennium, the Henkrominus Arena, which can accommodate 25,000 people, is already full of seats. The fans of the home team are wearing uniforms, holding cheering banners, and shouting Genk's team song. Even in the entire Belgian professional football league, the enthusiasm of Genk fans can be ranked first.

Together with other players, Wang Feng came out of the tunnel and saw this spectacular scene. Fans roaring like possessed demons, reporters with long guns and short cannons at the side of the stadium, and the perfect lawn under their feet, all seemed to remind Wang Feng that this is the real high-level professional competition, it was just a small fight before.

With the whistle of the referee, the game officially began. After the opening, Genk played unsatisfactorily. The midfielder was suppressed by Ghent, and the connection with the front court was not enough, and the ball was frequently intercepted by the opponent.

Wang Feng also seemed a little uncomfortable on the court. He touched the ball twice, but the defensive player relied on his physical fitness to put pressure on him, forcing him to pass back once, and once he was destroyed beyond the baseline.

The defensive strength of League A is indeed not comparable to that of League B. Wang Feng gasped and thought, he is only sixteen years old, and it will be a disadvantage to compete with adult players.

The head coach Antonis frowned. He was wondering if Wang Feng was under too much pressure and if it would be better for him to play as a substitute? He loudly commanded the midfielders to take the ball well and support the front court.

In the 13th minute, Genk sent a set ball from the backcourt. Midfielder Carl Beth leaned on the opponent's defender to forcefully jump and ferry the header. Wang Feng, who was on the side, quickly started and chased after the ball. The opponent's defensive position was relatively close, and he hurriedly followed, but Wang Feng was faster and hit the ball first.

But at this time the defensive player has blocked the attacking route, Wang Feng had an idea, hooked the ball back with his right foot, the ball rolled behind him. He turned around to chase the ball, the defensive player naturally followed up .

At this moment, Wang Feng suddenly stopped the ball, dunked the ball with his left foot, easily dodged the pouncing defender, and then broke through from the outside.

For Wang Feng, the continuous direction-changing spiking action seems to have been engraved into his DNA, and he can do it perfectly subconsciously. The audience on the sidelines were dazzled, and they felt that Wang Feng had passed the defenders in an instant, and rushed to the front court along the side.

Without waiting for other defensive players to approach, Wang Feng looked at the centre Caspar Blanche who was following up in the penalty area, imagining in his mind the feeling of finding some passes during training, kicked a curved ball towards him. Successfully leaped over the defender and found Blanche in the penalty area, but this time his header was slightly off the crossbar.

Blanche shook his head regretfully, and gave Wang Feng a thumbs up. He never thought that Wang Feng's pass was so accurate, obviously he was very eye-catching when he passed the ball in training some time ago.

The defensive player who was broken by Wang Feng also broke into a sweat. He stared at Wang Feng fiercely, and secretly vowed in his heart to guard him to death. So for the next period of time, he followed Wang Feng closely. As a result, Wang Feng didn't have a good chance after getting the ball and could only pass it out.

So Wang Feng quietly expanded the range of activities and increased his running without the ball. His physical strength has always been good, so he can run a little more, and sooner or later he will wait for the opportunity.

Finally, at the 31st minute, Wang Feng ran out of space and received the ball from the left. He quickly started, and the opposing defender quickly stepped forward to defend. Players have to block. But he turned the ball to his right foot again, and inserted it diagonally from the inside to the edge of the penalty area.

This distance is already enough to threaten the goal. Several defenders of the opponent team came to help defend. At this time, Wang Feng kicked a ground ball with his left foot and accurately sent the ball to the feet of Caspar Blanche who was laying in ambush on the edge of the small penalty area. 

The attention of the defensive players was attracted by Wang Feng. Of course, Blanche would not miss this opportunity. He directly hit the ball with a close corner. The goalkeeper missed the ball and he scored!

1:0! Genk took the lead.

After scoring the goal, Blanche jumped up excitedly. This goal broke his scoring drought in seven consecutive games. He excitedly ran to Wang Feng's side, hugged him, and shouted: " You see me, you see me!"

The other team members also gathered around one after another, and everyone formed a group to celebrate. Head coach Aimee Antonis also breathed a sigh of relief. He could feel that with Wang Feng on the field, Genk's long-sleeping offence seemed to be active again, which was incredible.