Football: My AI System Provides Max-Level Predictions-Chapter 741 - 530: Long-distance raid embodies team effort, Tang Long breaks through with a zero-angle goal!

Chapter 741: Chapter 530: Long-distance raid embodies team effort, Tang Long breaks through with a zero-angle goal!

Ronaldo sat up slightly, his eyes fixed intently on the replay, and after a brief pause, he slowly spoke.

"Dilata, the secret of this shot is not simple, it bears some resemblance to my former teammate Little Juninho from the Brazilian national team."

Little Juninho?

Hearing this name, Owen’s heart also skipped a beat, and images of his shots flashed through his mind like a movie.

Ronaldo continued:

"This Brazilian compatriot of mine does have similarities with Tang Long in this aspect, yet there are fundamental differences. Everyone knows that Little Juninho’s free kicks are unparalleled. But Tang Long’s shot this time, he executed it with a volleyed strike during live play!"

"At the moment of striking the ball, Tang Long’s control of power was exquisite. He used just the right amount of force, causing the ball to fly forward seemingly without any conventional arc or spin, looking plain yet direct."

"But as it approached the goal, the ball suddenly wobbled irregularly! This is where the essence lies!"

"It’s because when he made contact with the ball, he adjusted the point of contact between his foot and the ball instantly, applying a force that gave the ball a subtle yet unpredictable flight path. Coupled with the ball’s flying speed, and influenced by the surrounding air as it neared the goal, it wobbled unpredictably."

"Haha, De Gea facing such a ball is like facing an elusive phantom!"

"He originally thought the ball’s speed was not fast and that he could catch it easily, but this sudden wobble caught him off guard."

"This shot is truly brilliant! It’s not just a simple combination of power and technique; it also perfectly balances timing, force, angle, and anticipation of the ball’s flight path in the air."

"He knows exactly at that position how to kick the ball to produce this special effect, and it’s by no means luck, but real hard power."

With a thoughtful nod, Dilata said, "So, Icardi couldn’t score because he lacks the precise grasp of these elements. Tang Long’s ability to complete such a shot in a fierce match proves that his attainment in the field of shooting has reached an extremely high level."

Ronaldo smiled and nodded slightly, leaning back in his chair, his eyes full of admiration for Tang Long.

...

Icardi was completely lost.

During halftime, Guardiola made some tactical adjustments.

He substituted the short defender Otamendi, officially moving Ranocchia back to the center-back position, and then introduced Mkhitaryan in midfield.

Thus, Ranocchia could legitimately spend a "pleasant and warm" second half with Icardi.

Pellegrini still insisted on flank crossing tactics, sending crosses like grenades continuously flying into Manchester City’s penalty area.

However, once marked by Ranocchia, Icardi could no longer display the prowess of a lion as he did in the first half.

In the entire Premier League, or even the whole of Europe’s football scene, no one knows Icardi like Ranocchia does; he can tame him completely, leaving him with no temper at all.

Between the 50th and 70th minutes of the second half, Manchester United delivered a total of 18 crosses, almost one per minute.

But the vast majority were cleared by Ranocchia, and Icardi only managed to get to one drop point, heading the ball towards the stands, posing no threat to Bravo.

Fired up initially, followed by decline, and finally exhaustion!

Even though Manchester United had the home advantage at Old Trafford, with prolonged attacks not bearing fruit, the players’ morale inevitably dropped.

minutes into the second half.

Taking advantage of a moment when the opponent’s morale was waning and distracted, Tang Long completed another spectacular long-distance run down the left flank!

This long run was particularly brilliant, not only showcasing Tang Long’s personal abilities but also the crystallization of Manchester City’s overall team collaboration.

When Tang Long started from the left, Pogba volunteered, allowing right-back Ashley Young to stay slightly back, to personally challenge Tang Long.

"I’ll take him on!"

At just 23 years old, Pogba was at the perfect age for a professional player’s youthful vigor to shine.

But Pogba has a fatal flaw, which is his strong desire for personal performance.

If it were his teammate Carrick, a seasoned midfielder, he would never try to intercept Tang Long’s ball directly, but rather retreat while engaging, allowing Tang Long to pass the ball out.

But Pogba didn’t think so, he stepped forward with a big stride, attempting to sweep both ball and man off Tang Long’s feet~

Faced with such "suicidal" defense, Tang Long gladly accepted.

With a gentle poke and a flick, Pogba missed the ball entirely, losing his footing, and immediately performed a slide tackle, crashing into the advertising board nearby.

With a "bang," he hit it so hard stars appeared in his eyes.

Tang Long, quick-eyed and quick-footed, made no stops and sprinted towards the densely populated center.

There, Herrera and Carrick were fully on alert.

But at that moment, Tang Long, charging forward at high speed, was not just a torrent—two torrents suddenly emerged from his flanks, with Gundogan and the newly introduced Mkhitaryan providing support from both sides.

In an instant, it became a two-on-three situation, with Manchester United at a local disadvantage in midfield.

Seeing Tang Long’s shifting gaze and twitching ankles, Carrick and Herrera thought he was going to pass the ball.

Carrick thought Tang Long would pass left to Gundogan, while Herrera thought he would pass right to Mkhitaryan.

Both stepped sideways, preparing to mark his intended pass targets.

Unexpectedly, it was this pull from Gundogan and Mkhitaryan that inadvertently created a one-meter gap between Carrick and Herrera.

Tang Long cut across it instantly!

"Beautiful!"

Agüero praised down the center line, hurriedly shifted to the flank, and signaled for the ball.

But this time, Manchester United’s defense wasn’t fooled; no one went to mark Agüero.

Tang Long, having sprinted nearly 20 meters, simply reversed his approach. Instead of advancing, he made a horizontal pass, deliberately delivering the ball to Agüero!

The moment this pass was made, the entire Manchester United team was stunned; so after all, he still intended to pass!

But Agüero was sharp too; he knew he was far less incisive than Tang Long on the flank.

A typical player might control the ball and then dribble a bit before passing it back, but with his experience, Agüero didn’t stop the ball. Instead, he quickly tapped it back to Tang Long’s feet.

This move caught Manchester United by surprise—what are they trying to do with these exchanges?

As it is known, when masters clash, there’s no obvious pattern to their moves, each move is a counter to conventional tactics.

This pass and return between Agüero and Tang Long indeed distracted Manchester United.

Tang Long carried the ball forward rapidly, "thud thud thud thud thud thud," the rhythm of the football at his feet matched the quick beat of his heart.

"Watch your back!"

Agüero shouted in alarm.

Pogba, who had been bypassed before and wasn’t willing to accept it, gritted his teeth and rushed back, slide-tackling from behind in an attempt to bring down Tang Long, even if it meant receiving a yellow card and conceding a free kick, it felt worth it.

However, Tang Long, who was alert in all directions despite not having eyes in the back of his head, had already sensed the wind from Pogba’s approach at the back of his neck.

With a Marseille Spin maneuver, he wheeled around in stride, causing Pogba’s slide tackle to miss once again, colliding instead with central defender Bailey as both yelped in pain and fell to the ground.

This move truly killed two birds with one stone!

In an instant, two Manchester United players lost their defensive capability.

At this moment, Blind, as the last central defender, was trembling uncontrollably!

They say that the Dutch are tall, and Dutch players are indeed often quite strong.

But Blind, standing at 1.80 meters and weighing only 70 kg, is actually a technically skilled defender.

Faced with Tang Long’s fierce assault, he wasn’t sure whether to advance or retreat.

He simply sidestepped, continuously lowering his center of gravity, thinking: Go ahead and try a long shot, just don’t get past me!

But Blind was already laid on the chopping block, while Tang Long approached with sharpened intent, how could he not seize this opportunity assertively?

In a burst forward!

A simple yet brutal move with a right-foot push-and-chase dribble, so basic but filled with the primal beauty of football’s raw violence!

Blind, with his slender frame, couldn’t keep up with Tang Long’s burst of speed!

He stumbled, treading on his own heel, and collapsed to his knees.

Tang Long had evidently overestimated Blind’s speed, and so his rush was so fast that after brushing past Blind, he had reached the touchline.

Even in high-speed pursuit, Tang Long did not forget to take a rapid glance at De Gea.

De Gea had taken a slight step forward.

Evidently, the Spanish goalkeeper believed that Tang Long’s shooting angle was too acute for a direct shot, assuming he would pass, De Gea preemptively positioned to block Tang Long’s passing routes.

From the standpoint of a professional goalkeeper, De Gea’s move was logical, textbook strategy, but when it came to Tang Long—it was inadequate—

because Tang Long always acts against conventional expectations!

Pass?

No!

Still a direct shot!

"Sergio!" Tang Long shouted.

"Hey! Here I come!" Agüero responded, sprinting.

Bang!

Tang Long violently twisted his body, forcefully turning 90 degrees, and with his supporting foot pointed at the near corner of the goal, struck a Ground Strike with the instep of his foot!

The soccer ball clung tightly to the grass, emitting a "hissing" sound, leaving uprooted turf in its wake, as a trench formed suddenly, "whoosh," it shot in past De Gea’s foot into the near corner!

to 1!

Tang Long scored from an impossible angle!