Football: My AI System Provides Max-Level Predictions-Chapter 827 - 582: Tang Long Directs a Dream Start! Toying with Manchester United’s Defense, Unbelievable Own Goal from Zero Angle!

Chapter 827: Chapter 582: Tang Long Directs a Dream Start! Toying with Manchester United’s Defense, Unbelievable Own Goal from Zero Angle!

Gundogan’s position with the ball is already quite forward, less than 30 meters from Manchester City’s goal;

He stops the ball steadily, his eyes swiftly sweeping towards the two fast-moving teammates.

One of them is Agüero in the center.

This Argentine player, like a nimble phantom, swiftly shuttles through the gap between Blind and Bailey, gliding quickly towards the left flank.

The other is Tang Long.

He made a brief change in position, shifting from the left to the right flank, pulling fully towards the gap between Bailey and Valencia.

After a quick 0.5-second thought and decision, Gundogan decisively delivers a precise pass to Tang Long on the right flank.

On the sideline, Guardiola sees this from afar and can’t help but give Gundogan a thumbs-up, his eyes full of appreciation.

This is one of the common offensive methods in Manchester City’s current attacking setup.

Agüero is always like a sharp blade, directly thrusting into the most dangerous area of the opponent’s penalty box, though he often plays more of a feint role, drawing the opponent’s defensive fire;

While the relatively loose flanks become the stage where Tang Long can display his prowess!

Seeing Tang Long gain possession on the right flank, Ranocchia, Gundogan, and others, instead of moving forward to receive the ball, run towards the penalty area with great synergy.

Everyone knows a magnificent one-on-one duel between Tang Long and Valencia is about to unfold.

The Ecuadorian Valencia watches Tang Long approaching slowly with the ball, nervously swallows a gulp, his heart pounding ferociously in his chest.

He can’t help but take a deep breath.

In the pre-match tactical setup, it was unlikely for him to face Tang Long directly on this side.

Yet, now Tang Long suddenly appears before him, throwing Valencia into disarray and confusion.

He keeps a close eye on Tang Long’s figure, secretly calculating:

"Though my speed is fast and I’m not weak physically, this kid’s footwork is skillful, and if I tussle with him for a long time, I’m certain to lose out. I can only go all out, take a gamble, and make a decisive move!"

Due to Manchester City players surging into the penalty area like the tide, even without teammates supporting Tang Long, Manchester United players like Herrera, Carrick and others, dare not rashly join Valencia to encircle Tang Long, fearing a huge defensive gap behind that could be exploited for a counterattack.

Thus forming a one-on-one situation near the corner of the penalty area, with only Tang Long and Valencia on the field!

For a moment, the spotlight at Etihad Stadium is solely on the two of them.

Tang Long, as if strolling in his backyard, leisurely dribbles the ball to about 1.5 meters away from Valencia.

Suddenly, Valencia stretches out his hand forward and raises it, simultaneously letting out a strange "Hey" shout!

This move by Valencia is a more advanced tactic among defenders—active defense.

Most defenders usually react passively, first observing the attacker’s intentions and moves and then making their next judgment;

But this time, Valencia skillfully uses combined body movement and loud shouting to lure Tang Long into action.

——[Active distraction, beware!]

Yet almost the moment Valencia shouts, a brainwave seems to flash through Tang Long’s mind.

The AI system he relies on has already quickly assessed Valencia’s past defensive habits and this abnormal body language, delivering key information to Tang Long—Valencia would not actively make a significant foot move.

Tang Long understands, deliberately sending the ball heavily leftward with his right foot, feigning an intention to forcefully bypass Valencia.

Seeing this, Valencia secretly rejoices: "Indeed, my pretend kick trick has worked, I’ve fooled him!"

In reality, the Manchester United full-back’s center of gravity is stable as a mountain, without the slightest sway;

Seeing Tang Long poke the ball to his side, Valencia reacts swiftly, agilely stretching his foot fiercely toward the ball.

Seeing Valencia go all out, Tang Long no longer engages in flashy feints with him.

Suddenly, with a swift left-foot maneuver, he executes a maneuver known as the Roulette, the ball weaving rapidly between his feet, accompanied by two crisp pops, Tang Long bursts through from Valencia’s different side, sprinting towards the byline with the ball!

Whoa!!!

The Manchester City fans on this side of the stadium instantly rise to their feet, eyes wide, faces full of disbelief and excitement.

"Beautiful! Tang Long successfully bypassed Valencia!" He Wei’s voice trembles with excitement.

"How did he do it? Couldn’t see clearly, the moves were too fast!"

"He slipped along the byline, rushing towards the goal, Tang Long steps into the penalty area!"

"Manchester City players are switching positions swiftly, Aguero, Bonazzoli, Gundogan, and Ranocchia, there’s a possibility for reception at front, middle, and back points, who will Tang Long pass the ball to?"

"Tang Long made the pass!"

By now, the Manchester City penalty area has turned into a chaotic scramble.

Red Manchester United jerseys twine with blue Manchester City jerseys, a dense mass of over a dozen people, more than 20 legs, making one dizzy.

Seeing Tang Long make the pass, Manchester United players react swiftly, mounting dense man-to-man defense on the front, middle and back points.

Especially Agüero in the middle, becoming the focal point of everyone’s intense defense, like a bomb that could explode at any moment.

However, what happens next shocks the audience to their core!

Tang Long indeed passes the ball out, yet the pass is so low and rapid, with astonishing force, speeding straight towards the near corner of the goal!

Manchester United goalkeeper De Gea, seventy percent of his attention is drawn to the highly threatening Agüero in the middle, and thirty percent on the back positioned Ranocchia.

After all, these two are top-notch strikers, one renowned for exceptional shooting skills, the other for heading prowess, both are masters in positioning and attacking in the penalty area.

De Gea never imagines that, under virtually zero-angle circumstances, Tang Long would choose to shoot directly at the goal!

In fact, the moment Tang Long sends the ball, De Gea, relying on years of experience as a goalkeeper, subconsciously steps forward, fully focused on defending any upcoming shot from the middle.

As Tang Long’s low shot from the right at almost zero-angle heads towards the near corner, De Gea has no time to react, his body can’t retreat, he can only instinctively try to block with his foot.

A loud "bang" reverberates, Tang Long’s shot hits heavily the near corner post’s inside, the ball rebounds less than a meter outwards, and then with another "bang", precisely strikes the hastily extended left foot of De Gea.

The ball originally rebounding off the post, is accidentally knocked into the goal by De Gea!

Own goal!

It is an own goal!

At this moment, De Gea maintains a particularly awkward, clumsy half-squat position, frozen as he watches the ball hit the net.

Everything happens too quickly, what else can he do?

In futility, the foot that scored the own goal doesn’t retract, so he simply tilts back, lies on the field in frustration, full of regret and unwillingness.

"Ah... I’ve been tricked!" De Gea cries out in despair in his heart.

1-0!

Just under a minute into the opening, Manchester City takes the lead at home!

As the gigantic scoreboard at Etihad Stadium shifts from 0:0 to 1:0, the hearts of 60,000 Manchester City fans at the scene also skip a beat intensely.

They turn their backs to the pitch, leaping up to create a wave!

In an instant, waves roll across Etihad!

"Let the match end here, Premier League champions, here we come!"