Football System: Penalty Zone Hero

Generally speaking, there were no tactics in intra-team competitions, and the head coach would not give instructions to the two teams separately. 

The two teams thus basically played according to what they did in normal training.

On the main team side, Kerzakov and Panov were both speed-type forwards. Both were short and flexible, Kerzanov was 1.76 meters, and Panov was 1.66 meters tall. Thus the main tactic of the main team had to occur on the ground.

As for the substitute team, because they had the tall forward Chen Yingxiong, they chose to cross the ball from the wing and play from a high point.

Compared with the complex coordination of the main group, the substitute group's tactics seemed much simpler.

After the players got the ball, they would directly attack the wing, or make a long pass to find Chen Yingxiong at the high point. He would then pass the ball back to the teammates who were running at him depending on who had the highest chance to do something with the ball.

On the main team side, Kerzakov and Panov had similar styles and technical characteristics, which led to overlapping positions and interference between the two. Their teammates didn't know how to cooperate with them. In this case, everyone would naturally choose teammates who were more familiar and had a good understanding to cooperate with. So Kerzakov became the most popular person, and the ball was delivered to his feet again and again.

On the substitute team, since there was only one forward, Chen Yingxiong, the ball always ended up being delivered to his feet.

He had more opportunities to perform than Panov.

His teammate, Ukrainian midfielder Olexandr Gorshkov, once again passed the ball forward directly to Chen Yingxiong.

Chen Yingxiong discovered that the "Air Overlord" talent was not only useful when shooting, but was also useful whenever the head was used!

He judged the landing point and leaned on the Korean midfielder Li Hao behind him. He didn't jump in a hurry but observed the situation around him. When the football was about to arrive, he suddenly jumped up!

Chen Yingxiong was already very domineering just leaning on Li Hao. This giant with a height of 1.92 meters and a weight of 93 kilograms then pressed down with all his strength, and Li Hao had to grit his teeth to barely support himself. He used all his strength to resist Chen Yingxiong's weight. When Chen Yingxiong suddenly pulled back and jumped up, Li Hao actually rushed forward a step. How could he have time to jump up and compete for the header like this?

With no opponent around, Chen Yingxiong easily headed the ball to Ilya Maksimov next to him. The 19-year-old attacking midfielder used his chest to recieve.

Like Chen Yingxiong, he was promoted from the youth team. Although he was only one year older than Chen Yingxiong, he was considered Chen Yingxiong's senior because he was transferred to the first team as early as the 2004 season. He was also transferred to the first team last season and had a record of playing in the Russian Super League. This season he was a regular in the first team. He had played twice for the team at home, once as a starter and once as a substitute, with two assists.

His strengths were technique and passing, his only problem was his lack of experience.

After Chen Yingxiong passed the ball to him, he turned around and ran forward as soon as he landed.

Maximov didn't pass the ball directly, which was not fitting to Chen Yingxiong's characteristics. Although this big guy was not slow, his strongest point was still his head. This was the result of Maximov's observation after training together for almost two weeks.

So after he received the ball, he directly passed it to the wing. Since the substitute team's tactics were simple, the side backs were very active in advancing.

The person who received the ball was Czech winger Radek Sirl, who was good at passing, fast and capable of long-range shooting.

Seeing the ball being passed to Hill's feet, Chen Yingxiong sped up, moved forward decisively, and rushing into the penalty area.

The central defenders in the main group became nervous - everyone knew that Chen Yingxiong was very good at heading the ball, and he was so big that it was really hard to stop him when he jumped.

"Don't let him jump..." The main goalkeeper Konte Falschi originally wanted to say "Don't let him jump up", but he immediately realized that it would be difficult to prevent Chen Yingxiong from jumping up, so he quickly changed his words. "Don't let him pass the ball!"

He shouted a little late, Hill passed the ball immediately and it was headed straight for the penalty area!

Eric Hagen appeared in front of Chen Yingxiong, and helping him was Martin Skrtel. The two main central defenders teamed up to defend Chen Yingxiong, which showed how much they valued Chen Yingxiong.

Chen Yingxiong was not afraid of the two central defenders and continued to rush forward.

But just when everyone thought he would have a head-on collision with Hagen and Skrtel, he suddenly braked, then quickly took a step back, and jumped backwards!

Neither Hagen nor Skotl expected that Chen Yingxiong would play such a trick. They were stunned for a moment and no one rushed forward to defend.

Chen Yingxiong leaned back and headed the ball into the goal via redirection! However, such a header was too difficult, and the ball flew directly over the crossbar and out of the bottom line...

Chen Yingxiong, sitting on the ground, watched the football fly over the crossbar. He patted the grass in annoyance, then got up, turned around and ran back.

Hagen and Skrtel looked at each other and saw surprise in each other's eyes. It was rare for such a huge body to be so flexible...

…

Chen Yingxiong didn't care about Panov's performance at all. He just jumped up again and again to compete for the header, making full use of his header advantage, not only when heading the ball, but also when connecting with teammates in the midfield. After the teammates in the substitute group found that Chen Yingxiong's head was so useful, they gave up the idea of ​​using the ground. When they got the ball in the backcourt, they just made a long pass to Chen Yingxiong's head.

Chen Yingxiong retreated to the midfield to receive the ball, just in time to face Li Hao. He used his headers and physical advantage to abuse Li Hao again and again, showing no mercy. Poor Li Hao, just because he rolled his eyes at Chen Yingxiong and expressed his disdain, he was abused by Chen Yingxiong over and over again.

Although Chen Yingxiong's headers were stable when he passed the ball to his teammates, he still wanted to score goals. He knew very well that as a striker, especially a centre forward, the only criterion for measurement was scoring goals.

As long as they score a goal, everything is fine. Not to mention the forwards, look at the defenders, as long as they can score a few goals, they are immediately praised to the sky. Even if their defence is bad, as long as they can score goals, they are world-class defenders.

Chen Yingxiong is tirelessly pursuing goals, but first, he has to break through the defence of Hagen and Skrtel.

After he fooled Hagen and Skrtel with a step-back, they changed their defensive tactics. One person was still entangled in front of him, while the other was waiting for an opportunity to move to the side.

The backward header was difficult to begin with. If there was any interference, it would either go too high or too low. So Chen Yingxiong thought about it and decided that he had to just charge in and use his body to fight against the opponent!

And now there was only one Hagen blocking him head-on, so the defensive pressure he faced was much smaller. This was an opportunity he could take advantage of!

When the football was passed to the front of the goal again, Chen Yingxiong did not retreat to avoid it this time, but went straight to meet it!

When Hagen realized that Chen Yingxiong's move was not a fake this time, it was too late to signal Skrtel to join him in stopping the giant.

He could only jump up and fight this guy alone.

Before, Hagen and Skrtel would double-team Chen Yingxiong, so this was the first time that Hagen felt Chen Yingxiong's explosive power alone!

Chen Yingxiong jumped high and flew towards the place where the football landed. Hagen jumped on the spot and tried to head the football out before Chen Yingxiong.

Chen Yingxiong knew how powerful the Norwegian captain was. He was 1.85 meters tall and weighed 84 kilograms. He was also strong, very good at heading, and unlike some defenders, he was not afraid of collisions in the air. Even if the opponent was taller and stronger than him, he dared to face them head-on. He was a very tough guy.

Even if he was alone, he could pose a great threat to Chen Yingxiong.

But now the arrow was on the string, Chen Yingxiong had no choice, he couldn't choose to avoid it anymore. Moreover... as a centre forward, he was born to fight against all kinds of central defenders!

Eric Hagen's face was ferocious, and the expression on Chen Yingxiong's face was not much better.

The two men met in the air, and Chen Yingxiong's shoulder hit Hagen's chest.

Hagen's body tilted, but his good balance prevented him from falling directly. Instead, he reached out and grabbed Chen Yingxiong's shoulders, pressing down hard, while leaning forward to head the ball.

When Hagen grabbed his shoulders, Chen Yingxiong also felt his body tilt and the force of his upward thrust was significantly weakened.

During training, Chen Yingxiong was always suppressed by Hagen. If he was suppressed again this time, how could he win the favour of the head coach and be selected into the game roster?

He absolutely refused!

How can I be a football hero if I can't handle Eric Hagen? There are many more powerful people in the world than Hagen!

Chen Yingxiong gritted his teeth, veins bulged on his neck. He twisted his waist and rushed towards the football desperately.

The two people's heads looked like they were about to collide!

But in the end, they passed each other!

Chen Yingxiong was the first to head the ball. A dull bang sounded in his ears and he could feel the impact.

He couldn't keep his eyes open all the time, and when his forehead touched the football, he closed his eyes reflexively. But he opened them quickly and caught a glimpse of the football from the corner of his eye.

The football was still flying, and the main goalkeeper Kontefalski's hand was right next to it, but he was unable to stop it, and the football flew into the goal first!

"Oh! Beautiful!" One of the coaches watching the game exclaimed.

This was the first time that Chen Yingxiong scored a goal in a one-on-one match against Hagen!

The temporary referee Porter blew the whistle. "The goal is valid!"

The two men who'd collided landed at the same time, and neither of them fell to the ground. Chen Yingxiong turned around, pumped his fist and yelled. "Fuck yeah!!"

Hagen looked at Chen Yingxiong's back as he waved his fists and yelled, and held his chest with one hand - that was the part that was hit by Chen Yingxiong.

Being caught off guard, Martin Skrtel, who had been a spectator throughout the entire process, said to him. "Is it swollen?"

Hagen winced. "Of course not, he's a hundred years too early to bruise this veteran!"

Skrtel smiled at the obvious lie.