Chapter 218: Wonder Goal! Winter's Record Signing! A Goal-Fest at Wembley!
"Manchester United are now fully dropping back."
"We can see it—Bayswater China are attacking with real ferocity."
"They already had the upper hand, and now with a man advantage, the Red Devils are even more pinned down."
"Look at this sequence—"
"The ball goes to Modrić."
"He carries it forward, passes to Lewandowski."
"Back to goal, no turn—lays it off."
"Toni Kroos finds space—he's got a chance—pulls the trigger from range!"
"Van der Sar dives!"
"A clutch save from the veteran Dutchman, denying Kroos's laser."
"What a vital stop!"
"It's hard to believe Van der Sar is already 40 years old."
"That strike from Kroos was absolutely wicked—laser-precise to the right corner."
"It was a brilliant shot—and an even better save!"
...
"Bayswater China press on."
"Ball in the left channel."
"Marcelo passes back—Kroos has it."
"Switches it diagonally to the right flank."
"It's a bit deep, but Walcott gets there!"
"He heads it back into the middle—classic Bayswater China routine."
"Lewandowski! Heads it—"
"Off the post! It rebounds!"
"Bale! Another header!"
"De Rossi clears off the line!"
"Bale is protesting—it looked like a handball by De Rossi!"
"Replay shows—yes, it was a handball."
"De Rossi, reacting to Bale's header, instinctively swung his arm."
"But the referee lets it go."
"Bayswater China might want to cool down a bit."
"United are a man down and trailing—looks like the ref's trying to balance things mentally."
"No need to rush."
"Still, two straight attacking waves—massive pressure."
"Just inches away from scoring again."
...
"Kroos drops deep, distributes forward—finds Gareth Bale."
"Passes to Marcelo."
"Marcelo receives it on the left side just outside the box—nice dummy—gets past Carrick!"
"Left-footed strike!"
"Good shot, but too central—Van der Sar grabs it cleanly."
"Marcelo's been in fantastic form this season."
"That feint and dribble on the edge of the box—that's something we never even saw from Roberto Carlos!"
"Brilliant stuff!"
"Now Yang Cheng makes his second substitution—Di María replaces Walcott."
"Straight swap."
"Clear intent: he wants more firepower."
...
"Here's another counterattack—it's going down Bayswater China's left side again."
"Gareth Bale receives it—fakes past Ferdinand—into the box!"
"He's got a window!"
"Bale shoots!"
"Vidić with the block—it's a key one."
"Bale's too fast—it was textbook."
"First touch at the edge of the box, quick feint—past Ferdinand like he's not even there."
"Ferdinand had no chance."
"But Vidić got in close, cut off the angle—crucial defensive moment."
"Ball hits the side netting."
"That was dangerous—one mistake, and it's a goal."
"Final substitution for Bayswater China—Hazard replaces Bale."
"Smart. United are defending deep now—Bale's pace has fewer chances to shine, and Yang Cheng is preserving his energy."
"Not just for today—half the league season remains, plus the Champions League starts again in February."
"Yang Cheng clearly has a long-term plan."
...
"Ball on the left again."
"Hazard's footwork is just sensational."
"Some say Bayswater China's four wingers are three 'Cristiano Ronaldo types' and one 'Messi type'."
"Bit of an exaggeration—but it captures their attacking diversity."
"Hazard draws defenders."
"Marcelo overlaps."
"Here comes the play."
"No shot—pulls it back—Kroos again."
"Will he go left or switch sides?"
"There it is—a diagonal ball to the right side of the box."
"Di María's got space!"
"Lovely first touch."
"Evra charges in—Di María cuts inside!"
"Beautiful!"
"Left-footed strike!!"
"GOAL!!!!!!!!"
"WHAT A GOAL!"
"83rd minute—Di María cuts in from the right and unleashes an absolute stunner with his left foot!"
"The ball rockets into the net—clean and unstoppable!"
"We were just saying—three CR7s and one Messi? Nah. Let's revise that—two CR7s, one Robben!"
"That feint past Evra, the glide inside, the effortless strike—it was pure magic!"
"Unlike Bale or Walcott, Di María isn't known as a goal machine—but that doesn't mean he can't score!"
"He's had hat-tricks before, remember!"
"2–0!"
"Game. Set. Match!"
...
"Come with me."
"For what?"
"I'm buying you a drink."
"I'm not drinking today."
"Don't care. Come with me."
Right after the press conference, Yang Cheng got ambushed by none other than Sir Alex Ferguson.
Before Yang Cheng could react, Ferguson had dragged him off to his usual private room at Old Trafford—the one reserved for hosting friends.
And sure enough—there was wine waiting.
Now Yang Cheng felt even more uneasy.
Dangerous territory.
Ferguson never does this without a reason.
He just lost—why the warm hospitality?
Definitely up to something.
Ferguson, reading Yang Cheng's unease, cut straight to the chase.
"Off the pitch, we're friends, right?"
That only made Yang Cheng more nervous.
He replied vaguely: "Sort of…"
"Sort of?!" Ferguson almost slammed the table.
What, all those bottles of wine he'd gifted over the years meant nothing?
Yang Cheng sensed the tension and quickly nodded.
"Yes, yes—we're definitely friends."
"That's better."
Ferguson narrowed his eyes.
"Then if your friend's in trouble, do you help him or not?"
Yang Cheng was ready for this.
"As long as it's not related to Manchester United, if it's within my ability—I'll help."
Ferguson nearly choked on his wine.
This slick little brat had blocked him before he even made the request.
But this was Sir Alex Ferguson—king of the shameless.
In this world, dignity doesn't get you far.
"I've decided to delay my retirement."
"What?!" Yang Cheng's eyes widened in shock.
Did he mishear that?
"I said—I've decided to delay my retirement!"
Yang Cheng had absolutely no idea how to respond.
Every year, there were rumors about Ferguson retiring—but no one ever knew when it would actually happen.
"When were you originally planning to retire?" Yang Cheng cautiously asked.
Ferguson froze mid-sip.
Awkward.
So awkward.
The old man stared at Yang Cheng as if asking, You seriously don't know?
Yang Cheng blinked innocently: You never said anything. How would I know?
There were always rumors, sure—but weren't those just nonsense? You said so yourself. Why would I care?
Ferguson put down his glass.
He was fuming.
Meeting this kid probably shaved ten years off my life.
"So, Sir, you really were planning to retire?" Yang Cheng asked with a grin, trying to smooth things over.
Shouldn't have asked.
That question almost made Ferguson explode.
He had been planning to go out with one last Champions League trophy.
That's why many thought he'd retire last summer.
In truth, he had considered it seriously.
He was nearly 70, after all.
But he couldn't bring himself to leave.
Bayswater China had just won back-to-back Premier League titles.
Letting them win a third? Letting them claim a three-peat and match Manchester United?
Unacceptable.
So Ferguson stayed, determined to stop them—riding the wave of their Champions League win, he hoped to crush their title hopes and maybe snatch one more Premier League for himself.
But things hadn't gone to plan.
United's form fell off a cliff—far worse than Ferguson had expected.
Now look where they were.
He passed up the chance to retire on top—only to be left with a mess.
If he left now, people would blame him for it all.
And if his successor failed?
Ferguson would carry the blame anyway.
At the very least, he needed to win one more major trophy before he walked away.
That way, if things fell apart afterward, it wouldn't be on him.
For all of Ferguson's pride and toughness, his post-retirement reputation meant everything to him.
So now, he was resolved.
He'd stay.
He'd fight.
He'd win one more title.
And this time—no regrets.
"This is a big decision. When did you make it?" Yang Cheng, noticing Ferguson's sour expression, wisely changed the subject.
"Just now."
"What?" Yang Cheng was even more shocked.
Ferguson's smug face said it all.
Look at this clueless kid, acting like it's some earth-shattering announcement.
Please. I make decisions like this on a whim.
Yang Cheng wanted to laugh and curse at the same time.
He clearly hadn't thought about the impact his staying would have on Manchester United.
But to be fair, no one else could've predicted it either—except maybe Yang Cheng.
Those who claimed they saw how vital Ferguson was to United were all hindsight heroes.
The truth was—while Ferguson was around, everyone knew he mattered,
but no one realized how much he mattered.
Yang Cheng, managing Bayswater China, had been quietly preparing for something similar.
He knew he couldn't be head coach forever.
The club was growing, and with it came more responsibilities.
"Gareth Bale or Walcott. Either one. £100 million. What do you say?" Ferguson finally revealed his true intentions.
"Knew it." Yang Cheng muttered inwardly.
But he smiled and replied, "Sir, I think you forgot something."
"Forgot what?"
"According to Deloitte's latest report, our revenue ranks second in world football—just behind Real Madrid. You guys at United are fourth. Barcelona's between us."
Yang Cheng grinned.
Ferguson looked like he'd just swallowed a fly.
Disgusting.
Who would've thought?
After dominating English football for so long, Manchester United had been overtaken financially by Bayswater China.
That damn Adam Crozier really was something.
And Yang Cheng's decision to lease Wembley for just £5 million a year?
Masterstroke.
A 90,000-seat stadium!
"Sir, I doubt Bale or Walcott is what United really need right now."
"Rooney can't lead the line alone."
Signing either of them would force United to restructure their attack.
Most likely, Berbatov would be the one to make way.
With Rooney and Robben in the squad, any new front three would push Rooney to play as the central striker.
But everyone could see—Rooney was not suited for that role.
If they forced him into it, it would be like putting a square peg in a round hole.
Yang Cheng wasn't just spouting nonsense.
Ferguson knew it too.
OPTA data showed Rooney had a 90% pass success rate in the defensive third, 88% in midfield, but only 62% in the final third.
Why?
Because in the final third, he was under tight marking.
And those numbers would only get worse inside the box.
He only won 0.8 aerial duels per match, less than his 1.3 successful dribbles per game.
That's not a striker.
Tactically, United's front line looked great.
Berbatov in the middle, Rooney and Robben on the flanks, with backups like Ashley Young, Nani, and Park Ji-sung—it was a strong rotation.
But the problem was: Berbatov was too lazy.
If Saha were healthy, he'd be a better option.
The real problem lay in the midfield and defense.
Giggs, Scholes, Gary Neville, Ferdinand, Wes Brown—they were all aging.
In Yang Cheng's past life, United didn't collapse immediately after winning the Champions League.
They made two more finals.
Because they won the UCL in 2008 and reached the final again in 2009.
But now?
It was 2010 when they won it.
The core players were now two years older.
Add to that the brutality of Premier League competition, and the decline was sharper than expected.
It didn't have to be this way.
If United had invested.
Instead, the summer went by with no major signings.
Ibrahimović, Suárez, Buffon, Van der Vaart, Sneijder, Joe Cole, Hamsík...
So many names had been linked to United.
None arrived.
Reporters had even asked Ferguson: Why not sign Buffon?
Ferguson had answered: "Buffon's price is too high. It doesn't make financial sense."
He was being pragmatic.
Spend a fortune on a 32-year-old to replace a 40-year-old? Worth it?
Not to the Glazer family.
United's real issue wasn't who to sign—but that their entire transfer strategy needed to change.
Just like Wenger's Arsenal.
If they wanted to compete—they needed to spend.
Trying to emulate Bayswater China?
Impossible.
Because there was only one Yang Cheng.
...
But Ferguson didn't walk away empty-handed.
At the very least, Yang Cheng advised him: United needed a new right-back.
Rafael was good—but young, inconsistent, and at risk of being overused.
And why was the right-back spot so critical...?
With Robben always cutting inside from the right wing, and no powerful right-back overlapping on the outside, the entire flank was collapsing.
Why had Rafael underperformed in two straight games?
Aside from Gareth Bale being phenomenal, the real issue was that Robben and Rafael's right-side defense was just too weak.
And with no width on the right, half of United's attacking threat simply disappeared.
As for replacements?
Yang Cheng, ever generous and "helpful," had a few suggestions.
Barcelona's Dani Alves. Bayern Munich's Philipp Lahm.
And finally, Yang Cheng even gave Ferguson a friendly warning:
"Ask Wenger—does he feel more comfortable now or a few years ago?"
Ferguson paused.
Did that really need answering?
That lunatic Wenger's a bloody romantic. He's got issues!
Back then, Arsenal were strapped for cash—forced to rely on and promote youth players.
But now?
The old fox has money. He can buy whoever he wants.
He was living the good life.
Even Arsenal's young players looked more confident now.
Their environment wasn't as bleak as in Yang Cheng's past life. The team around them had improved, making growth smoother.
Just this round, Arsenal beat Wigan 4–0 at home.
Van Persie scored all four goals, including a penalty.
Liverpool beat Wolves 3–0 away, with Torres scoring twice.
Manchester City edged Aston Villa 1–0 away.
Chelsea crushed Bolton 4–0 away.
Every top club won—except Manchester United.
That made Ferguson even more bitter.
At this rate, they might really miss out on a top-four finish...
...
Three days after Matchday 24, while the rest of the league could rest, Bayswater China and Arsenal had to play their League Cup semifinal second legs.
Interestingly, both clubs used full-rotation squads.
Bayswater China lost 1–2 away to West Ham.
West Ham scored first in the first half. In the second, José Fonte equalized.
But in the 87th minute, Carlton Cole scored again, giving West Ham the win.
Still, with a 4–3 aggregate, Yang Cheng's side advanced to the final.
Arsenal, also rotating, faced Championship side Ipswich.
It wasn't until the 78th minute that the Gunners conceded.
Still, Wenger's team progressed 3–1 on aggregate.
And so, the League Cup final was set:
Bayswater China vs. Arsenal
February 27th, Wembley Stadium.
...
After the League Cup, came the FA Cup fourth round on the weekend.
The draw was tough—away to Wolves, a Premier League side.
But Wolves were in a relegation battle and had no interest in the cup.
Yang Cheng, focused on the upcoming Champions League clash with Real Madrid, used the opportunity to rotate and preserve his main squad.
Once again, he fielded a full backup lineup.
81st minute:
On the left, Hazard, Sterling, and Harry Kane put together a beautiful passing sequence.
Hazard was just about to burst into the box when he was fouled by Stearman.
Up stepped set-piece specialist Gianni Vio with a brilliant play design.
Aaron Ramsey stood over the ball—but instead of shooting or lobbing it, he gently rolled it forward to Harry Kane.
Kane trapped it and nudged it back—perfectly into Ramsey's path.
Ramsey ran onto it and smashed a curling strike that sailed into the top right corner of Wolves' net.
Absolute screamer!
Ramsey leapt into the air, racing toward the corner flag.
But his knee-slide celebration went wrong—he pitched forward and faceplanted.
Fortunately, his teammates piled on quickly and saved the moment.
On the sideline, Yang Cheng shook his head, trying not to laugh.
But deep down, he was pleased—this 20-year-old local midfielder was coming into his own.
...
Manchester United's FA Cup tie kicked off at 5:00 p.m. on January 29th.
By the time the final whistle blew, it was nearly 7:00 p.m.
United came from behind to beat Southampton 2–1, thanks to goals from Owen and Chicharito.
When Ferguson returned to Manchester, it was already late.
But that didn't stop him from calling CEO David Gill.
He had just received word from London:
Chelsea had officially submitted a £20 million bid for Benfica's David Luiz.
It was a statement of intent—Chelsea were serious.
Ferguson had warned Gill about this earlier.
"David, this center-back is critical for us!"
Gill sounded confused.
"Are you sure Chelsea have made an offer?"
"Absolutely." Ferguson's voice grew sharper.
"I need you to sign him. No matter what it takes."
"Sir, calm down. I need to consult the board first."
"No time, David! I want him here before the window closes!"
"But sir, the Qatar Investment Authority deal is our top priority right now."
Gill hesitated, then added softly:
"Sir, I have to remind you—this is a £2 billion acquisition. The board's focused on that."
"If we sell to the Middle Eastern group, you'll be able to buy whoever you want later."
Ferguson had heard that line too many times.
When the Glazers bought the club, they made all sorts of promises.
And now? They were leeches sucking United dry.
He still got blamed by the fans for endorsing their takeover.
"Then let me tell you this, David—if we don't sign a top center-back, we'll lose the Champions League."
Ferguson paused, then drove in the dagger:
"And if I don't see David Luiz at Carrington by February 1st at midnight, I'll go public—tell everyone I won't extend my contract after this season."
It was a direct ultimatum.
"Sir, please—don't say things you'll regret. I'll call the board now. OK?"
Gill was clearly rattled.
"I'm counting on you, David." Ferguson's voice was steel.
He had gone all-in.
David Luiz—was he that important?
Absolutely.
United's best defense came when Vidić and Ferdinand were at their peak.
Vidić pressed high; Ferdinand swept behind.
Vidić took the blame, but everyone in the locker room knew the roles.
The aggressive center-back always got scapegoated.
Same at Bayswater China.
Pepe and Kompany were the enforcers.
Thiago Silva and José Fonte played cleanup.
Which was more important?
There's no clear answer.
You need both.
Now that Vidić was already 29, his physical condition had started to decline. He wasn't as fast as before.
So when he was repeatedly torched by quick forwards like Torres and Gareth Bale, it wasn't a coincidence.
In this situation, bringing in another aggressive, ball-winning center-back was absolutely necessary.
Many were speculating about Dortmund's Subotić, who was Vidić's national teammate with Serbia.
But Subotić played the sweeping role—he wasn't the one stepping up to intercept.
His pairing with Vidić might not work as well.
On the other hand, David Luiz, the Brazilian center-back, was born to press. He was similar to Lucio, Pepe, and Alex—a perfect match for what United's backline needed right now.
The best examples?
Cannavaro in the 2006 World Cup and Puyol for Barcelona.
Both were center-backs with large coverage ranges, aggressive in stepping up to win the ball.
What the coach needed to do was build a system around them, with reliable players behind to cover for their movement.
Take Bayswater China, for example.
Pepe, Kompany, and even Thiago Silva all liked to step up aggressively.
But if you look closely, Javi Martínez or Matić always provided cover.
When one pushed forward, the others stayed back.
What made Bayswater China different was that all of their center-backs were also excellent on the ball.
Who knows where Yang Cheng kept digging them up from?
David Luiz fit this mold perfectly.
That's why he was being chased by half the big clubs in Europe.
Because top-level center-backs were incredibly rare.
In fact, it was a market with no real alternatives left.
...
No one really knew what was going on behind the scenes at United and Chelsea.
But on January 30, the day after the FA Cup matches, and two days before the winter window closed, The Sun dropped a bombshell:
Chelsea and Manchester United had both made offers for Benfica's David Luiz.
The article reported that Chelsea had submitted a £20 million bid the day before.
Benfica rejected it.
What shocked everyone was that soon after Chelsea's bid was turned down, Manchester United submitted a new bid worth £25 million.
Two Premier League giants going head-to-head over a center-back from the Portuguese league immediately captured headlines across European football.
Everyone knew—buying in the January window always meant paying a premium.
And especially when you're in a bidding war?
But The Sun argued that both clubs had no choice.
Both were sitting 5th and 6th in the table.
Chelsea had already missed out on Champions League football once—it had cost them massively.
As for Manchester United, they were last season's Champions League winners, but now? At risk of missing out completely?
That kind of disaster only happened in the Premier League.
So this was their last chance.
United had already signed a backup goalkeeper, Lindegaard, from Norway.
Chelsea had done nothing—until now.
Both clubs going after David Luiz showed just how valuable he was.
And for United fans, this was their biggest signing in years.
Later that day, Chelsea came back with a second bid—£30 million.
In this weakening transfer market, few clubs were willing to shell out so much for a defender.
But that night, United responded again.
£35 million.
The Sun reported that David Luiz was personally chosen by Ferguson, a key piece in his squad rebuild.
Ferguson wasn't going to let this one go.
Benfica were clearly stalling, waiting to see if Chelsea would raise their offer.
But from around 8 p.m. to the morning of the 31st, Chelsea didn't move.
As noon approached, Chelsea officially withdrew.
United CEO David Gill flew to Lisbon to close the deal—meeting with Benfica, Luiz, and his agent.
Later that night, Benfica and Manchester United submitted the official transfer documents.
David Luiz joined United for £35 million.
The most expensive signing of the winter.
This move sent shockwaves through European football.
Across the entire winter window, only five transfers exceeded €10 million:
Luiz Gustavo from Hoffenheim to Bayern (€17M)Ranocchia from Genoa to Inter (€18.5M)Pazzini from Sampdoria to Inter (€19M)Darren Bent from Sunderland to Aston Villa (£24M)And now David Luiz, who surpassed €40M.
...
Yang Cheng had heard whispers as early as the 30th.
By noon on the 31st, he had confirmation.
His first thought?
Ferguson's words came back to him: "I won't retire without another title."
David Luiz, born April 1987, would be 24 by the end of the season—his prime.
"What a signing," Yang Cheng smiled.
He had been watching Luiz for a while.
But guys like him—elite talent in every way—were just too expensive.
Not that Bayswater China lacked options.
They already had Pepe, Thiago Silva, and Kompany.
"What I'm more curious about now," Yang Cheng said, "is whether Alves will move."
Yes— that Alves. From Barcelona.
Dani Alves had joined Barça in 2008 on a 4-year deal—set to expire in 2012.
By convention, if a contract wasn't extended before summer 2011, the player would be in a weak position.
Barça had started negotiations back in 2010, but no agreement had been reached—mainly due to salary demands.
And now rumors swirled that Manchester City had entered the race, offering Alves a contract worth £8 million per year—or £160k a week.
That's €10 million a year—almost Messi-level.
At present, Barcelona were refusing to listen to offers or allow clubs to contact Alves directly.
But The Sun reported that United, Liverpool, and Arsenal were all closely monitoring the situation.
If negotiations collapsed, Alves could be Premier League–bound.
"From what I see, Barça will never match his wage demands," said Bryan Kidd, pessimistic about the renewal.
Yang Cheng only smiled in reply—shaking his head, but saying nothing.
Bryan Kidd still wasn't sharp enough.
The behind-the-scenes politics were far more complicated.
Still, nothing could be said until it happened.
Barcelona currently ranked third in global revenue.
But in salary expenses, they led the entire sporting world.
Not just football—every sport.
Real Madrid were second.
The dominance of both La Liga giants rested on sky-high wage bills.
But Barça and Madrid liked to discuss salaries after tax.
Partly because La Liga still had the Beckham Law.
And partly because Spain, as part of the PIIGS (Portugal, Italy, Ireland, Greece, Spain), had so many tax loopholes, clubs often hired top lawyers and accountants to help players "legally" avoid taxes.
If the tax authorities didn't investigate, there was no issue.
But in Yang Cheng's previous life, when the Spanish tax agency finally cracked down, it was precise and ruthless—every case got nailed.
Even Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi weren't spared.
Of course, similar tax avoidance existed in the Premier League too—just to a lesser extent.
Now that David Luiz had joined Manchester United, Yang Cheng wasn't so sure if Dani Alves would end up renewing his contract with Barcelona.
Another big transfer story was Southampton's rising star, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
The young winger had caught the eye of top managers like Ferguson, Wenger, and Hiddink.
The media even called him "the next Cristiano Ronaldo."
But he came from The Saints—shouldn't he be the next Bale or Walcott?
Because at just 17, he had broken Walcott's long-standing sprint record.
Physically dominant, versatile across the wing or through the center.
Every British outlet believed Oxlade-Chamberlain had the potential to surpass Bale and Walcott, with raw talent comparable to Ronaldo.
His performance in the FA Cup match against United impressed Ferguson deeply.
As for the media frenzy around the Qatar Investment Authority's £2 billion bid to buy Manchester United, Yang Cheng wasn't particularly concerned.
Yes, the rumors were real—the Qataris had upped their offer.
But that kind of money?
The UK wasn't ready to swallow it.
...
February 2nd, evening – Wembley Stadium, London.
Premier League Matchday 25: Bayswater China vs. Manchester City.
Just three minutes into the match, City won the ball in their own half and launched a lightning counter.
Yaya Touré initiated the break.
David Silva lost Modrić and played a sublime through pass.
Kaká burst into the box, halted, cut inside past Thiago Silva, then fired—his shot deflected off Pepe and spun into the net.
Bayswater China conceded at home in the opening minutes!
Surely, this was going to be a goal-fest.
Yang Cheng's team went straight on the attack.
City, having grabbed the lead by chance, doubled down on defense.
They knew full well how deadly Bayswater China were at home.
The hosts kept creating chances.
The most dangerous came in the 9th minute, when Bale's direct free kick narrowly missed, almost beating Joe Hart.
In the 16th minute, Kyle Walker burst past Leighton Baines on the right and whipped in a low cross.
Bale sprinted into the box, beat Lucio to the ball, and flicked a header back across goal.
Gareth Barry cleared it—but not far.
The ball fell to the edge of the area.
Lewandowski shielded Pirlo, brought the ball down, and spun—a thunderous strike from 18 meters.
GOAL! 1–1!
Just seven minutes later, Micah Richards fouled Bale, giving Bayswater China a free kick from the left flank.
Toni Kroos delivered a pinpoint cross.
Pepe acted as a decoy, drawing defenders forward.
Thiago Silva ghosted in behind and headed the ball home.
2–1! Comeback complete!
The crowd erupted.
City weren't done, though.
29th minute: Silva tracked back, won the ball, passed to Barry.
The play cycled through midfield before Ibrahimović received the ball near the penalty spot, turned and shot—just wide.
Kaká then threaded a pass through—Ibra muscled past Thiago Silva, shot from close range—Courtois made the save.
Corner to City.
Cleared—but as they fought for the ball again, Walker fouled a City player outside the box.
Baines stepped up.
His delivery found Lucio, who outjumped everyone and powered in a header.
2–2!
Halftime: tied.
Second half, the hosts attacked again.
51st minute: A left-wing one-two freed Bale, who burst past Richards and crossed to the near post.
Lewandowski, tightly marked by Lucio, flicked a header to the right side.
Jerome Boateng tried to clear—but misjudged the header.
Walcott pounced, smashing in a volley.
3–2!
Back in front!
As expected, this became an open, attacking match.
But in the 68th minute, City struck back.
Silva, just over the halfway line, sent a sharp pass forward.
Kaká, at the top of the D, flicked the ball into the box—aiming for Ibrahimović.
The ball struck Pepe's arm.
City screamed for a penalty.
Bayswater China argued it was unintentional.
But the ref pointed to the spot—and gave Pepe a yellow.
Ibrahimović converted coolly. 3–3.
City celebrated—but too soon.
Just 9 minutes later, Bale received a through ball from Kroos on the left wing, burned Richards, and drove into the box.
Lucio crashed into him. Penalty.
Bale took it himself. Top left corner. 4–3!
But then—3 minutes later—Yaya Touré carried the ball to the edge of the box.
Matić marked him tightly.
Yaya clipped a pass forward toward Ibra.
Courtois charged out, punched the ball—but collided hard with Ibra. Both went down.
Kaká, just outside the box, picked up the loose ball.
He fired immediately.
The ball sailed over everyone, toward the empty net.
Thiago Silva stood on the line—but couldn't use his hands.
4–4!
Yang Cheng stood on the touchline, shaking his head.
Before this match, Bayswater China had only conceded 14 goals all season.
They had just allowed 4 in one game.
With only 10 minutes left, Yang Cheng made his final substitution.
Hazard came on for Kyle Walker.
Off came a fullback, on came an attacker.
No doubt about his intent.
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