Chapter 170
Edge of Chelsea's penalty area
Essien rose and helped Terry to his feet, apologetically patting his backside, leaving Terry somewhat embarrassed — after all, he had collided with Essien, not the other way around.
Essien felt guilty because he hadn't managed to hold off Xia Qi; it was damn humiliating — he hadn't even committed a foul.
Looking frustrated, Essien angrily flung the "rag" he'd been holding out of the pitch.
Petr Čech stood with hands on hips, eyes hollow, staring into the distance…
Other Chelsea players wore dejected expressions, some bewildered and at a loss.
Online,
[Wow, Xia Qi — that goal! Absolutely domineering. Essien even resorted to a tactical foul.]
[Essien, Terry, Čech all look stunned. That goal is a huge morale blow to Chelsea.]
[Pity the Blues — just when you see a chance to equalize, you're back to square one.]
[What an unreasonable goal. Drogba's strength + Inzaghi's movement + Van Basten's finishing — even Buffon or Kahn would kneel!]
…
When play resumed, Chelsea's morale was clearly hit by that conceded goal.
The most direct response was that they began double-marking Xia Qi.
Double-marking Xia Qi could indeed restrict his activity, but Arsenal's other players suddenly found themselves under much less pressure.
With this swing and counter-swing, Arsenal began to control the match. Chelsea not only trailed on the scoreboard but were also embarrassingly under pressure in play.
The live cameras caught Mourinho on the touchline in a close-up — his face heavy with concern — and then cut to a close-up of Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich in the VIP box.
The club's most outstanding owner appeared calm and inscrutable; when he noticed himself on the stadium LED screen, his expression twisted into a laugh-more-than-cry face that gave away his mood.
When Chelsea supporters saw their owner on screen, Stamford Bridge erupted into warm cheers…
Chelsea's renaissance seemed to begin with Abramovich on the screen; the fans still supported him strongly.
Abramovich's presence gave Chelsea players energy — and it seemed to energize Xia Qi too.
Xia Qi's range of movement in the attack was broader than in the first half. Terry, marking him, wanted to pull him and ask:
"That's my boss — why are you getting so excited?"
Then Terry realized Xia Qi had been promoted to captain by Arsenal and seemed to understand something.
Xia Qi didn't know Terry's little thoughts; otherwise he'd have spat at him — nonsense, I'm only excited because this is my first match…
Terry and Essien are both outstanding defensive warriors; even though Xia Qi's running range expanded, it still produced no clear chances.
Xia Qi felt like a headless fly but had no choice; to get that "grand slam" he had to keep running.
Opportunities come from running; waiting doesn't work.
Suddenly,
a roar rose from the stands at Stamford Bridge — Essien and Terry had combined to snatch the ball away from Xia Qi's feet.
Seeing Xia Qi clamber up awkwardly, Chelsea fans cheered triumphantly.
Xia Qi spat angrily, undeterred, and chased after the ball.
Essien passed to John Obi Mikel, who moved the ball forward before Xia Qi could counter-press.
The ball flew through the air straight toward Arsenal's penalty area.
Below the ball, Fernando Torres sprinted.
Behind Torres chased Per Mertesacker.
Ahead of Torres ran Samuel Umtiti, Mertesacker's partner.
Speed is always paired with passion!
Roman Abramovich leapt from the VIP box, onto the balcony, pumping his fists like a devotee of the sacred cult, cheering;
fans on both sides of the stands frantically chanted for their players.
Mourinho and Arsène Wenger both jumped to their feet in surprise.
On the pitch,
Torres' run resembled a rapid zero-to-sixty sprint, while Umtiti couldn't match that acceleration and was gradually overtaken,
the two running almost neck and neck.
Torres wasn't satisfied just running alongside Umtiti; as they ran side by side he barged into Umtiti hard.
Umtiti hadn't expected such an underhanded, sunny big lad to act so dirty. Caught off-guard, he stumbled and ceded the ball to Torres.
Seizing the advantage,
Torres didn't hesitate.
Meeting the falling ball, he lashed a shot.
The ball traced an arc, skimming just beyond the tips of goalkeeper Martinez's fingers and into the net.
2–3!
Torres scored his second of the match, reigniting Chelsea's hope of equalizing.
"Torres scores his second goal! What a great game — it's the 82nd minute and the match is suddenly full of suspense."
On the pitch,
Torres watched the ball hit the net, joy erupting in him like a volcanic outburst.
His eyes shone with excitement, his face split by an irrepressible smile as he stood with arms outstretched, embracing the moment…
For an instant he seemed back at Anfield.
Mourinho on the touchline waved his arms excitedly.
He felt proud and satisfied — this goal was the best vindication of his tactical setup.
Fans went wild, shouting Torres' name hoarsely.
Each shout carried endless joy and hunger for victory.
Abramovich on the balcony had his face flushed with excitement, palms red from clapping.
Mourinho waved for the players to stop celebrating, pointed at his watch, urging them not to waste time and to chase the score quickly.
Across the way, Wenger made his moves!
Thomas Vermaelen, the veteran, replaced a mentally shaken Umtiti, and Serge Gnabry, who had an underwhelming display, was substituted off by Mikel Arteta.
Play resumed!
Arsenal kicked off!
De Bruyne didn't rush to attack; after all they were still leading. The ones who should be anxious were the spirited Chelsea players.
Kevin De Bruyne and Mikel Arteta circulated passes in their own half, waiting for the forwards to create opportunities up front.
In the attack, Xia Qi was again subjected to double-marking.
Whenever he got near Chelsea's box, alarms went off and Essien and Terry would converge to double-team him, leaving no room for him to receive the ball.
After repeatedly running into a brick wall, Xia Qi began to think and started dropping back to collect the ball.
Terry as a center-back could not follow Xia Qi all the way back — after all, there was Balotelli on the other side — while Essien shadowed Xia Qi closely.
Xia Qi dropped deep to receive; at the moment he took the ball, Essien struck out with lightning speed to poke the ball.
Xia Qi hurriedly dragged the ball back and changed direction to try to escape.
Essien wasn't about to let him off easily; from a blind side he launched a fierce sliding tackle.
Xia Qi was once again brought down.
"Essien tactical foul — Arsenal awarded a free kick. Quick, Xia Qi take it fast, De Bruyne and Xia Qi do a one-two, chance!"
"Xia Qi drives through the middle…"
John Obi Mikel immediately closed in to help Essien, coming up to man-mark and trying to use his body to disrupt or delay Xia Qi's run.
However, Xia Qi didn't give him a close chance. The instant he accelerated, Xia Qi split ball and man, and utterly ate up Mikel!!!
"The devourer is back online! Everyone count how many men Xia Qi can devour this time."
Commentator's excitement was a tad premature.
As Xia Qi fed the ball, Terry sprang out of the box like a tiger from a cage and, at the moment Xia Qi received the pass, brutally brought him down.
"Kid, show off your skills again and I won't spare you for the sake of teammates." (The two are national team teammates.)
Referee Taylor blew his whistle and trotted over.
Terry changed expression faster than a dog changes its face; anger and apology mixed on him. He extended a "friendly hand" to pull Xia Qi up.
Xia Qi brusquely swatted it away and indignantly wiped himself down.
"Thanks? Your IQ is suspect, captain! Tell the Frenchman and the Spanish pirate to threaten me! World Cup year — am I going to fear you?"
Referee Taylor looked at Terry's put-upon face, stifled a grin, and issued Terry a yellow card.
Terry gaped and bellowed at the referee: "That yellow is ridiculous! It was that sissy Xia Qi who's too delicate — has nothing to do with me!"
"You call me a girl? Fine! I'll stop going easy on you; don't drop any golden beans later!" Xia Qi turned to Terry and warned sharply.
Terry wasn't one to back down and snapped back: "Hmph, you? You're crazier than Drogba!"
Xia Qi threw his head back and laughed twice, then said: "I'm not crazy, I'm just stating facts. Stop whining about the yellow card and think about what falling pose is the coolest!"
The referee was no longer amused, thinking, do I not exist here or what??
He told Xia Qi: "Watch yourself. I'll be paying attention to you."
Terry laughed with schadenfreude.
"What an IQ risk! This is the first time I've seen someone so happy to receive a yellow card. Ref, aren't you being lenient — red card!"
Taylor cast a glance at Xia Qi and thought the colder, iceberg-like Xia Qi was still more endearing; he signaled for play to continue.
Arsenal had the free kick. After discussing with De Bruyne, Xia Qi opted to take it himself.
Terry and his teammates set the wall.
Xia Qi walked back in a straight line from the ball, retreating some ten-odd paces to build a long run-up, inhaled deeply, and slowly exhaled.
Only then did he lift his head to look at the wall.
At the moment their eyes met, Terry involuntarily stiffened, hurriedly clutched his groin with both hands, but then thinking better of it, changed to shielding his chest with both hands like a shy girl protecting two ounces of meat.
He'd worried needlessly — Xia Qi didn't even see him; his mind was set on scoring.
Beep!
Xia Qi sped up through his run, planted abruptly, leaned left, his right leg muscles tensed, swung back then through, and struck the ball with the instep inside of his right foot.
A bang!
Another bang!
…At the instant Xia Qi struck, Terry leapt high, arms folded across his chest — and it happened exactly as he'd hoped.
The ball struck his right chest; if his arm hadn't blocked it, he would have been forced off again.
Terry praised his quick thinking!!!
Honestly!
It was truly accidental — Xia Qi had intended to shoot on goal.
The ball glanced off Terry and jumped high.
Balotelli, sprinting in, rose first, chested the ball down onto his foot, dribbled past Luiz, and pushed a shot into the bottom-right corner.
The shot was so fast, the distance so short,
Čech could only watch the ball and sigh; his dive was a valiant effort but ultimately about fate.
"Goal — Balotelli's strike locks it in early."
"Xia Qi had intended a curling shot, but Terry's deflection unexpectedly set Balotelli up."
"Chelsea wasted Torres' effort. Mourinho's magic of the first season is already gone; if they can't fight back in subsequent matches, who knows how much time Abramovich will give Mourinho?"
"Chelsea's problem is that their players' hunger for victory isn't as strong as Arsenal's…"
Mourinho used his final substitution, bringing on Samuel Eto'o for a tired Essien.
Essien had chased Xia Qi all over the pitch tonight; in his youth he'd have worn Xia Qi out rather than be the one who could barely move.
Alas, time spares no one.
"Mourinho has thrown caution to the wind. With stoppage time, about 12 minutes remain, but down by two goals, a comeback is extremely difficult."
Chelsea kicked off — indeed, all-out attack.
Eto'o, Torres and Eden Hazard took turns hammering at Arsenal's goal. For a time Arsenal's penalty area was under siege, putting Arsenal fans' hearts in mouths…
When defense is insufficient, fouls are used to compensate!
Arsenal used two yellow cards but still did not concede.
During this period, Chelsea's goal was also threatened.
The best defense is attack: when Arsenal had opportunities while defending, they cleared long into the forward third.
Xia Qi and Balotelli charged at Chelsea's backline.
These rescue-style long balls were mostly just clearances; their placement and timing were not optimal.
Xia Qi and Balotelli couldn't convert them into goals.
Time ticked by amid scares and counters.
At full time, the score remained 2–4!
Such a scoreline and match content were unsatisfactory for Chelsea; Abramovich left early with a sullen face before the final whistle.
At the post-match press conference, Mourinho — once hailed as second only to the gods — had to admit that Chelsea had effectively dropped out of the top title contenders this season.
"For us, the objective this season is to hold on to fourth place. It's frankly a disgrace.
"We should be at the top of the table; competing only for fourth is what they should be doing, but instead we've swapped places with them."
"Yes, Xia Qi was indeed the best player on the pitch. We realized his value too late — that's my fault. This year England will go further because of him…"
Wenger: "This was just a normal victory. Earning three points gives us more room to correct and allows us to focus more on the Champions League.
"Beating Mourinho is no different to beating anyone else — we're very happy…"
"I don't think Terry being substituted off changed the result. If you were fairer, you'd see our players have a stronger drive to improve…"
(END CHAPTER)
Thank you for the support, friends. If you want to read more chapters in advance, go to my Patreon.
Read 20 Chapters In Advance: patreon.com/Bankai10