Chapter 241: Heel Shot — Rooney's Showboating
The Netherlands fell behind after just one minute, but in the next 15 minutes the Tulips' attacking factor was unlocked — they scored twice in succession and astonishingly turned the game around.
The New Water Source Stadium transformed into an orange sea the instant the referee ruled the goal valid.
England fans felt like a lone boat amid raging waves, at constant risk of being swallowed.
At that moment the broadcast director keenly noticed England coach Roy Hodgson's odd expression and cut to a close-up.
His mouth curled into a mysterious smile even as his team trailed.
Secretly pleased??? England's coach happy about his team being behind? It turned out that moving Xia Qi up front had been the player's own idea, and now the result seemed to vindicate Hodgson.
A little pride inevitably rose in Hodgson's chest — panicking at conceding isn't the demeanor of a great coach! So even while England trailed, Hodgson maintained his British gentleman's composure.
He leisurely crossed his legs, radiating the calm confidence of a seasoned manager. As if everything were under control, his gaze steady and deep, inspiring respect in onlookers.
Even CCTV-5 commentator Huang Jianxiang turned into a fangirl at that moment:
"Hodgson has always been controversial, but on second thought the old coach isn't entirely wrong. At least now he looks more like a master than Van Gaal — Van Gaal looked even more nervous after his team took the lead..."
There was another composed figure on the field: Xia Qi.
While the Dutch celebrated wildly, he strolled slowly toward the center circle as if no one existed around him.
Their unruffled manner immediately calmed both England players and fans. The panicked English, rattled by an early lead then a reversal, soon settled down. Fans started singing the "Ice-Cream Prince" song again and players' faces regained smiles.
England supporters online also breathed easier.
"Old Hodgson, not bad! Quite the general's demeanor."
"That's the confidence real strength brings."
"I've already won half — I bet England 4–2 Netherlands. The Netherlands' two goals are done; now I'll wait for England's hat-trick."
"Damn! Am I the only one who bet England 2–1 Netherlands? I see many people queuing on the rooftop."
"Only fake fans would bet on three goals. Both teams attack and both are weak at the back — expect five, six goals or more. It's only 16 minutes and already three goals; tonight will be a goal feast."
"Damn! Didn't they say England-Netherlands is a meaningless friendly? What's wrong with me betting an upset? How did it turn into a goal war?"
"..."
…
Play resumed and things got interesting: both teams simultaneously increased their attacking intent.
England was behind and needed to press forward, and the Netherlands wanted to hammer England flat.
So the battle intensified!
First Xia Qi, surrounded by three men, set up Walcott.
Walcott struck from the right side; the ball slipped past Dutch goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen's fingertips but was repelled by the far post.
Walcott looked apologetically at Xia Qi — he should have poked it toward the near post. In the moment of shooting, Xia Qi's outside-of-the-foot curl flashed through his mind; that beguiling Kua-style curve made him compulsively change a toe-poke into a curl.
Afterwards they realized the Kua-style curve is seller's show — buyers better not imitate; it's eye-burning!
Then the Netherlands countered.
Arjen Robben broke on the left and crossed; Robin van Persie controlled in the box and shot, the ball grazed the post and went wide.
Van Persie was maddened, slapping himself in regret.
In the broadcast Huang Jianxiang quipped: "Van Persie's first touch was divine, his second was mortal."
Indeed, Van Persie who keeps shooting is the true Van the General; one who stops and then shoots is just an ordinary man.
After Van Persie missed, Sterling paid him back in kind: five meters from goal, Sterling headed over a ball Xia Qi had wrestled free in the crowd.
He was only five meters from goal and unmarked, yet he produced a world-class miss.
Hodgson could no longer sit still. He dashed to the touchline and shouted at Xia Qi: "If you're playing up front you must shoot! What kind of forward are you if you won't shoot!"
Hodgson's words were biased — was Xia Qi unwilling to shoot? In a three-man press, passing to a colleague who's unmarked seems the better option.
AI's optimization won't be wrong, but to humans, not scoring is original sin!
Van Gaal, seeing what he thought was discord between coach and player, grinned from ear to ear.
He shouted to his players on the sideline: "Keep double-marking Xia Qi!"
Huang Jianxiang defended Xia Qi: "Xia Qi's approach is fine — it's the teammates' finishing that's the issue..."
Online:
"Understood — a European China team!"
"Saying this will be a goal feast? With that technique, you'd have to double the goal mouth to have a chance."
"One man can't face four hands. Either free Xia Qi or bring shooting boots. If they keep squandering Xia Qi's assists, England's in danger."
"No kidding, did you need to say that?"
"Why change the midfield? What formation are they even trying? Asking to get tortured?"
At Salvador's New Water Source Stadium,
Though the Netherlands were pressing, Xia Qi often attracted two or three markers by himself.
With those shifts, England's chances increased.
Five minutes later,
Xia Qi received the ball in the center of the box with his back to goal.
Behind him, Weideldun and Ron Vlaar — one left, one right — had him tightly sandwiched. Xia Qi couldn't possibly turn and shoot.
He didn't force a turn but chose to "play the ball," switching it to the left to Sterling, who was overlapping.
Sterling's off-ball movement was much better than club teammate Walcott's — it was his gift.
Sterling received, hugged the touchline, and Xia Qi turned to make a darting run into the box.
Though the ball had been shifted and Sterling had dragged Weideldun with him, Xia Qi remained the focal point of the Dutch defense; two defenders, Vlaar and Bruno Martins Indi, still shadowed him.
Vlaar stood between Xia Qi and Sterling, Indi between Xia Qi and the goal; the two kept Xia Qi tightly in check, denying him the ball and preventing any turning shot.
Meanwhile Rooney made a late run to the far post and Walcott was over on the right.
Sterling led Weideldun by about half a body, and Weideldun couldn't stop Sterling's dribble. He did his best to disturb Sterling, preventing an easy cut inside.
Sterling's deep run appeared smooth but was actually forced.
Near the goal line he risked going all the way to the byline. Sterling accelerated and snatched a yard, crossing toward the goal.
Seeing Sterling surge, Xia Qi immediately sped toward the near post, positioning in front of Vlaar.
Vlaar and Indi only started moving as Sterling crossed, each a step late and held in constraint.
Sterling swung the ball; Vlaar looped around to defend Xia Qi, trying to raise the difficulty for Xia Qi's receiving, and Indi closed in to block Xia Qi turning to shoot.
From an observer's view, Rooney was making a central drive, and Xia Qi's shooting angle looked almost non-existent.
At that moment Xia Qi would likely be setting up Rooney.
Van Gaal shouted from the sideline: "Watch out, that fat idiot!"
Rooney: ????
At those words!!!!
Dirk Kuyt surged toward Rooney; Vlaar, who'd been harassing Xia Qi, subtly shifted his position to see if he could spoil the pass Xia Qi was about to make to Rooney.
The ball came in and Xia Qi stood with legs apart, motionless — the posture of someone about to let it run through.
He would let the ball roll to the onrushing Rooney!
Vlaar no longer hesitated and planted himself on the Xia–Rooney passing line, so any pass through by Xia Qi would be intercepted by him.
But reality foiled ideals.
When Vlaar abandoned harassment and thus freed Xia Qi, Xia Qi's left foot suddenly flicked up and then inward.
With his heel he dinked the ball toward the goal!
This unexpected twist caught Vlaar off guard. He'd already lunged to the middle and lost his balance; he flung his body, fell and slid.
Indi, tight on Xia Qi's side with his vision blocked, didn't notice the ball sliding past him because Xia Qi's movement was tiny. When the ball ghosted by his feet, he turned to look toward goal only after his teammates' cries — but he'd leaned back too hard and tumbled.
Rooney at the far post had the best view.
From his position he could clearly see the ball, Xia Qi, Vlaar and Indi. As the ball swept past Indi's defensive area,
Rooney leapt and in midair struck Klopp's celebration — the "farmer's three punches"!
Yes!
It's a goal!
That silly keeper was powerless!
This is Rooney's confidence!
Top striker's swagger!
Rooney really had out-acted himself with that celebration!
Nine out of ten people — on the pitch or watching on TV — instinctively focus on the scorer; goals are always the most exciting.
Yet seeing Rooney perform the celebratory pantomime as if he'd actually struck the ball left everyone with heads full of question marks.
Fortunately, the referee was not among the nine out of ten.
When the ball hit the net and sent up a splash, the whistle confirming the goal sounded at the same time.
Only then did people notice the ball in the net and Vlaar and Indi sprawled on the pitch.
The ball?
A goal?
What just happened?
On the field Rooney landed with arms outstretched and face to the wind — if one hadn't seen clearly, one might think Rooney had touched the ball. But he hadn't.
Rooney's excitement was understandable.
Xia Qi's goal was not only an equalizer; it shattered the Dutch defensive plan and reestablished England's advantage.
England vs Netherlands — England now had the psychological edge.
" Ah!"
"It's Xia Qi!"
"A sudden heel shot!"
A moment later Huang Jianxiang's voice through the TV revealed the truth to millions of fans...
(END CHAPTER)
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