When this pass ball spanning half a field "smacked" against Santon’s left foot.
Hot tears almost welled up in his eyes!
I knew that resolute forward insertion would yield results.
I knew Tang would see me.
I knew that even after missing eight matches due to injury, Tang would not overlook my presence on the field!
24-year-old Santon gives it full throttle amidst the "wow wow wow" exclamations from fans at Meazza Stadium, striding along the sideline.
The head coach Reja’s furious shouts of "Defend! Defend!" permeated the air.
Atlanta’s players began scrambling to fall into position.
The crippled eagle fought hard to reopen its left wing.
Though Santon was a bit emotional, he managed to maintain basic composure.
Given his current physical condition, a long-distance raid wasn’t the best choice.
Instead of sticking to the sideline, he maneuvered slightly towards the center.
This was a correct decision, aiding communication with teammates and avoiding solitary battles.
"He’s a knee cripple, don’t fear him going to the sideline; stick to the center!"
Center-back Stendardo kept a tight grip on Icardi who charged into the penalty area, while directing his teammates to defend.
In his view, Santon, robbed of his kneecaps’ meniscus, was a shell of a player.
Living normally was painful, let alone playing professionally?
Perhaps this cry struck a nerve with Santon.
A jolt ran through his mind—
He did not pass to the center but swiftly twisted his knee, cutting outside, faking out right-back Machello!
Tang Long hadn’t anticipated Santon could go one-on-one; in his plan, this ball should have been passed back to him at the center.
After dribbling past, Santon had reached the position at the flank of the penalty area within two steps.
Following continuous sprints, dribbles, directional changes, and more sprints, Santon had reached his limit.
To protect Santon, Tang Long decisively moved closer.
Knowing he couldn’t shift the situation any further, Santon quickly passed horizontally to Tang Long.
"Tang, it’s up to you, I’ve done everything I could." Santon’s heart raced.
"Keep him away from facing the goal, don’t let him turn around!"
Center-back Stendardo restraining center-forward Icardi, shouting.
No need for him to shout; all Atlanta players knew they couldn’t let Tang Long turn!
Chasing back to the center, Cigarini and Camona dashed towards Tang Long like magnets.
Tang Long had already devised a response.
In his neural AI heatmap, since the two midfielders were drawn towards him, the advancing Gualin was already free.
If he could pass this ball over, it would be a shot opportunity unguarded at the arc.
How to pass to Gualin while facing backward?
Tang Long provided his answer—let the ball go through!
He feigned a turn to receive the ball, yet at the very moment the ball was about to touch his shoe, he suddenly lifted his right foot, with the shin parallel to the ground.
Almost grazing his toes, the ball rolled through.
The speed wasn’t fast, yet zipped, like a mouse, past Cigarini and Camona’s feet~
Due to inertia, neither Cigarini nor Camona could stop, collapsing onto Tang Long.
No Inter players indicated a foul because the ball that went through was right at Gualin’s feet!
Almost at the moment the referee raised both hands, signaling advantage, Gualin’s violent shot arrived as promised!
Hammer striking Rock, sparks flying!
Violent Gualin blasting the net!
The stands’ applause instantly erupted!
Molten lava like from a volcanic crater, hot and intense, enveloping the entire stadium in a fervent atmosphere!
"Goal scorer, Gualin!"
In an instant, the entire sky was torn apart by the onsite DJ’s shout!
Gualin pounded his chest, just wanting to celebrate with the fans at the north stand, stopped after three strides, turning back towards Tang Long.
"Get away, clear off!"
He unceremoniously shoved the two Atlanta players pressing onto Tang Long aside, and grabbed Tang Long’s hand, pulling him up.
"Great pass! Haha, you almost fooled me!"
Gualin placed both hands on Tang Long’s shoulders, shaking hard, making Tang Long’s head bobble like a rattle.
"I was fooled by you too!" Podolski jumped onto Tang Long’s back.
"Great pass, letting the ball go was beautiful, you were simply unbeatable!" Santon laughed and snapped his fingers at Tang Long.
Mancini stood with hands in pockets, in disbelief.
This attack developed too fast, he couldn’t react straight away.
Gualin’s fast follow-up shot, however, was seen clearly.
On the massive screen in the corner of Meazza Stadium, replays were being shown from every angle.
But as the head coach, Mancini was more concerned with the initiator of this attack, Tang Long.
"That Ground Strike pass, and that letting the ball go, this kid, as if whatever he does, can predict the future three seconds ahead..." Mancini mused.
At the ESPN commentary booth.
Commentator Owenson was excited!
He first praised Gualin’s shot highly, then brought the topic back to Tang Long.
With ten years in profession, having commentated thousands of matches, Owenson knew the game.
"90% of the credit for Gualin’s goal should be attributed to Tang!"
"Even without exaggeration, Inter reaching the front line smoothly with this attack, 100% credit goes to Tang alone!"
"Never would I have thought, his one ground strike pass, could span the whole field, and precisely find Santon miles away, haha, very bold pass!"
Owenson noticed that after Inter’s goal.
His partner, commentary guest Rui Costa hadn’t uttered a word.
Owenson lightly coughed twice.
Rui Costa remained silent.
Owenson turned to look at him.
Found Rui Costa frowning in deep thought.
Surely, being an AC Milan icon, not speaking out just because Inter scored?
ESPN’s paid guest; please maintain professional conduct.
"Mr. Costa, previously your judgment on the situation was spot on, Inter indeed played too finely. Look! Tang must have listened to your analysis, so he immediately changed sides, opening the space, isn’t it?"
It was after several shoulder taps that Rui Costa slowly spoke.
"Indeed, my perspective was correct; at that time Inter truly needed wide transitions, and I saw Mancini directing players to pass back to the center-back on the sidelines."
"Tang Long’s diagonal pass didn’t surprise me, the genius midfielder always has a forward tempted heart, but what puzzled me is..."
Rui Costa paused, looked toward Owenson.
"How did Tang manage to deliver a 50-meter pass, bypassing every Atlanta defender?"
"Moreover during the pass, did you notice?"
"There was a switch between Cigarini and Camona, the ball just happened to pierce through the middle of them. You know, at the moment Tang Long kicked, Cigarini and Camona hadn’t moved yet."
"Is this... merely coincidence?"