Unconventional Center

Chapter 36: Head-to-Head Battle

With the team’s string of victories, Gresel earned unanimous praise from the media and fans, and players led by Mo Ya and Chu Yang also received immense attention. On Sunday afternoon, when Chu Yang and his teammates entered the Vallecas Stadium to prepare, the stands were already packed to capacity. Perhaps due to the team’s outstanding recent performance, the Valencia fans stood tall, holding their own against the much larger crowd of Rayo Vallecano supporters. Amid the sea of blond-haired, blue-eyed fans, a group of dark-haired Chinese supporters stood out. Wearing Chu Yang’s white No. 9 jersey, they chanted his name and erupted into enthusiastic applause and cheers whenever he looked their way. The occasional familiar accents calling out “Go!” and “You’re the best!” moved Chu Yang deeply. Mo Ya won the coin toss, and Valencia chose to kick off first. After receiving a pass from Mo Ya at the center circle, Chu Yang quickly played the ball back and began running forward, with the opposing defender closing in on him immediately. Rayo Vallecano played with unexpected aggression. This team frequently moves back and forth between La Liga and the Segunda División, with their strength fluctuating, and their tactics are equally unpredictable to opponents. However, whether on offense or defense, they have reached a high level for the Segunda División. Rayo Vallecano’s two wingers and attacking midfielder exchanged a series of short passes in midfield, easily penetrating the area just outside Valencia’s penalty box early in the match. Although striker Bangjila’s shot sailed high over the crossbar, the Rayo Vallecano players seemed to be spurred on by the attempt and attacked with even greater intensity. Faced with this onslaught, Valencia appeared somewhat on the back foot right from the start. Chu Yang barely touched the ball in the attacking third, and the team’s defensive midfielder, Juan Leta, became the busiest player on the field; it was his tireless running that successfully thwarted many of Rayo Vallecano’s threats just outside the penalty area. But relying solely on defense was clearly not the answer; someone had to step up. Chants of “Mo Ya” rang out from the stands as Valencia’s fans called out for their captain. He was the linchpin, the core, the engine of the offense, and the key to transitioning from defense to attack. Mo Ya did not disappoint the fans. After Leta successfully cleared the ball, he quickly moved forward to collect it and immediately played it out wide. Banderas received the pass, shook off his defender with a simple burst of speed and a change of direction, and, after a give-and-go with the overlapping Garcia, found himself on the left side of the penalty area. Before Rayo Vallecano’s full-back Garland could close him down, he laid the ball off to the top of the penalty arc. Mo Ya and Chu Yang rushed in to meet the ball. “Mark Cesc!” Rayo Vallecano’s center back Yama shouted to his fellow center back Innis, while he himself closed in on Chu Yang. As everyone knows, Chu Yang’s dribbling skills are practically nonexistent compared to his dazzling array of shots and elusive runs; he rarely holds onto the ball, passing it immediately or taking a shot the moment it touches his foot. So when Chu Yang touched the ball, defenders only needed to focus on two things: blocking his shot or intercepting his pass. “Yama is marking the player from China. He’s trying to use his body to push his opponent aside—that’s fair play on the field. Hmm? What’s happening? The seemingly frail China No. 9 is actually winning the physical battle. Yama couldn’t stop him. What will the China forward do next?” What will Chu Yang do? Pass? Dribble into the box? Or… take a shot right away? Everyone held their breath. Chu Yang didn’t keep them waiting long; he quickly provided his answer. He planted his left foot beside the ball, swung his right leg back, and unleashed a thunderous shot at the ball as it continued to roll gently. The ball flew straight toward the goal like a shooting star, sending the hearts of fans on both sides racing. Yama looked on in disbelief. Although he hadn’t managed to push Chu Yang aside, he’d been right on his heels the entire time, constantly trying to disrupt him with all sorts of little tricks—yet Chu Yang had somehow managed to pull off such a high-quality shot despite his harassment. One could only say that this player from China’s physique was deceptively powerful; his strength and physicality were absolutely top-tier among Asian players, and he was more than a match for many European players—perhaps only slightly inferior to the most famous power forwards in the Spanish Segunda División. Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, the ball flew toward the left side of the goal, and goalkeeper Tooni reacted with lightning speed, diving out immediately. “Brilliant! Tooni saved the team. He accurately anticipated the ball’s trajectory and made a world-class save to block it. Innis collected the ball and sent a powerful pass upfield, temporarily relieving the pressure on Rayo Vallecano.” Rayo Vallecano fans erupted in applause for Tooni, and several teammates gave him a thumbs-up in praise. Only Yama exchanged a glance with him—and both saw the lingering fear in each other’s eyes. “The player from China is incredibly powerful.” On the sidelines, Gressel and Heike, however, were impressed by Chu Yang’s shot. “Has Chu’s long-range shooting gotten stronger?” Gressel asked uncertainly. “Yes, that shot just now had tremendous power and a great angle. It was just a matter of luck that it was saved, and Chu managed to get off that shot while being closely marked by a defender,” Heike remarked with admiration. “That amazing Chinese player—I really can’t imagine how he could have performed so poorly in Deportivo La Coruña. Is the level of the First Division really that much higher than the Second Division?” “It’s not about the opponents; it’s that Chu is constantly getting better. He’s improving in almost every game.” Chu Yang had no idea that his single long-range shot had sparked so much internal debate among others; he himself was still frustrated by that missed opportunity. With Yama—a full-sized man—right beside him, tugging, shoving, and jostling him, how could he possibly not be affected? “If only my ball control and speed were both at 15. If I’d been able to shake off the defender just now, make a slight adjustment, and then take the shot, that goal would’ve definitely gone in.” “Chu, don’t worry—there’s still plenty of time,” Mo Ya reassured him. Chu Yang nodded, and the two began running back. Rayo Vallecano didn’t ease up on their attack after Chu Yang’s shot, and Valencia showed no signs of sitting back either. Although neither team had scored yet, the back-and-forth offensive battle was a real treat for the fans. On the field, it’s always the offense that captures the most attention. “Alex! He’s dribbled past the defender—shoot! Oh! What a terrible shot—he missed the target!” “A pass from Cesc! Chu! He’s caught up to the ball! It’s that familiar play again—Chu’s through on goal. Hmm? Wait, the referee’s whistle blows—it’s offside. Chu’s runs really put the referees’ eyes to the test; I bet he’s the least favorite player among them.” “Another shot from Chu! It looks like he’s deliberately focusing on long-range shots, and the quality is excellent—powerful and well-placed. Unfortunately, he’s just a bit unlucky…” “The whistle blows—the first half is over. It’s been a thrilling half, but the result is disappointing. Let’s hope both teams continue to deliver exciting, attacking soccer in the second half—and of course, hopefully with some goals.”