Sixty-five minutes.
Sporting Lisbon right back Duarte was tackled by Vilela.
The key point was that Vilela got the ball first.
It wasn't a foul.
If the ball hadn't rolled out of touch, Vilela's steal in the frontcourt might even have created a scoring chance.
"Hey, Duarte isn't getting up. Is he injured?"
"Oh! It looks serious. The team doctor is coming on."
"Marques is telling the substitutes to warm up, and there's a yellow-skinned player among them everyone should recognize. This is the Chinese youth player Wu Xudong, who plays right back."
"During the winter break, China's Wahaha team challenged several European U15 sides and achieved impressive results."
"This Wu Xudong was spotted by Trigueira after their match against Sporting. It's said Trigueira also liked several other players, but they didn't join for various reasons."
"Clubs interested in Chinese prospects should pay attention to this batch of players."
"After all, Trigueira is practically a gold label in Portuguese youth development. From Figo to Simão to Quaresma, he's developed countless stars. His eye is viciously sharp."
"Oh! Duarte can't continue, and Wu Xudong, wearing number 77, comes on as a substitute!"
"It's the first time we've seen two Chinese players on the same team in Portugal!"
The match restarted.
With injuries appearing, the gunpowder smell between both sides grew stronger.
In the 68th minute, Kai and Amorim clashed physically. Amorim was wary of the referee and didn't dare go too hard.
Kai took advantage of it, stopped the ball, and shoved Amorim aside.
Boom!
Kai passed toward the right side of midfield.
There was space there.
"Did Kai underhit that pass?"
"At this distance Marcelino has to run back for it."
"No! Not for Marcelino!"
Sporting's right flank suddenly saw a figure sprint forward at crazy speed.
He reached the ball first and pushed it ahead decisively.
"It's Wu Xudong! Is the Chinese youngster really this fast?"
"Marcelino is making a run and asking for the ball."
"Great chance — Wu Xudong passes early!"
"He passes, but— oh! He didn't pass to Marcelino. He carried the ball himself! But with that speed, it's still fine!"
"Marcelino cuts inside without the ball and keeps calling for it."
"Simão is dragged away by Marcelino."
"Wu Xudong still isn't passing?"
"He cuts inside! No defender on him — does he think he's a right winger?"
"Marcelino's already offside. He spreads his hands, clearly annoyed."
"Wu Xudong is too fast. Simão can't recover. Benfica's left center back moves to cover."
Boom!
Wu Xudong finally releases the ball.
An inverted triangle pass!
Kai charges in from deep inside the box and pulls back like a drawn bow!
Boom!
The shot isn't tricky, but it's powerful and fast.
Weir gets a hand to it, but the ball still blasts into the net.
"GOAL AGAIN! Kai! It's Kai!"
"Three–one! Sporting Lisbon extend the lead!"
"Three minutes! Wu Xudong provides an assist just three minutes after coming on!"
"Beautiful Chinese connection!"
Kai runs over, grabs Wu Xudong, and drags him to the corner flag to celebrate.
Wu Xudong looks overwhelmed, like he's never experienced this before.
"Salute! Wu Xudong actually saluted! A Young Pioneer salute! Looks like he didn't even join the league back in school!"
Kai laughs at his celebration, then imitates it to save him from embarrassment.
A reporter from Sports Weekly captures everything perfectly from the sidelines.
After Wahaha's European tour, they increased their focus on Kai and even sent a full reporting team to follow him.
Jiang Yunzhu got promoted because of this and is now the head of Sports Weekly in Portugal and deputy head for Europe.
She's also the youngest continental deputy in the organization.
…
After the goal, Benfica's mentality completely collapsed.
In the 74th minute, Amorim once again stretched a leg during Kai's quick turn.
Kai was tripped and spun one or two times in mid-air before crashing down hard.
The future Sporting Lisbon coach was really ruthless against Sporting right now.
"Crap!" Wu Xudong rushed over and shoved Amorim.
Amorim immediately shoved back.
"Fuck!" Ronaldo sprinted over and started pushing Benfica players.
Veloso, Ângelo, Semedo and the others piled in.
This time the referee completely lost control.
A full-blown brawl almost broke out.
No fights, no derby!
In the end, the referee handed out five yellow cards in a row.
Three to Benfica, including Amorim.
For Sporting, Ronaldo and Wu Xudong were booked.
Veloso, who already had one, luckily escaped — the referee simply didn't see him throw a sneaky shove.
Avoiding the referee's sight is also a required skill for defensive players.
He clearly passed the test.
Kai lay on the ground for a while before getting up, limping a few steps to adjust, finally confirming he was fine.
Damn it.
These guys really love targeting the soft ones.
If Amorim had tried that on Ronaldo, Ronaldo's speed alone might've snapped his damn leg.
When will I get Drogba's strength, Pogba's body, Lukaku's… forget it, Lukaku's cursed, that guy's unlucky as hell.
Eighty minutes.
Sporting kept pressing and basically pinned Benfica down and beat the crap out of them.
Manuel switched play and passed to Wu Xudong.
When Wu Xudong dribbled down the wing, he didn't bother with fancy tricks — just went straight to the byline.
Marcelino had been messing around with stepovers for ages with no result.
Wu Xudong? Straight up, cross done.
That's the difference between technical players and talented players.
The latter doesn't talk.
They just do it.
If it works once, it works ten thousand times.
If it doesn't work once, it never works.
Either a god or a ghost.
Boom!
Ronaldo drifted into the center and headed toward goal, forcing a corner.
Kai jogged to the corner flag to take it.
He winked at his teammates and held up four fingers.
Corner routine No. 4.
Boom!
The corner swung in.
Ronaldo and the others crowded the near post.
Veloso suddenly burst forward.
Boom!
Veloso flicked a header.
The ball changed direction slightly and flew into the far corner…
Goal!
"GOAL! Four–one! This game is basically over!"
"Veloso scores!"
"Front-post flick, back-post finish — pure technique!"
"What drama! Last time in the Lisbon derby he scored an own goal… now he scores against Benfica!"
"Because now he's wearing green and white, fighting for Sporting Lisbon!"
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