Chapter 124
Translator 8uhl
Chapter 124
Chapter Title The Eldest Son Craves Soccer
The match kicked off with Newcastles firsthalf possession.
True to their reputation as the most aggressive attacking side in the Premier League, Newcastle pushed their lines high right from the start, hunting for an early goal.
Watching this, Heath Jonathan nodded slightly to himself.
As expected.
Hed known Newcastle would come out like this.
With the season nearing its end, the accumulated data showed that Newcastle scored in the first 15 minutes of many games.
From that opening goal, they built momentum, pressed hard, and dominated the match.
The key was stopping that first goal.
Thats why today, hed deployed a 352 formation that he hadnt used in the previous game due to Wanderleys absence.
It was the formation that Heath Jonathan and his coaching staff had analyzed and reanalyzed from the data to neutralize Taeyang.
For starters, the midfielders would mark Newcastles players oneonone while cutting off any balls to Yoon Taeyang.
The back three did the same. They kept compact intervals, ready at any moment to swarm Taeyang.
It wasnt that they were ignoring Ilyinu and Shallet, but the data showed Taeyang was always the first to receive the ball and the one who scored the most goals. So, prioritize shutting him down.
The two strikers up top would also drop back to form a defensive line when defending.
Every player had received precise, detailed instructions.
All that was left was for his players to execute.
Of course, Heath Jonathan believed they would.
And he firmly believed they would win.
Especially since Menendez, the key playmaker who fed Taeyang, was absent.
Today was the day to finally beat Newcastle. And from here on, they wouldnt lose a single game all the way to the title.
Saviola passes to Gomez. Hes trying to play it forward to Gomez, but oh, no space. Back to Saviola!
Chelseas setup is too compact. Sanchez and Lindeman join the press, but Chelseas forwards are dropping deep to match numbers in midfield.
Newcastles in trouble.
As Chelsea refused to cede space, Newcastles tempo began to slow.
Sensing the difficulty, Newcastles midfield eventually played it back.
They were trying to lure Chelsea in for a counter, but Chelsea didnt bite.
They simply kept their front line high, pressing between Newcastles defense and midfield.
Neither pushing the line up nor stretching the gaps, Chelsea stayed rigorously defensive, leaving Newcastle frustrated.
And it wasnt just the Newcastle players.
As the game grew dull, boos started echoing from the stands here and there.
That was when it happened.
In the midst of the stalemate, Baptini intercepted a Newcastle pass.
Chelsea had switched tactics like ghosts.
Deloa advanced, and with Basomo Sivi and Baptini, the three of them darted sharply toward Newcastles goal.
At the center was, without a doubt, that player.
Deloa.
The worlds most fearsome goblin bared his cunning, toying with Newcastles defense.
Deloa shrugs off Saviola and charges at Arnold!
This was calculated too.
Murishi had a high chance of stopping a oneonone with his quick reactions, whereas Arnold was weaker in oneonones than Murishi.
Deloa followed the managers orders faithfully and targeted Arnold.
Knowing Arnold was disastrously rightfooted, Deloa cut inside to his left.
As Arnold stretched out an awkward left foot and missed, Murishi rushed in to cover.
Deloas eyes gleamed as he passed to Sivi slicing behind Murishi.
Basomo Sivi!!
Sivi took the ball Murishi couldnt intercept with his left foot and swung his right for a shot.
The ball rocketed out.
Raaargh!
Ricella let out a primal roar, fully extending to punch it away.
What a save from Ricella! Incredible!
Ricella prepared to boot it up as usual.
Huh?
But what he saw was Chelseas wellorganized defense.
From the start, Chelsea had trusted only Deloa, Sivi, and Baptini, keeping their line steady to counter Newcastles breaks.
Ricella abandoned the clearance and safely passed to Arnold.
Chelsea arent pressing high up front.
When Newcastle has the ball, they seem committed to defending their own half.
And from this wide view, you can see it clearlytheir forwards, especially Yoon Taeyang, are isolated.
Heath Jonathan really came prepared.
Newcastles midfield and back line just pinged meaningless passes back and forth.
Unable to advance, and right then, Deloa stole the ball again, sparking another Chelsea attack.
Saviola stepped up to meet Deloa.
Saviola was a versatile midfield prospect talented in both defense and attack, but his opponent was Deloathe Ballon dOr winner hailed as the worlds best midfielder.
Once more, he yielded the path easily.
Deloa went for Arnold as planned, but Murishi anticipated and closed him down first.
Deloa accelerated to create distance from Murishi, then slipped the ball into the space Murishi had vacated, right to Basomo Sivi.
Just eight minutes later, another golden chance. Sivi stayed calmer this time, recalling the managers orders and aiming for the spot where Ricella had conceded most, unleashing his shot.
Goal! Its a goal! Basomo Sivi!!
Chelsea take the lead!
Sivi roared in triumph, and Heath Jonathan, true to his American flair, cheered exaggeratedly.
Artelli, meanwhile, watched calmly.
But inside, he was burning.
He couldnt find an easy way to break this deadlock.
If only Menendez were here, it wouldnt feel so hopeless.
The squad left by the previous manager wasnt satisfying him.
No wonder hed thrown in so many young players.
Tch.
Chewing nicotine gum instead of a forbidden cigarette, lost in thought, he noticed one player on the pitch adjusting his knee brace.
Matteo Silva.
Matty, your knee acting up?
Saviola asked worriedly, seeing Silva refit his brace. He flashed a grin.
Nah, its fine.
You sure?
Its fine. Ask Taeyang. That guys got a sixth sense for when my knee hurts.
Saviola let out an Ah of realization and bolted toward Taeyang.
Crazy bastard, I said ask and he actually does. Sheesh... Tch. Since when did the team get filled with Yoon Taeyangs minions?
The kid was barely out of diapers, hadnt done anything special, yet his grip on the squad was no joke.
Well, good for him.
No gaps felt with him out.
A king in waiting.
But Im still the king. Not handing it over that easy.
Silva straightened up and prepared for kickoff.
The game resumed, and Chelsea picked up right where they left off.
Newcastle couldnt push forward, stuck exchanging futile passes.
In a way, this was exactly what Newcastles opponents had done to them this season.
But right now, Newcastles setup had no cracker to unlock it.
What the hells this guy doing anyway?
Silva glanced around for Yoon Taeyang.
That punk...
Taeyang stood there with a sulky face, scanning his surroundings.
No different from usual.
What the hell was he thinking?
Impossible to read the guy.
Ugh, guess this old genius has to step up.
Grumbling, Silva called for the ball from Saviola.
Saviola, about to play it back, connected with Silva instead.
Matteo Silva, starting in midfield today, takes possession!
Mr. Toon has the ball and advances!
That was when it happened.
As if hed been waiting, Taeyang dropped toward the line.
Chelsea moved in perfect sync with Taeyangs run.
In that instant, Silva saw it.
The spaces opening up as Chelsea followed Taeyang.
Silva didnt miss them, threading a pass through.
Ilyinu latched onto the ball streaking into space.
The only one sticking to him was Kayque. Ilyinu shrugged him off with sheer power and unleashed a mighty leftfooted strike at goal.
Clang!
The ball smashed the post and ricocheted away.
So powerful the frame rattled.
A thunderous shot, but it hits the woodwork!
As everyone groaned in regret, Taeyang rushed to Ilyinu.
You idiot, you gonna do it right or not?!
SSorry.
Jeez, cant even use your right foot, and you botch the leftwhatre we supposed to do, huh?!
SSorry. Ill do better.
Koreans fine, but English!
SSorry?
Even sorryif youre not sure if its right, whatre we gonna do! Ugh.
Silva sighed, watching the Korean player scold in English and the Brazilian reply in Korean.
Taeyang sidled up to Silva.
See that?
See what?
When I moved, space cracked open like the Red Sea. Missed it?
Saw it. Thats why I passed to Ilyinu.
Good. Keep doing that.
What about you?
Ill do something too.
He wanted to call bullshit, but the kid always delivered, so he couldnt.
Im watching you.
You focus too, old man. Ill be watching.
Ugh, when did he get so cocky, firing back like that.
Silva shook his head with a chuckle.
Meanwhile, Chelseas keeper Destanoglu passed to Wanderley to restart.
Starting the buildup from the keeperwhat would Chelsea show?
In this situation, Chelsea stayed true to form.
Slowly raising the line from the back, building play.
Wanderley exchanged passes with Kozak and Orellena before finding Deloa.
Deloa turned and eyed Saviola.
Saviola, beaten twice already, stared back tensely. Deloa charged without hesitation.
Saviola battled desperately, but it wasnt enough.
That was when it happened.
The moment Deloa nutmegged him with a La Croqueta.
Hey!
Silva appeared like a ghost behind, nicking the ball right in front of Deloas feet.
!!
As Deloa spun in shock, Silva stabbed it forward.
A defensesplitting pass.
Perfect, not a whit inferior to Menendezs. It reached Ilyinus toes.
Ilyinu, back to Wanderley, muscled him aside, turned, and faced goal.
Shoot, shoot now!
A bit far for a shot, but after hitting the post earlier, he was determined to score this timeand as he wound up...
Pass, you moron!
Taeyangs sudden shout. Ilyinu nudged it forward.
Taeyang latched onto the through ball and sprinted at goal.
Somehow shaking his markers, Chelsea players chased with everything they had, but Taeyang pulled away and unleashed a shot at goal.
Destanoglu couldnt predict the outsideoftheboot curlerit bent viciously inward, ripping the net.
Goal! Goal! Gooooal! Yoon Taeyaaaaang! What a goal!
When did he infiltrate? Incredible! Yoon Taeyang strikes again!
Season goal number 37! Can you believe it? Youre witnessing a 17yearold score 37 Premier League goals!
After scoring, Taeyang didnt celebrate. He jogged over to Ilyinu, nagging him not to shoot blindly.
As if scoring on Chelsea was nothing, his attitude lit a fire under Heath Jonathan and the Chelsea players.
With that, the match slowly ignited.