Ryu Ha-neul's Substitute Heroics
The coach said to me, “Tomorrow, the starting striker is Loutina. Ryu, tomorrow is rest, but you might be subbed in the second half, so get ready.”
“Yes.”
Before the match against Celta Vigo, I heard the coach say I’d have rest, but I didn’t think it was because I was being pushed out of the starting lineup.
Actually, the rest for the next game was a real rest, not because I was outplayed on the field.
Currently, my appearances total four games—two in the league and two in the Champions League. In those four, I had scored four goals and provided three assists, with an average rating of 8.8. Excluding the Valencia match, I had received Player of the Match honors in the other three.
In other words, unless the coach was taking bribes from Real Madrid, there was no way he could bench me based on performance.
Moreover, since I was set to play three games in nine days if I started this match, it would be good to take one off. After the previous game, I had rolled around the pitch too much, and I even had a slight fever after the Juventus match.
In my previous life, I could have handled something like this, but this body was still incomplete and showed its weakness.
‘Well, one game is fine.’
Arnal, the main striker, wouldn’t return for another one to two months. At this pace, even if I missed one game, it wouldn’t threaten my position.
This Celta Vigo match was the first home game after the Copa, so I wanted to greet the home fans, but my body was more important. At this age, one injury could mean carrying it for the rest of my life.
With that relaxed mindset, the next day arrived, and I found myself starting from the bench.
‘Well, Celta Vigo is easy to beat.’
Although Celta Vigo was a team with experience in La Liga and the UEFA Cup, it wasn’t a team strong enough to beat us at home. So, I sat comfortably on the bench and watched the game. In the 11th minute of the first half, from a corner kick situation, Tiana’s header gave us an early lead, and we sailed ahead easily.
However, Loutina, the starting striker, wasn’t specialized in linking play, and Eloya, who came out as a wing forward today, was more of a style where she entered inside the penalty box and rummaged around inside it rather than delivering high crosses. So, the chemistry with Loutina, whom I had started for the first time in a while, felt a bit off.
‘Tsk, I need to score one more so I can rest comfortably today.’
But unfortunately, that thought didn’t materialize in reality. Barcelona maintained a precarious lead until the 30th minute of the second half, but eventually, they conceded an equalizer to Celta Vigo, who kept trying counters.
And eventually, the coach called me, who had been warming up for the last 10 minutes.
“Are you ready? How’s your body?”
“I’m fine. I can run.”
*
Ah, in the 79th minute of the second half, Ryu Ha-neul comes onto the field.
Ryu Ha-neul, who had been starting all four recent games and handling a tight schedule, finally comes onto the field.
Can Ryu Ha-neul really break the tie? Barcelona's throw-in. To Lorenza. Lorenza, to Eloya. Eloya's pass not to Anila, Anila's pass to the waiting Ryu Ha-neul! Ryu Ha-neul! High cross! Alvarian header! Ah! Saved by Barca's keeper!
The pass weave was very fluid, wasn't it? Unlike when Loutina was on the field, Ryu Ha-neul coming in, lowering down, helping with build-up, Barca's attack is developing more smoothly.
Yes.
Actually, Anila is a right back, right? It's rare to see a top striker coming down to the side of the right back to receive a pass, but Ryu Ha-neul positioning perfectly, smoothly progressing the attack. This is exactly Ryu Ha-neul's strength.
Correct. Now Barca's corner kick. The corner is prepared by Ryu Ha-neul.
Ryu Ha-neul is a player with excellent kicking ability, right? Well, because of the male limitation, the speed isn't as fast, but the accuracy is evaluated as the highest in the team. Moreover, actually, Ryu Ha-neul isn't very helpful when taking corner kicks, so Barca seems to have elevated Ryu Ha-neul as the corner kicker.
Ryu Ha-neul's kick, Tiana's header! Ah hit! Falls in front of Lorenza! Goal! Goal! Goal! Lorenza's 5th league goal! Barca doesn't miss the opportunity!
Wow, Barca only scored two goals with set pieces today? This is a rare sight... First, Ryu Ha-neul's corner was very sharp, Tiana's header was saved by the keeper but fell in front of Lorenza.
Barca leading 2:1 ... Hamara steals the ball. To Joaquin. Joaquin to Ryu Ha-neul. Ryu Ha-neul, one, two! And back again. Barca enters reorganization.
Just now, actually, I deliberately slowed the tempo? No need to use personal foul, but since we were leading and no need to rush, it seems they did that. Still young but very intelligent player. Looks like a veteran who has been in pro for over 10 years.
……Match ends! Lorenza's winning goal, Barca records 12 league wins.
*
Ah, in the 79th minute of the second half, Ryu Ha-neul comes onto the field.
Ryu Ha-neul, who had been starting all four recent games and handling a tight schedule, finally comes onto the field.
Can Ryu Ha-neul really break the tie? Barcelona's throw-in. To Lorenza. Lorenza, to Eloya. Eloya's pass not to Anila, Anila's pass to the waiting Ryu Ha-neul! Ryu Ha-neul! High cross! Alvarian header! Ah! Saved by Barca's keeper!
The pass weave was very fluid, wasn't it? Unlike when Loutina was on the field, Ryu Ha-neul coming in, lowering down, helping with build-up, Barca's attack is developing more smoothly.
Yes.
Actually, Anila is a right back, right? It's rare to see a top striker coming down to the side of the right back to receive a pass, but Ryu Ha-neul positioning perfectly, smoothly progressing the attack. This is exactly Ryu Ha-neul's strength.
Correct. Now Barca's corner kick. The corner is prepared by Ryu Ha-neul.
Ryu Ha-neul is a player with excellent kicking ability, right? Well, because of the male limitation, the speed isn't as fast, but the accuracy is evaluated as the highest in the team. Moreover, actually, Ryu Ha-neul isn't very helpful when taking corner kicks, so Barca seems to have elevated Ryu Ha-neul as the corner kicker.
Ryu Ha-neul's kick, Tiana's header! Ah hit! Falls in front of Lorenza! Goal! Goal! Goal! Lorenza's 5th league goal! Barca doesn't miss the opportunity!
Wow, Barca only scored two goals with set pieces today? This is a rare sight... First, Ryu Ha-neul's corner was very sharp, Tiana's header was saved by the keeper but fell in front of Lorenza.
Barca leading 2:1 ... Hamara steals the ball. To Joaquin. Joaquin to Ryu Ha-neul. Ryu Ha-neul, one, two! And back again. Barca enters reorganization.
Just now, actually, I deliberately slowed the tempo? No need to use personal foul, but since we were leading and no need to rush, it seems they did that. Still young but very intelligent player. Looks like a veteran who has been in pro for over 10 years.
……Match ends! Lorenza's winning goal, Barca records 12 league wins.
*
UEFA Champions League D group 6th match. The match between Barcelona and Sporting is held at Camp Nou.
With 5 wins, Barcelona is leading the group, while Sporting is in 3rd with 1 win 1 draw 3 losses. Since all teams in D group have qualified, they are all fielding candidates and managing fitness.
Yes. On Barca's side, it feels like mostly candidates except Ryu Ha-neul. Ryu Ha-neul's shoulder might be heavy.
But since Sporting is also fielding maximum candidates, perhaps today's match will have many goals. Actually, in dead rubbers like this, concentration tends to drop, right?
……Ryu Ha-neul's breakthrough! Ryu Ha-neul! Shot! Goal! Goal! Goal! Ryu Ha-neul's wonderful lob shot shakes the net! Scoring the first goal in just 5 minutes of the first half!
I told you! The probability of high scoring in such matches is high, right!
……Barca doesn't let the attack slack! Continuous pressing! Yelena! Shot! Goal! Yelena creates a wonderful long-range shot! 2:0!
As expected, this is the Barca of Camp Nou.
……With the home team Barca leading 2:0, the second half starts. ……Abudasha's pass reaches Ryu Ha-neul. Ryu Ha-neul shot! Perfect trajectory sucked into the post! Ryu Ha-neul's perfect backheel! 3:0!
Wow, this must have been really hard to save, right? Ryu Ha-neul shot half a pace faster, and shooting at that timing, the keeper couldn't save it. How did Ryu Ha-neul shoot at that timing and create a perfectly accurate shot that was sucked perfectly into the goal net?
……Match ends. With Ryu Ha-neul's multi-goal, Barca wins 3:0.
*
Ryu Ha-neul multi goal! Barca advances to the round of 16 with 6 wins in 6!
……Meanwhile, Barca with the win in this match, 6 wins in 6, advances to the round of 16 as group 1st, and Ryu Ha-neul scored 5 goals in 3 Champions League matches.
Champions League scoring ranking
1. Alberta (Manchester City) - 7 goals
2. Marisol (Real Madrid) - 6 goals
3. Natalia (Atletico Madrid) - 5 goals
3. Ryu Ha-neul (Barcelona) - 5 goals
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