Free Web NovelChapter 517: Chapter 104: Wang Shuo Strikes It Big! The Golden Ball Award List! Dortmund’s Limit! A World-Class Goal for the Puskás Award
Messi’s poor form was mainly due to his long journey.
He had flown all the way from Europe to Japan to represent Argentina in a friendly against Japan, only to lose 0-1.
...
On the evening of October 20th, at Dortmund’s Westfalen Stadium.
In the third round of the Champions League group stage, Dortmund hosted Spartak Moscow.
Just three minutes into the match, Dortmund intercepted the ball on the left side of the midfield and quickly launched a counter-attack.
Schmelzer passed the ball to Reus, who was ahead of him.
Little Rocket took the ball and tore down the pitch, driving straight at Spartak Moscow’s left flank.
Under pressure from a defender, he passed the ball across to Götze and started a diagonal run into the left side of the penalty area.
Götze sent a through ball ahead, into Reus’s path, attempting a one-two.
But unexpectedly, Spartak Moscow’s right-back got there before Reus, sliding to block the pass.
The blocked ball flew high into the air, arcing down toward the Arc Top District.
Wang Shuo had originally been making a run toward the goal to get on the end of a cross.
After the defender blocked Götze’s pass, he looked up. Empowered by his Eagle Eye, he quickly locked onto the ball and predicted where it would land.
Wang Shuo reacted instantly. He sprinted back from near the penalty spot to the Arc Top District. With his back initially facing the goal, he planted his right foot and swiveled his entire body around. He met the descending ball with a full-power volley from his left foot.
The ball flew like a comet, rocketing into the left side of the Russian team’s goal at incredible speed.
"GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!"
"Just three minutes in, Wang Shuo scores with a turning volley from the Arc Top District! A magnificent worldie!"
"What a spectacular goal!"
"That worldie was reminiscent of Zidane’s legendary volley against Bayer Leverkusen in the 2002 Champions League final. But Wang Shuo’s goal was from even further out, making it that much more difficult."
The entire Westfalen Stadium erupted into a frenzy.
An ecstatic Wang Shuo rushed to the sideline, celebrating the goal with all his teammates.
1-0!
They had taken the lead in just three minutes.
Could there be a better start?
This put Klopp at ease on the sideline. With a cry of "Woo-hoo!" he spun around and hugged Buvac and Krawietz.
"That was a truly beautiful goal!"
Buvac praised effusively.
The most difficult part of that goal was that Wang Shuo didn’t take a touch to control the ball. He didn’t even wait for it to hit the ground; he just turned and fired.
From predicting the ball’s path and landing spot, to the timing of his turn and shot, and finally to the point of contact, power, and angle...
If there had been a problem with any of those elements, or even the slightest deviation, he wouldn’t have been able to score.
But this time, Wang Shuo executed every part perfectly.
That’s how he managed to score such a spectacular worldie!
"I think that goal is good enough to be in the running for the Puskás Award!" Krawietz added, full of praise.
It was mainly because the goal was just so beautiful!
"He’ll have to wait until next year for that, I imagine," Klopp said, nodding.
The eligibility period for the Puskás Award runs from August to the following August, so Wang Shuo’s goal would have to wait for the next cycle.
After Wang Shuo’s goal, Dortmund kept Spartak Moscow pinned back, relentlessly attacking.
But it wasn’t until the 59th minute of the second half that Dortmund finally managed another breakthrough.
Shahin sent a through ball right between the Russian team’s two center-backs.
Wang Shuo made a quick run forward. As the pass came from behind him, he took a single touch to knock it past one of the center-backs. He then burst with speed, sprinting between the two defenders to collect the ball on the other side—a perfect kick-and-run.
After chasing the ball into the penalty area, he coolly slotted it into Spartak Moscow’s goal.
2-0!
A brace!
And just eight minutes later, Wang Shuo provided an assist for Reus, who broke into the left side of the box and scored with a powerful right-footed shot.
3-0!
The score remained the same until the final whistle.
Dortmund secured a resounding 3-0 home victory over Spartak Moscow!
...
On the afternoon of October 24th, at Westfalen Stadium.
In the ninth round of the Bundesliga, Dortmund hosted Hoffenheim.
Klopp versus Rangnick.
Whenever these two head coaches—whose tactical styles were the most similar in the Bundesliga—faced off, sparks were guaranteed to fly.
Moreover, there were no fancy tricks from either side. They went at each other’s throats right from the start.
Just nine minutes into the match, Hoffenheim won the ball in midfield and launched a quick counter-attack down the left wing. After some slick passing, Salihovic broke into the left side of the penalty area and sent a low cross to Demba Ba, who smashed it into Dortmund’s goal.
1-0!
The goal left the Dortmund fans in the stadium stunned.
But just five minutes later, Dortmund hit back with a quick counter of their own.
Shahin launched a long ball over the top, sending it directly behind Hoffenheim’s defensive line.
Wang Shuo burst between Hoffenheim’s two center-backs at top speed, reaching the ball before anyone else and bringing Shahin’s pass down out of mid-air.
His first touch was absolutely beautiful!
The ball seemed to be glued to his right foot, stopping dead right in front of him.
One touch to control, one step forward, and then a coolly placed shot with his right foot.
"GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!"
"IT’S IN!!!"
"Dortmund have equalized!"
"Just five minutes after conceding, Klopp’s team hits back with a rapid counter of their own, and it’s Wang Shuo who levels the score!"
"Look at that first touch..."
"Truly a joy to watch!"
