Free Web NovelChapter 518: Chapter 104: Wang Shuo Hits the Big Time! The Golden Ball Award List! Dortmund’s Limit! A Puskás-Contending Worldie
"Watching Wang Shuo control the ball now is a real treat!"
After the score was tied, the two teams continued their back-and-forth, fast-paced attacks.
One moment, Hoffenheim would push into Dortmund’s penalty area and nearly get a shot off.
The next moment, Dortmund would launch a quick counterattack.
After Kuba lost the ball, Piszczek surged forward from the back, received it, and sent a long diagonal pass directly into the penalty area.
Under pressure from two center-backs, Wang Shuo headed the ball towards the far post.
Grosskreutz’s header struck the post, squandering a golden opportunity.
Dortmund had another excellent chance soon after.
A free kick on the left sideline outside the penalty area.
Shahin opted for a quick free kick, passing directly to Wang Shuo on the left, at the edge of the area.
Wang Shuo trapped the ball with the inside of his right foot, turned, and immediately unleashed a powerful shot.
It went just over the bar.
After the 30-minute mark, Dortmund began to dominate the match.
They soon created a chaotic scramble inside Hoffenheim’s penalty area.
Wang Shuo’s powerful shot struck center-back Marvin Kemper and rebounded to the right.
Kuba followed up with a volley, but it hit the side netting.
After changing sides for the second half, Dortmund continued to apply pressure.
In the 56th minute, Shahin and Götze combined for a breakthrough down the middle.
From the right, just outside the Arc Top District, Götze played a short pass to Wang Shuo’s feet inside the Arc Top District.
With his back to Marvin Kemper, Wang Shuo controlled the ball and turned to his right, shaking off the defender. He immediately followed with a quick shift of the ball between his feet, dodging the challenge from Isaac Vorsah.
Despite the pressure, Wang Shuo remained composed and threaded a through ball with his left foot.
This time, Grosskreutz seized the opportunity, running onto the ball and blasting it into the net, piercing Hoffenheim’s goal once again.
2-1!
Then, in the 73rd minute, Shahin received a pass from the back, controlled it with a turn, and sent a through ball forward.
It landed at the feet of Wang Shuo, who had drifted into the right channel to receive it.
With no defenders nearby, Wang Shuo took the ball in stride with a turn and immediately accelerated forward.
Facing Marvin Kemper, Wang Shuo slowed his pace. Then, he suddenly burst forward, using his explosive acceleration to power past Kemper. After breaking into the right side of the penalty area, he unleashed a powerful shot with his right foot.
The thunderous long-range shot flew past Tom Stark and into the goal.
3-1!
A brace!
"Another brace!"
"This is already Wang Shuo’s third brace of the season in the Bundesliga!"
As the match neared its end, Dortmund won a free kick on the right side, just outside the Arc Top District.
By this time, Wang Shuo had already been substituted for Lewandowski.
And Götze was replaced by Antonio Da Silva.
After a quick word with Shahin, Da Silva stepped up and curled a precise free kick directly into Hoffenheim’s goal.
4-1!
...
Athletes are more sensitive to their own bodies than anyone.
After defeating Hoffenheim 4-1 in the ninth round of the Bundesliga, Wang Shuo did not travel with the team to Offenbach for the second round of the DFB-Pokal.
For this DFB-Pokal match, Klopp once again fielded a lineup composed entirely of reserves.
Players like Lewandowski, Gundogan, and Antonio Da Silva were all set to start.
Wang Shuo’s task was to focus on preparing for the weekend’s away match against Mainz.
But before that, Wang Shuo had a discussion about his physical condition with Oliver Bartlett and Professor Andreas Schrenberg.
Wang Shuo felt that his stamina this season seemed to be draining much faster than last season.
"If we look at the number of matches, by this time last season, you had made a total of 16 appearances, whereas this season it’s 14."
"But because the team had to play in the UEFA Europa League qualifying rounds last season, the season started earlier. So overall, the number of matches is actually about the same."
Oliver Bartlett pulled out his appearance data from the two seasons to explain.
"As for the league, the Bundesliga schedule is similar. But the intensity of Champions League matches is clearly much higher than the UEFA Europa League, so it’s understandable that you’re expending more energy."
"Also, if we analyze your technical profile, you’ll see your physical duels are significantly more frequent this season. For instance, in the match against Hoffenheim, you more than held your own against Marvin Kemper."
"And as we all know, physical duels are very draining on stamina."
Wang Shuo understood what this meant.
The main way Drogba wore down center-backs, aside from his movement, was through sheer physical confrontation.
The stamina drain from that kind of high-pressure confrontation is truly immense.
And it’s easy to get injured.
That’s why players who rely on physicality, whether they’re speedsters or built for close-quarters battles, are always prone to injury.
As Bartlett finished this point, Professor Schrenberg took over.
"Our tests on your body and muscles show that while your musculature hasn’t fully matured yet, it holds a tremendous amount of latent energy."
"That’s why you don’t look particularly strong, yet you’re not at a disadvantage in physical contests."
Wang Shuo knew this was an effect of his Intercontinental Level [Foundation].
He wasn’t worried about being dragged away to be dissected for experiments. The world was a big place, and it took all sorts. Besides, there were plenty of players like him who looked lean but were surprisingly strong in physical contests.
