Chapter 148

When Lombaerts saw the red card raised by the referee, tears streamed down his face instantly!

He couldn't accept it—he had finally earned a starting spot for the team in the UEFA Cup, but after only thirty minutes, a defensive error led to a foul, a sending off, and a penalty for the opponent…

He felt like he had become a burden to the team, and this terrible performance might leave a very bad impression on the coach. When would he get another chance to start?

He didn't know. The more he thought about it, the more anxious he became, and he simply burst into tears.

Just then, he felt a hand on his shoulder.

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When Everton attacked, Chen Hero was up front. He never participated in defense, and Advocaat didn't really ask him to defend. He knew the kid didn't like defense; he just wanted to score goals. So, he simply left him up front to wait for counter-attack opportunities.

Therefore, when he saw Lombaerts trip up Yakubu, he put his hands on his head, unable to believe what he had seen—that was a penalty foul… What was Lombaerts thinking!

But when he saw the referee pull out the red card, he still ran back.

He didn't join his teammates in surrounding the referee, pleading with him. He knew it was useless. If the referee's decisions could be changed at will, the football world would be in chaos. So, he never bothered the referee to change a decision, but to vent his emotions.

This time, he ran directly to Lombaerts and put his hand on the latter's shoulder.

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Through his blurry tears, Lombaerts saw Chen Hero grabbing his shoulder.

He thought he would hear words of comfort from the team's top scorer, but Chen Hero's words surprised him.

"Don't waste time, Nicolas! Get back to the locker room and wash your face, wipe away your tears! Then sit in front of the TV and watch me get revenge for you, Grandfather!"

Chen Hero was arrogant, pointing at himself with his thumb raised, his face not angry, but smiling.

Lombaerts was stunned.

Shouldn't they be facing a very difficult situation?

Down a man, and about to fall behind in the score, how could he still smile?

Did he really have the confidence to win the game in such a situation?

He was awakened by a slap. Chen Hero lost patience and slapped Lombaerts on the back, urging him off the field, "Let the game begin!"

Lombaerts walked off the field somewhat dazed. On the sidelines, Advocaat stopped him and shook his hand.

"You tried hard, Nicolas. What did Hero say to you?"

"He said… uh, he told me to get off the field quickly, that he would get revenge for me…" Lombaerts had stopped crying because his mind was blank. He had no energy to cry—he was frightened by Chen Hero.

When Advocaat heard this, his tightly furrowed brows relaxed, and he laughed, "That's really his style." Then he patted Lombaerts on the shoulder. "He's right, you go and rest, Nicolas."

The coach thought so too… Lombaerts was confused, so he continued to walk into the player tunnel in a daze.

Behind him were the excited songs and cheers of the Everton fans.

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When Yakubu personally converted the penalty he had won, past Malafeev in goal, Goodison Park erupted in cheers.

They saw the signs of an easy victory in this match.

It was a very good first half.

"...Everton's start couldn't have been smoother! And Zenit's start couldn't have been worse! They are now behind in the score and down a man—a crucial center back! Zenit must make adjustments, or they will face trouble…"

Advocaat made adjustments very quickly. It was impossible to continue playing with one less center back. With Everton's forward lineup, Skrtel would be completely overwhelmed.

Taking advantage of an opportunity when the ball went out of bounds, he replaced forward Kerzhakov with Croatian center back Križanac. It was a very reluctant substitution.

Kerzhakov was also frustrated. He wanted to contribute to the team in this game, but he didn't expect to be substituted before the end of the first half. And it wasn't because his performance wasn't good enough…

Chen Hero still ran over to comfort him: "Don't worry, Aleksandr. Go without worry!"

Hearing Chen Hero say this, Kerzhakov couldn't help but roll his eyes on the tense field. "It's really up to you this time. I can't distract their attention or defense for you anymore."

Chen Hero nodded. "I'll celebrate my goal with you first. Wait for me at the sidelines!"

Kerzhakov gave Chen Hero a high five, jogged to the sidelines, and gave another high five to Križanac, who was already waiting on the sidelines, completing the substitution ceremony.

Advocaat noticed that Kerzhakov had exchanged a few words with Chen Hero before leaving the field. He was very interested and asked Kerzhakov, who was walking off the field, "What did Hero say to you again?"

"He told me to wait and celebrate the goal with him." Kerzhakov glanced back at the field. Križanac had already run up, but only Chen Hero was alone in front, surrounded by the opponent's defenders and midfielders. Before, he was with him, mutually distracting the opponent's defense.

From now on, you really have to rely on yourself, Hero!

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Chen Hero didn't feel alone. He looked around, then stood firm.

Zenit's throw-in was made, and with a man down, Zenit's attack was much simpler. In addition, Everton's control of the midfield was very successful, so their current tactics were very simple, just hoofing the ball forward!

Dominguez didn't seem like an attacking midfielder, but more like a shadow striker, lurking around Chen Hero, looking for second balls.

And Arshavin was able to break through, pass, and shoot, so the team's change of tactics didn't affect him.

In fact, this was exactly the situation Everton wanted to see.

Therefore, when Moyes saw Zenit starting to use more long passes and hoofing the ball towards the front court, he didn't feel anxious or uneasy, but happy and relieved.

He knew that Zenit had gradually fallen into the trap he had carefully set up.

Just play like this! Neither your Dominguez nor your Arshavin are good at aerial combat. You should play a ground game, but now… you can't play on the ground!

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Tymoshchuk kicked the ball forward. With a man down and the opponent leading, the pressure on the defense was enormous. But he still didn't signal for Chen Hero to come back and help defend.

Everyone at Zenit knew that as long as that big guy was still in the front court, there was still hope. Every counter-attack, every long ball, could find a direction…

If he came back, they would hesitate when they looked up to pass the ball—the lighthouse was gone, and the sea was in darkness, unable to find the direction to go!

Seeing Tymoshchuk get the ball, Chen Hero raised his arm.

He wasn't afraid to let Everton's defenders know that he would be the target of the ball, because there was only one Zenit player in the front court anyway. Any fool would know that the ball would eventually fly towards him.

He also saw that Everton's midfield pressing tactics made it difficult for Tymoshchuk and Dominguez to pass the ball out with short passes. They were forcing Zenit to keep playing long balls. So, this was exactly what they wanted to see.

But they miscalculated one thing…

Chen Hero looked at the incoming ball, leaned back, and felt Lescott behind him, like a sofa backrest…

Then he suddenly darted forward and jumped high!

Lescott didn't expect Chen Hero to not wait for the ball in place, and lean back, actually rushing forward!

He couldn't keep up, and could only watch as Chen Hero jumped in the air and headed the ball to Dominguez, who was lurking around him.

…That was exactly what I wanted to see!

Did they think Tymoshchuk only had one way to connect with Dominguez? Naive!

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After regaining control of the ball, Dominguez didn't rush to break through, but waited for Arshavin and Hilla, the two wingers, to rush up before distributing the ball to the flanks.

At this time, Chen Hero had landed and was rushing towards the penalty area.

So, Dominguez was not waiting for the two wingers, but waiting for Chen Hero in the center.

With the absence of Kerzhakov's distraction and feint, Zenit's attack was very simple, that is, resolutely crossing from the wings!

Maximizing Chen Hero's advantage in headers.

Zenit had repeatedly used this tactic in the Russian domestic league—when they encountered difficulties, such as needing to equalize the score… they would do this, very simple and crude, but quite effective.

Like a Soviet tank, it looked like it had no technical content, but it could dominate the battlefield.

Too sophisticated and complex things could be admirable, but they were lost in the show, losing the taste that could directly hit people's hearts.

Zenit's tactics at this time were simple and direct, like a series of unpretentious punches, hitting Everton.

To see whether Everton would be unable to withstand such blows and release their defending hands first, or whether Zenit would be cut open by Everton's quick swords, bleed too much and die.

Although the first half of the game was not over yet, the game between the two sides had become heated.

Goodison Park was like a boiling pot, using the enthusiasm of the fans and the sweat of the players as fuel, steaming up a smoke called "fighting spirit."

The Zenit, with one less man, unexpectedly did not fall behind during this period, but made people forget that they actually only had ten people…

"That's it, Zenit! There is still nearly half a game left! It's not time to give up yet!" Russian national television commentator Yuri Petrov shouted, cheering for Zenit.

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ps, Will chapter 148 "Hero Appears, People Pay Attention" be updated at 5 pm as a guaranteed update?