Chapter 2 Another Semi-Final

The next day, the other semi-final also concluded.

Boca Juniors defeated Al-Ahly 3:1.

In reality, this could be considered an easy victory. However, compared to Liverpool's 7:0 win, everyone suddenly felt that Boca Juniors had won with great difficulty...

The result of this match wasn't unexpected. Even though FIFA invited the champion teams from each continent to participate in the Club World Cup, those teams themselves knew that they were just there to make up the numbers. Being able to play one or two matches and earn some prize money was enough. As for the championship? They hadn't even considered it.

Whether it was called the Intercontinental Cup, the Toyota Cup, or the current Club World Cup, the essence remained the same: a contest between the European champion and the South American champion.

The matches between champions from other continents could barely be considered appetizers. What everyone looked forward to was the showdown between the South American champion and the European champion.

Finally reaching this stage, many people breathed a sigh of relief.

The Club World Cup, in reality, only officially began with this final match.

※※※

Before the match, during the pre-match press conference, a reporter asked Basile, the head coach of Boca Juniors, to talk about their opponents in the final.

Basile spread his hands: "Is there any need to talk about it? You've all seen their performance. What do you want me to say?"

Some reporters laughed.

But the Argentine reporters couldn't laugh.

Because the match hadn't even started yet, and Boca Juniors already lacked confidence.

But they couldn't blame Basile. Because anyone placed in his position would have performed similarly, or even worse.

It wasn't that we lacked fighting spirit, it wasn't that we didn't want to fight, it was just that the gap between the two sides was too large...

This gap couldn't be bridged by fighting spirit and a few harsh words.

Sometimes, no matter how unwilling you are, you have to admit it.

This reality made the Argentine media feel stifled, but they were powerless.

If Liverpool had been a little more gracious, they might have felt a little better.

But they weren't.

Chen Hero, as Liverpool's mouthpiece, naturally wouldn't say anything that would please Boca Juniors' supporters.

Expecting him to comfort the weak?

No way!

Before the final, Chen Hero emphasized: "We are here to win the championship. This is our third championship this season, and I'm sorry, this championship won't be given to anyone, not even Boca Juniors."

A reporter reminded Chen Hero that Boca Juniors was a powerhouse in Argentina.

Chen Hero's answer was infuriating: "We aren't afraid of Barcelona or Real Madrid, why would we be afraid of Boca Juniors?"

The century-old powerhouse of Argentine football was humiliated by Chen Hero in this way.

No one could swallow this insult.

So, in the final, Boca Juniors' fighting spirit was very strong.

Their combat power was even doubled compared to their usual state.

Even Basile, the head coach of Boca Juniors, felt after seeing this that perhaps this match was possible...

Those Liverpool fans were worried that Chen Hero's provocation of Boca Juniors would put their team in trouble.

But these people didn't know that Chen Hero felt that the previous Boca Juniors had been too weak and low-key, lacking the momentum of a century-old Argentine powerhouse. It was rare to compete against the overlords of South America, and to encounter such a weak opponent was too boring. So, he deliberately provoked and angered them.

Only this kind of final would be interesting, and the championship won would be worth more.

So, when Boca Juniors finally exploded with tremendous energy due to anger, Chen Hero smiled.

That's right, that's exciting!

※※※

Boca Juniors were fighting fiercely on the field, but Chen Hero was very happy.

The stronger the opponent, the stronger he became. Making the opponent stronger, and then completely defeating them, was so satisfying.

The deadlock in the match was broken in the twenty-first minute.

The goal wasn't scored by Chen Hero, or even by a Liverpool player, but by a Boca Juniors player.

They had taken the lead in the final!

Basile and his assistants rushed out of the coaching bench, raising their arms and cheering excitedly.

Being able to lead Liverpool, in European football, only a handful of teams could do that, and Boca Juniors had actually done it!

It seemed that there was a real hope of winning this match!

Looking at the high-spirited players on the field, Basile clenched his fists.

Chen Hero! You will pay the price for every word you said before the match!

You will know what the consequences are for rashly angering Boca Juniors!

※※※

Three minutes later, Basile wasn't so fierce anymore.

Because they conceded a goal...

The goal was scored by Chen Hero.

Three minutes after Boca Juniors took the lead, Liverpool equalized the score. The whole process was understated and easy.

It seemed that if Liverpool wanted to equalize the score, they could do so at any time, even if they had just conceded a goal a minute ago.

It was just that they wanted to play around a little longer...

That was the feeling that Liverpool's goal left on people.

They were playing too easily.

※※※

Basile's expression was very ugly now. He felt like he had been played by Liverpool.

But in fact, Liverpool didn't play him. No one wanted to concede a goal first. It was just that he had become too complacent after scoring the goal, and Chen Hero slapping him in the face three minutes later had made him lose face a little. Although no one knew his inner thoughts, he was very conflicted inside.

Now he no longer thought about things like "Let us show you the consequences of rashly angering Boca Juniors."

He even wanted to throw these thoughts away, wishing he had never had them in the first place. Because it was so embarrassing!

He could still feel his cheeks burning with pain...

※※※

After equalizing the score in just three minutes, Liverpool's offensive momentum rose and became more and more fierce.

Later, it was like a ten-meter-high tsunami rushing towards Boca Juniors, with towering waves crashing down from overhead, completely submerging and destroying them.

In the face of this huge natural force, Boca Juniors didn't even have the ability to resist. They could only be swept away by the flood, drifting along, being knocked dizzy, not knowing where they were going or when they would be able to stop.

And Liverpool wouldn't have any pity, constantly attacking Boca Juniors' crumbling defense.

Before the end of the first half, Suarez scored a goal, giving Liverpool the lead.

After a fifteen-minute halftime break and adjustment, Boca Juniors' performance didn't improve.

Liverpool still dominated the second half.

This Club World Cup final looked very much like a warm-up match.

Under Liverpool's offensive, Boca Juniors could only shrink into their own penalty area, shivering. It was a sorry sight to see the dignified South American powerhouse, the Argentine powerhouse, reduced to such a state. Many people shook their heads and sighed, deeply moved.

Was Boca Juniors too weak?

Or was Liverpool too strong?

※※※

Chen Hero scored two more goals in the second half, completing his hat-trick.

He also completely sealed the victory.

In the end, Liverpool defeated Boca Juniors 4:1.

This was still because Liverpool had shown mercy.

If the Liverpool players hadn't been unwilling to waste too much energy, Boca Juniors wouldn't have conceded just four goals.

"The referee is looking at his watch... There are still ten seconds left before the end of the ninety-minute match... The fourth official has raised the sign for three minutes of injury time, but it looks like the referee doesn't intend to add any time... Ah! He blew the whistle! The match is over! The whole match is over! Liverpool have won the Club World Cup as they wished! This is their third championship this season! At the same time, if we count by year, they have won all seven championships this year! Like Barcelona, they have achieved the Grand Slam!"

After the referee blew the whistle to end the match, the Liverpool substitutes, who had been waiting anxiously on the sidelines, rushed onto the field and embraced their eleven teammates on the field.

They cheered to their hearts' content, roaring with all sorts of meaningless sounds.

Martin O'Neill didn't rush onto the field with them. He just looked at those excited and somewhat crazy players and suddenly felt his eyes moisten.

Seven championships in a year... In the past, he could only watch others accomplish such things on television.

Now, it was his turn.

Even if he left Liverpool next season, his name would be firmly engraved in Liverpool's history.

He suddenly felt an unprecedented sense of satisfaction, a sense of satisfaction that welled up in his nose, making it sore, and welled up in his eyes, making them moist.

Just then, Chen Hero walked up to him.

I really don't know how he managed to get over here, considering he was the object of pursuit for all the media...

"You're crying, boss?" he asked.

Martin O'Neill didn't answer him, but instead asked, "How did you get rid of those reporters, Hero?"

Chen Hero pointed behind him with his thumb: "I told them that I'm in a good mood right now, and if they make me feel bad, I'll make them all feel bad. Then they let me through."

O'Neill looked past Chen Hero and saw the reporters behind him who wanted to come up but didn't dare, and then smiled.

"Boss, this is only the first time we've won seven championships in a year, and you're already so excited. What are you going to do when there are more championships in the future?" Chen Hero said, looking at O'Neill's eyes.

He saw O'Neill's eyes widen in surprise.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"This is only the first time? Are you planning to do it several more times, Hero?"

Chen Hero shrugged: "The more, the better."

O'Neill was even more surprised.

Chen Hero saw his boss's surprise, and the smile on his face grew even brighter.

"You don't think it's just this year, this season, do you, boss?"

"Isn't it?"

Chen Hero smiled like a flower: "Of course not! We have to keep winning like this! To walk our own path, leaving others with no path to take, is my pursuit, boss."