You're my wife, don't doubt it!

"Yes, because Sun Xiang is not particularly tall, he is very passive in the contest with the opponent. When defending, his footwork is very passive... This ball was indeed very dangerous."

"Fortunately, he was standing quite upright."

"Correct."

"It's pointing too straight."

As the two commentators chattered on and on, the Japanese team was about to take another corner kick.

"Japan takes a corner kick."

"Danger! The ball has gone in..."

Everyone in the bar, except for Xiao Yao and Shen Jie, was completely bewildered.

Liu Yunfei had just made a very dangerous save, and everyone was still in a state of relief and celebration when the opposing team took a corner kick, which went straight into the goal—from the corner kick to the ball rolling into the goal, it only took one or two seconds, at most three seconds.

Everything happened so fast that even the commentator sounded completely bewildered when he said, "Goal!"

The entire bar was silent for about ten seconds, and then everyone started making negative noises.

This is just like when I was a child, and my dad slapped me. I was stunned for seven or eight seconds before I remembered to cry, Xiao Yao thought.

Oh dear, this is terrible. When we get back, Shen Jie will definitely blame me for being Yuan Shao, making her lose so much money.

However, Xiao Yao insisted that he was right.

If this path proves to be effective, then there will be plenty of matches to come.

Shen Jie and I will soon achieve financial freedom and no longer have to put up with that big brother B's attitude.

"I want to buy a house first when I have money," Xiao Yao thought. "Grandma has suffered most of her life, and now she's getting old. Letting her live in a spacious and comfortable house would be fulfilling the fourth commandment of the Ten Commandments: 'Honor your father and mother.'"

"Japan is still using corner kick tactics," the commentator on TV said dryly amidst a chorus of angry curses. "Hey, look! Uh, Shao Jiayi and several other Chinese players are signaling that the opposing player might have handled the ball."

A smile appeared on Xiao Yao's lips—be confident, don't be so sure, you're just a handball.

"Nakamura's left foot..."

"Handball! Handball!" Ribbonfish was the first to stand up and curse at the TV.

"Handball! Handball!" Xiao Yao responded immediately, and then everyone stood up, waving their right arms vigorously together: "Handball! Handball! Handball! Handball! Handball! Handball!"

"Nakamura's left foot!" The commentator's voice was drowned out by the angry shouts: "Look again, everyone! Oh! This ball!"

"He hit the ball in with his hand," another commentator said.

"It was number 6, Koji Nakata, who punched it in with his hand!"

"Handball! Handball! Handball! Handball! Handball! Handball!"

"It was punched in with your hand! That doesn't count!" Ouyang Qianqian screamed.

"Was this a misjudgment?"

"It's a very obvious misjudgment."

"But there were probably too many people in front of the goal, and neither the referee nor the assistant referee saw the ball."

"Wait a minute!... Referee Said Kamil has raised his hand!" the commentator exclaimed excitedly.

The entire bar fell silent, with countless eyes glued to the television screen, watching the referees whispering amongst themselves.

"The referee has disallowed the goal and shown a red card to Japanese player Koji Nakata!" the CCTV commentator exclaimed excitedly. "China has also been awarded a penalty!"

"What?!" Amidst a deafening roar of cheers that seemed capable of lifting the roof off the bar, two teenagers stared at each other in astonishment.

Chapter 339 An Undeserved Victory

2023-09-30

"The referee has disallowed the goal and shown a red card to Japanese player Koji Nakata!" the CCTV commentator exclaimed excitedly. "China has also been awarded a penalty!"

"What?!" Amidst a deafening roar of cheers that seemed capable of lifting the roof off the bar, two teenagers stared at each other in astonishment.

Brad Friedel once said that penalties are a sure win for goalkeepers because all the pressure is on the penalty taker, and everyone thinks he should score.

Saying that "all the pressure is on the free throw shooter" might be an overstatement, because now the pressure is also on Xiao Yao and Shen Jie.

Since they bet on a score of 1-3 instead of "China's victory," it means that if China scores that goal, the game will be over for the two young players.

As is well known, penalty kicks have a success rate of 80%-90% in football.

But in fact, the game is already over—because once the wheel of fate starts turning, a slight difference can naturally lead to a huge error.

To achieve the original 1:3 ending, even if it's not absolutely impossible, is basically something that doesn't inspire much confidence.

Not only Xiao Yao, a pure pessimist, but even Shen Jie herself has realized this.

But drowning people always instinctively grasp at the last straw.

There's a saying: "They won't give up until they reach the Yellow River, and they won't shed tears until they see the coffin."

Xiao Yao and Shen Jie stared intently at the television screen.

The penalty kick was introduced into football in 1891 to punish those who attempt to prevent a goal by committing a foul.

In 1905, a new rule was added: the goalkeeper must remain on the goal line until the ball is kicked. This deprived the goalkeeper of the freedom to advance six yards – a major reason for the high failure rate of penalty kicks.

In 1929, goalkeepers were prohibited from moving laterally, but this rule was often ignored and was eventually abolished in 1997.

According to the current rules of football, the goalkeeper must stand on the goal line between the goalposts and may not move forward before the ball is hit.

All other players were outside the penalty area, behind the ball, at least 10 yards away.

Once the striker is selected, the goalkeeper and other players must take their positions, and the pressure begins after the referee signals!

Zheng Zhi stood at the penalty spot, his eyes fixed on Kawaguchi Yoshikatsu—the goalkeeper of the Japanese team.

The atmosphere inside the bar was extremely tense, and the audience's heartbeats accelerated with each moment of tension.

Xiao Yao felt his palms were being squeezed painfully by Shen Jie.

The rain poured down outside the window, as if cheering on this fierce contest.

The referee blew the whistle.

Zheng Zhi took a firm step and placed the ball on the penalty spot.

His expression was calm and composed, as if he had transformed all the pressure into a firm resolve.

Kawaguchi Yoshikatsu stood in front of the goal line, his eyes equally determined.

He was already prepared.

As the referee blew his whistle, Zheng Zhi calmly stepped forward and steadily shot the ball into the bottom right corner of the goal.

The ball traced a beautiful parabola on the television screen—its speed was so fast that it was almost impossible to defend against.

Kawaguchi Yoshikatsu lunged at the ball.

But the ball had already passed his fingers and gone into the net!

The audience inside the bar erupted in deafening cheers, waving national flags, hugging each other, and jumping for joy.

Zheng Zhi's penalty kick was successful, giving the Chinese national team the lead.

Amidst this sea of ​​hysterical revelry, two rare children were grieving deeply, yet they couldn't let anyone see their sorrow.

That's not entirely accurate, because Xiao Yao's mindset was actually quite good.

He even felt a sense of relief.

For example, when the final exam results are released and you find that you have indeed failed, that's the feeling of relief.

Out of simple patriotic feelings, he was even a little smug.

If, just if, the change in the game's outcome was because he bought those football lottery tickets...

Xiao Yao felt that the money was well spent!

He even indulged in a fantasy—if he bet on the Chinese national football team to lose every match they participated in, wouldn't they eventually crush Argentina and Brazil and become a world-class powerhouse?

I'm practically a national hero.

It's just a bit expensive.

Speaking of money.

This time, stopping Shen Jie's foolish behavior of showing off and even using leverage is a great thing.

First, it mitigated the significant economic losses for the entire family, resulting in only a minor (relative) loss.

Secondly, history—or rather, the future—has witnessed my remarkable foresight, which is also very beneficial for me in gaining the upper hand in romantic or marital relationships.

In plain terms, it means, "See? I told you so! Thank goodness I stopped you..."

However, it's not advisable to say this to her now, lest she become angry and take her anger out on you.

A person with high emotional intelligence should gently accompany her, comfort her, and not say anything strange.

The girl will naturally realize her own naivety and begin to admire your wisdom and foresight.

Having made up his mind, Xiao Yao began to gently pat Shen Jie's right arm.

The latter, however, turned his body away.