Who made him play as a winger/attacking midfielder?

Chapter 116 Sneak Attack! The St. Paul's Stadium is deathly silent! (Dear Godfathers, Happy Dragon Boat Festival!)

Roma took the lead in the 32nd minute, sending the visiting fans to the San Paolo Stadium into a frenzy.

The live broadcast recreated the entire process of the exciting goal.

"Chang Huan's playing style is really reasonable. He doesn't recklessly dribble past Alan and receive the ball on the outside. He waits for the rest of the team to catch up before deciding how to pass the ball based on the specific situation!"

PP Sports commentator Shi Qingsheng exclaimed, "It's understandable that Alan, carrying a yellow card, hesitated to double-team, but his hesitation caused Insigne and Koulibaly to be too slow in their pursuit, allowing Chang Huan to deliver a clear through ball down the flank, assisting Nainggolan to take the lead!"

Napoli fans were very unhappy and booed the Roma players celebrating their goal.

However, the away team players were not affected at all; on the contrary, they deliberately faced the camera positions on the sidelines and continued to celebrate.

This approach avoids being penalized by the referee for provoking the home fans, while also making Napoli fans uncomfortable.

The best of both worlds.

Referee Massa ran toward the Roma players' celebration area and intervened as before.

The Roma players then leisurely walked back to their defensive half, seemingly still not satisfied.

Napoli players, who had gone from leading to trailing, were highly motivated and aggressive in attack after the restart of the game.

Only Alan, carrying the playing cards on his back, was filled with unease.

He just wants the first half to end quickly so he can be substituted before the second half begins.

Insigne, Mertens, and Callejon switched positions, with the full-backs initially pushing forward on one side while the other side stayed behind to ensure the integrity of the defensive system.

Zielinski was responsible for making late runs and taking long-range shots.

Time ticked away, and soon the first half was drawing to a close.

Napoli's incomplete attacking system was always a bit lacking.

During a dead ball situation, Sarri waved to signal that both full-backs could participate in the attack simultaneously.

The attack spreads out, with the two forwards tucking in, creating a six-man attacking group.

If it weren't for the layered positioning of Jorginho and Allan, Napoli could have fielded eight attacking players.

Of course, this extreme offensive suppression comes with very dangerous defensive vulnerabilities.

The home fans in the stands knew this, but they also knew that they would have to take risks to equalize the score.

So while they cheered hysterically, they were also worried and afraid that Roma would launch another effective counterattack.

44 minutes.

Hissaj's low cross from the left wing was intercepted by Chang Huan, who was covering the deep defense.

He quickly flicked the ball out with the outside of his left foot, passing it to Florenzi on the outside.

Just as he turned around, Florenzi's forward through pass arrived in time.

Insigne knew he couldn't give Chang Huan a chance to advance with the ball, so he grabbed Chang Huan's jersey from behind.

Referee Massa promptly blew his whistle to call a foul, but only gave a verbal warning.

Roma coach Di Francesco, De Rossi, and other players expressed their dissatisfaction by spreading their hands.

Napoli manager Sarri breathed a sigh of relief.

His biggest fear right now is a counterattack from Rome.

fortunately.

The foul hasn't resulted in a card yet.

However, at that moment, a gasp rang out from the stadium: "Oh! Oh! Oh!" Seeing that the referee Massa had no intention of issuing a card, Chang Huan quickly took a run-up and kicked the ball, which had been stopped at the spot of the foul, out of bounds.

go with.

The ball was touched by the inside of the instep of the left foot.

The ball soared into the air and flew diagonally from the right edge of the Roma penalty area to the left flank of the attacking third.

The live broadcast director switched cameras, and Sky Sports Italy commentator Fabio Carreza shouted, "Diego Perotti!"

Napoli's full-backs were heavily involved in the attack, leaving right-back Hysaj unable to track back in time, and right center-back Albiol shouldering the responsibility of one-on-one defense.

But—his speed was clearly not as good as Perotti's.

He decisively abandoned clearing the ball and chose the relatively safer option of retreating at high speed to wait for his teammates' support.

Dzeko's positioning was very clever; he ran along the middle, preventing Koulibaly, who was rushing back to defend, from assisting Albiol.

Perotti, who was speeding along the left flank past the center line, controlled the ball perfectly with a stop and a touch.

Considering that Albiol always guards the inside cutting route, the dribbling route is along the left sideline.

He dribbled the ball to within about 30 meters of the baseline, then used the outside of his right foot to flick the ball sideways to the right front.

Cut inside!

Albiol, fighting and retreating, lowered his center of gravity, keeping his eyes fixed on Perotti.

They were terrified of being eaten raw.

Koulibaly realized something was wrong and ran quickly to Dzeko.

To prevent Perotti from cutting inside and breaking through, his partner Albiol was able to cover for him immediately.

Perotti, having gained speed, dribbled the ball in from the left flank and accelerated, while Albiol, who was prepared, quickly turned inward.

However, at that moment...

Perotti used his ankle's agility to forcefully flick the ball towards the baseline with the inside of his foot.

Albiol, who is 1.9 meters tall, is already 32 years old. His speed and explosiveness have declined significantly, and slow turning is a common problem for tall center-backs.

He knew what the other person would face if he let them go.

He decisively used his height and long legs to kick Perotti, who was chasing the ball, to the ground with his right foot.

"Beep~"

Referee Massa blew his whistle from a distance and sprinted to the scene of the incident, only pulling a yellow card from his breast pocket after he had caught his breath.

"That foul was very worthwhile."

Sky Sports Italy commentator Fabio Carreza nodded and said, "Raul Albiol ended a quick counter-attack by Roma at the end of the second half with a yellow card!"

The home fans were very dissatisfied with this.

In their view, Perotti was definitely faking the fall.

Boos quickly spread from the near stands, engulfing the entire stadium in a short time.

A deafening, piercing chorus of hisses poured down.

The Roma players on the pitch were extremely agitated by the overwhelming fervor.

It was no surprise that Albiol received a yellow card. He had clearly learned from the lesson of the yellow card he received for taking quick free kicks, and he held the ball close to his body, not giving the opponent a chance to take it quickly.

Referee Massa used a positioning spray to mark the location of the foul, measuring the distance to the wall of players at approximately 9.15 meters.

Goalkeeper Reina frowned in thought, considering that the angle of the foul on the right flank was too far off, and decided to only set up a two-man wall.

According to Roma's past practice of setting up free kicks on the flanks and in the half-spaces, the passes were always directed towards the front of the goal.

Two people forming a wall are enough to create angular interference.

Generally, Kolarov is the one who takes free kicks that are at a relatively straight angle.

Chang Huan is responsible for these kinds of direct free kicks that are more off-center.

He was standing about three meters directly behind the football, parallel to the left sideline.

Reina positioned the wall, and players from both sides began vying for positions inside the penalty area.

The localized grappling was extremely intense.

This forced referee Massa to run to the edge of the penalty area, call Dzeko and Koulibaly, who were tackling each other inside the box, and give them a verbal reprimand.

Both the home team coach, Sarri, and the away team coach, Di Francisco, looked somber as they directed the technical area.

The regular 45 minutes have been completed, and we are now in the first half stoppage time.

One team feared Roma would capitalize on set-piece opportunities to extend their lead, while the other hoped to score and widen the gap, aiming for a 3-1 victory at halftime.

The home fans were terrified and tried to distract the game by booing.

"Beep"

Referee Massa retreated to the edge of the penalty area and blew his whistle.

Chang Huan, having prepared, raised his right hand, making a gesture that clearly indicated a tactical intention.

Players from both sides were eager to make moves inside and outside the penalty area, pushing and shoving each other in preparation for the upcoming battle for position.

Chang Huan, who appeared in the center of the broadcast camera, lowered his right hand and began his running start.

Just as he was about to take his final step and his right foot touched the ground, his keen field of vision spotted goalkeeper Reina taking a step to the left, seemingly certain that the free kick would be sent towards the far post of the penalty area.

"Where do you usually kick the ball?"

"Front post? Middle? Or back post?"

The commentators on the scene began to speculate.

Chang Huan's right foot was positioned about 20 centimeters to the right of the soccer ball, his weight slightly shifted to the right front, as if he were reaching out to kick the ball.

Raise your right hand naturally to maintain your balance.

He swung his left foot from back to front and kicked the football placed at the spot where the foul occurred.

The point of contact with the ball is the inside of the foot.

It strikes the lower part of the football with a "slicing" motion.

The football, which rose from the ground, flew only about one meter high, but its speed was extremely fast. The trajectory of the ball cutting through the air in mid-air had a very large arc, forming a capital "°" shape as it was kicked towards the near goalpost.

Sneak attack!

Alan, who was positioned on the right side of the wall, jumped with all his might.

Seeing the football spin rapidly past his right side, he turned around in horror.

Just then I saw it —

A hurried and unsettling scene.

Goalkeeper Reina's pupils contracted, and he instinctively took two quick steps to the right, using the slight momentum to throw himself towards the near post.

but--

Chang Huan's low, curved shot flew fast, landing near the goal.

Reina was simply unable to accurately predict the landing point.

By the time he waited for the ball to bounce up before changing his hand position a second time, it was too late.

The Napoli fans behind the goal watched the ball glide past Reina's right thumb, utterly despairing.

"goooooooooool"

As the football whizzed past the inside of the left goalpost and into the net, the commentator in the live commentary booth instinctively drew out his voice, stirring up the emotions of the fans watching the game live.

The live broadcast director gave Chang Huan a close-up shot.

The Roma players, belatedly realizing what was happening, spread their arms and rushed towards Chang Huan, who was posing for a photo.

Goalkeeper Alisson, who was far away, excitedly ran towards Chang Huan to celebrate this brilliant goal.

The away team's coach, Di Francisco, stood in the technical area with his mouth slightly open, his hands naturally raised to cover his forehead, looking completely absorbed in the moment.

His assistant coach Tome and other assistants next to him had the same reaction.

Everyone thought there was a chance of scoring before the end of the first half.

But—I never expected it to happen this way.

Sarri, the coach of the home team, was also half-open-mouthed in the command area; his mouth was so big you could almost fit an egg inside.

As the manager of Napoli, he was not intoxicated, but rather incredulous.

Damn it.

Is this also possible?

"That's the difference between a talented player and an ordinary player!"

"Everyone in the world thought it would be normal—Huan would just pass the ball into the penalty area and let his teammates fight for the landing point!"

Sky Sports Italia commentator Fabio Carreza passionately remarked: "But he didn't—in the rapidly changing situation, he noticed Pepe Reina's distant position and made a very decisive move! He kicked the ball towards the near post!"

The home fans stared at the arrogant Chang Huan, their mouths slightly open, but they couldn't utter a sound.

At that moment, the São Paulo stadium was completely silent.

The traveling Roma fans seized the opportunity to unleash their passion, celebrating Chang Huan's unexpected yet incredibly beautiful goal, which completely ignited their passion.

"You're such a show-off, aren't you?"

"That was a beautiful shot!"

"Haha! You're really something!"

"A goal of genius!"

The Roma players, who arrived late, tackled the cool-looking Chang Huan to the ground and shouted with excitement.