I'm 198cm tall. Are you giving me a Maradona template?

Chapter 332: Killing the Suspense in Less Than Halftime
Liverpool eliminated Manchester United to advance to the FA Cup semi-finals.

This doesn't seem like much news.

Many English media outlets expressed pessimism after the match.

Liverpool's strength has made them unstoppable for English teams.

Are European teams capable of that?
Three days after the FA Cup match ended.

Liverpool will host their Champions League quarter-final opponent at home.

Porto, a powerhouse football team from Portugal.

This season, under the leadership of Conceição.

Porto performed exceptionally well in the Champions League.

They eliminated Inter Milan this season to reach the quarterfinals.

It is of very high quality.

and.

Porto also has many familiar faces among the fans.

Former Real Madrid captain and goalkeeper Iker Casillas.

Former Real Madrid starting center-back Pepe.

Highly anticipated young center-back Militao, among others.

These players' abilities are beyond question.

although.

Liverpool are the defending champions.

But Porto's head coach, Conceição, has no intention of admitting defeat.

Inside the dressing room at Anfield.

He addressed his players, saying, "Guys, our opponents are strong, but we've come this far. We don't need to change ourselves because of them. As long as we play our own style, we can get a good result in this away game."

For Conceição.

What constitutes a good outcome?

The bottom line is to score an away goal and lose by no more than one goal.

This is a good result.

Of course.

If we can win, that would be even better.

Conceição knew. There was a huge gap in strength between Porto and Liverpool.

Especially the Chinese striker Yang Guang who faced Liverpool.

They are in an even more difficult position.

This is a very troublesome striker.

and so.

Conceição felt that instead of racking his brains to figure out how to defend, he should focus on the sunshine.

Instead, we should encourage our players.

Play in your own style.

So what style is Conceição's Porto?

They excel at high pressing in the attacking third and rapid transitions between offense and defense.

At this point.

Their characteristics are quite similar to Liverpool's.

therefore.

Conceição's plan was to gamble on scoring a goal away from home.

Play an attacking game against Liverpool.

It has to be said that this is a brilliant idea.

After the game started.

Liverpool's players were also surprised to find out.

The opponent actually wanted to fight back against me.

While they were quite surprised, they immediately understood.

Of course they know what to do.

This team has now developed a very mature playing style.

Conceição stood on the sidelines of the pitch.

The atmosphere at Anfield was like molten lava, making him feel the intense heat.

.

This made him somewhat uneasy.

But he quickly consoled himself.

It's ok.

As long as I can score a goal, everything will be alright.

Klopp was also surprised by Conceição's choice, but he was not flustered at all; on the contrary, he was quite pleased.

We've reached the Champions League quarterfinals.

Even though Porto is not a team from one of the top five leagues.

They should not be underestimated.

Any team that makes it to the quarterfinals is not a weak team.

Even Liverpool, if they approach this match with the mindset that "we can easily beat Porto."

They will most likely be punished.

therefore.

Before the match.

Klopp is very cautious about this match, and his biggest concern is that the players will underestimate their opponents.

But now it seems.

Liverpool were not the ones who underestimated their opponents.

It's Porto.

Klopp really wanted to crack open Conceição's head to see what he was thinking, that he would actually go toe-to-toe with Liverpool away from home.

Even Manchester City couldn't do that.

How did Porto manage to do it?
He sat on the coach's bench.

Next, he can just watch the sunlight score the goal.

Head coaches like Conceição, who have no experience coaching top clubs.

Sometimes it's like this.

There was a serious misjudgment of the strength of the top teams.

He kept his eyes fixed on the field.

We want to find some information that is favorable to Porto.

But it's a pity.

He didn't find it.

The camera lens enters and locks onto the sunlight.

Liverpool have now essentially secured the victory in the league.

Nobody thinks Manchester City has a chance to overtake them.

They've reached the FA Cup semi-finals.

If they eliminate Porto in the Champions League, they will reach the semi-finals.

The seven-time champion's boast seems like it was just yesterday.

But now, Liverpool is truly on its way to a seven-title haul.

Can Porto stop them?
Judging from the current situation.

The chances of them succeeding are very low.

The seventh minute of the match.

Liverpool launched an attack.

After switching positions with Salah, Sunny cut inside from the wing, almost slicing past all the defenders.

He then feigned a shot at the edge of the penalty area, and after the Porto players made a defensive move, he pushed the ball sideways.

Nabi Keita has already come to meet them.

The moment he received the pass from Yang Guang.

He then passed the ball straight forward.

And Yang Guang did not wait in place after passing the ball.

Instead, they continued running forward.

A diagonal, straight pass!

A very well-coordinated collaboration.

The sunlight doesn't need adjustment.

After running to the position.

A direct shot with his right foot!

The crisp sound of the football hitting the net rang out.

"Beautiful! Such an easy goal!!"

"The sunshine helped Liverpool take the lead."

"Liverpool got off to a dream start playing at home!"

When the sun runs into position, facing the goal directly.

The cheers at Anfield Stadium were deafening.

People are already quite familiar with sunlight.

Such an easy scoring opportunity.

How could the sunlight possibly be missed?

This goal fully demonstrates Sunny's stable mental qualities and ability to seize opportunities.

He took the shot while keeping his eyes on the goalkeeper's position.

It's not like Hulunbuir can create miracles with a single powerful kick.

I am very confident.

Cheers erupted from the stands in waves.

The sound was so loud it seemed to shake Anfield upside down.

After scoring, the sun pointed at Naby Keita.

He gestured for Naby Keita to come over and celebrate the goal.

This goal was easy.

In a match of this caliber, his goal was incredibly easy and effortless.

Run to position, player arrives, ball arrives, shoot, score.

Naby Keita was also quite excited after racking up an assist.

He jumped onto the sun's back.

Yang Guang carried him to the sidelines and ran down to the stands.

They celebrated the goal with the Liverpool fans. Their teammates rushed over and surrounded them.

"Sunshine! Beautiful! Liverpool open the scoring!"

In China.

The commentator raised his arms and shouted.

"Sunshine is awesome!"

"mighty!"

"Look at that positioning, look at that shooting motion, and that final shot was absolutely decisive—that's the world's best striker!!!"

In various online live streaming rooms.

The fans were interacting.

The GIF of Yang Guang's goal also became a trending topic on Weibo.

Conceição frowned.

The worst situation has occurred.

Liverpool scored early on.

He went to the sidelines and clapped his hands to encourage the Porto players.

Porto are prepared to concede a goal at Anfield.

They are clear.

It's unrealistic to prevent Liverpool from scoring at Anfield.

They firmly believed that conceding a goal was not terrible, as long as they could score.

They continued to work hard on the field.

Porto are indeed quite capable; they once posed a threat.

But neither side had any good opportunities.

Time ticked away in the game.

Porto fans are starting to get excited.

Maybe we can get an away goal in this game? What if we can draw 1-1 with Liverpool away from home?

Wait until we return to our home stadium.

They will then have a chance to advance to the semifinals.

As part of the reformed Champions League format.

One of the few teams that have won the Champions League title but are not from the top five leagues or the G14 powerhouses.

Porto fans are not exactly unsophisticated.

They will not be intimidated by their opponents because of Liverpool's reputation.

However, the Porto fans' ambitions were barely born when they were burned to ashes by a raging fire.

This blazing fire came from the sun's rays!
The goal came in the 37th minute of the match.

Liverpool were awarded a free kick approximately 35 meters from the goal.

The location is a bit out of the way.

Arnold covered his mouth and discussed with Yang Guang how to kick the ball.

"The angle for a shot from this position is a bit too tight. How about we pass it in and try to contest for a header?"

Arnold asked.

Sunshine shook his head and said, "This distance is pretty good. The angle is a bit off, but I can still take a kick."

Arnold nodded: "Then I'll cover for you!"

The two of them reached an agreement in just a few words.

They then began to retreat simultaneously.

Arnold's cover wasn't actually very effective.

Since Yangguang didn't enter the penalty area, it means that Yangguang must have been the one to kick the ball.

So they're all protecting themselves from the sun.

However, Yang Guang didn't expect this cover to be of much use.

With the referee's whistle.

Arnold ran forward, but instead of kicking the ball, he ran over it.

Only then did the sunlight begin its propulsion.

Three-step running start.

Yang Guang's muscles tensed as he kicked the soccer ball hard.

Bang.

It was very clear in the somewhat quiet Anfield stadium.

With a muffled thud, the football soared high, cleared the wall of players, and then crashed into the near corner of the goal!

To Porto goalkeeper Casillas, the ball looked like a cannonball.

In the blink of an eye, it rushed in front of them.

He has just reacted.

The football grazed past his fingertips with a whirlwind.

It flew into the goal!
Seeing this goal.

Porto's manager, Conceição, looked quite helpless.

He couldn't help but say to his assistant, "How the hell are we supposed to play like this?"

How the hell can they kick it like that?

His assistant was also quite helpless.

This is the difference in strength.

The pre-match plan of an offensive battle failed to materialize.

Instead, it turned into a one-sided humiliation.

Liverpool took a two-goal lead in the first half.

They are playing on home turf again.

Even when Liverpool was in a slump in the past, it was unlikely that they would be overturned in this situation.

What's more, now?

So when Sunshine's two goals helped the team turn the score around.

Next game.

Liverpool is under no pressure at all.

Porto were hoping to score an away goal in the second half through a counter-attack.

Even if they lose 1-2 away, as long as they score an away goal, they may still have a chance to advance to the semi-finals when they return home.

But not long after the start of the second half...

Yang Guang moved to the wing and switched positions with Salah before receiving a pass on the wing.

Nabi Keita also moved closer to the sunlight.

Sunny dribbled the ball and attempted to cut inside, then passed it to Naby Keita after drawing the defense. Naby Keita then played a through ball to Salah, who laid it off back.

At this moment, Yang Guang had already broken through, received Salah's pass, and with a quick cut, he bypassed the defender's defense and skillfully chipped the ball over the onrushing goalkeeper to score.

Three Liverpool players completed a series of one-touch passes, a dazzling display of skill that left Porto's players completely unable to keep up.

The final shot by Yang Guang seemed more like the icing on the cake of this series of beautiful plays.

After seeing the sun shine for the third time, he sent the ball into his team's goal.

Conceição helplessly leaned back heavily against the seat.

Playing the first leg away from home actually gives us a significant advantage.

But now it seems that the match will likely be lost in the first round.

The suspense of the two rounds has almost disappeared because the ball has also disappeared.

Although there was still about half an hour left in the match...

Football is round.

The team may still be capable of creating miracles.

But the other side has a formidable person like Yang Guang.

Conceição doesn't think Porto has any chance of turning things around.

Instead of doing that, you should think about how to play well in the league.

In the league, Porto faces immense pressure from Benfica and Sporting CP.

Conceição began making changes.

To say that Conceição was willing to lose this match would be debatable.

After all, they finally made it to the quarterfinals.

And this is the Champions League.

Who doesn't have a dream?

But a flash of brilliance from a Liverpool superstar.

That would destroy all of Porto's efforts.

Liverpool are 3-0 up, they've practically killed any suspense in the second leg!

In the commentary box.

Commentator Kolo remarked with emotion.

He looked at the two commentators, Neville and Carragher, and asked, "Do you think Liverpool can make it to the final and ultimately win the title?"

Carragher laughed and said, "Is there any team in better form than Liverpool right now?"

Neville expressed a different view: "Liverpool are indeed in good form, but this is the Champions League. Manchester United reached the final three times in five years and only won one title."

Carragher: "That's because you weren't strong enough. If I had given you a Yang back then, I wouldn't be surprised if you won five championships in five years."

“That’s impossible.” Carragher shook his head vigorously.

Just then, a huge cheer suddenly erupted from Anfield Stadium.

Everyone quickly looked closely.

Liverpool launched a quick counter-attack.

Mane is making a high-speed run along the sideline.

Then, a cross was delivered.

The football flew high towards the penalty area.

Within the restricted area.

The sunlight pressed down on Peipei, who leaped high into the air.

His body seemed to be hanging in the air.

When the ball falls.

His body suddenly swayed, and his forehead slammed hard into the ball.

The football changes direction.

Casillas made a save.

The whip is beyond reach.

Four to zero.

Liverpool won in less than half a game.

That killed the suspense for two rounds.

(End of this chapter)