Football: My AI System Provides Max-Level Predictions-Chapter 664 - 460: Half-time Assist Hat Trick, Fadeaway, What is a Versatile Forward?_2

Chapter 664: Chapter 460: Half-time Assist Hat Trick, Fadeaway, What is a Versatile Forward?_2
Diego’s final pass was a cautious handoff to Tang Long on the wing.
Tang Long knew that in facing the opposition’s bunker defense, the key was to get the defenders in their guarded zones moving;
because once they start moving, openings and weaknesses will appear.
He took a step left with his left foot, dipped his left shoulder as if going towards the baseline, then quickly flicked the ball inward with his right foot, swiftly bypassing the defender on the right, cutting inside towards the center.
As Tang Long cut inside to the upper left corner of the penalty box, right-back Smith and defensive midfielder Art came forward to surround him.
"Prevent him from shooting from distance!"
Facing their pincer move, Tang Long didn’t shoot from distance but feigned a move and continued dribbling inward, reaching the top of the box.
He had dribbled horizontally for over ten meters from the wing towards the center, always lingering in the most dangerous areas.
Like a knife hovering ten centimeters from the neck, it made everyone tense.
Bournemouth’s back line, originally using zonal defense, watched anxiously, no longer dared to stay put, all moving forward to try and encircle Tang Long.
Suddenly, Tang Long was like a locomotive, with three or four Bournemouth players running around him like carriages!
In this position, a very comfortable feeling welled in Tang Long’s heart—as if he was playing attacking midfield in this spot last season.
With just a slight flick from his right foot, the ball rolled along the ground towards the opposite direction on the left.
Tang Long’s pass tore open a huge gap in Bournemouth’s defensive line!
"Mine!"
Left-back Kolarov had already surged forward, charging in without stopping the ball, swinging his left foot fiercely, and unleashed a powerful shot!
The ball went straight to the top corner, scoring with a goal!
Scoring his first goal of the season, Kolarov was immensely excited, hugging Tang Long tightly, repeatedly praising his excellent pass.
Although they conceded a goal, the Bournemouth players showed no signs of discouragement but rather looked desperate.
They knew they had done everything possible, indeed blocking Tang Long’s shooting angle, yet unable to stop his pass!
"Beautiful pass! Tang Long assists Kolarov to score!"
"This play highlighted Tang Long’s remarkable vision and precision in passing even when surrounded by multiple players!"
"The direct pass at the edge of the box is Tang Long’s old forte from playing attacking midfield last season."
"It seems that after switching to striker this season, Tang Long’s passing skills have not diminished; he has become even more versatile!"
Off the pitch, Chiwo also raised both fists to his chest, silently musing:
"A Tang who can both pass and score is absolutely our biggest weapon!"
Guardiola said they must end the fight in the first half, and he will surely do it.
Starting with a goal, Manchester City didn’t halt their offensive stance, continuing their fierce attack on the opponent’s home field.
Diego sent a long pass to the right where Navas was.
Everyone knew Navas’s forte, his deadly low cross.
When Bournemouth’s players were defending against Navas’s cross, the Spain small player went against expectations, cutting inside with a right foot flick, left foot leading the ball!
This scene amazed everyone, Navas cutting inside? Is the sun rising from the west?
Navas cut inside because he had already seen Tang Long swiftly move from left forward to the top of the box, running towards him.
Making such a large move from left to right, Navas knew Tang Long must want to coordinate with him, so he simply cut inside.
Navas passed the ball to Tang Long.
Without stopping the ball, Tang Long flicked it with the outside of his foot, completing a one-two pass, like setting up a pillar for Navas’s inward move.
Though it was a simple one-two, Tang Long’s sudden large-scale departure from his usual area and the rapid coordination with Navas made it impossible for Bournemouth’s rugged men to mark them.
Once Navas got the ball, he faced a wide-open space at the top of the box, drawing a blank in his mind.
Logically, with no one marking, he should have shot long ago;
But being naturally inclined not to shoot, preferring to pass, he hesitated at this moment.
"Don’t hesitate, go for it!"
With Tang Long’s shout, Navas instantly regained clarity, using his right foot deftly to poke the ball before Bournemouth defenders could recover, with sharp speed, darting towards the lower left corner of the goal.
After scoring, Navas looked dumbfounded, did it go in?
It’s known that he naturally dislikes scoring, last season playing 30 matches for Manchester City and only scoring once, though assisted 6 times.
This season, getting Tang Long’s assist in the 4th round opener, scoring his first goal of the season, Navas indeed felt a bit uncomfortable.
"Even Navas managed to score!"
"Tang Long’s long run and seamless coordination with Navas played a transit role!"
"This marks Tang Long’s second assist in this match!"
"Is there more?"
Indeed, there is!
In the last two minutes before the first half ended.
Tang Long sidestepped three bicycle kicks on the left, causing the defender to dizzy, with a final left foot thrust forcefully towards the baseline.
With realistic fakes and rapid speed, Tang Long’s thrust created vast space;
He need not hurry for a cross from the wing, instead pivoting with his left foot, directly dribbling along the baseline towards the center!
"Tang! Here!"
Agüero called loudly amid the crowd in the center.
With Bournemouth having five defenders, the penalty area was densely packed, and Agüero wasn’t tall. Tang Long couldn’t even spot him by raising his eyes.
However, he clearly saw the huge gap beneath Bournemouth defenders’ legs!
With a right-foot instep pass, he played a low ball that went through two Bournemouth defenders’ legs, rolling into the small box.
[The ball passing through defenders’ legs has an 85% scoring rate!]
Agüero, with sharp eyes, sensed the ball could be going through opponents’ legs even when not seen, responding with a left-foot flick and the ball netting instantly!
"Tang Long assists Agüero scoring again!"
"He achieved an assist hat trick!"
"Three assists for three different players!"
"Manchester City ended the battle early with speed and precision!"
"Today Tang Long showed us what a comprehensive player truly means."
"In the box, he can shoot, outside the box, he can pass!"
"He is the modern football striker prototype, an all-around attacker!"