Chapter 1162 Hunter and Prey
"You did a good job in the first half. Although you conceded a goal, it wasn't a big deal... Big Ben, don't take the goal to your heart!"
The first half ended not long after Lasky's goal.
After entering the locker room, Tony Clark comforted the team's center back Ben Grist.
Because it was his poor performance in the first half that gave London Bridge the chance to score.
"No one makes mistakes, and everyone can make mistakes. The important thing is not the mistakes that have been made, but what to do next. Do you hope to be suppressed by that Deheli in the second half?"
Grist shook his head, but then showed an embarrassed look: "I don't hope, but I, the boss..."
After Laski scored, he ran to the frontcourt and hugged his teammates to celebrate.
It seemed that he wanted to use this method to vent all the pressure accumulated in his heart.
But he also knew very well that as long as he still had that yellow card on him, the pressure would never be completely released.
In the second half, because of this yellow card and his own characteristics, London Bridge will still be the target of key attacks.
"It doesn't matter, Ben. You can play normally in the second half." After another comfort, Clark turned to look at Morikawa Junpei and said to him in English:
"Morikawa, when Deheli goes to find trouble with Ben in the second half, you have to go over and help and use your flexibility and anticipation to stop him!"
Morikawa Junpei didn't speak when he heard this, but he nodded to show that he understood.
"Next, Jay."
Jay Adams puffs out his chest.
"When Morikawa goes to help Ben, you have to take on more tasks and be responsible for the defense in the middle. In addition, Pete, you also have to come back to help..."
Williams nodded equally: "No problem, boss."
After adjusting the defense, Clark turned to Hulay: "Dominic has been in very good shape recently, and you were closely guarded by your opponents during the game. London Bridge's defense against you is tighter, which means they are more aggressive against Dominic. The defense is not that strict, so you need to sacrifice yourself a little in the game to create opportunities for Dominic, like you did in the first half, can you do it?"
Hu Lai nodded quickly: "Yes, yes, boss, I can! Forget about missing the ball, let me pass the ball directly to Dominic and assist, I can do it!"
Other team members also echoed: "Don't worry, boss, we will also pass more passes to Dominic!"
When Clark saw that everyone was so positive, he pretended not to know why they were doing this, and he pretended not to see the other people in the locker room winking at Dominic Laski...
He just said with satisfaction: "That's good. We have the advantage in the total score, but we are only ahead by one goal, which is not safe. So in the second half, if we have the opportunity, we still have to try to score more goals!"
※※※
After halftime, on the way back to the court from the locker room, Ben Grist and his good friend Jay Adams walked together and hesitated several times.
Adams noticed this detail and asked: "If you have anything to say, you can tell me directly, Big Ben."
Grist then said: "I feel very sorry for putting an extra burden on you, Morikawa, and Peter..."
Adams patted him on the back hard when he heard this: "What are you talking about? We are a team, Big Ben. When I am not in my defensive position, don't you often step forward to help me fill my position? You Do you think that’s a burden? ”
Grist shook his head quickly: "No, that's what I should do, Jay..."
"So, this is what we should do, Ben! As a team, in order to win, we have a clear division of labor. But it doesn't mean that I can only be responsible for my part of the work. Don't think about the things that are there and are not. Focus on the game..."
When Mohamed Deheli came out of the locker room and walked to the court, he happened to see Ben Grist being carried out of the tunnel by Jay Adams.
So he stared at the back, just like a hunter observing his prey.
He recalled what his head coach Stodd said to him during halftime:
"...He already has a yellow card on him, and we will continue to put pressure on him in the second half. Then he will either make bigger moves against you, get a second yellow card and be sent off. Or he just doesn't dare to take action and can only watch. Let me break through! So you have to dare to make moves and break through, and don’t be afraid of losing the ball..."
Recalling these instructions from the head coach, Deheli smiled on his face.
He couldn't wait for the second half to begin.
At this moment, he suddenly felt something in his heart and turned to look back.
Behind him, he saw the Japanese midfielder from Leeds City looking at him.
After seeing him turn around, he leaned slightly and bowed to him.
Deheli frowned, not understanding what the other party was doing.
※※※
The Flanders stadium was filled with boos.
On the pitch, London Bridge launched an attack and Dehli was dribbling towards Ben Grist.
Leeds City fans all know how the goal was conceded in the first half, and they naturally know what Deheli is going to do.
They were booing Dehli and expressing their displeasure.
Dehli is not only rubbing salt into Leeds City's wounds, it also means that Leeds City's defense will once again be in a dangerous situation...
After all, Grist has a yellow card!
Dehli hears the boos, but instead of frightening or shrinking him, it excites him.
Because he knows that Leeds City is scared!
Those boos are the best proof!
Although he did not raise his head to observe, he believed that Ben Grist in front of him should also be scared.
He has a yellow card on him!
Thinking of this, Dehe used the outer instep of his right foot to gently move the football forward, approaching Grist further.
Grist was indeed a little nervous. He took a step back and distanced himself from Deheli again.
But he cannot retreat indefinitely.
Because behind him is Leeds City's penalty area. If he retreats, it will be equivalent to putting Deheli into the penalty area... Once Deheli enters the penalty area, he will really be throwing a trap and dare not make any moves.
De Heli's right foot nudged the football again. Grist gritted his teeth and stretched out his foot to try to intercept the ball, but his kick speed was far behind De Heli!
He just stretched out his foot, and Deheli's right foot, which should not have been so quick to move the ball again, hit the ball again before him!
Just like this, before Grist's foot reached him, he knocked the ball out!
Grist misses!
Dehli was overjoyed—a breakthrough!
He then has to catch up and get the ball.
But he had just started, when a figure suddenly came across from him...separating him from the football!
Because there was no room to speed up, Deheli watched the football being intercepted by the opponent midway!
"Morikawa!" Matthew Cox shouted excitedly.
The violent boos in the stands of Flanders Stadium suddenly turned into cheers.
Junpei Morikawa, who came in, did not slow down and walked away with the football. At the same time, he did not forget to quickly look back to observe the situation behind him.
He saw that Deheli did not catch up, but was in a daze.
After confirming safety, Junpei Morikawa passed the football across to the full-back Farek Quinn.
Quinn passed the football forward directly to Kamara who retreated to receive the ball.
Seeing that the football was far away from the danger zone, Morikawa Junpei turned to look at Deheli again. This time, the opponent was not in a daze, but was also looking at Morikawa Junpei.
The two people's eyes collided in the air.
Dehli's eyes clearly had the smell of ignition, but Morikawa Junpei did not look at him, but immediately looked away and ran back to his position.
"Junpei Morikawa made a key defense! If he hadn't arrived in time, Grist might have been passed by Dehli again!" Shen Lang said.
Just now I saw Deheli dribbling the ball towards Grist, and he was exclaiming "be careful".
Grist was also giving a thumbs up to Morikawa Junpei, praising his performance just now - Morikawa Junpei saved Grist just now.
But Junpei Morikawa didn't care about any of this, whether it was Dehli's glare or Grist's thumb... He just returned to his position and prepared for the next defense.
However, Deheli still stared at Junpei Morikawa, his eyes following his movements.
He didn't notice the Japanese at all just now, and he stole the ball... Deheli felt very embarrassed.
Next time he will kill the big elephant and this little dwarf together!
※※※
Dehli soon got the chance he wanted.
When he faced Grist with the ball again, he did not rush to the penalty area, but deliberately slowed down.
He was waiting for Morikawa Junpei.
The reason why I failed last time was because I didn’t expect it at all.
But this time he is prepared, I believe it will be impossible to lose the ball...
Sure enough, Morikawa Junpei rushed over.
Deheli still focused on attacking Grist, first getting rid of Grist, and then dealing with Morikawa Junpei.
Facing Deheli, who is more flexible at his feet, it is indeed difficult for Grist, who is carrying a yellow card, to perform at his 100% level.
However, after the last experience, Grist can safely leave his back to Morikawa Junpei.
So he acted decisively and quickly.
Deheli moved the football away like a dance with his feet, while twisting and dodging.
As soon as he avoided Grist, Morikawa Junpei came up to him.
This is what you've been waiting for!
Deheli screamed in his heart, suddenly dunking the football back, and at the same time blocked the dunked football forward with his left foot.
Others will get through between Grist and Morikawa Junpei!
Fried meatballs!
But as soon as he started, he was hit sideways by Grist, which prevented him from picking up his speed smoothly.
At the same time, Morikawa Junpei also seized this opportunity and directly tackled it!
The football that Deheli knocked over was shoveled directly to the side and was intercepted by Teddy Bradford, another central defender next to him.
Defense completed!
After Junpei Morikawa shoveled the football away, Dehli bumped into him and fell in the penalty area.
The Moroccan genius raised his hands and signaled to the referee that a Leeds City player had tackled him in the penalty area, which was a foul.
But the referee hooked him and signaled him to get up, and at the same time turned around and ran forward - Leeds City had already pushed the football forward.
Dehli beat his hands on the ground angrily, then turned to look at Morikawa Junpei who stood up.
Morikawa Junpei also glanced at him, and when he found that he was looking at him, he quickly looked away.
Don't dare to look at me at all...
Deheli couldn't understand how he fell at the feet of this timid Japanese twice in a row. (End of chapter)