Southampton have been in the headlines again these days.
"The head coach in the playoffs suddenly fainted, and 120 doctors sent him to see him dead"
"Terrible news at St. Mary's Stadium, Kevin Keegan suffers sudden illness"
"The Saints are leaderless, and Hampton's future is uncertain"
As the news of Keegan's awakening was revealed by the nurse, a large number of reporters once again blocked the entrance of the hospital, asking for the latest news about Keegan.
Who is Keegan?
That's a two-time Ballon d'Or winner and a star of English football.
As soon as he was hospitalized, retired football giants sent their blessings on their respective social platforms and public media. Until then, these Southampton boys didn’t know what the four words Kevin Keegan meant to English football.
Keegan's physical condition makes the Saints anxious. The team is at a critical moment in the play-offs. How can it be done without the head coach?
In the visiting team's dressing room at Elland Road, Alexander was giving a pre-match speech.
Alexander-Arnold is Southampton's captain, but throughout the season, he has had little sense of presence.
Southampton has produced so many monster stars this season that sometimes even the media and fans ignore him as captain.
But Alexander's role is not to lead the players to victory on the court, his role is more to play a role in the locker room.
Just like this situation now.
"...The coach has regained consciousness. The doctor said that his body is fine and he only needs to be hospitalized and rest for half a month."
"Huri!"
"Long live!"
"Long live!!!"
The players waved and celebrated the good news.
"But before that, we have our own tasks to complete." After the players calmed down, Alexander continued.
"Leeds United are not a formidable opponent and the last game at home proved that."
"But even so, we cannot take it lightly. The opponent still has a chance to turn defeat into victory."
"The closer we get to the last minute, the more cautious we must be. We cannot be disturbed by external news."
"The coach is watching our game in the ward. How can you bear to give a defeat to the coach who just woke up?"
"I can't anyway!"
"Today's purpose is only one, and that is to defeat your opponent! Qualify for the finals!"
"Down with Leeds United!" Alexander raised his right hand.
"Down with Leeds United!!!" the teammates shouted in unison.
Before even playing, the Leeds United players heard the call from Southampton.
Keegan's absence was an opportunity for the home team, and they took advantage of this opportunity to score a vital away goal in the final stages of the last game.
Returning to the home court today, they don't need to win more, a small 1-0 can resolve the battle.
Leeds United coach Kevin Blackwell had unanimously warned before the game that as long as one goal was scored, Southampton would retreat completely, leaving Southampton to suffer a bloody blow in front of its own strong "turtle shell".
After the players from both sides came out, the home team fans in the stands did everything they could to win.
"Hey! Guys, where is your coach?"
"Where did these children come from? Where are their adults?"
"Haha, which fence gate was left open and allowed these little calves to escape?"
Fans of the home team know that it will be difficult for them to defeat Southampton by conventional means.
Especially Wang Xiaodong, this guy doesn't look like a person at all, more like a movable city wall.
They hope to use this to anger Wang Xiaodong. If he really loses his temper and does something outrageous, it will definitely be of great help to Leeds United winning the game.
Lallana followed Wang Xiaodong closely, fearing that he would not be able to control his temper.
But since Wang Xiaodong came back from Keegan's ward, he seemed to be a different person.
After sleeping for a day and a night, I briefly participated in an adaptive training and then came here with the team.
Faced with the clamor of the home team's fans, Wang Xiaodong surprisingly didn't even look back today. As if he was worried about something, he followed goalkeeper Nimi into the stadium.
Seeing that Wang Xiaodong did not take any drastic action, the starting team members and assistant coach Harry also breathed a sigh of relief.
"Dong, come on!" Lallana said softly behind Wang Xiaodong, "As long as we can hold on to the score in this game, we will win..."
Wang Xiaodong did not answer, but expressed his attitude with practical actions.
After Kendi Jones received the kick from his teammates, he almost instinctively chose to pass back.
However, as soon as the ball rolled out of the center circle, there was a roar from the own half.
Having been teammates with Wang Xiaodong for a season, he is all too familiar with this roar.
"Walter?"
"Farke!"
"Shet!"
Everyone at Elland Road was uttering obscenities, which made the security guards with their backs to the stadium itchy.
Leeds United goalkeeper Neil Sullivan was perhaps the only one who didn't open his mouth. He was holding his breath and moving towards the left side of his own goal.
Looking at the ball flying straight in the air, Sullivan was in a dilemma.
This half-court bomb was like a cannonball, carrying extremely strong momentum and almost no rotation in the air.
As a professional goalkeeper who plays in the English Championship, there is no reason not to confiscate the ball flying from such a long distance.
But...can this ball really be caught?
Sullivan squinted his eyes and seemed to see the air around the ball twisting.
At the last moment, he finally made up his mind. Turn the fingers of both hands up and push upwards the moment you touch the ball.
Bang!
The momentum coming from the latex in his palm made Sullivan's heart beat faster, and he felt like he was surviving a disaster.
Fortunately, the ball was pushed out...
"Oh!" the on-site commentator groaned, "Dong's long shot was hit by Sullivan."
"Faced with such a fierce shot, I'm afraid no goalkeeper in the world would dare to catch the ball rashly."
After finding a way out for his goalkeeper, the commentator said again: "It seems that Southampton came with the belief that they will win..."
"The absence of the head coach has made this group of young people more united and their desire to win is even stronger."
"Faced with such a sad army, what kind of response will Kevin make?"
I'll deal with you!
In front of the Leeds United bench, Kevin spat hard.
I'm just an ordinary coach, not a god.
Even if I make the perfect tactical plan for the team, I can't stop them from shooting from half-court!
After holding the ball out, Sullivan roared to the sky, venting his anger.
But those with a discerning eye noticed that this guy was constantly adjusting the tightness of his gloves. It looked like he was really nervous just now.
"Winter is so grumpy!" In the stands, Ferguson kept chewing gum. "But having said that, judging from the sight of his feet, this kid is really capable of being violent!"
After the corner kick, looking at Wang Xiaodong who suddenly accelerated towards him, Bell decisively chose a tactical corner kick.
"Dong, here..."
Bell quickly raised his hand after passing the ball. There were two Leeds United players in front and behind the goalpost. He was not offside when he received Wang Xiaodong's return pass.
He swallowed the words halfway as he yelled them.
In his horrified eyes, Wang Xiaodong, who was approaching the ball, had already raised his left foot.
"Dong, you can't..."
What a nonsense!
The position where Wang Xiaodong received the ball was probably in the upper left corner of the Leeds United penalty area. The angle between this position and the goal was too small and the distance was far. Few players would rush to shoot from here.
What's more, Wang Xiaodong still used his non-dominant foot.
A roar of speed suppressed all doubts.
Wang Xiaodong volleyed the ball hard with the instep of his left foot. The player not far away subconsciously raised his hands to protect his body, because he seemed to see a green dragon rushing out from the other end of the ball and heading straight for the Leeds United gate.
This unreasonable volley passed through the crowd and was saved by the heroic Sullivan just before it flew into the goal.
After getting up, Sullivan did not roar up to the sky like before. He rubbed his wrists and yelled at his teammates.
"Hey, what are you doing?"
"How could he catch the ball so easily?"
"How can you watch him shoot?"
Faced with Sullivan's accusations, his teammates were speechless.
We can't use our hands, so we can't resist the shells with our bodies, right?
You are the goalkeeper, so this job is hard for you!
Today, Wang Xiaodong seemed to have taken a shot. Within half an hour after the start, he almost caught the ball and shot in the frontcourt.
Keegan and Jack are both on the sidelines, and no one in Southampton can control Wang Xiaodong, who is completely letting go.
In this half hour, Leeds United players lived like a year.
They sent more than two defensive players to mark Wang Xiaodong, but the strong young man didn't care.
For Wang Xiaodong, he doesn’t need to think too much about shooting, as long as he meets two simple prerequisites.
The distance is up and there is a ball under his feet.
It doesn’t matter whether you press close to the defense, it doesn’t matter how many walls you have in front of the penalty area, it doesn’t matter how your goalkeeper is positioned...
As long as he gets an opportunity, Wang Xiaodong, who is widening his angle, will shoot without sparing any effort.
Goalkeeper Sullivan, Leeds United defender, and in the end, even their own forward became the "victims" of Wang Xiaodong's explosive shot.
As Wang Xiaodong shot endlessly, some Leeds United players formed a conditioned reflex, while others became completely numb.
Only head coach Kevin kept shouting crazily on the sidelines: "Stop him! Stop him! Stop..."
As if to match his shout, Wang Xiaodong once again raised his thigh in front of everyone!
"Bang!"
Ferguson in the stands clenched his fists hard. He saw the lightning he had dreamed of rising from the feet of Saints No. 28 and piercing the sky.
"Wow..."
The net at Elland Road whizzed in the wind, and tens of thousands of Leeds United fans fell silent for a moment.
"1 to 0!!!" the Saints shouted in unison.
An away goal was scored and the total score was two goals ahead.
The balance of victory completely tilted towards Southampton.
The game restarted, and Wang Xiaodong still maintained his previous shooting frequency.
The Leeds players were going crazy.
"Oh, God!"
"Quickly collect your magical powers!"
"Who's going to stop this madman?"
"Is he a robot or a human?"
"Dong, grab it!" The commentator exclaimed near the end of the first half, "Damn it, don't be careless in front of Dong!"
After Wang Xiaodong stole the ball from his opponent's feet, he pushed hard towards the open space not far away.
Such rough dribbling was a sign that Wang Xiaodong was about to go straight ahead.
The two defenders hurriedly double-teamed him from the left and the right, and were about to form an encirclement, but Wang Xiaodong still sprinted forward like nothing happened, without slowing down at all.
Tear! ! !
The fans in front of the TV vividly dubbed this breakthrough. Wang Xiaodong's outstretched hands passed through the gap between the two people, and then "easily" pulled the two players who were closed together like shredding beef. separate.
"Too cruel!"
"Oh My God!"
"Where did he get so much power?"
"He's a savage!"
Before the home team fans could react, there was another cloud-piercing arrow.
Whoosh! ! !
The ball did not wait for Sullivan to react and entered the Leeds United net again.
2-0, total score 4-1.
Looking at Wang Xiaodong who was roaring up to the sky, the commentator said helplessly: "Some news media reported before that Wang Xiaodong was hailed as the successor of Gerrard or Lampard."
"But judging from Dong's performance today, even if Steven and Frank double-team, they may not be able to stop this crazy beast."
“Just look at the numbers so far this winter.”
"There were a total of 12 shots in 43 minutes, 10 of which were inside the goal frame, and two goals were scored."
“Southampton’s shots so far have all come from winter.”
"God, is this some new tactic?"
"This is the first time I've seen a game played like this..."
