It was almost the same headed clearance, but this time Wen Chengye actively dropped back to receive the ball after it was headed out. Then he looked up toward the forward line, where Qin Ao had already sprinted out...
Wen Chengye was pressed by three Shen Cheng Hai Bo defenders around him, with no space to maneuver, so he had no choice but to pass the ball to Zheng Ren beside him.
Under the opponent's pressure, Zheng Ren couldn't shield the ball, and it was forced out of bounds. Possession returned to Shen Cheng Hai Bo once again.
If this had happened before, Wen Chengye's failed pass would have been criticized as him trying to show off by holding onto the ball. But this time, Qin Ao, who had sprinted halfway across the field, simply dropped back after the opponent regained possession and even clapped toward Wen Chengye, signaling that it was okay and to try again next time.
"Was Wen Chengye hesitant when making that pass?" Lin Wanxing asked Wang Fa.
Wang Fa nodded, but after a pause, he continued, "However, this has its pros and cons," he said.
"Why?" Lin Wanxing was taken aback. "What's the good part?"
"Because they're trying to sync up with each other's rhythm," Wang Fa replied.
"And the bad part?"
"They're being too polite," Wang Fa said, glancing at her.
At first, Lin Wanxing didn't understand what Wang Fa meant by "polite."
But gradually, as the match progressed, she began to grasp it.
Perhaps because everyone had reconciled after the argument and cared more about each other, they were overly concerned with each other's positioning and coordination, always wanting to act according to the other's intentions.
But organizing an attack is inherently intricate. Holding the ball a second too long or too short makes a significant difference. Whether to pass immediately upon receiving the ball or adjust first determines the success of the attack.
Of course, since the students' defensive skills were genuinely solid, and they were mainly pinned back, they didn't have many opportunities to practice offensive tactics.
Just as she was thinking this, a whistle interrupted her thoughts.
Zhi Hui committed a clear foul while battling Shen Cheng Hai Bo in midfield, knocking down the opponent's No. 11 attacking player. The referee awarded Shen Cheng Hai Bo a perfectly positioned free kick in the forward line, to be taken by the fouled No. 11 player.
The sunlight grew scorching.
Lin Wanxing nervously watched the free-kick spot.
The ball curved in a beautiful arc, lofted directly into the penalty area, causing chaos in front of the goal.
Zheng Ren failed to clear the ball twice amidst the scramble. A Shen Cheng Hai Bo forward managed to touch the ball with his toe in the melee, and it seemed certain to lob into Hongjing No. 8 Middle School's goal!
Goalkeeper Feng Suo decisively charged out.
With both fists, he punched the ball away with a heavy "thud."
The opposing coaching staff stood up in unison, having been ready to celebrate, only to clutch their heads in frustration.
The players on the field froze for a few seconds, clearly shaken as well.
A long, steady breeze blew from the canopy. Lin Wanxing took a deep breath, her back drenched in cold sweat. For a moment, it felt like her heart had leaped into her throat.
She knew very well that Shen Cheng Hai Bo had gained momentum from the goalmouth chaos. Once they launched their next attack, they would surely continue their relentless assault.
Fortunately, the referee soon blew the whistle for the end of the first half.
The first half ended.
0-0, the match was temporarily tied.
Lin Wanxing breathed a sigh of relief.
Shen Cheng Hai Bo locker room.
Lv Liwei paced back and forth in the locker room, his steps brisk with agitation: "Too rushed, you're playing too rushed!"He criticized his own players: "Many opportunities, if you had been a bit more patient and refined, you could have easily capitalized on them, just like the last one!"
Lv Liwei directly called out the forward by name: "You could have totally used the outside of your foot to shoot—that angle was perfect."
The head coach's anger left the entire locker room silent as a grave. The substitute players didn't even dare to breathe loudly.
"Why so impatient? Do you look down on the opponents and just want to bombard them, score a few more goals for some individual showboating?Lv Liwei sharply pointed out the players' floating mentality issue. "You need to understand, even if we draw, we'd still have two more points than their high school team and could advance directly."
The young players, who had just been feeling down from the coach's scolding, perked up a bit at these words.
Indeed, their goal for Shen Cheng Hai Bo was to advance from the group stage. Even with a draw, they'd have more points than Hongjing No. 8 Middle School, so there was no need to rush things.
"In the second half, we need to play steadily and solidly. First, focus on our own defense. Stick to our rhythm and don't get impatient. We can play more possession-based, lure them into attacking. If they push forward, then counter-attacking and scoring will be much easier for us. You have to believe in your own abilities!"
The Shen Cheng Hai Bo coach gave both criticism and encouragement, speaking to the players with full confidence.
"Do you have the confidence?" Lv Liwei shouted at the players.
"Yes!"
The atmosphere in the Shen Cheng Hai Bo rest area was quite intense and spirited.
In contrast, Hongjing No. 8 Middle School was relatively quiet.
Because they had been defending strenuously in the first half, everyone had expended a lot of energy. In the break, they were all busy wiping sweat and drinking water, with no one speaking.
But this was actually quite good, considering that in recent matches, Hongjing No. 8 Middle School's halftime breaks had often been filled with arguments. It was rare for everyone to get along peacefully, which was touching.
What surprised Lin Wanxing was that Wang Fa usually didn't like to talk during halftime. But this time, he broke from his usual habit. After waiting for the players to catch their breath, he stood up directly from his seat, clapped his hands, and signaled for everyone to look at him.
"I'm very satisfied with the first half," he said.
The students all jerked their heads up, looking at Wang Fa in disbelief! Was this the first time they had heard Wang Fa say they played well in a match?
"R-really?" Qin Ao asked, unable to believe it.
"Why wouldn't it be true?" Wang Fa said with certainty.
He wasn't wearing a baseball cap today. His tall and slender figure, combined with his calm and serious demeanor, made him seem incredibly reliable.
"In the first half's defense, I saw the tenacious defensive ability you've honed through that hellish match last time. In the offense, I also saw your efforts to coordinate and work together in attack," Wang Fa said.
The students were stunned. They thought Wang Fa was just giving them some casual praise, never expecting the coach to come up with such a long string of compliments.
"But our attacks didn't succeed," Chen Jianghe said honestly.
"Then let's make them succeed in the second half," Wang Fa began analyzing the team's two key counter-attacks from the first half. "In the first counter-attack, Wen Chengye passed the ball immediately, but Qin Ao didn't make his usual forward run. Was it because you wanted to read Wen Chengye's passing intention to coordinate with him?" Wang Fa asked Qin Ao.
Qin Ao remained silent, looking a bit embarrassed."The second counterattack, Qin Ao made a forward run, but Wen Chengye didn't pass the ball immediately. Was it because of his earlier passing mistake that he wanted to time the pass with Qin Ao's movement?" Wang Fa asked Wen Chengye.
Wen Chengye remained silent.
The atmosphere grew somewhat heavy. After all, being pointed out by the coach would make anyone unhappy.
Wang Fa then glanced over. Lin Wanxing caught the signal to lighten the mood and said with a smile, "Even if you won't say it, you clearly care about each other."
"Damn it, teacher, don't make baseless accusations!" Qin Ao was the first to protest.
"Don't be disgusting," Wen Chengye said expressionlessly.
"What should we do in the second half?" Fu Xinshu asked seriously after a moment of thought.
"Attack," Wang Fa said.
"Attack?" Fu Xinshu hesitated. "But we haven't practiced attacking much. We've focused more on defense and counterattacks..."
"Counterattacks are a form of offense. Use the passing patterns we've practiced—that's our attack. You've tried it many times in training. When you don't know who to pass to, give the ball to Wen Chengye and let him organize the offense," Wang Fa explained.
"I..." Wen Chengye, unexpectedly entrusted with such responsibility again, rarely admitted, "I don't think I did well in the first half."
"Wen dog, have you changed genders?"
"Just do what you're told. Why so hesitant?"
The boys chimed in one after another.
"It's not just Wen Chengye. I want all of you to play more 'willfully' in the second half," Wang Fa said. "Your instincts react faster than your thoughts."
"But we haven't practiced attacking much. Should we really open up and trade attacks with them?"
The students trusted Wang Fa completely; their doubt was in their own abilities.
Wang Fa said, "We've grown through every match so far, and this one is no different. I want you to fully immerse yourselves in the second half, feel how much we've improved through all our training and matches, and enjoy the game."
In psychology, there's a term called "flow."
It refers to a state of complete immersion in an activity, bringing intense excitement and satisfaction. The professional level and achievements displayed in this state often exceed one's usual baseline.
Many athletes have experienced this "flow"—like being in the zone on the basketball court, where every shot finds the net.
On the soccer field... Lin Wanxing wasn't so sure.
As time passed, it approached noon.
The sky was clear with white clouds, the weather exceptionally fine. The pitch grass gleamed, well-maintained.
Players from both sides returned to the field. At the referee's whistle, everyone—including those in the stands—snapped to attention.
For the Shen Cheng Hai Bo players, this was their decisive battle. A draw would see them through to the next round—the situation was favorable.
For the Hongjing No. 8 Middle School players, they had carried some psychological burden, but their coach said they were playing well and told them to cut loose and go for it.
Sparse cheers rose from the stands.
Wen Chengye, upon receiving the ball, looked coldly toward the opposing goal. Without overthinking, he launched the ball forward with a powerful "thud" that echoed through Shen Cheng Stadium, heralding Hongjing No. 8 Middle School's offensive charge.
Immediately, Hongjing No. 8 Middle School players engaged in a fierce battle with Shen Cheng Hai Bo for possession. Each time they won the ball, instead of recycling it, they pushed it forward relentlessly.Seeing their opponents adopt an offensive stance after kickoff, Shen Cheng Hai Bo’s players couldn’t help but feel amused.
What level are you at, daring to press forward and attack?
Lv Liwei was initially startled by Hongjing No. 8 Middle School’s aggressive momentum. He instinctively glanced toward the opposing team’s bench but quickly regained his composure.
For a high school team like Hongjing No. 8 Middle School, even if they pressed forward aggressively, it was likely just a burst of morale-driven momentum. They might become unexpectedly difficult to handle for a few minutes. But as long as they weathered this phase and waited for their stamina to deplete, they would become much easier to deal with.
Shen Cheng Hai Bo, from the players to the club’s upper management, valued this promotion opportunity highly. Just two days ago, Lv Liwei had been summoned to the youth training manager’s office, where the leadership conveyed the club chairman’s attention to the matter.
Thinking of this, Lv Liwei stood up and shouted a few instructions to his players on the field, telling them to stabilize first, avoid the opponents’ sharp momentum, and then launch a counterattack.
Lin Wanxing had been eavesdropping on the opposing bench.
Hearing the opponents’ plan to stabilize, she immediately looked at Wang Fa.
Wang Fa also glanced at her.
“It seems our tactics have deceived them for now?”
“How can you call it deception?” Wang Fa chuckled.
Lin Wanxing knew very well that Hongjing No. 8 Middle School had been in a precarious position during that aggressive phase. Despite their fierce momentum, they lacked coordination and had many vulnerabilities.
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