Football: My AI System Provides Max-Level Predictions
Chapter 151 - 128: Hard to Hold Back! This Sneak Attack Sparks Internal Conflict Among the Opponents!

Chapter 151: Chapter 128: Hard to Hold Back! This Sneak Attack Sparks Internal Conflict Among the Opponents!

So a strange phenomenon appeared on the field.

Clearly, it was Bonazzoli who scored the goal.

The assist was from Yuto Nagatomo.

Yet all the Inter players rushed toward Tang Long!

They shouted, screamed, and jostled Tang Long in celebration!

These professional players obviously understood the game.

Everyone could see clearly that without Tang Long’s precise pass finding Nagatomo who was advancing, Bonazzoli’s goal wouldn’t have happened.

When facing the opponent’s goalkeeper and defenders in the box, Nagatomo’s fake shot and real pass were indeed brilliant.

But if it weren’t for Tang Long, who was about to lose ball possession under the encirclement of three Samp players and unexpectedly made an astonishing through ball, none of what followed would have been possible!

The timer at Meazza stadium moved from 69:59 to 70:00!

Inter Milan took the lead, 2:1!

As soon as the goal was scored, Sampdoria’s coach Mikhailovic was furious.

I haven’t even started targeting your left-side attack, and yet you managed to take the lead?

From the 65th to the 70th minute, Inter Milan attacked for only 5 minutes, and we conceded a goal!

And before that, Samp’s fierce attack on Inter Milan for 15 minutes was unable to break through the goal.

This can’t be! Judging by the players’ performance on the field, there shouldn’t be such a contrast in results!

"What the hell, how did it come to this, what did I tell you guys before the match," Mikhailovic was losing his composure, yelling at his captain Palombo, "Didn’t I tell you to keep a close eye on Tang Long? How are you commanding, Palombo, can you handle it?"

Palombo was already angry because of the conceded goal, and now being yelled at by his own coach in front of everyone only made him angrier.

Is it my fault for this goal?

The situation called for charging up, indeed.

And didn’t you say before the game to keep a close eye on Tang Long?

I sent three people to block him.

As a captain, what else could I do?

Blame Tang Long then, his pass was simply too good. I couldn’t help it; you should blame the defenders and the goalkeeper who got fooled by Nagatomo!

Palombo glared at Mikhailovic fiercely, reluctant to act out because he was the captain, so he simply waved his hand and turned away.

The Inter players on the bench were also cheering loudly, and assistant coach Herrera hugged coach Mancini.

"Boss, you’re still amazing. We shouldn’t have subbed the friend out. Oh, I apologize for suggesting we sub him off in midfield."

Mancini laughed and pushed Herrera away: "You must be getting senile, the key is not Nagatomo, but Tang."

As soon as the ball went in, Sampdoria was hanging by a thread.

The celebration of Inter’s players and Samp’s kickoff delayed another two or three minutes.

Now there were only about 20 minutes left for Sampdoria to turn the game around at Meazza, or at least equalize!

The Sailor Corps lacked depth; to retreat with dignity from Meazza, they only had to launch a fierce attack.

"Darn it, we can’t let Mancini look down on us. We beat you 3:0 at home, so why should we lose away? I’m really unwilling!" Mika ground his molars to bits.

Driven by the obsession to double defeat Inter Milan, in the 75th minute, Mikhailovic subbed out the exhausted Regini and brought in striker Jorgjevic.

minutes later, ignoring his assistant’s objections, he subbed off midfielder Akwa and brought another Argentine forward, Joaquin Correa.

Counting Eto’o, Munir, and Eder still on the field, Sampdoria suddenly had five strikers.

This top-heavy lineup was something Mikhailovic had never done before.

This arrangement even made Zhang Lu laugh: "Ha ha, looks like Mikhailovic is as stubborn as a mule, determined to beat Inter at Meazza. Fielding five strikers at once, this desperate playstyle, in the typically conservative Serie A, I’ve been commentating for 20 years and this is the first time I’ve seen it."

"Mancini used to like doing that too," He Wei added, "switching to strikers when trailing, seems like Mika and Mancini still have some connection."

"Not quite, not quite," Zhang Lu shook his head with a smile, "there must be a limit, right? The most I’ve seen Mancini switch to was four strikers in a game, but with five," Zhang Lu knocked on the table, "no need to watch, Samp will concede again soon, the score will definitely change."

Chinese fans loved listening to Zhang Lu’s football commentary because this football person was not just a commentator on TV; he was often a master of tactical analysis and game predictions.

His predictions on the match’s trajectory were often spot on as soon as he spoke.

Sure enough, he hit the mark again!

In the 85th minute of the second half, Bonazzoli, who had been wrestling with the opponent’s two center-backs all game long, was still full of fighting spirit.

That goal, which broke the deadlock, filled the 18-year-old prodigy with confidence.

He thought, "I can play in Serie A!"

This time, he got a rare connection with Tang Long.

He leaned on center-back Romario, trapped the ball under his foot, and tried to turn around to bypass him.

Romario pulled Bonazzoli’s jersey, dragging him to the ground.

Inter Milan was awarded a free-kick in the attacking third.

Such a pity! Bonazzoli was full of regret; he glared at Romario. If it weren’t for the jersey pull, he could have easily gone past, directly facing the goalkeeper.

This set-piece was about 26 meters from the goal, a bit far, but slightly left of the center.

Still, for a right-footed player, it’s a good opportunity for a direct shot.

Currently, on Inter’s side, both Brozovic and Kovacic have decent free-kick skills. The two were discussing who should take the shot.

Sampdoria’s captain Palombo was nervously organizing the defense line.

"Goalkeeper, how many players do you need in the wall? Quickly, tell me!"

"Hold your positions, mark the flanks, prevent their sudden passes!"

"Pay attention to the wall, stay focused, keep your feet together, don’t leave any gaps!"

"Listen up, if you need to jump, jump! I won’t let anyone off if they avoid the ball!"

"Eto’o, step aside, you’re too short, get someone taller in the middle of the wall!"

Just as the Sampdoria players were tensely listening to their captain arranging the defense.

A figure suddenly took off and kicked the ball set on the ground!

Bang!

This shot had no curve, perfectly straight!

Through the gaps not yet arranged in Samp’s wall, it shot straight towards the goal.

Sampdoria’s goalkeeper Viviano still had one hand on the goalpost, squinting his eyes as he directed the steps of the wall.

Shwoosh!

He felt a gust stir the net behind him, turned sharply, only to see the ball bounce back off the net, lazily rolling to his feet.

"Ah, what... what happened here? Isn’t it not yet time for the free-kick?"

All the Sampdoria players were stunned in place.

Even the Inter players were taken aback.

Even the referee was momentarily frozen.

But a second later he reacted, whistling to signal the goal was valid.

"Haha, surprise attack successful!"

Tang Long laughed heartily, hands on hips, gazing upwards.

By now, his teammates had already reacted.

Everyone surrounded Tang Long again, patting his head, nudging his body, pulling his jersey.

Brozovic and Kovacic, who had been discussing who would take the free-kick, were now laughing heartily.

"Who gave you permission to take my free-kick? Tang, you can’t do that,"

said Brozovic.

Kovacic then jumped onto the crowded group from behind: "Next time, give us a heads up, okay?"

Tang Long simply smiled subtly upon hearing this; such surprises should be unknown to the opponent, and even to teammates, as long as he handled it alone.

Sampdoria players protested to the head referee, claiming Inter Milan took the free-kick without a whistle, thus the goal should be void.

However, the head referee staunchly refuted their claims:

"I didn’t indicate a whistle was necessary, this goal follows the rules without any issues."

Off the field, Mikhailovic was practically exploding with anger; he looked at Mancini beside him, who was also watching him.

Their gazes were equally cold, with sparks seemingly emitting from their eyes, clashing and spreading a burnt sensation in the air.

Mancini suddenly smiled, lifted his calf, and made a swinging ankle motion towards Mikhailovic.

Mikhailovic instantly tensed! This motion was all too familiar to him!

It instantly pulled his memory back over 20 years.

Back then, Mika and Mancini were teammates at Sampdoria; the young Mancini played as the number 9-and-a-half position, while Mikhailovic was the team’s central defender, training one-on-one against each other often.

Mancini, taking advantage of his agility and skillful footwork, loved using nutmegs to dribble past Mika.

As Mancini got close to Mika, he’d manipulate the ball back and forth, baiting Mika to move, then timing it perfectly to flick his ankle and nutmeg him!

Mika often got nutmegged by Mancini on the training ground, and for professional players, being nutmegged is deeply embarrassing, greeted only by laughter and mockery from teammates.

He was so infuriated later that he directly chased Mancini on the training field, wanting to hit him.

Funnily enough, Mancini was fast back then, while Mika couldn’t catch him; Mancini would keep running, turning back to repeatedly do the ankle flicking motion.

"Come catch me!"

Over 20 years later, as Sampdoria’s head coach, Mikhailovic stood in the coaching area, once again made the gesture by Mancini.

Old and new grievances converged together, a profound feeling of humiliation spread from his feet to his head, turning Mika’s face as red as a rotten tomato!

He aimed a furious kick at the water bottle at his feet, but it didn’t quell his anger, so he vented it onto his captain Palombo.

"Palombo, you’re such a waste, directing nonsense! Still directing the wall? Tang’s already kicked the ball, didn’t you see or notice?" Mikhailovic’s voice was so loud, stunning even the Samp substitute players watching him, pointing at his captain Palombo.

Veteran Palombo couldn’t bear it anymore, quickly ran off the field to the sideline, mirroring Mika by pointing at his nose.

"Keep cursing, you’ll be gone next season, the boss wants to sack you; let’s see who you curse then!"

The two immediately grappled together.

Mancini, however, hands in pockets, chewing gum and blowing bubbles, leisurely strolled around.

Assistant coach Herrera wanted to intervene, but was smilingly pulled back by Mancini.

Fight, keep fighting!

Conflict, keep the conflict going!

The more heated, the better; cameras are everywhere documenting the scene!

Haha, Mika, oh Mika, I’ll let you keep boasting~