Super Prophecy Master

Chapter 319 Goals and Penalties

Villa Park Stadium.

In the first game of the FA Cup semi-final, the match between Millwall and Middlesbrough has begun.

Middlesbrough took the lead in launching an offensive. After two consecutive offensives, nearly 2 minutes had passed. Then Millwall held the ball steadily and launched a wave of frontal advancement.

This wave of advancement is opened from the middle.

Smicer and Livermore cooperated to find Darren Bent in front, Darren Bent returned the point to Braniff, Braniff made a pass from outside the penalty area to the right, and Livermore followed up with a kick The bombardment directly threatened Middlesbrough's goal, but goalkeeper Schwarzer made a timely save and put the ball in his arms.

"This is the first kick threat of the game! From Millwall midfielder Livermore."

"Livermore's long-range shooting has already played a signature and characteristic. Statistics show that this season, Livermore has used long-range shooting to score nine goals. His long-range threat has already caught up, or Overtook Lampard!"

"That's pretty amazing data!"

"Millwall can play a threat with a wave of counterattacks. It can also be seen that their strength is a very important factor for them to rank first in the league. However, Middlesbrough's opening performance is also good. The previous two offensives in a row, Also hit the front of the box and threatened Millwall's defence...”

"..."

At the beginning of the game, the two teams can be said to be evenly matched.

Middlesbrough fans also became active. When the media talked about the game before the game, they thought there was no suspense, saying that Millwall would definitely win.

The media reports mainly give McLaren a negative opinion, but Middlesbrough fans have a different point of view. The recent results of Middlesbrough are indeed disappointing, but McLaren's coaching work in Middlesbrough is overall good. The statement was considered a success, and they did not have any ill feeling towards McLaren. Instead, many fans wished from the bottom of their hearts that McLaren could lead England to achieve good results.

For this game, Middlesbrough fans still feel very bad. They don't want to hear the remarks that 'Millwall must win'. The time before the game also proves that Middlesbrough has a chance.

Seeing that Middlesbrough performed well, they also had higher expectations for the game.

Zhang Yang sat on the coach's bench and watched the game seriously. He was also very satisfied with the previous game, mainly because the team's defense was good and Middlesbrough was not given a chance.

As for playing a 'equal share'?
It's actually quite normal.

Millwall's overall tactics are still conservative, and the tactics are arranged before the game, and the emphasis is still on defense.

This is a must.

If they meet Middlesbrough in the league, even if it is an away game, Zhang Yang will definitely let the team play more openly, and scoring goals as soon as possible will also make the team play more easily.

But it's not the league, it's the cup, it's the FA Cup!

The FA Cup is a game-determined competition system, even if it is the semi-finals. The winner is determined in one game. If there is a tie in 10 minutes, there will be extra time. If there is a tie after overtime, a penalty will be kicked.

In short, the winner must be decided.

In this kind of cup competition, stability becomes very important. It is like many people complaining that 'the Champions League final is the most boring'. The fact is also true. In a game that determines the outcome, both sides will play very well. Conservative, lest there be any irreparable mistakes, the opponent's not scoring is more important than one's own scoring.

As long as the opponent does not score, the team remains invincible. Even if it is delayed to overtime or a penalty shootout, there is still a chance to win.

This is the basic principle of deploying tactics.

The tactics formulated by the coaching staff are also based on this principle. The style of play requires that the two central defenders not be inserted, and the defense of the backcourt should be guaranteed at any time, so that there is no worry about attacking.

On the field, the two teams fought fiercely.

Both Millwall and Middlesbrough want to win. There is no conflict between the coaches of the two sides, but it does not mean that the two sides can "play peacefully".

In the first 10 minutes of the game, the referee called five timeouts, all because of player fouls.

Middlesbrough midfielder Jerome Boateng has already received his first yellow card because he defended Morris too much. Livermore was also given a serious warning because he squeezed the opposing player during the fight.

The two teams played angry.

Judging from the situation of the game, Middlesbrough and Millwall presented a situation of equal offense and defense, but Millwall's offensive efficiency was significantly higher. They quickly had two direct shots, and both hit the goal. Within the range of the goal frame, Middlesbrough didn't even have a threatening shot, and so far they haven't been able to get the ball into the penalty area.

The gap in offensive efficiency between the two teams has also strengthened Middlesbrough's confrontation. Their players are not stingy with small movements on the court, and the movements of Millwall players have also increased.

Seeing that the competition was getting stronger and stronger, Zhang Yang and McLaren had completely different reactions.

Zhang Yang was a little worried.

Intense confrontation in the game can easily lead to injury, and may also lead to accidents. In addition, if players are obsessed with confrontation, it is difficult to maintain their mentality and their overall performance will also be affected.

McLaren had the opposite idea.

McLaren's judgment on the game, like the media, also believes that Middlesbrough's winning percentage is not high, but his judgment is not based on recent results or his own coaching emphasis, but the strength gap between the two teams. Millwall's performance is too strong, the league can double kill Chelsea and Arsenal, it is very difficult for Middlesbrough to beat this kind of team.

But if the confrontation increases, the "anger" of the two sides will increase, and the game will also change. When the players really kick out the anger, the strength and cooperation will be put aside, and there will be many uncertainties in the outcome of the game.

This is in favor of the 'weak' Middlesbrough.

McLaren's idea is good, but when the referee is tough, let him know that it is impossible for the game to evolve into a fierce confrontation. From the 10th minute to the No. 20th minute of the game, the referee showed two more yellow cards. Middlesbrough Fortress defender Gareth Southgate and Millwall winger Braniff received strong warnings respectively, especially Braniff's yellow card, which was a bit unfair. He just raised his foot fiercely when grabbing the ball and kicked the opponent. The possibility of the player was warned by the referee with a yellow card.

The referee's tough approach also calmed down the players on the field, and both players restrained their movements a bit.

Zhang Yang also took a long breath.

When the two sides continue to confront each other, the pressure brought by Middlesbrough is still not small. If the game continues like this for a long time, the players will definitely become more irrational. Millwall has the upper hand, so there is no need to constantly fight with the opponent. Fight your body.

Next, the two sides also entered the stage of 'fighting technology'.

Millwall began to show a high-efficiency offensive mode. Their high efficiency is mainly reflected in the personal ability of striker Darren Bent and the coordination ability of midfielders Smichel and Jody Morris. The contributions of Josh Simpson and Braniff are not small. Braniff personally breaks through with the ball and can easily provide support for the center. Josh Simpson frequently inserts, and he is almost equal to half a striker.

In terms of ball possession time and the number of goals scored, there is not much difference between Millwall and Middlesbrough, but the efficiency of the two sides is not at the same level. The media and fans soon discovered this. The British BBC TV commentator , Analyzing the game situation based on data, "Millwall has six shots and four shots hit the goal frame. So far, Middlesbrough has only two shots and has not yet created a threat."

"There is a big gap in frontcourt efficiency between the two sides. Middlesbrough seems to be unable to break through Millwall's defense..."

Millwall's frontcourt efficiency also made Middlesbrough feel the crisis. They had to strengthen their defense to deal with it, but some offense was sacrificed in this way.

When the game progressed to No. 30 minutes, Millwall had already controlled the situation on the field, with more possession time and more attacks than Middlesbrough.

The Middlesbrough media also began to worry, "I hope Middlesbrough can keep the goal and find a chance to complete the goal!"

"But judging from the current situation, Millwall's performance is very strong. Maybe Middlesbrough should also attack strongly? But it's not bad to be able to hold the halftime. It's not easy for Millwall to score..."

Of course, the media's suggestions and suggestions are meaningless. They will not affect Middlesbrough's performance at all, nor will they change the judgment of McLaren and Middlesbrough players on the game.

No. 40 minutes into the first half, Middlesbrough's offensive ended, Millwall stabilized the formation and launched a frontal advance.

This is not the first time.

Millwall's continuous offensive before did not break Middlesbrough's goal, but they must also pay attention to it, because Millwall can hit the front of the penalty area every time, and every time it can bring a threat.

Middlesbrough's emphasis did not hinder anything, because Millwall played smoothly and cooperated, and individual players also exploded with strong personal abilities.

No one expected that it was Smiccher who broke out!
Smicer is a veteran. After leaving Liverpool, many people think that the Czechs' choice to join Millwall must be the last stop of the Premier League, and it is also considered to be a 'team entering retirement'.

The same is true of star players in general.

After leaving a wealthy team, joining a small club, it is difficult to perform well, and then "didling" for two or three seasons, and waited for the day when he retired.

Smicer will certainly not retire early, but leaving Millwall, he will almost certainly return to the Czech Republic.

That's basically like retirement.

No one is optimistic about what Smicer can do in Millwall. It is already very good to be able to maintain a normal state, but unexpectedly, Smicer has become the core player of Millwall and will soon follow the ball. The team won the Premier League title.

Incredible!
Smicer himself found it incredible, and he also felt that choosing to join Millwall was the most correct decision. His state did not fall, but ushered in another peak.

Now to the FA Cup semi-finals, Smicer also hopes to have a good performance.

This time, after getting the ball at the center line, Smicer turned his head and looked at the position of his teammates. He seemed to be about to pass the ball. Parlor and Hasselbaink came to block one after the other, but Smicer Er chose to take the ball by himself, but he suddenly moved the ball forward, and Parlor was left behind before he could react.

Next up is Boateng.

The young Boateng has proven his ability in the Premier League, but he is still too immature. Smicer just made a small change of direction, cheated Boateng with his upper body movements, and continued to push the ball forward bring.

After breaking through Parlor and Boateng in a row, Smicer had an empty space in front of him. He continued to move forward for ten meters, and the opponent's defender Southgate had to step forward facing the scalp.

At this time, Smicer passed the ball.

Southgate has been marking Darren Bent. After he went up, his teammate Eshiogu went to cover the defense. During the defensive rotation of the players, Josh Simpson who was plugged in was left unguarded. See Smicer Taking the chance, he found Braniff.

The football rushed to the left side of the penalty area.

Braniff ran forward, swung his right foot comfortably, and kicked hard behind the ball.

"Oh!"

"Shoot—!"

Middlesbrough goalkeeper Schwarzer flew to save, and by the time he got to the right position, the football had already flown over.

"Goooooooooooal!!!"

"The ball is in!"

"Braniff broke the deadlock for Millwall! 1 to 0! Millwall leads Middlesbrough!"

The British BBC TV commentator made an excited voice, announcing the goal to all the goals.

Millwall has the advantage.

In a game that decides the outcome, being able to score a goal first, especially the goal at the end of the first half, has an obvious advantage. The difference in scores can put pressure on the opponent, and it is a psychological advantage for the players. It's more important than the goal itself.

Then Middlesbrough has troubles.

Should they attack?
Or continue to defend firmly?

It is difficult to grasp the emphasis on putting into the game, and it will also affect the mentality of the players, which will affect the performance of the players.

Braniff's goal was too important.

When Zhang Yang saw the goal, he had a smile on his face, and his expression was obviously much more relaxed. But when the game restarted and he used "precognition" to judge the situation, his expression became a little weird, but more excited, so At the same time, he also got up and walked to the sidelines, as if he wanted to watch the game up close.

The camera captured this scene, "Zhang Yang walked to the sidelines. In previous games, it was rare for Zhang Yang to be on the sidelines in person. Most of the time, he would rather sit and watch the game with a deck of cards in his hand. ...that's interesting, it seems to have become his personality..."

When the British BBC TV commentator talked about it, the screen also showed a picture of Zhang Yang playing poker. That kind of concentration made people feel that he was completely immersed in "playing" instead of focusing on the fierce competition on the field.

After 2 minutes, the commentator gave a fierce commentary.

Millwall played a wonderful cooperation. The football was sent to the penalty area after seven feet. Siogu made a stretching movement, which happened to be stuck in front of Bent's right leg, and the legs of the two came into contact. Bent couldn't maintain his balance, and fell sideways on the grass.

"Beep..."

The referee blew the whistle for a timeout, stepped forward and showed Exiogu a yellow card without hesitation.

It's all too obvious what that means.

The next moment the referee pointed to the penalty spot and signaled Millwall to take a penalty kick.

Penalty!
Zhang Yang was not surprised to see this scene, but he was a little worried about Darren Bent's body. Fortunately, Bent stood up quickly, stretched his body and waved to his teammates to indicate that he was fine.

Then Darren Bent made a free throw and kicked a shot to the right, directly through the Middlesbrough gate.

2 is better than 0!

In less than 5 minutes, the situation of the game has changed.

(End of this chapter)