The cheers at the Provincial Sports Center were much smaller than before. After the initial excitement, everyone became nervous now, worried that the penalty kick would not be scored - although penalty kicks are known as the best way to score goals in football matches,
But it is not uncommon for players to be unable to withstand the pressure at critical moments and miss penalty kicks.
Precisely because penalty kicks are so easy to score, every player standing at the penalty spot is under tremendous pressure.
Therefore, the Flash Star fans quickly calmed down and did not dare to continue cheering for fear of losing their character.
The players on the Golden Arrow had already exited the penalty area. They protested and argued, but they could not change the referee's decision.
The Flash Star players also stood outside the penalty area.
There are only three people in the penalty area now, one is Golden Arrow goalkeeper Zheng Donglin, one is the referee, and the other is Hu Lai.
He is the top penalty taker of the Stars.
He had already placed the football on the penalty spot, retreated to a suitable distance for a run-up, and was waiting for the referee to blow the whistle.
Then he took the time to look back towards the coaching bench of Dashun Golden Arrow on the sidelines and saw Wang Xianke standing on the sidelines.
When a penalty kick was awarded just now, Wang Xianke, who was still sitting on the coach's bench with his legs crossed, rushed to the sidelines in excitement and yelled at the referee, seemingly saying that Chen Xingyi had dived.
Hu Lai thought to himself, fortunately, Xiaoxing has decided to renew the lease for another season, otherwise it would be embarrassing to go back...
Then he grinned at the man and turned back.
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Wang Xianke stood on the sidelines, staring at the court nervously and unhappily, when he saw Hu Lai, who was standing behind the penalty spot, suddenly looked back.
Although there was no evidence, Wang Xianke just felt that the kid was looking at him.
He looked at himself and then smiled at himself?
Wang Xianke suddenly felt a little panicked - wouldn't that kid already know?
By the way, aren't there posts on the Internet that mention his relationship with his father? If he saw it, would he take this post and run to ask his father? How would Hu Lixin answer?
For a time, Wang Xianke became even more upset.
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Qin Lin stood outside the penalty area and looked at Hu Lai's back.
This is his third penalty kick this season. The previous two penalty kicks were scored without any suspense, and his performance can be said to be very stable.
But the sum of the first two penalty kicks cannot be compared with this penalty kick.
It was also a penalty kick, and the pressure he had to bear while standing at the penalty spot was completely different from before.
For Shining Star, this is an excellent opportunity. If this penalty kick can be kicked in, then Shining Star will still have hope to compete with Golden Arrow.
But if you can't kick it in...
The collapse may start from this moment.
Qin Lin has experienced too many such moments.
There have been similar situations in the history of Chinese football, where a penalty kick may change the fate of a country's football.
But it is a pity that at those turning points of fate, the people standing at the penalty spot failed to withstand the mountain-like pressure.
Of course, what Hu Lai is facing now is not the expectations and pressure of the entire country, but the eyes of fans across the province are not light either.
Can his thin body bear it?
Thinking of this, he took half a step forward and stepped on the line of the penalty area with one foot.
He was ready to rush in immediately.
"Brother Lin."
At this moment, he heard Zhang Qinghuan calling him in a low voice beside him.
He turned to look at the latter.
"That kid is fine." Zhang Qinghuan stood half a meter behind him, with his arms crossed and no intention of coming up to prepare for a follow-up shot.
"Even if he is the enemy of the whole world, he is not afraid."
Qin Lin withdrew his gaze and turned to look at the back again.
He couldn't see Hu Lai's face and didn't know what the boy's expression was at this moment.
But after listening to Zhang Qinghuan's words, he still stepped back slightly and moved his feet away from the white penalty area line.
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A close-up shot of Hu Lai appeared on the television broadcast.
Standing in front of the penalty spot, he was staring at the goal in front of him.
In the camera, his eyes are sharp, his brows are slightly furrowed, and his expression is solemn.
Xie Zelin couldn't help but muttered: "I'm so nervous at the critical moment..."
Peng Hao put his hand in front of his lips: "Shh!"
Being treated like this by his junior generation was like being slapped in the face. Xie Zelin was very unhappy and couldn't bear it and wanted to scold him.
But at this moment, he heard the commentator He Feng on the TV sighing: "There are knives in these eyes!"
He looked at the screen in astonishment. There was still a close-up of Hu Lai's face on it, and the camera focused on his eyes.
The light from the stadium's night lights reflected in his pupils, shining brightly.
It's as if there is a real sword light hidden in it.
Xie Zelin was stunned.
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Hu Lixin was sitting on the sofa, and his wife was holding his hand so tightly that it hurt.
He could even feel the sweat on his wife's palms.
He wanted to comfort his wife, but didn't know what to say.
So he pursed his lips tightly.
The previously noisy Provincial Sports Center fell silent on the TV.
In this quiet environment, the whistle sounded particularly clear.
When the whistle sounded, Hu Lai took a running start!
He ran to the football.
Zheng Donglin in front of the goal line stared at Hu Lai's feet, and then discovered that if he followed this pace, Hu Lai would shoot with... his left foot!
Left foot?
Zheng Donglin was stunned for a moment.
I've never heard of him shooting with his left foot...
Before the game, he watched the video of Hu Lai's only two penalty kicks, both of which were done with his right foot...
Why did you suddenly switch to using your left foot?
He secretly practiced his left foot and then kept it hidden until this time to use it?
Just when Zheng Donglin was having various thoughts in his mind, he saw Hu Lai kicking the football with his left foot!
So he ignored those thoughts, took a step forward to shorten the distance between himself and the football, widened the angle of blocking the shot, and then rushed to his left and Hu Lai's right - according to his prediction, Hu Lai
If he shoots with his left foot, he will most likely kick the football to his right, because that is the safest way for a player who is not very skilled with his left foot to shoot!
But just as he was throwing the ball out, he saw Hu Lai's left foot swinging past the football!
He missed the kick!
No!
Immediately afterwards, he found that his right foot, which was supposed to be the supporting foot, was shrugging behind, and the football suddenly came out and rolled towards the goal on Zheng Donglin's right...
He completely went in the opposite direction!
The ball was not fast, but he was helpless as it was still in the air. He had nowhere to use his strength, so he had no way to turn around in the air and then pounce back.
He could only look back and watch the football bouncing forward on the turf, while praying in his heart, hoping that the ball would miss the goal...
Under the gaze of Zheng Donglin, under the gaze of the players from both sides behind Hu Lai, under the gaze of 60,000 fans in the audience, and under the gaze of countless viewers in front of the TV.
The football rolled into the Dashun Golden Arrow goal.
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"Hulai runs...shoots..."
Hu Lai's kick not only deceived Zheng Donglin, but also almost broke the back of the commentator He Feng.
He was surprised at what he saw when he realized that the football had entered the goal!
"The ball went in!!!" he shouted, raising his arms.
"The ball is scored! Hu Lai!" The commentator of Anton TV was in the commentary box at the scene. He was a bit far away and could not see Hu Lai's shooting action very clearly, so there was no such problem.
He only saw the football flying into the goal, and then saw Hu Lai running towards the corner flag with his arms open...
"Good goal!!" Peng Hao shouted loudly in front of the TV, which startled Xie Zelin, who was stunned. His whole body shivered and he almost jumped up from his chair.
Then he tried to turn around and express his anger and disgust to Peng Hao with his eyes, but when he turned his head, he found that Peng Hao was waving his fist at him with a ferocious face.
His eyes shrank back...
In the entire living room, not only Peng Hao, but also other people, such as his sister, were clapping their hands and laughing.
As for his old father, he sat on the sofa and didn't move, but judging from his rosy face, it was clear that he must be very excited.
He just looked around and found that everyone around him was cheering, even his son and wife...
He suddenly became a loner.
This made Xie Zelin very uncomfortable. He was a little confused amidst everyone's cheers.
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Xie Lan screamed and threw her husband on the sofa, then pointed at the TV screen and shouted to Hu Lixin: "He is your son! He is your son!"
As she yelled, Hu Lixin, who was lying on the sofa, tilted his head and watched the TV.
The broadcast screen happened to be cut to the camera at the top of the stands of the Provincial Sports Center. From his angle, the trembling screen looked like the Provincial Sports Center had collapsed.
Hu Lai's goal turned heaven and earth upside down...
"...Listen to the cheers from the Andong Provincial Sports Center Stadium, it's like thunder!" Commentator He Feng's voice came through the noisy background sound. "Although this goal cannot make the Stars win in the total score
Taking the lead, but it can bring hope! When Flash Star fans felt the darkest, helpless, and desperate, he hit each other with stones, ignited the withered grass with the sparks that burst out, and ignited the first place in the dark night.
Make a bonfire..."
In his lyrical explanation, Hu Lai jumped high and then fell steadily, completing the celebration.
Then he turned around and opened his arms to greet his teammates who were rushing towards him.
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Zhang Qinghuan and Chen Xingyi took the lead and rushed towards Hu Lai. They pounced on each other, one on the left and the other on the right, sandwiching Hu Lai in the middle.
When Hu Lai took the penalty kick, Wang Guangwei, as the central defender, was at the back to prevent possible counterattacks from the opponent.
After seeing Hu Lai score, he rushed forward immediately.
But they still couldn't get ahead of Zhang Qinghuan, Chen Xingyi and the others who were near the water tower.
Running on the way to celebrate, looking at that scene, Wang Guangwei suddenly remembered that a year ago, he, Zhang Qinghuan, and Hu Lai took the bus to train for the last time - after that, because Zhang Qinghuan showed off his identity, they
I can no longer take the bus to the training base.
Both he and Zhang Qinghuan complained that everyone didn't understand professional players. In fact, behind the shiny professional players there were endless complaints and anguish.
Only Hu Lai said that they were full men and did not know hungry men were hungry.
These words were quite offensive, but both he and Zhang Qinghuan laughed.
Hu Lai, who shouted in front of them, "No matter how much it costs, I will succeed" was like a child who said, "When I grow up, I want to be a scientist/athlete/artist/singer/astronaut...".
Childish?
It's quite childish, because only children who don't understand anything can have so many dreams.
When children grow older and gradually realize that dreams are not so easy to realize, and they must fully consider the difficulties of reality, they grow up.
But is this a kind of maturity or a kind of begging for mercy?
Wang Guangwei suddenly understood why Zhang Qinghuan would express his envy to Hu Lai and let him continue to do so, hoping that he would always be a boy and stay young forever.
Maybe it's because Brother Huan can no longer be a teenager, so he envies Hu Lai who still has so many longings for the future.
When Brother Huan was called the number one genius in Chinese football, did he have the same mentality as Hu Lai?
I feel like the world is big, but with my ability, there’s no place I can’t go to?
I once dreamed of going to the end of the world with my sword, making great achievements and becoming famous, leading the Chinese team to go out of Asia and to the world. I am proud of my horse's hoof, what should I be afraid of when I am young and frivolous...
Of course, in the end, all the crazy people died, all the awesome people collapsed, and all the ignorant people became silent (Note 1).
Brother Huan, such an awesome genius, finally lost to reality, this cruel world and fate, and had to kneel down and beg for mercy.
On that sunny bus stop, he must have seen the light of dreams shining in Hu Lai, and also saw the difference between Hu Lai and himself. That sentence was his emotion and his gift to him.
Hu Lai’s blessings.
I want to be a boy forever and stay young forever, Hu Lai.
And we, your teammates, will always be proud of you...
Wang Guangwei dove into the celebrating crowd.
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Note 1: This passage is quoted from Pu Shu's "Forever Young", and the title of this chapter is also taken from the lyrics of this song.