Although Baldo's explosive shot was blocked by the crossbar, it stimulated Levante's desire to attack.
In the following time, they launched a wave of attacks on Santa Malaga.
In the 43rd minute of the first half, Levante took advantage of Santa Malaga's passing error near the midfield, stole the football, and immediately launched a quick counterattack.
Xavi Torres made a very penetrating through ball. Baldo moved to meet the ball, made a beautiful change of direction, got rid of Zucculini's personal defense, and shot furiously from outside the penalty area!
It's a pity that he failed to control his footwork when shooting and fired the anti-aircraft cannon.
They made a comeback two minutes later and launched an attack from the left. Venta passed the football to the penalty area near the sideline, and Pedro Lopez from the front point pushed the ball!
The football was blocked from the bottom line by Barris Addo's heroic stretch of his foot!
Levante won a corner kick opportunity, and full-back Juanfran sent the football into the penalty area to pose a threat. Baldo beat Baris Ado to header the goal!
Like a divine help, Miguel lifted the football over the crossbar in a thrilling manner!
Levante won a corner kick again, but this time they failed to form a direct shot. Zucculini pushed the football out of the penalty area!
Farinos shot from outside the penalty area and the ball went over the crossbar again!
Shortly after the game restarted, the referee blew the whistle to end the first half, and Santa Malaga finally breathed a sigh of relief.
The Malaga TV commentator said: "After falling behind, Levante launched a wave of attacks towards Santa Malaga, continuously created shooting opportunities, and exerted strong pressure on the Santa Malaga goal. Santa Malaga
The goal is in danger.
However, Santa Malaga finally withstood the pressure and kept the goal!
In the last period of the first half, Levante showed that they are ranked fourth in La Liga. If they are given a few more minutes, they might be able to break through Santa Malaga's goal!
At the end of the first half, Santa Malaga used their best counterattack and relied on young player Li Chao's personal ability to create a scoring opportunity.
Youngster Li lived up to the expectations of his supporters and put the ball into Levante's goal, giving Santa Malaga the lead!
Throughout the first half of the game, Santa Malaga gave us too many surprises.
They changed their conservative tactics in the Copa del Rey and went into a fierce battle with Levante. For a time, they were evenly matched!
This is very surprising.
Although there weren’t many exciting scenes in the first half, we can’t deny that this was a wonderful matchup, and we hope Santa Malaga can surprise us in the second half!”
The group of reporters on the sidelines watched the players from both sides exit the court and return to the locker room, and began a heated discussion.
"Do you think Santa Malaga can perform another miracle tonight?"
"I think... it's difficult! It can be seen from the last stage of the first half that Santa Malaga has no power to parry, and Levante has the upper hand after all.
As time goes by, this advantage will become bigger and bigger and eventually turn into a winning streak."
"Levante had really bad luck tonight. They failed to score a single goal and hit the crossbar with a blast. However, I think they should get better in the second half. Santa Malaga wants to create a miracle again...it's unlikely!"
"Saint Malaga have consumed a lot of physical energy by fighting for every inch of ground in the first half. After all, they are only a D-level team. In the second half, their physical fitness cannot keep up. How can they compete with Levante?"
The press group still has confidence in Levante.
…
The atmosphere in the home team's dressing room was lively. This was their most exciting half-time game in the Copa del Rey.
Based on the situation in the first half, Santa Malaga redefined the strategy for the second half - defensive counterattack
The atmosphere in the visiting team's locker room was a bit depressing.
Head coach Ignacio Martinez encouraged the players: "Stick to our style of play and I believe we will have a good result."
Ignacio Martinez continued to do the thinking work of the players: "We created a lot of opportunities at the end of the first half. If we are given a little more time, I believe we can definitely break their goal!"
Core midfielder Xavi Torres looked at his teammates and said: "What the coach said makes sense, can't we even win against a D-level team?"
The players thought about it and thought it made sense. Yes, we are a top league team, the opponent is just a D-level team, and we are playing with all our main players tonight.
You can defeat them in any fight.
After the psychological problem was resolved, the atmosphere in the locker room became more relaxed.
Seeing that the psychological problem was solved, Ignacio Martinez immediately made fine-tuning tactics: "The most powerful thing about the opponent is quick counterattack, especially their vanguard, which is very fast. We must be careful, and it is best to counterattack in the first place."
Solve the problem as soon as you hit the target..."
…
After a fifteen-minute intermission, the players from both sides returned to the court, and neither head coach made any adjustments to the lineup.
"Beep!..."
As the referee blew his whistle, the game began. Levante, who took the lead in serving, moved the football to the backcourt.
The Santa Malaga fans in the stands roared loudly: "Santa Malaga!"
“Santa Malaga!”
“Santa Malaga!”
Amid the cheers of the supporters, the three forwards immediately crossed the half court to press.
Levante's defenders did not panic and patiently poured the ball in the backcourt. They wanted to draw out Santa Malaga.
Santa Malaga's three forwards pressed hard, forcing the opponent to move the football to the midfield.
I don’t know if it was because the field was slippery, but Farinos fell while receiving a pass from his teammate!
How could Pablo miss such an opportunity and take two steps forward to control the football.
The reporters on the sidelines were stunned. Levante made such an amateurish mistake?!
Santa Malaga's three forwards immediately moved into position, with Li Chuanqi moving to the wing and Liage moving to the center.
The Malaga TV commentator shouted: "The opportunity for Santa Malaga to counterattack quickly has come!
Captain Pablo has the ball under control and the three forwards are moving quickly!"
"Snapped!……"
Pablo immediately passed the ball and the football flew straight towards Liag who was moving towards the center!
Li Chuanqi once again had a strong premonition: Liag would not stop the ball this time and would directly pass the ball to him.
And it’s a pass with a lot of advance!
So he responded immediately and began to rush forward at high speed.
"Snapped!……"
The next moment, Liage did not stop the ball!
A small diagonal kick with his right foot, and the football passed between Levante's left back and left center back!
The football flew in front of Li Chuanqi who was advancing at high speed!
Damn, the sense of tacit understanding is so strong?
The crowd of reporters on the sidelines became excited, could another goal be scored?!
Li Chuanqi started galloping like a wild horse. Taking advantage of his early start, he surpassed Levante left back Juanfran in two steps and stretched out his right foot to control the football!
Levante's left center back Ballesteros immediately made up the defense.
Li Chuanqi dunked his right foot past Ballesteros, who was defending, and then pushed the football forward with the inside of his left foot!
Ballesteros lost his center of gravity and fell onto the slippery turf!
"It's down! It's down!"
Li Xiaofeng pointed at Ballesteros who fell on the ground and said in surprise: "Brother knocked him down!"
"pretty!"
"Wonderful!"
Li Chuanqi's entire movement was very coherent, and the football seemed to stick to his feet, which caused a burst of cheers from the supporters.
The Malaga TV commentator shouted: "Lee!
It's Lee again!
He broke through the defending Ballesteros!
This is a wonderful breakthrough, sharply tearing apart Levante's last line of defense!"
Single sword!
Another single sword!
Here’s the chance for Santa Malaga to extend their lead!”
There was dead silence on the Levante bench, and head coach Ignacio Martinez stared wide-eyed, no way...
When did our defense become so vulnerable?!
On the court, Li Chuanqi followed the football into the penalty area and calmly pushed the ball with his left foot in the face of Munua's attack!
This time he didn't hit the goalkeeper past the goalkeeper because the gap on the opponent's right was too obvious.
The football passed through Munua's right side and then flew along the turf towards the left side of the goal!
The Santa Malaga supporters in the stands began to inhale sharply, and they were brewing a big storm.
When the football rolled across the goal line and into the net, the Rose Garden stadium erupted.
The Malaga TV commentator shouted: "Lee!
plum!
plum!
The ball went in!
The ball went in!
In!
In!
In!..."
Two to zero!
Santa Malaga extends its lead!
This was a lightning goal. Just two minutes into the second half, Santa Malaga launched a wonderful quick counterattack!
This counterattack started from the midfield and was initiated by captain Pablo!
After Pablo took control of the football, he immediately launched a counterattack with a direct pass!
Liag's direct pass made Santa Malaga's counterattack even faster!
His wonderful pass directly tore apart Levante's defense!
The young player Li relied on his speed advantage to get rid of Juanfran, then knocked down Ballesteros and pushed the football into the penalty area to create a murderous opportunity!
His calm push made Munua look at the ball with excitement!
Another counterattack!
In this game, Santa Malaga perfectly presented its tactical characteristics to the world!
Regardless of the result of tonight's game, they have shocked the world!"
Li Chuanqi did not celebrate after scoring the goal, but pointed to Liage who passed the ball to him.
Then the two hugged each other, and Liage slapped Li Chuanqi hard on the back: "Well done! That's it, kill them!"
The second half had just begun and they were already two goals behind, putting huge pressure on Levante.