"You did a good job in the first half. Although you conceded a goal, it was no big deal... Big Ben, don't take the goal to your heart!"
Not long after Laski scored, the first half ended.
After entering the locker room, Tony Clark comforted the team's center back Ben Grist.
Because it was his poor performance in the first half that gave London Bridge the chance to score.
"No one will make mistakes, and anyone can make mistakes. What is important is not the mistakes that have been made, but what will be done next. Do you want to be suppressed by that Deheli in the second half?"
Grist shook his head, but then showed an embarrassed look: "I don't hope, but I, boss..."
After Laski scored, he ran to the frontcourt to hug his teammates and celebrate.
It seemed that he wanted to use this method to vent all the pressure accumulated in his heart.
But he also knew very well that as long as he still had that yellow card on him, the pressure would never be truly released.
In the second half, because of this yellow card and his own characteristics, he will still be the target of London Bridge's key attacks.
"It doesn't matter, Ben. You can play normally in the second half." After Clark comforted him again, he turned to look at Morikawa Junpei and said to him in English:
"Morikawa, when Deheli goes to find trouble with Ben in the second half, you have to go over and help and use your flexibility and anticipation to stop him!"
Morikawa Junpei didn't speak when he heard this, but he nodded to show that he understood.
"Next, Jay."
Jay Adams puffs out his chest.
"When Morikawa goes to help Ben, you have to take on more tasks and be responsible for the defense in the middle. In addition, Peter, you have to come back to help..."
Williams nodded as well: "No problem, boss."
After adjusting the defense, Clark turned to Hu Lai: "Dominic has been in very good shape recently, and you were closely guarded by your opponents during the game. London Bridge's defense against you is stricter, which means that they are stricter against Dominic.
The defense is not that strict. So you need to sacrifice yourself a little during the game to create opportunities for Dominic. Just like you missed the ball in the first half, can you do it, Hu?"
Hu Lai nodded quickly: "Yes, yes, boss, I can! Forget about missing the ball, let me pass the ball directly to Dominic and assist, I can do it!"
Other team members also echoed: "Don't worry, boss, we will also pass more passes to Dominic!"
When Clark saw that everyone was so positive, he pretended not to know why they were doing this, and he pretended not to see the other people in the locker room winking at Dominic Lasky...
He just said with satisfaction: "That's good. We have the advantage in the total score, but we are only ahead by one goal, which is not safe. So in the second half, if there is a chance, we still have to try to score more goals!"
※※※
After halftime, on the way back to the court from the locker room, Ben Grist and his good friend Jay Adams walked together and hesitated several times.
Adams noticed this detail and asked: "If you have anything to say, you can tell me directly, Big Ben."
Grist then said: "I feel very sorry for putting an extra burden on you, Morikawa, and Peter..."
Adams patted him on the back hard when he heard this: "What are you talking about? We are a team, Ben. When I am not in my defensive position, don't you often step forward to help me fill my position? You
Do you think that’s a burden?”
Grist shook his head quickly: "No, that's what I should do, Jay..."
"So, this is what we should do, Ben! As a team, in order to win, we have a clear division of labor. But it doesn't mean that I can only be responsible for my part of the work. Don't think about the ones that are there and those that are not.
Just focus on the game..."
When Mohamed Dehli came out of the locker room and walked to the court, he happened to see Jay Adams carrying him out of the tunnel.
So he stared at the back, just like a hunter observing his prey.
He recalled what his head coach Stodd said to him at halftime:
"...He already has a yellow card on him. If you continue to put pressure on him in the second half, he will either make more moves against you and get a second yellow card and be sent off. Or he won't dare to take action and can only watch.
Let me let you break through! So you have to dare to make moves and break through, and don’t be afraid of losing the ball..."
Recalling these instructions from the head coach, Dehli smiled on his face.
He couldn't wait for the second half of the game to begin.
At this moment, he suddenly felt something in his heart and turned to look back.
Behind him, he saw the Japanese midfielder from Leeds City looking at him.
After seeing him turn around, he leaned slightly and bowed to him.
Dehli frowned, not understanding what the other party was doing.
※※※
The Flanders stadium was filled with boos.
On the pitch, London Bridge launched an attack and Dehli was dribbling towards Ben Grist.
Leeds City fans all know how the goal was conceded in the first half, and they also naturally know what Deheli is going to do.
They were using boos to disturb Dehli and express their dissatisfaction.
Dehli is not only rubbing salt into Leeds City's wounds, it also means that Leeds City's defense will once again be in a dangerous situation...
After all, Grist has a yellow card!
Deheli heard the boos, but instead of frightening or shrinking him, they excited him.
Because he knows that Leeds City is scared!
Those boos are the best proof!
Although he did not raise his head to observe, he believed that Ben Grist in front of him should also be scared.
He has a yellow card on him!
Thinking of this, Deheg used the outer instep of his right foot to gently move the football forward, approaching Grist further.
Grist was indeed a little nervous. He took a step back and distanced himself from Deheli again.
But he cannot retreat indefinitely.
Because behind him is Leeds City's penalty area. If he retreats, it will be equivalent to putting Deheli into the penalty area... Once Deheli enters the penalty area, he will really be throwing a trap and dare not make any moves.
Deheli's right foot nudged the football again. Grist gritted his teeth and stretched out his foot to try to intercept the ball, but his kicking speed was far behind Deheli!
He just stretched out his foot, and Deheli's right foot, which should not have moved the ball again so quickly, hit the ball again before him!
Just like that, before Grist's foot reached him, he knocked the ball out!
Grist misses with one kick!
Dehli was overjoyed to have a breakthrough!
He then has to catch up and get the ball.
But he had just started, when a figure suddenly came across from him...separating him from the football!
Because there was no room for speed, Deheli watched the football being intercepted by the opponent midway!
"Morikawa!" Matthew Cox shouted excitedly.
The violent boos in the stands of Flanders Stadium suddenly turned into cheers.
Junpei Morikawa, who came in, did not slow down and walked away with the football. At the same time, he did not forget to quickly look back to observe the situation behind him.
He saw that Deheli did not catch up, but was in a daze.
After confirming safety, Junpei Morikawa passed the football across to fullback Farek Quinn.
Quinn directly passed the football forward to Kamara who was retreating to receive the ball.
Seeing that the football was far away from the danger zone, Junpei Morikawa turned to look at Dehli again. This time, the opponent was not in a daze, but was also looking at Junpei Morikawa.
The two people's eyes collided in the air.
Dehli's eyes clearly had the smell of ignition, but Morikawa Junpei did not look at him, but immediately looked away and ran back to his position.
"Junpei Morikawa made a key defense! If he hadn't arrived in time, Grist might have been passed by Dehli again!" Shen Lang said.
Just now I saw Deheli dribbling the ball towards Grist, and he exclaimed "be careful".
Grist was also giving a thumbs up to Morikawa Junpei, praising his performance just now. Morikawa Junpei had just saved Grist.
But Junpei Morikawa didn't care about any of this, whether it was Dehli's glare or Grist's thumb... He just returned to his position and prepared for the next defense.
However, Deheli still stared at Junpei Morikawa, his eyes following his movements.
He didn't notice the Japanese at all just now, and he stole the ball... Deheli felt very embarrassed.
Next time he will kill the big elephant and this little dwarf together!
※※※
Dehli soon got the chance he wanted.
When he faced Grist with the ball again, he did not rush to the penalty area, but deliberately slowed down.
He is waiting for Morikawa Junpei.
The reason why it failed last time was because I didn’t expect it at all.
But this time if he is prepared, I believe he will not lose the ball...
Sure enough, Morikawa Junpei rushed over.
Deheli still mainly attacked Grist, first getting rid of Grist, and then dealing with Morikawa Junpei.
Facing Deheli, who is more flexible at his feet, it is really difficult for Grist, who is carrying a yellow card, to perform at his 100% level.
However, after the last experience, Grist can safely leave his back to Morikawa Junpei.
So he acted decisively and quickly.
Dehli moved the football away like a dance with his feet, twisting and dodging at the same time.
As soon as he avoided Grist, Morikawa Junpei came up to him.
This is what you've been waiting for!
Deheli screamed in his heart, suddenly dunked the football back, and at the same time blocked the dunked football forward with his left foot.
Others will get through between Grist and Morikawa Junpei!
Fried meatballs!
But as soon as he started, he was hit sideways by Grist, which prevented him from picking up his speed smoothly.
At the same time, Morikawa Junpei also seized this opportunity and directly tackled it!
The football that Deheli knocked over was shoveled directly to the side and was intercepted by Teddy Bradford, another central defender next to him.
Defense completed!
After Junpei Morikawa shoveled the football away, Deheli bumped into him and fell in the penalty area.
The Moroccan genius raised his hands and signaled to the referee that a Leeds City player had tackled him in the penalty area and it was a foul.
But the referee hooked him and signaled him to get up. At the same time, he turned around and ran forward. Leeds City had already knocked the football forward.
Dehli beat his hands on the ground angrily, then turned to look at Junpei Morikawa who was standing up.
Morikawa Junpei also glanced at him, and when he found that he was looking at him, he quickly looked away.
Don't dare to look at me at all...
Deheli couldn't understand how he fell at the feet of this timid Japanese twice in a row.