In the second leg of the third knockout round of the UEFA Cup, Sporting Lisbon, which lost 0-1 away in the first leg, returned home to face Thessaloniki, Greece.
As soon as the game started, Sporting Lisbon took advantage of their home court advantage and launched a fierce attack on their opponents.
Like the Green Lions who played away from home in the first round, Thessaloniki's players also traveled long distances and came to Lisbon several times after playing in the domestic league at the weekend. The only difference is that their preparation time before the game was longer than that of Sporting Lisbon.
More generous.
During the first round match between the two sides, Thessaloniki players probably disparaged Sporting Lisbon in their hearts.
But now, they finally tasted the hardship of playing away games.
Especially the central defender Marius Kukielka who bore the brunt.
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The 26-year-old Kukielka is from Poland. He once played for Rodajc in the Eredivisie. He is Thessaloniki's main central defender this season and is also the team's best player.
In the previous two knockout rounds, Thessaloniki was able to eliminate Zenit of the Russian Super League and Grasshopper Zurich of Switzerland. Kukilka played the most important role. You know, the latter two teams are well-known European teams.
.
It was precisely because of Kukielka's outstanding performance that in the first round, Thessaloniki's defense was impregnable and did not give Sporting Lisbon any chance. The performance of the three young players was curbed.
This also makes Thessaloniki full of confidence, firmly believing that the team has the opportunity to eliminate the powerful Portuguese Super League teams and take another step forward.
Kukielka is even more confident and motivated.
His agent told him that with his outstanding performance in the UEFA Cup, he has successfully attracted the attention of many teams in the four major leagues, including Nuremberg in the Bundesliga. As long as he maintains this performance, he will definitely be able to land in the four major leagues.
And first of all, it is to help Thessaloniki eliminate Sporting Lisbon in an away game.
Freezing the opponent's main center is the number one task of a central defender.
But as soon as the game started, Kukielka realized something was wrong.
The first physical contact between the two sides was in the second minute. Su Dong still received the ball with his back in the frontcourt.
Just like in the first round, Kukielka's whole body was on the attack.
In his impression, he never lost when he had several physical confrontations with Su Dong in the first round.
This tall and burly looking center seemed a bit clumsy, slow to react, and overall not very excited.
But this time, just as Su Dong was about to catch the ball, he leaned back.
Kukielka felt as if a mountain was coming over him. He tried his best to hold Su Dong back, but he couldn't do anything.
And what about Su Dong?
It felt very easy to lean back and turn around quickly as soon as I caught the ball.
That feeling of agility and vigor gave Kukielka an incredible shock.
So tall, but still so flexible?
After turning around, Sudong did not wait for the other central defender Dionis Chasiotis to approach. He flexibly dribbled the ball with his right foot and directly made a gap from Nastos, and sent a diagonal shot with his right foot.
Pass into the restricted area.
Quaresma, who was on the right flank, rushed up knowingly and hit the goal directly.
Slightly higher.
Throughout the whole process, Su Dong seemed to be at ease and calm.
Kukielka, who has many years of experience in professional competitions, felt a little apprehensive in his heart.
This kid is completely different from the first round.
Is it because of physical fatigue due to the away game in the first round?
…
Sporting Lisbon took the initiative to attack, and Su Dong frequently got the opportunity to get the ball with his back in the frontcourt.
When he once again took the ball with his back outside the penalty area, Kukilka tried to grab it, but Sudong just used his body to lean on him and he was suppressed again.
Kukielka knew very well that if he stepped forward rashly and Su Dong turned around, he would be finished.
After stopping the ball and pressing Kukielka with his body, Su Dong still had the energy to gesture to his teammates.
This made Kukielka feel ashamed, but his body was suppressed and unable to move.
The Polish central defender is only 1.83 meters tall, but Su Dong in front of him is 1.95 meters tall.
The gap of twelve centimeters and the condescending suppression left Kukielka powerless.
But this time, the offensive plan on the left side of the penalty area ended with Su Dong turning around and getting rid of it, then reluctantly kicked the ball and hit the goal high.
Kukielka actually felt happy in his heart.
…………
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"Ronnie."
Su Dong walked back from the front of the penalty area.
The shot just went high, and now it's Thessaloniki's goal kick.
After Ronnie heard Su Dong's shout, he immediately ran over.
"I can suppress Kukielka, but Chas Otis is very experienced and close to him." Su Dong frowned and said.
"Then hit me on this side?" Ronnie suggested, "I can handle Nastos."
Although Nastos is a right back, he is a full 1.87 meters tall, even taller than center back Kukielka.
Players of this height are very strong, but generally not fast enough or flexible enough.
"Then you pull him deeper to the outside and use speed to get behind him." Su Dong suggested with a raised corner of his mouth.
Ronnie chuckled, "Look at me."
…
Not long after, Sporting Lisbon launched another attack.
Su Dong retreated, but pointed to the left.
Tonito quickly distributed the ball to the left and handed it to Ronnie who ran into the open space.
Ronnie caught the ball right between the opponent's defense and midfield, and full-back Nastos immediately followed up to intercept it.
At this time, Ronnie glanced at Su Dong.
After checking his eyes, he is the Greek!
After Ronnie feinted a shot, he tried to cut inside. After deceiving Nastos to follow suit, he suddenly passed the ball to Su Dong.
Su Dong understood the idea, blocked Kukielka behind him with his body, stopped the ball and passed it diagonally into the penalty area with his right foot.
After getting rid of Nastos, Ronnie used his lightning speed to forcefully break through the Greek defense. He inserted himself into the left rib of the penalty area. After receiving Su Dong's pass, he stopped with his left foot and moved his right foot.
Hit your feet again.
The ball is scored!!!!
“Wuhu!!!”
The Portuguese boy was so excited that he jumped up.
Sometimes, scoring goals is so simple, direct, rough and boring.
…………
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"Excessive! It's too much! It's too bullying!"
During the halftime break, in the away locker room, center back Kukielka was panting and roaring like an ox.
He was bullied badly in the first half.
"Sporting Lisbon is like nothing else. All offenses revolve around the center in the frontcourt. That bastard is also very hateful. He runs in a wide range. Every time he catches the ball, as soon as I get close,
He leaned against me with his body."
After finishing speaking, Kukilka cursed angrily.
He made a lot of mistakes in the first half, all of which were made by Su Dong. If Chas Otis hadn't wiped his ass for him, Thessaloniki would have lost even more miserably in the first half, not just conceding one goal.
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Thessaloniki's head coach is the famous Greek coach Angelos Anstastis. After hearing Kukielka's roar, he couldn't help but feel bad in his heart.
The long journey to the away game was exhausting, but the opponent was playing at home, waiting to work. Under the ebb and flow of one thing, Kukielka was at a disadvantage in physical confrontation, and the pressure was obvious.
He is now on the verge of exploding.
Thinking of this, the head coach coughed heavily and walked over.
"Actually, you've done a pretty good job, Marius."
The head coach first gave a high evaluation to his defensive core, which slightly eased his psychological pressure.
"I have already said that the opponent's high center forward Su Dong is very special. He is tall and burly, 1.95 meters tall. He is very good in strength confrontation. Although he is only eighteen years old, his characteristics are very obvious and his advantages are great. If he were
It’s us, and we must be doing everything we can to use this advantage to attack our opponents, right?”
The head coach has great prestige in the team. When he said this, everyone felt relieved.
This is also a normal tactic.
"Another point is that Ronny on the left wing is very fast, and Quaresma on the right wing is also good at breaking through. These two players must also be paid attention to, especially their cooperation with center Su Dong."
"So, in the second half, we have to adjust our tactics and adopt a more contracted defense. The right back is withdrawn. We adopt a play similar to three central defenders and five defenders."
"In addition, in the second half, Chas Otis will be responsible for marking the center. Nastos and Kukielka must pay attention to assisting and protecting behind them. No matter which direction Sudong turns after getting the ball, he must step forward immediately.
Block him and don't give him a chance to kick up."
"Remember, the front line of the penalty area and the entire penalty area are within Su Dong's shooting range!"
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When the Greek team finalized the tactics to freeze Sporting Lisbon's Trident in the away locker room in the second half, in the home locker room, Sudong, Ronnie, Quaresma, Albertini and Tonito also joined forces.
, muttering about tactics.
"They were very tight in the first half and didn't have many opportunities. In the second half, just go to the wings and stretch the defense." Albertini suggested that the Milan veteran has the most experience and the highest tactical attainments.
"When I run out of space or pass the ball in a one-on-one situation, I will definitely be able to send the ball into the penalty area." Ronnie said with confidence.
He just scored a goal in the first half and his fighting spirit is high.
"Leave the attack on the right to me," Quaresma said concisely.
Su Dong glanced at him and thought of a domestic saying.
I praise my brother in society, people are cruel and don't talk much.
"Then I will distribute the ball outside the penalty area and provide support. The penalty area will be waiting for you to pass the ball!" Su Dong said with a smile.
"Don't worry, I promise to give you an assist!" Ronnie said proudly, raising his head.
"Then when Sudong goes to the penalty area, I will ambush outside the penalty area." Tonito also said.
When everyone murmured like this, it seemed like this was the case.
"Then it's settled!" Albertini decided.
After everyone shouted "Come on" in unison, they dispersed.
At this time, head coach Boloni had just walked into the locker room.
"We played well offensively in the first half, but a 1-0 score was not enough to ensure our advancement. We must continue to strengthen our offense in the second half..."
Listening to the head coach's analysis, Su Dong raised his eyebrows at Ronnie beside him and laughed in unison.