Chapter 29 Turning point!
The goal kick was kicked out, and the idea was very clear, to kick a high ball and counterattack.
However, the result was the same as in the previous counterattacks. After a few passes, the Rangers, who had limited manpower, were disrupted by the Celtic midfield and backcourt defense group that had positioned themselves in advance.
The Celtic centre-back got the ball and passed it to midfielder Callum McGregor.
As an old man and core midfielder of the Celtic team, Callum has always been one of the best midfielders in the Scottish Premier League. There were Premier League teams that wanted to buy him, but he chose to stay with Celtic because he would rather be the head of a chicken than the tail of a phoenix.
He wants his home hall of honor to be filled with championship trophies after retirement, and if he can defend the title this year, it will be the club's tenth consecutive year to win the league championship!
As he started with the ball, the Celtics pressed forward from both flanks, and the entire team roared again like a chariot.
Callum dribbled the ball forward while observing his teammates' movements.
Soon, a person appeared in front of him.
Chen Xiaoliang?
Callum was stunned for a moment. Wasn't this guy running close to Gu Qiao Hengwu? Why was he running towards me?
At that moment, Callum glanced at the position of his Japanese teammates and prepared to pass the ball.
Callum was as arrogant as the team and thought it was impossible for them to lose the game.
Especially after suppressing Gerrard’s team for two consecutive years and welcoming a strong striker this season, their sights have long been on achieving a breakthrough in the Champions League.
Maybe this red country kid plays hard on defense, but so what?
In Callum's eyes, even the experienced Davis, who had fought with him in the midfield for so many years, had never been at a disadvantage.
Want to steal my ball? Practice for a few more years!
Facing Chen Xiaoliang's steal, Callum suddenly stopped, unhurriedly dribbled the ball with his right foot, and was ready to shake off Chen Xiaoliang and then dribble forward with his left foot, and then pass it to...
And then? Nothing then!
Callum was horrified to find that Chen Xiaoliang didn't take advantage of his shaking at all, and directly slid at high speed to tackle the ball he had just caught !
He wanted to stretch out his foot to grab the ball back, but because his balance was unstable, he stumbled and fell to the ground!
There were only two central defenders behind him at this time, and the others pressed forward!
Callum tried desperately to get up and catch up with Chen Xiaoliang, but physical fitness was not his strong point. His brain had followed the direction of the ball, but his waist could not keep up!
Seeing Chen Xiaoliang intercept the ball, the three forwards of Rangers - Kent on the left, Roofe in the middle, and Hagi on the right, like vultures smelling blood, instantly sprinted towards the front court at the fastest speed!
The Celtic players never expected that the battle-hardened Callum would act like a fool and let the ball be intercepted!
At this time, Rangers had formed a four-on-two attacking situation in the frontcourt, and the two Celtic central defenders had to retreat to the back to prevent being counter-offside and having a one-on-one chance!
Chen Xiaoliang looked left and right, and had already reached the top of the penalty area. Just as he was about to kick the ball to Roofe who was not far away from him, he felt someone pulling his jersey on the back, and he fell backwards immediately.
"Beep!" The referee took out a yellow card for Callum.
Dong Dazui shouted in the live broadcast room: "Oops!"
"What a pity! Chen Xiaoliang's dribbling speed was still a little slow!
The Rangers' counterattack tactics were too simple! Several forwards only knew how to run forward, but no one was behind Chen Xiaoliang to provide protection!
Do you understand protective support? "
Instant full screen barrage:
【roll】
[Roll +1] [+2] [+3]
【＋10086】
…
Old Davis came up and slapped Chen Xiaoliang's butt hard, making Chen Xiaoliang feel sore in his lower body.
"Go to the penalty area!" Old Davis waved his hands forward, shouted at his teammates to press forward, and then positioned the ball to prepare for the free kick.
Six players flooded the Celtics' penalty area.
Balogun, who is 190cm tall, Goldson, who is 191cm tall, Uglumba, who is 185cm tall, Tavernier, who is 182cm tall, Chen Xiaoliang, who is 183cm tall, and little Haji, who is 182cm tall, together form a moving wall in the heart of the Celtics.
In the Celtics' midfield and backcourt, only 187cm-high Staffelt and 181cm-high Mbombo are of acceptable height.
Looking at this situation, the 183cm forward Ayeti can only retreat to the penalty area to help defend!
Wow! Gerrard turned a football into a basketball!
Davis was about to take a free throw, and Chen Xiaoliang ran ahead! He kept waving as he ran, signaling Davis to pass the ball to him!
When he did this, the Celtics thought Chen Xiaoliang had some new tricks up his sleeve, and two defensive players immediately followed him.
Although they did not expect him to recover from injury and start before the game, the Celtics were the nine-time champions after all and would not take it lightly. They studied Chen Xiaoliang's area-sweeping kicking style and the goal that he shoveled into the goal with the ball.
The interception determines the change of ball possession, while defense is the initiator of offense. This season, Rangers have achieved ten unbeaten games and topped the standings thanks to their strong defense.
The Celtics had made a contingency plan in the midfield. Once Chen Xiaoliang stole the ball, they would take advantage of his weaknesses in dribbling and passing and quickly counterattack him.
But unexpectedly, Gerrard did not play by the rules. He actually adopted the sticky tactics while retreating completely.
Chen Xiaoliang, who plays in the midfield, does not move in the midfield at all.
Old Davis looked at Chen Xiaoliang but ignored him and passed a high ball to the back post. Balogun and Goldson jumped up at the same time to compete for the header!
The two defensive players who were chasing Chen Xiaoliang then realized that they had been tricked.
The Celtics' air defense was already weak and two more players were lured out, completely exposing the back point!
In the end, Goldson headed the ball into the upper corner. The distance was so close that Celtic goalkeeper Bain had no time to react!
0-1, Rangers lead!
Assistant coach McAllister shouted excitedly and grabbed Gerrard's shoulders and shook him!
"It's in! It's in! We're ahead!"
Although men are in their prime at the age of 41, Gerrard has retired for more than three years after all. His body is no longer the same as when he was a player and had a strong body after high-intensity training every day.
The tall and strong McAllister's passionate actions towards him were really a bit too much for him to handle.
Although he was also very excited, the game had only been going on for twenty minutes. He didn't have the energy to think about it at the moment, let alone a man, or even a woman shaking on him.
The Rangers players on the field ran to the away area where their 7,000 fans were and celebrated wildly, while the Celtic fans booed loudly.
This booing was not directed at the Rangers, but was an expression of strong dissatisfaction towards the home team!
It was obvious that our team had the complete advantage on the field, having attacked Rangers' half for twenty minutes, but unable to score a single goal despite so many shots, while Rangers scored a goal with a single attack.
Goldson, who scored the header, and Davis, who assisted, both hugged Chen Xiaoliang tightly.
Without his interception there would be no goal.
The crowd in the live broadcast room was excited:
[Chen Xiaoliang is awesome! The engine of the attack! ]
[It’s time to reveal my identity as a Glasgow Rangers fan for 30 years! ]
[If we can win this game, I will run naked to celebrate! ]
[I screamed too loudly just now and scared my wife! Now I’m kneeling on the keyboard! ]
[Wake up, the guy above, you don’t have a wife…]
[I will remember you, the one who ran naked just now]
…
As the Rangers players ended their celebration, both sides returned to their respective halves, Celtic kicked off from the center circle and the game continued.
