"Hello, everyone. This is Sky Sports, the second round of the 10-11 English Championship season.
"In this match, Cardiff City will host Sheffield United as a guest! Let's take a look at the starting lineups of the two teams!
"Cardiff City played in their usual 4-4-2 formation, with the starting line-up unchanged from the last game, goalkeeper Martial
"Sheffield United still uses the traditional 17--- back formation. Compared with the first two games, the appearance of Arsenal's -year-old youngster Maher is their only change, and it is a bold change!"
On the field, the game officially kicked off as Cardiff City's center forward sent a ball from the center circle.
Maher and the other two forwards on their team rushed towards the opponent's backcourt and launched a charge and pressure in the opening period.
Cardiff City made a few simple passes in the midfield and backcourt and passed the ball to their right back.
"Ah!" Maher arrived just in time, and rushed forward quickly while yelling and threatening, as if he would not give up until he got the ball.
This is a common tactic used when pressing. You must show your determination to scare off the opponent's idea of continuing to hold the ball.
"Oh!"
Cardiff City's right-back Gabor did not take advantage of the situation and made a long pass directly to the front court.
Maher simply turned around and moved along with his own line.
Having played football for many years, his basic tactical qualities are no worse than those Championship players. What he may lack is the positive feedback from successful attempts.
"Are you that young man?"
Gabor sneered and followed him, "If you have the guts, just come and break through me!"
Apparently, he also began to engage in the psychological warfare that defenders often use against forwards.
This is very common in competitions. Everyone is extremely excited and it is impossible for them to remain silent. Talking nonsense is the norm.
"Okay."
Maher turned around to reply, feeling the tens of thousands of gazes around him, and then looking at the experienced faces of these Championship players.
He finally realized that he was playing in a Championship game, which made all the pores in his body open, his blood temperature rise, and he ran extra hard with every step.
"Pay attention to the formation! Pay attention to the formation and the two-point protection!!"
On the sidelines, Sheffield United coach Kevin stood on the sidelines, pointing and reminding the players, "Don't be too loose!"
The start of the Championship game was quite chaotic.
Most of the time there will be a period of aerial battles and the ball will change hands very quickly.
Whoever can calm down first and fully display the skills and tactics learned in training will have the opportunity to gain the upper hand.
But it is obvious that apart from aspiring newcomers like Maher, few people will listen to Kevin's command.
Sheffield United plays a frivolous style of football, and most of the players are not serious enough. Not to mention cooperating and stabilizing the front line, they often lose even in local melees.
In the 13th minute of the game, Cardiff City launched a massive attack and overwhelmed Sheffield United's half.
"Sheffield United's wide defenders haven't gotten into position yet, Cardiff City are advancing very quickly and have the advantage in numbers!"
Inside the live broadcast room, the Sky Sports commentator wore headphones and said excitedly, "Danger!!"
He stood up from his seat impatiently and looked at the field, "Pass it to the wing, Garvin takes the ball! A low cross, outflank shot!!
"Robert saves! The Sheffield United captain saves. Oh! And there's a follow-up shot!!
"The ball goes in! Drinkwater, a loan player from Manchester United, scored the first goal for the team. Sheffield United is in really bad shape!"
In the grand arena, more than 20,000 home team fans quickly stood up from their seats, waving their hands and shouting wildly in celebration.
"Yeah!!"
Surrounded by this atmosphere, the goal scorer Drinkwater put one hand to his ear and used the other hand to signal the fans to cheer louder, enjoying the hero treatment.
The Cardiff City players rushed to where he was, everyone shouting and celebrating with their mouths wide open.
In contrast, there was dead silence in the Sheffield United travelling fans zone. The fans sat back in their seats in great disappointment, with even some despair in their expressions.
It's still the same, no difference from the previous two games!
The players' situation was not much better. Some of them stood with their hands on their hips, while others had no expression on their faces, as if they had lost their sense of shame.
Maher stood near the center circle and blinked hard a few times to avoid being distracted by the thunderous celebration.
In the first ten minutes, he kept running at full speed, eager to get a chance and hoping to wake up the old players who had lost their fighting spirit.
But now it seems that what I have done is in vain. There is no solution to their situation except changing the coach.
Maher walked towards his own half, looking at the back of the young midfielder on the opposite side and showing a brief envy.
Drinkwater, a key player in Leicester City's title-winning team, was also a star player here today.
He longed to have the opportunity to celebrate like that, especially on such an important day as today.
"I can't give up. If I can get good numbers in my debut, it will be a huge boost to my confidence throughout my career."
Cheering himself up in his heart, Maher tried to regroup, clapping his hands to encourage his teammates around him, causing many Sheffield United players to turn their heads to look at him.
Someone opened his mouth and wanted to say something to him, but finally swallowed the words.
After all, he is a new player and today is his debut day.
Thinking of this, some people who usually had a good relationship with Maer felt shaken.
Should they have ruined Maher's debut because of the conflict with Kevin?
"Beep!!"
Without giving them too much time to think, the game resumed and both sides once again engaged in a fierce fight.
While calling on his teammates to cheer up, Maher moved quickly in the left area, sometimes helping his teammates to defend and sometimes creating space to lure away defensive players.
The visible positivity once again shook the hearts of many Sheffield United players, who were already in a state of confusion.
"Swish!" A few minutes later, as their right winger Ward was tackled in another confusing knife-edge shot, someone finally erupted in silence.
In the coach's seat on the sidelines, Gary Speed, who had changed into a black suit, suddenly stood up and rushed out of his seat, passing the confused Kevin and rushing to the sidelines.
"Are you still professional players?!"
He pointed at some people on the court and shouted, "I still want to stay on the court in my dreams, but you are wasting time here!"
The fourth official on the sidelines quickly came over to persuade him, and Gary Speed was soon pushed back to the coaching seat by the assistant coaches. Only his chest kept floating, as if he was feeling a sense of relief from saying words that had been suppressed for a long time.
His words had an immediate impact on the players on the field.
Many people who were already somewhat shaken suddenly felt a surge of strength in their bodies and began to run as fast as they could. The pace of the game accelerated in an instant.
The Cardiff City midfielder didn't have time to react to the speed increase and was intercepted by Sheffield midfielder Lowton, who passed the ball to left winger Mahel.
"nice shot!"
Maher stopped the ball, turned around, and ran towards the opposing defender Gabor with the ball. He knew this was a good opportunity.
A desire to win emerged in his heart. After approaching the opponent, his two legs slid skillfully on the rolling football, while observing the changes in the center of gravity of the opponent's legs.
When he found the opportunity, he did it as he had done countless times in training.
He changed his rhythm quickly, touched the football with the outside of his right foot, and pushed the football to the outside line!
Gabor obviously didn't expect this, and he lost the possibility of pursuit after his center of gravity staggered.
"Oh!"
After taking a quick look at the situation in the penalty area, Maher wrapped his right foot around the middle of the football and made a high-speed inward cross.
The football was spinning violently and with high quality, easily passing over the head of Cardiff City's defender in front!
In the middle of the field, center forward Evans rushed out like a ghost, went around the opponent, jumped up with full concentration, and headed for the football with the arch of his right foot.
This ball is not very high, so it is best to shoot it with your feet.
Everything seemed to slow down at this moment. A glimmer of hope appeared in the eyes of the Sheffield players, while the faces of the Cardiff City players were filled with fear.
"The cross from the young player Maher was of very high quality! He has the elements to become an excellent winger!
"Evans!!
"The ball goes in!! Beautiful goal, beautiful counterattack goal!!
"From Maher's breakthrough cross, Evans' goal, Sheffield United rallied and poured the ball into Cardiff City's goal with thunderous force!!"
The Sky Sports commentator's eyes widened suddenly. As a neutral commentator, he could raise his arms and celebrate for Sheffield.
This must be a perfect goal, everything was just right.
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(End of this chapter)