The game time was passing minute by minute.
Although Karanka had some doubts, with the team in good momentum, he couldn't possibly tell his players to fall back.
After all, he and his team desperately needed a goal and a victory right now!
However, under the continuous long-ball attacks, Middlesbrough players' physical exertion was also quite high.
Although they were still constantly trying to cross the ball directly from the flanks into the penalty area to find their forwards' heads, the effect was getting worse and worse.
The game quickly reached 30 minutes, but the stalemate between the two sides had not been broken, which made Karanka start to feel a bit anxious.
"Push up, push up!" He stood by the sideline, vigorously waving his arms.
At his instruction, Middlesbrough's taller midfielders, De Roon and Gastón Ramírez, even rushed into Sunderland's penalty area to participate in aerial duels.
As a result, Sunderland's defensive pressure in front of their goal suddenly increased significantly.
But Zhao Zhao remained unmoving.
He was still very satisfied with the team's defensive performance.
Over the past week, through the 20-zone training method, the players had improved not only their offensive coordination and movement but also their defensive positioning.
For a team with limited strength like Sunderland, overall defense is crucial, and every player is part of the defensive system.
So Zhao Zhao wanted to use this training to shape the team's overall defensive distance, ensuring that players in each position did not lose contact with their nearby teammates.
It was clear that although Zhao Zhao temporarily had the players adopt a defensive tactic, it had a very good effect.
Even if the opponent's offense became stronger, Sunderland players dealt with it with ease.
More than thirty minutes had passed now, and it was time.
Zhao Zhao looked down at his watch, then, taking advantage of a dead ball situation, made a gesture towards the field, ensuring his players all saw it.
This also made them realize that it was time to change according to the tactics Coach Zhao had deployed before the match—which was to defend first, wait for the opponent to commit more players, and then look for opportunities to counterattack!
Then, Zhao Zhao turned his head and glanced at the still anxious Karanka beside him, thinking, "Alright, it's our turn to perform!"
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In the 35th minute, Middlesbrough tried another cross from the flank; their left winger, Downing, sent a diagonal long pass into Sunderland's penalty area before Billy Jones could close in and press him.
Looking at the trajectory of the ball, the landing spot was very good, near the penalty spot, a very favorable position for a forward to sprint and then jump for a header.
Middlesbrough's two forwards and two midfielders indeed rushed towards the ball's landing spot!
This made the Sunderland fans in the stands hold their breath, nervously watching this attack.
Although it was such a simple attacking routine, they couldn't stand the sheer number of opponents; if it was headed in, they were done for!
On the home team's bench, assistant coach Breswell also involuntarily stood up, his eyes fixed on the ball flying forward.
"Sit down, you're blocking my view." Zhao Zhao pulled Breswell down, his tone without a ripple.
"But…" Breswell's words were cut short by Zhao Zhao.
Zhao Zhao pointed to his own penalty area, then smiled easily: "You think this is their attack, but it's actually our attacking opportunity."
"Ah?" Breswell's mouth opened wide, just about to say something else, when the situation on the field suddenly changed!
Inside the penalty area, captain O'Shea got to the ball's landing spot, jumped high, and headed the ball out of the penalty area.
The ball landed at Cattermole's feet, and Sunderland immediately launched a quick counterattack!
Middlesbrough's midfielder Clayton came over to try and intercept Cattermole's dribble, but the latter was not at all sloppy, directly passing the ball diagonally to Januzaj on the wing.
Karanka watched Sunderland's attack unfold so quickly, his heart tightened, and he shouted from the sideline for his players to concentrate and hurry back to defend!
But the situation on the field had already become one where Sunderland had a numerical advantage.
After all, in this attack, Middlesbrough had committed four tall players to the opponent's penalty area, including two midfielders.
And when Clayton was left behind again, Middlesbrough's central defense and midfield only had four defenders left!
In front of Januzaj, the first to come and intercept was the opposing full-back Chambers.
Chambers was on loan from Arsenal; his physique wasn't particularly strong, but in front of the slender Januzaj, he was already a standard strong man.
So, he chose the defensive action most favorable to himself—directly leaning his body in, his shoulder heavily bumping into Januzaj.
Sure enough, Januzaj stumbled after being bumped but did not fall.
He struggled to maintain his balance, then stopped abruptly and brought the ball under his control.
Chambers, however, repeated the trick, bumping into Januzaj once again!
And this time, Januzaj put out a hand to block, then deftly went around Chambers on the other side!
Januzaj's block and Orbit, however, threw Chambers' center of gravity off, and the latter awkwardly fell sideways onto the grass.
At this, Karanka on the sideline wouldn't have it; he desperately roared: "That's a foul! That's an undeniable attacking foul! Blow the whistle!"
But the main referee on the field did not blow his whistle.
He just made a raised-hand gesture to signal Chambers to get up, then waved his hand to let the game continue.
This also drew rounds of applause from the Sunderland fans in the stands.
At this moment, Januzaj looked up, observing the situation on the field, his mind still recalling Zhao Zhao's tactical arrangements before the match.
"After 30 minutes, we will have a good opportunity to counterattack. And when you get the ball on the wing, you can decisively get past the opponent's full-back. Then their attention will be drawn to you, and you can look for an opportunity to through-pass to Defoe!"
Now Middlesbrough's defensive line positioning was already in Januzaj's sight, and he was surprised to find: It was exactly as the boss said!
After Chambers was bypassed, the opposing defenders had all left the penalty area and pushed up.
This was partly to prevent Januzaj from continuing to advance, and partly to reduce Sunderland's long-range shooting threat.
But as a result, large areas of space were left behind the defenders.
"Holy cow, this is too amazing!" Januzaj thought.
Although Januzaj was not very old, he became famous at a young age, being selected for the Belgium national team at 19 to participate in the World Cup.
In his short professional career, he had also been guided by famous coaches like Ferguson, Tuchel, Wilmots, and David Moyes;
But he had truly never seen any coach who could give such precise instructions to players like Zhao Zhao!
It seems that the guidance to Pickford to save the penalty kick during the match against Manchester United was really not just a stroke of luck, as the media said…
The boss truly has a magical ability!
Of course, opportunities on the field are fleeting, and Januzaj no longer hesitated, directly sending a through-pass, kicking the ball into the area behind the opposing center-back Bernardo and full-back Fábio.
This through-pass was not fast, but it was incredibly accurate.
At the exact same time Januzaj passed the ball, Defoe turned from in front of the center-back Gibson, who was marking him, and began to sprint!
Defoe's acceleration ability was incredibly fast; Gibson reacted and turned to chase, but the distance between him and Defoe grew larger and larger, not even giving him a chance to reach out and pull!
Defoe successfully beat the offside trap, going one-on-one!
"Oh…"
All the Sunderland fans in the stadium involuntarily stood up, everyone staring at Defoe's figure.
And Middlesbrough's goalkeeper was the famous Spanish player Valdés!
He had proven the glory of Barcelona's Dream Team II and III, and his experience was very rich.
Upon seeing Defoe getting closer and closer, Valdés also slowly advanced to expand his defensive area, trying to reduce Defoe's shooting angle.
But Defoe's shot was very decisive.
After catching up to the ball, he adjusted his steps according to the direction the ball was rolling, then, on the left side of the ball, lightly chipped the ball with his right foot!
The ball gracefully traced a not-very-large arc, then steadily and surely entered the goal from the far corner, spinning several times in the net before settling down, gently landing inside the goal!
Goal!!!