Chapter 121
In this game, Celtic fielded a 3-5-2 formation with the obvious aim of disrupting Porto's midfield rhythm. In Martin O'Neill's view, it is difficult to resist Porto's continuous offensive for a long time with simple defense, but it is better to press out and limit Porto's midfield organization. And such a strategy is destined for Celtic to break down Porto's midfield with frequent fouls in this game.
Jose Mourinho was prepared for this, but he still did not expect the impact of a foul on Celtic to Porto. After the start of the game, the players on both sides played somewhat conservatively and did not take the offensive rashly. Lao Lei originally wanted to focus on stability and control the rhythm first. However, he did not expect how ferocious the impact of Celtic on Porto would be, and the referee had to blow the whistle as soon as the game began. After receiving the ball from Lao Lei, Kostiani didn't have time to distribute the ball, and was knocked down directly from behind by the opponent's Lambert.
Mourinho, who was on the sidelines, chuckled when he saw Kostiani hugging his right leg and falling to the ground, not standing up for a long time. Porto's team doctor immediately entered the stadium and gestured to Mourinho after the examination that he could not continue the game. "FUCK", Mourinho scolded angrily in his heart, he did not expect that only one minute into the game, the team would face non-combat attrition. Thankfully, he was prepared for it, and with a wave of his hand, he brought Ricardo Costa on the bench onto the pitch.
At the same time, on the field, Ferreira was pushed to the position of the back and let him match Lao Lei. It was a move that Mourinho was prepared for. It was to prevent such a situation from happening, and let the fierce defensive Ferreira play in the back. It is to give Lao Lei enough support, which can be after Kostiani is off the field. It is also possible to insert forward with confidence. However, the referee's decision did not satisfy him, and in his opinion, Lambert's ferocious impact was enough to get a yellow card. The referee was willing to consider that this was just the beginning, so he chose to let Lambert go, and only gave a verbal warning.
This also made the Porto players on the field dissatisfied, and Kostiani was very popular in the team because of his usually low-key personality. At this time, it naturally made Porto's players even more unhappy, and Lao Lei's teammates impulsively surrounded the referee to ask for an explanation, but the referee refused without saying a word. On the pitch, the authority of the referee is unquestionable. The Porto players could only reluctantly glance at Lambert and return to their respective positions. The loss of Kostiani, an important midfielder, at the beginning of the game, caused a sense of unease in the hearts of the Porto fans in the stands. At the moment, they can only boo dissatisfied, to express their dissatisfaction with the referee on duty.
Compared to Porto, the Celtic side is cold-eyed, happy and disdainful. For Celtic, such fouls are commonplace, and this is the way men play, and the fierce reaction of the Porto players makes them disdainful. But at the same time, I was also happy in my heart, and I didn't spend a yellow card. Just get one of the opposing midfielders off the field, which is simply a big profit.
Lao Lei looked at the cold-faced and proud Celtics player opposite, and there was a wave of anger in his heart. He came to Ferreira's side and whispered to him, "Paul." Don't be polite to them. It seems that my table this season is too mild, so that some people forget about it. Listening to Lao Lei's murderous words, Ferreira, who has always been fierce, couldn't help but tremble in his heart. You must know that the first reputation of Old Ray's first season in Leiria was built by fierce defense.
After the start of the game, under the leadership of Old Ray and Ferreira. Porto's midfield table showed a brutality that had not been shown before. The two sides engaged in a fierce hand-to-hand fight in the midfield. The scramble has reached a fever pitch. Although it is still Porto's main attack and Celtic's main defense, after the Celtic broke the ball, Lao Lei and others' fierce counter-robbery also made the other party jealous.
At this point, perhaps the most upset thing about the game is the neutral fans who come to watch the game. After all, they didn't come here to watch a wrestling match like a reality show, and this match has now become a completely muscle-showing match. Martin O'Neill, who was on the sidelines, saw this situation, and the corners of his mouth couldn't help but show a little smugness, this is the result he wants to see. Let Porto's midfield get into hand-to-hand combat with its own midfielders, and can't give enough support to the front court to cut off Porto's attacking firepower. It's crude, and a bit vile, but it's the best.
But what he didn't notice was that Mourinho next to him also showed a smug smile on the corner of his mouth. What Martin O'Neill doesn't know is that Celtic is no worse than Porto and no worse than Savage Porto. With the increase of game time, the combination of Lao Lei and Ferreira in the midfield gradually gained the upper hand. The Celtic midfielder looked at Lao Ray opposite, and there was a hint of jealousy in his eyes. They never imagined that Lao Lei's response would be so fierce and tough, as if they didn't think about the second half of the game at all. Every time Lao Lei would send out all his strength to confront them, they did not have an advantage, and their whole body was already in a faint pain at this time.
After Lao Lei knocked down Petkov head-on again, the referee finally couldn't help it, and walked over to show Lao Lei a yellow card, telling him to pay attention to his defensive movements. In the stands, the Celtics fans were already blushing, and they didn't want to breathe and scolded the old thunder on the field. Boo. This put a lot of pressure on the sidelines of the security staff, and the Scottish fans are known for their toughness.
Looking at the referee's yellow card, Lao Lei accepted it expressionlessly. Then he turned his head and smiled coldly at the stands of the Celtics fans, and put the five fingers of his right hand together. Raised it, with a sneer on the corner of his mouth, he made a few strokes on his neck. It was a blatant throat-cutting ceremony.
The Scottish men were completely enraged and "kill him", "Little white face, do you want to die"...... These cursed words poured into the ears of Lao Lei on the field. Seeing this effect, Lao Lei was very satisfied and smiled disdainfully at them. After spreading his hands out and making a smug gesture of helplessness. I turned around and prepared for the game again. Although the referee didn't see it, the camera recorded a qiē. The big screen in the stadium. Immediately replay the scene just now. In such an important final, so bold to provoke the opponent's fans, Lao Lei's unruly character was unreservedly displayed in front of European football.
The referee also saw what Lao Lei did on the big screen, but he didn't make any indications. It was like he was balancing, and he didn't show a yellow card when Kostiani came off the pitch. Of course. Among them, there is also the consideration that Lao Lei is already a yellow card. However, this decision displeased Martin O'Neill on the sidelines, and he excitedly rushed to the fourth official to complain, in his opinion that Ray should be sent off with a red card. If Lao Ray is gone, it will be great news for the Celtics. Mourinho on the side was also relieved. I was afraid that the referee would be merciful, so he directly sent Lao Lei off the field.
The game restarted, and it was already the 20th minute of the first half. The referee's gradually stricter penalty standards finally made the actions of both sides slightly restrained and avoided the limelight for a while. As soon as the Celtic defence relented, Lao Lei began to resume Porto's attack. To be honest, some time ago, Lao Lei's hard choice of hard was a little irrational, and under normal circumstances, he should use technical ingenuity to deal with it. But it's not without its benefit, and that is that Celtic's momentum has been stifled. At the same time, it can also make Lao Lei angry.
At this time, the shape on the field is still more dominant than Porto anyway. There is no threat to Celtic's offense at all, and the impact of Hutson's absence is clear. After no defense troubles, Lao Lei began to try to attack forward. In the 24th minute. Lao Lei played a one-two in the front field Deco and made a wonderful pass at the edge of the penalty area. Unfortunately, due to the small angle of the shot, McCarthy's shot from a small angle was confiscated by Celtic goalkeeper Douglas.
And by this attack. Porto's offensive is also completely up, playing a continuous offensive in the front. In the 30th minute of the first half. Lao Lei and Maniche were on the left side of the penalty area, forming a tacit understanding. Celtic's defense on the right side was left with nothing to do. Their right wing-back, Balde, had to pull Maniche down from the flank before he could enter the box. At the cost of a yellow card, this threatening attack by Porto was stopped. The angle of this free-kick is too small to be a direct attack. Lao Lei and Deco were in front of the football, and after discussing for a while, they stood in front of the ball and waited for the referee's whistle.
With the referee's whistle, Lao Lei kicked the outside of his right foot and sent the football directly to the goal. There was chaos in front of the goal, because it was a foot technique with the outside instep and a low flat ball, which made Douglas very uncomfortable and did not dare to attack lightly. In the end, McCarthy struggled to get his way through Douglas's hands in the middle, but was denied a great chance by the post.
"Oh God. It's a shame, it's a little, a little bit. Reima's outside instep footwork is outstanding. Benny's aerial duel was also spectacular, but it was a pity that the post denied such a goal. However, we are already on the offensive and we are sure we will be able to score goals soon. “
Porto's commentator was right, as Porto went on the offensive, the Celtic defence was slowly crumbling. Of course, Celtic were not completely unable to fight back, and in the 37th minute, they played a dangerous counter-attack. A long ball from the back found Larsson, who split the side to Agaté after receiving the ball in the middle and then cut straight into the box himself. It's a pity that he was a step slower and didn't fight for football, wasting his few chances.
By the 42nd minute of the first half, Porto had the absolute upper hand on the field. The Porto fans also sang and cheered on the players in the hope that they could score a goal in the final stages of the first half. And Lao Lei satisfied them with a sudden amazing performance.
Receiving the ball with his back in front of him, facing Celtic's Rennon and Lambert who were pressing up behind him, Lao Ray directly made a light pick-up and let the football fly over their heads. Then he directly turned around 180 degrees, accelerated past Lennon's side, and directly broke through them. And the expressions of Lennon and Lambert made it clear to the others that they were completely stunned and unprepared.
Then he came directly to the right rib at the edge of the penalty area, faced the Celtic defender Vargalen, made a shot feint, and then broke into the penalty area with his right foot, and broke through the Celtic defense alone. Facing the attacking Douglas, Lao Ray suddenly made a light pick, picking the football over Douglas's head.
All eyes were on the football in the air until it slowly flew into the door of the Celtics, and the whole process was like a mime. And then at this moment, suddenly burst out like a volcano.
“GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOA!! Remayr! Remayr!! Unstoppable!! He broke through the Celtic defense alone!! The chic pick-up shot after passing 3 people in a row is incomparably beautiful!! Godzilla dances!! “
And Lao Ray ran directly to the Celtic fan stands in the goal.
After watching them smile coldly, he closed his eyes, and with a smug smile, made a gesture to play the violin.
It's like playing a beautiful piece of music.
In my ears, there was a passionate cheer like a volcanic eruption. (To be continued......)