Chapter 115: Breaking Free

Inside the Monaco penalty area, Pato, who had initially stepped out, lunged back in, while Bakambu retreated toward the left flank. Though they knew Dai Zhiwei possessed excellent shooting, dribbling, and passing abilities, they also understood the need to create sufficient space for him.

The two Villarreal forwards drew significant attention from the Monaco defenders, who were well aware of Dai Zhiwei’s threat as a playmaker at the edge of the box and were determined to keep the strikers under tight watch. Raggi, in particular, harbored deep animosity toward Dai Zhiwei; having been bested in several encounters across the two-legged tie, the Monaco defender was desperate for redemption.

Fueled by rage, Raggi charged out of the penalty area, intent on teaching a painful lesson to the man who had brought him such disgrace. Facing the glaring Raggi, Dai Zhiwei remained calm. He chuckled, muttered "trash" under his breath, nudged the ball forward, and began a rapid, fluid series of step-overs.

The Stade Louis II erupted in cheers. While many stars utilized the step-over, no one since Robinho had executed it with such flair and effectiveness as Dai Zhiwei—it was even more deceptive than the flashy dribbling of Neymar.

Raggi felt trapped, forced to retreat cautiously as Dai Zhiwei closed in, unsure of what move would come next. Dai Zhiwei did not keep him in suspense for long; after his third rotation, he suddenly cut the ball to the right. Raggi instinctively extended a leg, convinced it was a feint. But he had judged wrong. Dai Zhiwei did not hesitate, surging past Raggi’s left side. Caught off-balance, Raggi could only watch Dai Zhiwei’s back and pray.

Having breached the box, Dai Zhiwei faced his third challenger: Monaco center-back Glik, who was scrambling to cover. Showing immense daring, Dai Zhiwei gently chipped the ball over the 190-centimeter tall Glik. Before the defender could even turn around, Dai Zhiwei had already sprinted past him. A step-over followed by a nutmeg-style dash!

The fans at Stade Louis II were thoroughly conquered by Dai Zhiwei’s imaginative play. The "Yellow Submarine" supporters roared with excitement, pushing the stadium's atmosphere to a climax. Leaving Glik behind, Dai Zhiwei continued his stride toward the Monaco goal. The Monaco defenders were in a panic, having never expected him to bypass two markers so quickly near the penalty area. They were too far out of position to help, having been pulled away by the Villarreal forwards.

Subasic, the goalkeeper, had no choice but to charge out in desperation. Dai Zhiwei had plenty of room to shoot, and the keeper needed to close down the angles before the attacker could adjust. Facing the oncoming Subasic, Dai Zhiwei took a deep breath, forcing himself to remain calm. It was the 86th minute; this strike could decide whether Villarreal returned home or continued their Champions League campaign.

Just as Subasic prepared to dive at his feet, Dai Zhiwei gave the ball a light poke. Before the keeper could react, the ball slid right through his legs. A nutmeg!

"Goooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooal!"

2-1! With the aggregate score tied at 3-3, Dai Zhiwei had finally pulled Villarreal back from the brink. The passion of the Yellow Submarine fans exploded. Supporters in every stand cheered wildly, waving their yellow scarves and shouting at the top of their lungs. Even some Monaco fans could not help but applaud in appreciation.

Amidst the cheers, Dai Zhiwei turned, ready to celebrate. He dodged Pato and Bakambu as they ran toward him and sprinted with all his might toward the stands, determined to share this undisputed, beautiful goal with his fans.

"Aah!" he shouted toward the East Stand, grabbing the Yellow Submarine crest on his jersey and yelling at the cameras. He had forgotten his signature sniper celebration; his blood was pumping too hot for such a calm display. The Stade Louis II had become a grand party, and the Villarreal fans, having been on edge for so long, could finally drink their fill of joy.

The goal had come in the dying minutes of regulation. Even though Monaco attempted a final frantic assault, they were forced to prioritize defense just like Villarreal. The match ended 3-3 after 90 minutes, heading into 30 minutes of extra time. Under the rules, the away-goal advantage favored Villarreal; if they finished extra time in a scoring draw, they would advance.

As extra time began, both sides played cautiously. Dai Zhiwei dropped deep to receive the ball. He did not rush, instead signaling for his wingers to stretch the field and calling for Bakambu and Pato to drop back for support. Despite being the youngest player on the pitch, he commanded the team with authority, directing Bruno and Pato as the game required. He was transitioning into a true number 10, a role encouraged by his manager, Escribá.

Escribá watched from the sidelines, nodding with satisfaction. He was fortunate to have a player like Dai Zhiwei, who had become the core of the team, much like Cristiano Ronaldo for Real Madrid or Lionel Messi for Barcelona.

Villarreal slowed the tempo, beginning to find their rhythm. Dai Zhiwei, Pato, and Trigueros exchanged passes near the midfield to stretch Monaco’s defense. After a series of passes, Dai Zhiwei suddenly sent a diagonal ball to Bakambu. Bakambu immediately shifted it to Pato on the left, who then played it into the path of the sprinting Dai Zhiwei.

Monaco’s defenders swarmed him, determined to cut off his shooting lanes. Jemerson harassed him constantly, using subtle shoves to disrupt his control. Knowing that getting bogged down in a duel was dangerous, Dai Zhiwei scanned the pitch. Finding no clear passing route, he sent a long diagonal ball into the open space on the right.

Though no Villarreal player was there, there were no Monaco defenders either, preventing a counter-attack. Bakambu, fresh off the bench, outran the Monaco full-back Sidibé to reach the ball. He took a touch and whipped a cross toward the edge of the box.

Chaos erupted in the Monaco area. As the ball arched in, Pato fought for position against Raggi. They jumped together, and Pato collapsed as if struck by a truck.

"Tweet!"

The referee’s whistle blew, triggering a chorus of boos. Ignoring the protests of the Monaco players, the referee approached the edge of the box. The crowd erupted in anger, some accusing Pato of diving. Dai Zhiwei wasn't sure what happened, but Pato’s fall had looked theatrical. However, the replay showed Raggi had indeed nudged Pato in the back. The referee issued a yellow card to Raggi and awarded a free-kick.

With the protest settled, Monaco retreated to form a wall. Near the end of the first half of extra time, Villarreal had earned a crucial free-kick.