Chapter 3: The Rookie’s First Appearance

“Dear viewers, welcome back to Tianhe Stadium, where we’re live for the opening round of the 2015 Chinese Super League. Today’s match pits the newly promoted Shijiazhuang Ever Bright against the defending champions, Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao.”

“The first half ended 1-1. Shijiazhuang Ever Bright, playing away, struck first. In the 17th minute, Ever Bright launched a counterattack—Rondon received a pass from Mulenga in the center, made a slight adjustment, and fired a thunderous right-footed shot from distance. The ball, like a cannonball, rocketed into the net. Ever Bright led 1-0 away from home. That goal marked the club’s very first goal in the Chinese Super League.”

“In the 47th minute, Evergrande responded. Gao Lin, Huang Bowen, and Elkeson combined with a series of intricate passes, and Goulart picked up Elkeson’s through ball to penetrate the box alone. Facing goalkeeper Wang Guoming, he finished with a fierce right-footed strike, leveling the score at 1-1.”

“Evergrande Taobao’s lineup remains unchanged for the second half:

Goalkeeper: Li Shuai
Defenders: Rong Hao, Mei Fang, Kim Young-gwon, Zou Zheng
Midfielders: Zheng Zhi, Rene, Huang Bowen
Forwards: Goulart, Elkeson, Gao Lin”

“Shijiazhuang Ever Bright’s starting eleven:

Goalkeeper: Wang Guoming
Defenders: Feng Shaoshun, Li Chao, Zhao Rongheng, Xu Bo, Hu Wei
Midfielders: Bai He, Jolo, Mao Jianqing, Rondon
Forward: Mulenga”

The commentator in the booth sounded rather listless as he called the match. After all, this wasn’t exactly a high-profile fixture—no one expected the promoted Shijiazhuang side to trouble the defending champions.

As the second half began, both teams played with little urgency. Though Guangzhou Evergrande, at home, were eager to take the lead, their form was poor today, and they struggled to find an opening into the box. Even after substituting Liao Lisheng for Huang Bowen in the 70th minute, little changed.

Goulart and Elkeson seemed to have left their shooting boots at home, managing only a few harmless long-range attempts that barely tested Wang Guoming in goal for Shijiazhuang Ever Bright.

As for Guangzhou’s other forward, Gao Lin, one might say that scoring goals was hardly his main occupation.

Shijiazhuang Ever Bright, for their part, focused wholly on defense, dropping their lines deep into their own half. For a newly promoted team, leaving the champions’ home with a point would be a satisfactory result.

In this atmosphere, the clock ticked into the 81st minute. Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao prepared for their second substitution.

In the commentary booth, Su Dong glanced at the field. “Ha! What do we see here? Number 24 for Evergrande is awfully young—I don’t recall seeing him before. But who is he?”

Su Dong scanned the roster with renewed interest. “Ah, this is Dai Zhiwei, listed as a forward. He’s a youth product from the Evergrande academy, born July 1994, not yet twenty. Let’s see what Canavaro has in mind by introducing this young striker.”

After a quick embrace with Rene, who had struggled since joining the team, Dai Zhiwei dashed onto the pitch.

Though Dai Zhiwei made no showy gestures, his heart was pounding with excitement. Until now, he had only watched stars stride onto this sacred green field on television, never imagining he’d one day set foot here himself.

True, it was “only” the Chinese Super League—a competition many of his countrymen looked down upon—but that did nothing to dampen his exhilaration at this first step onto the professional stage.

“Good! It all begins with this match. From today, let the world know: there’s a new name on the football scene—Dai Zhiwei has arrived!” Clenching his fist, Dai Zhiwei gave a determined gesture toward captain Goulart.

With Dai Zhiwei’s entrance, Goulart dropped into midfield as a playmaker, and Dai Zhiwei took up Goulart’s former wide forward position.

The referee’s whistle blew for Evergrande Taobao’s throw-in. Liao Lisheng protected the ball on the sideline, then handed it to Zheng Zhi, before sprinting into Shijiazhuang’s half. Unfortunately, Zheng Zhi’s return pass was knocked out of bounds.

But none of this concerned Dai Zhiwei, because as the referee’s whistle sounded, a familiar system prompt echoed in his mind.

The system assigned its first mission:

“Mark your debut with a goal and make an excellent start to your professional career!”

Though it was a tough ask, the generous reward of five points convinced Dai Zhiwei to accept the challenge without hesitation.

Another throw-in for Evergrande Taobao. Zheng Zhi returned the ball to Liao Lisheng, who surveyed the field but opted against a long ball, instead passing forward to Goulart. The home side began to probe patiently from their own half.

Goulart controlled the ball under pressure from Mao Jianqing, turning his back to shield it. Mao Jianqing, not exactly a master of the tackle, only managed a token challenge before dropping off. Goulart, nimble as ever, held his ground.

With a deft flick of his heel, Goulart sent the ball out of reach. Mao Jianqing, caught off guard by the pass, made no effort to chase back—a common failing among local players, whose intensity often wavers.

Goulart’s pass was risky, relying on peripheral vision to spot a flash of red behind him, but it found Dai Zhiwei.

Barely two minutes into his debut, Dai Zhiwei’s first touch sent a thrill through him. But after that initial excitement, he focused on the task at hand: to impress coach Canavaro, he needed to do something worth remembering—this was the first step to becoming a star.

“Now in possession is Dai Zhiwei, just promoted from Evergrande’s reserves this year. Can this young right winger spring a surprise? But at this stage, receiving the ball near the center circle isn’t ideal for a wide forward,” Su Dong commented.

“Oh my! I might have to take that back—this number 24 is lightning fast! Shijiazhuang’s left back Hu Wei seems to have underestimated his youthful opponent!” Su Dong exclaimed. Suddenly, all eyes in the stadium were fixed on Dai Zhiwei.

Down the flank, Dai Zhiwei relied on blistering pace to power past Hu Wei. The defender had evidently taken the newcomer lightly—after all, China’s best young talents were already national team fixtures, and Dai Zhiwei’s name had scarcely traveled beyond the Genbao Football Academy and Evergrande’s reserves.

Moreover, after eighty minutes chasing Goulart, Hu Wei was visibly tired. Dai Zhiwei, spotting the opening with a quick glance, knocked the ball far ahead and surged past Hu Wei in a burst of speed.

Seeing their man left for dead, a cluster of Shijiazhuang fans near Dai Zhiwei leapt up, jeering and hurling abuse, but he paid them no heed.

In a few long strides, Dai Zhiwei was closing on the box. Shijiazhuang’s main center-back, Zhao Rongheng, moved across to cover—if Dai Zhiwei took a couple more steps, he’d have a clear shot.

Zhao Rongheng, full of experience, didn’t rush in. For a defender, patience and reading the game are crucial, especially against a rookie like Dai Zhiwei.

So, Zhao Rongheng backpedaled, studying Dai Zhiwei’s feet and eyes, ready for a feint or a burst past. If he could block Dai Zhiwei’s path, the youngster would have nowhere to go.

Zhao Rongheng lunged, seemingly for the ball but actually to block the runner’s path.

But he was outfoxed. In that split-second, Dai Zhiwei swept his right foot behind his left and sent the ball curling to the top of the box.

A rabona pass!

“My word! Dai Zhiwei of Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao has switched the play to the center—a rabona! Am I watching a Brazilian samba player? A rabona! Absolutely gorgeous!” Su Dong roared, and Shijiazhuang fans held their collective breath.

For as the ball flew in, Gao Lin was already charging to meet it.

From that spot, a shot was on.

As Dai Zhiwei’s pass arced across, Zhao Rongheng’s defensive partner Li Chao reacted quickly, sliding in to block the shot.

But Gao Lin met the ball full on the laces of his left boot—a thunderous drive at goal!

Will Gao Lin rise to the occasion?