Chapter 34: The Savior of the National Football Team

"Does this make me a star now?" Dai Zhiwei looked at his various ratings in the system and murmured to himself, his tone full of delight. "Who else but me in the national team?"

Trainee Player: Dai Zhiwei
Position: Forward / Winger / Attacking Midfielder
Offensive Ability: 83 (Good)
Defensive Ability: 33 (Very Poor)
Physical Balance: 82 (Good)
Left Foot: 74 (Average)
Right Foot: 82 (Good)
Stamina: 81 (Good)
Top Speed: 96 (Top Level)
Acceleration: 94 (Excellent)
Reaction: 97 (Top Level)
Agility: 88 (Good)
Dribbling Accuracy: 91 (Excellent)
Dribbling Speed: 86 (Good)
Short Pass Accuracy: 73 (Average)
Long Pass Accuracy: 64 (Average)
Shooting Accuracy: 75 (Average)
Shooting Power: 69 (Average)
Shooting Technique: 72 (Average)
Free Kicks: 56 (Amateur)
Turning: 82 (Good)
Heading Accuracy: 90 (Excellent)
Jumping: 92 (Excellent)
Skills: 83 (Good)
Goalkeeping: 40 (Amateur)
Teamwork: 84 (Good)

Health: 7 (Excellent)
Special Skills: Millerka's Dribbling Mindset, Raisho Zheping's Off-the-ball Movement, Soaring High Header

Overall Rating: 79 (Elite First Team Player)

"My overall score should be the highest in the national team," Dai Zhiwei calculated silently. "The next step is star level. By then, even in the top five European leagues, I won't be just a minnow anymore."

...

Three days after Dai Zhiwei's last-minute goal against Hong Kong, the Chinese national team faced the Maldives in Shenyang for their third match of the Asian World Cup Qualifiers Group Stage.

Compared to the match against Hong Kong, the national team's starting lineup saw two changes for this game: Dai Zhiwei and Zou Zheng replaced Wu Lei and Jiang Zhipeng.

In the first two group matches, the Maldives lost 0-1 to Qatar and 0-2 to Hong Kong.

Notably, due to poor pitch conditions, the Maldives relinquished their home advantage, so this match, though played at Shenyang Olympic Sports Center, was still officially considered their "home" fixture.

The Maldives’ only professional player, Ashfaq, was absent due to injury, leaving a squad comprised solely of amateurs.

Before the match, the Maldivian team emphasized "defending with their lives for the first 20 minutes." As soon as the game began, China pressed high up the pitch, forcing the Maldives to repeatedly resort to tough tackles and clearances in defense, showing unexpected resilience.

Ten minutes in, most of the play had taken place in the Maldivian half.

Dai Zhiwei led the charge, rallying the Chinese players to a relentless offensive, besieging the Maldives with wave after wave of attacks, stirring the home crowd into a frenzy.

He probed through the middle, constantly linking with Han Chao on the left. Together with Han Chao and Yu Dabao, they formed a dynamic triangle along the edge of the box, drawing the attention of the Maldivian defenders.

Under persistent harassment from Abdullah Ahmed, Dai Zhiwei suddenly slid a diagonal pass to the left flank. Han Chao, sensing the play, let the ball run past him and darted into the box.

Zhang Linpeng, surging forward from the wing, reached the ball and sent in a quick low cross. Maldivian defender Arif Mohammed chased desperately, but it was too late.

Dai Zhiwei leapt high and powered a header at goal. The Maldivian amateur keeper, Imran, could only watch helplessly as the ball sailed past him and into the net.

Just twelve minutes into the game, China broke the deadlock and led the Maldives 1-0!

After scoring, Dai Zhiwei shrugged off Zhang Linpeng’s embrace, ran to the sideline, and formed a heart with his hands over his chest.

In the stands, dressed in Chinese red, Zhong Luchun was watching. Seeing her boyfriend’s gesture, she reciprocated with a heart of her own.

"Xiaowei, if you keep this up, I’ll get sick of all this sweetness!" Zhang Linpeng finally caught up and put a stop to Dai Zhiwei’s public display of affection.

"You don’t get it, do you? You’re so boring," Dai Zhiwei teased, giving his friend a playful slap before pulling a mock-scared face. "Don’t tell me you have feelings for me?"

"Get lost!"

"Coach Li, it seems Dai Zhiwei’s heading ability has made significant progress in these last two matches," commented He Wei, the commentator for China TV, alongside guest Li Yi.

"You’re absolutely right," Li Yi observed. "Before this, Dai Zhiwei rarely scored with his head, but now it’s becoming a regular weapon. At just 21, Dai Zhiwei is improving at a remarkable pace."

On the sidelines, Ismail, the acting head coach of the Maldives, stood with a face like thunder, his anger plain for all to see as he shouted instructions to his players.

But the reality is, the gap in quality cannot be bridged by shouting alone.

Even when trailing, the Maldivian attacks were feeble—simple long balls, crosses from the wings, and speculative shots from outside the box, none of which troubled Wang Dalei in goal. In contrast, China’s attacks were lively and, with Dai Zhiwei making his first national team start, the outcome was never in doubt. The only question was how many goals they would score.

Midway through the second half, in the 61st minute, Dai Zhiwei had already led China to a commanding 5-0 lead over the Maldives!

Ismail’s fury was not without reason. He knew his team was no match for China, but it was humiliating to be utterly powerless, thoroughly outclassed by a group of rugged opponents.

"Pull yourselves together! Don’t think you can just play dead and get away with it. Wait till you’re off the pitch and see how I deal with you!" Ismail finally lost his composure, cursing his players without a shred of the dignity expected of a national coach.

Abdullah Ahmed tried his best to shadow Dai Zhiwei. He hoped to rely on his fierce tackling to dominate the defensive line, just as he had limited Qatar’s attack in their opening qualifier.

But facing Dai Zhiwei was a different story—he simply couldn’t contain him, unable to anticipate his moves.

After a scathing scolding from the coach, the Maldivian players forced themselves to run harder, but the fight had gone out of them. They just wanted the match to end, even if it meant enduring Ismail’s wrath later; anything was better than further humiliation on the pitch.

But Dai Zhiwei wasn’t about to show mercy. He had already scored twice and was one goal away from a hat-trick.

A hat-trick against the Maldives might not be worth much, but Dai Zhiwei wanted it all the same.

Well, let’s forgive this "greedy" fellow.

In the 67th minute, Dai Zhiwei received a pass from Wu Xi and surged forward. When Abdullah Ahmed moved in for a challenge, Dai Zhiwei returned the ball to Wu Xi. Abdullah Ahmed was delighted; instead of going in with full force, he held back, planning to intercept the ball when Dai Zhiwei passed it to Wu Xi.

But his calculations were off—he couldn’t match Wu Xi for speed.

Before Abdullah Ahmed could reach the ball, Wu Xi had already played it forward to the edge of the box.

A simple one-two, and Dai Zhiwei, with Wu Xi’s help, shook off Abdullah Ahmed and charged ahead, ball at his feet.

Dai Zhiwei raced into the box, where substitute defender Eisa Ismail tried to stop him.

Feigning a move to the right, Dai Zhiwei suddenly changed direction, bursting through the Maldivian defense.

His speed tore open the back line; center-back Ahmed Shafiu had no chance to intercept, and keeper Imran was forced to rush out.

Imran threw himself forward, stretching his body wide in a desperate attempt to make the save, but it was futile.

Dai Zhiwei, using his favorite weapon—speed—breached the Maldivian defense, poked the ball past Imran, skipped over the sprawling keeper, and, as soon as he landed, calmly rolled the ball into the empty net with his right foot.

After completing his hat-trick, Perrin sensibly substituted Wu Lei for Dai Zhiwei, sparing him from the risk of a frustrated Maldivian taking him out with a reckless challenge.

Still, seeing Dai Zhiwei’s reluctance to leave the field, one had to admit—he really was asking for it!

"Alas, my chance for a four-goal haul slipped by just like that!"

At last, the final whistle blew. China cruised to a 6-0 victory over the Maldives, making it three wins from three, with 13 goals scored and none conceded, proudly topping the group—a rare moment of glory.

And the greatest hero? Unquestionably Dai Zhiwei, who in one start and two substitute appearances—less than 120 minutes on the pitch—had tallied five goals and one assist.