Chapter 36: The Bicycle Boy Whose Blade Never Dulls

In the live studio, Li Xin saw the number "56" flash on the digital board and exclaimed, "Oh! Robinho? Is it really Robinho? Although Robinho is a like-for-like substitute for Elkeson, it's clear that Cannavaro's sending a signal to strengthen the team's attack!"

"Yes, it's evident that Cannavaro is aiming to secure this season's championship for Evergrande with a victory tonight!"

"This should be the first time Robinho is partnering with Dai Zhiwei up front, right?"

"That's right. Their playing styles are somewhat similar, so it's something to look forward to!"

While the two commentators heightened the excitement with their surprise, the substitution on the pitch had already been completed, and the match resumed!

Robinho finally set foot once more on the green field he so loved.

At the side of the pitch, the fourth official raised the substitution board during a stoppage, watched by nearly a hundred thousand expectant eyes in the Eighty-Thousand-Seat Stadium—

Number 9 Elkeson off!

Number 56 Robinho on!

Though it was a like-for-like change, with Robinho's entrance, both Goulart and Dai Zhiwei moved forward into attacking roles, and Evergrande’s formation shifted to a 4-3-3. Once again, Cannavaro's boldness earned the applause of the Evergrande fans in the stands.

These fervent supporters wholeheartedly backed Cannavaro’s decision; after all, Elkeson, as outstanding as he is, hadn’t played a formal match in nearly two months and his form had clearly dipped. Placing the hope of scoring on a player who had missed almost half the season due to a serious injury was, in truth, a tough ask.

However, as Dai Zhiwei had never partnered with Robinho in a competitive match, their lack of understanding was a problem. Robinho's appearance did not improve Evergrande's situation; instead, it gave Shanghai SIPG more of an advantage.

In the 73rd minute, the crowd in the Eighty-Thousand-Seat Stadium let out a regretful gasp—

Davi, coming off the bench, managed to control the ball under Paulinho’s pressure and passed it forward to Conca.

Conca, facing Zheng Long’s defense, played an imaginative pass, threading the ball between Feng Xiaoting and Zou Zheng for Gyan, who was sprinting up the flank!

Gyan, known for his individualism, didn’t go for personal glory this time. Instead, he cleverly crossed with his left foot at the first opportunity, sending the ball in a perfect arc into Evergrande’s box!

In the box, Kim Young-gwon and Wu Lei tangled, while Feng Xiaoting turned too slowly, frozen like a statue—undoubtedly a golden chance for SIPG to open the scoring!

At the edge of the six-yard box, SIPG’s center-forward Heisen leapt unchallenged and powered a header on goal.

Bang!

The ball crashed against the crossbar like a cannonball and bounced out of play. Having missed the chance, Heisen smacked his hands together in frustration.

Play continued.

After receiving the ball in the center circle, Conca didn’t distribute it immediately as usual. Instead, he surprisingly dribbled forward, shrugging off Evergrande defenders with determination, and charged menacingly to the right edge of Evergrande’s penalty area.

Having thrown Evergrande’s defensive shape into chaos, Conca feinted several times at the right side of the box, easily causing Zou Zheng to lose balance, then swiftly sent a low cross into the area with his right foot.

Heisen appeared near the penalty spot and once again went for a header.

This time, it was Evergrande’s goalkeeper Zeng Cheng who rose to the occasion, denying Heisen’s point-blank effort and keeping the score level—Evergrande had escaped disaster yet again.

For the moment, Evergrande, after their substitution, not only failed to regain control, but instead found themselves repeatedly in danger!

If not for Zeng Cheng’s superb goalkeeping and a bit of luck, SIPG’s fans would already have reasons to celebrate.

By the sideline, Cannavaro was shouting anxiously at his players, all composure forgotten. He even took off his suit and threw it to the ground.

At last, after barely holding off SIPG’s onslaught, Evergrande launched a counterattack!

This was a swift break.

Paulinho intercepted in defense and sent a long ball forward. Dai Zhiwei, temporarily filling in as center-forward, outjumped Kim Ju-young, his feet nearly a meter off the ground, heading the ball on.

Since acquiring the "Strange Bird" aerial header skill, Dai Zhiwei not only became a lethal finisher with his head, but also a master of heading accurate passes. In midair, he flicked the ball with the back of his head toward the edge of the box.

At first glance, Dai Zhiwei’s pass seemed a mistake—there was neither a SIPG defender nor an Evergrande attacker nearby, the space utterly vacant.

But no!

Just as the commentator was about to voice his thoughts on Dai Zhiwei’s apparent error, a flash of yellow streaked toward the ball—an Evergrande player, lightning-fast.

At the edge of SIPG’s box, the one-time "Bicycle Boy" Robinho darted forward at blistering speed!

Catching up to Dai Zhiwei’s pass, Robinho was met with a surge of excitement from Li Xin, who finally realized what was happening.

"Oh! It's Robinho!" Li Xin shouted, his excitement boiling over.

Recovering, Li Xin continued, "SIPG's defenders have no time to recover—my God! What terrifying speed! The real Lightning Killer! The one he once was, he’s back!"

Robinho’s brilliant play sent a shiver of fear through every corner of the Eighty-Thousand-Seat Stadium.

Robinho charged into the box with only one defender left to beat. While sprinting, he made a simple feint—the bicycle!

Facing perhaps the world’s best at the bicycle feint, Shi Ke was lost.

Robinho easily shifted Shi Ke’s balance, then, as Yan Junling rushed out, unleashed a powerful shot from just inside the penalty spot!

The ball, like a bolt of white lightning, whistled past Yan Junling’s ear and crashed into the net!

That strike announced the long-awaited return of the "Bicycle Boy"!

That strike brought back the fleet-footed prodigy of days past!

On the now-silent center pitch of the Eighty-Thousand-Seat Stadium, the thirty-one-year-old Robinho raised his right index finger high, proudly signaling his goal.

“Goal! Robinho!”

“In the 77th minute, Robinho opens the scoring for Evergrande, breaking the deadlock—Evergrande leads SIPG 1–0!”

Already a goal behind, and with no points helping their title hopes, SIPG threw caution to the wind, shifting to a desperate 2-5-3 formation, leaving only Shi Ke and Kim Ju-young in their own half.

But that kind of space was a vast prairie for speedsters like Dai Zhiwei and Robinho.

In the 83rd minute, SIPG’s attack was intercepted by Feng Xiaoting, who launched a long ball to Goulart up front.

Substitute Yang Boyu tried valiantly to win it back, but Goulart was too strong—he leapt and headed the ball back to the onrushing Paulinho!

Kim Ju-young stepped up to press, but Paulinho calmly slipped the ball past the South Korean international, delivering it to Robinho!

Seeing Robinho receive the ball, Shi Ke, rushing back to cover, immediately blocked his shooting angle.

Robinho, however, had no intention of shooting himself. He saw that the series of quick passes had already thrown SIPG’s defense into disarray, so he chose to pass again!

Robinho threaded the ball through Shi Ke’s legs, sending it into the open space in SIPG’s box.

There, Dai Zhiwei was poised and ready, like an arrow on the string, waiting for the ball to fall at his feet.

The SIPG fans in the stands held their breath as they watched the visitors weave together a stunning sequence of passes.

Perhaps the next ten seconds would determine the destination of this season’s Super League crown!

It was Evergrande’s chance—Robinho’s diagonal pass sliced through SIPG’s entire defense.

“What a pass!”

Dai Zhiwei started calmly, received the ball, feinted a shot to trick the advancing Yan Junling, and slotted the ball into the far corner.

As the ball rolled slowly into SIPG’s net, Dai Zhiwei smiled softly, turned, and ran toward Robinho, giving him a thumbs-up.

Though Dai Zhiwei and Robinho spoke no common tongue, football was their language of communication!

As Dai Zhiwei, Robinho, Goulart, and others embraced in celebration, SIPG players complained to the referee and linesman that Dai Zhiwei’s goal was offside.

But no matter how animated their protests, the linesman stood by his decision, and the replay confirmed the correctness of the call.

“Thirty goals! That’s Dai Zhiwei’s 30th league goal this season!” Li Xin praised non-stop in the broadcast. “Elkeson once set the single-season scoring record at 28 goals in 2014, breaking Li Jinyu’s 26-goal record from 2006. But now Dai Zhiwei has raised the bar to 30 goals, breaking into the 30-goal mark for the first time!”

“With five rounds remaining, how far can Dai Zhiwei take this record? Let’s wait and see!”

After Dai Zhiwei scored his second goal of the night, the match lost all suspense; the rest was merely a formality for both sides.

In the end, Evergrande triumphed 2-0 in this top-of-the-table clash, extending their lead to 10 points.

With only five rounds left in the league, the destination of this season’s Super League title seemed all but decided.