Chapter 59: Keeping One’s Word

Luck, perhaps, truly favored Evergrande in the first half.

At least, throughout the relentless forty-five-minute bombardment from Club América, Evergrande’s goal seemed on the verge of collapse, but their opponents simply could not break through, right up until the halftime whistle.

During the interval, fans from both sides—who had spent forty-five minutes in tense anticipation—were finally able to sit back and exhale in relief. Over forty thousand hearts, just moments ago pounding furiously in the Osaka Nagai Stadium, no longer had to worry over the fierce battle on the pitch.

Of course, it was mostly Evergrande’s supporters who had been wringing their hearts.

After fifteen minutes of halftime, both players and fans had enjoyed a brief respite.

But as the referee’s whistle sounded, like a sudden bugle call on a battlefield, it drew all the fans inside and outside the stadium back into the tense fray of the pitch. The Osaka Nagai Stadium, having enjoyed its fifteen-minute reprieve, was once again shrouded in a nervous, restless atmosphere!

The second half between Evergrande and Club América had begun!

Evergrande’s fans had hoped that during halftime, Cannavaro would come up with some ingenious strategy to turn the tide.

However, reality proved that while Cannavaro was a good coach, he was just that—no more. Evergrande made no targeted adjustments during the break, and compared to his predecessor Lippi, Cannavaro’s tactical management in the moment was clearly lacking.

As the second half began, Club América continued to dominate.

In the 49th minute, América launched a cross from the right, Benedetto stooped to glance a header at goal, but Li Shuai blocked the attempt. Sambueza then sent in another ball from the right, only for Quintero to head it wide.

Five minutes later, the deadlock was broken. Benedetto accelerated down the wing, shook off Zheng Zhi’s marking, and sent the ball across the face of goal. Peralta arrived at the perfect moment, diving in to head the ball home. The score became 1–0, and Evergrande found themselves in a precarious position.

At midfield, Dai Zhiwei stood with hands on his hips, gazing helplessly at the celebrating América players. Despite Evergrande’s attacking trident remaining sharp on the counter, without support from the midfield, they were struggling to stand alone.

After falling behind, Evergrande should have launched an all-out assault, but instead, the rhythm of the game remained firmly in América’s control. In both possession and attacking opportunities, they were clearly superior.

In the 63rd minute, Paul Aguilar took a corner from the right. Incredibly, Peralta was left completely unmarked!

Dai Zhiwei, who had been tracking Andrade near the edge of the box, broke out in a cold sweat when he saw Vidic unguarded, rushing to challenge Peralta’s leap. Fortunately, the ball floated awkwardly, and Peralta’s header from ten yards out sailed well over the bar.

“What are you doing?!”

As the Evergrande players were still recovering from Peralta’s near miss, a sudden roar echoed in their ears.

“Oh! It seems there’s a dispute within the Evergrande camp!” The stadium commentator, seeing the commotion in Evergrande’s box, relished the spectacle, announcing gleefully, “It looks like Dai Zhiwei is shouting at his teammates. Is he expressing his dissatisfaction?”

Was there really internal strife in Evergrande?

“What are you all doing?” Dai Zhiwei bellowed at the “veterans” in the box.

“I know I’m the least qualified here to say this, but are you just going to let Club América walk away with an easy victory? We need to attack! Attack! Why are you all huddled in our own half?” Dai Zhiwei shouted at his teammates, paying no mind to the discomfort on their faces.

Since being named Asian Footballer of the Year, Dai Zhiwei’s temperament had grown more assertive. He knew that, if not the top, his status in the team was second only to Zheng Zhi’s.

He understood he had to speak up, or else the match would be lost.

Now, when Evergrande should have been throwing everything forward to equalize, the team was too afraid of conceding another goal. Zheng Zhi and Paulinho, when joining the attack, hovered at the halfway line, afraid to push forward for fear of being caught on the counter. But how could they score like this?

So, even if calling out his veteran teammates risked bruising egos, Dai Zhiwei would not hold back.

“But Xiao Wei,” as captain, only Zheng Zhi dared to intervene, “their offense is so fierce. If we wait, they’ll tire soon enough—then we can press forward…”

“What are you afraid of with me here?” Dai Zhiwei suddenly cut him off.

“What?” Zheng Zhi hadn’t caught his meaning.

“I said, with me here, what’s there to fear?” Dai Zhiwei repeated. “I will score!”

Looking into Dai Zhiwei’s resolute eyes, Zheng Zhi was moved. Perhaps, if he’d possessed such determination during his own time in England, he might have carved out a place for himself.

Though still skeptical of Dai Zhiwei’s guarantee, Zheng Zhi saw that Evergrande’s attacking intent was indeed increasing.

Before the restart, Cannavaro substituted Robinho in for Huang Bowen—clearly siding with Dai Zhiwei’s view and preparing to go all in.

After kickoff, Robinho and Dai Zhiwei immediately surged into América’s half, with Goulart dropping deeper to organize. Evergrande’s attack quickly unfolded.

“Robbie!”

Dai Zhiwei skillfully brought down Robinho’s pass with his chest, using his body to shield the ball from the defender and fending off Samudio’s challenge.

Continue dribbling?

He had no such intention. Cushioning the ball with his chest, he noticed the open right flank out of the corner of his eye. With a deft touch of his instep, he sent the ball out wide to the advancing Zhang Linpeng.

América’s right flank was wide open. Sensing the opportunity, Zhang Linpeng surged forward, drawing cheers from the small contingent of Evergrande supporters and the neutral local fans.

Though Dai Zhiwei loathed and despised this island nation, he had to admit—their football fans were admirable.

Seeing Zhang Linpeng’s burst, Dai Zhiwei sprinted even faster towards the goal. He knew that without support, Zhang Linpeng was likely to lose possession or waste the chance.

Zhang Linpeng’s run was soon halted by América’s defenders, forcing him to pass to Dai Zhiwei, who had just arrived at the edge of the box.

Seeing Dai Zhiwei pause outside the area, Samudio was relieved and moved in for a fair challenge.

Samudio, a Paraguayan international who had played for Libertad and Cruzeiro, stood only 172 centimeters tall, but his physicality was not lacking.

“Stubborn ox!” Dai Zhiwei muttered as he stumbled under Samudio’s challenge, pushed out toward the right wing.

Was Dai Zhiwei going to be marked out of the game?

A thought flashed through his mind. Suddenly, he feinted down the right, drawing Samudio with him, then, with a subtle flick of his heel, sent the ball back toward the center to Elkeson, who was seeking space.

Elkeson, upon receiving the ball, found the center of the box unguarded!

América’s other center back, Goltz, advanced calmly to intercept, hoping to slow Elkeson’s attack.

But Elkeson—nicknamed “Little Bear” for good reason—gritted his teeth, powered forward, and bulldozed past Goltz, carrying the ball into the box.

However, Muñoz rushed out the moment Elkeson received the ball, nearly shutting down all angles on goal.

Seeing his chances slim, and unwilling to waste the opportunity Evergrande had worked seventy minutes for, Elkeson caught sight of a flash of red darting into the box. With the outside of his right foot, he poked the ball through Goltz’s legs to the penalty spot.

For seventy minutes, Dai Zhiwei had been nearly invisible, but now, like a diamond wiped clean of dust, he shone with dazzling brilliance.

With no defender within two meters, Dai Zhiwei met the pass in the heart of the box and, without hesitation, unleashed a thunderous shot. The ball rocketed into the net!

“It’s in!”

The Osaka Nagai Stadium erupted in thunderous cheers. Evergrande supporters, who had been watching América’s box with anxious eyes, leaped to their feet in celebration.

Dai Zhiwei sprinted joyfully to midfield, arms outstretched toward captain Zheng Zhi. The two men collided in a rush of passion and triumph.

“Captain, didn’t I tell you? With me here, you never have to worry about goals!” Dai Zhiwei roared.

A promise made, a promise kept—this was Dai Zhiwei’s creed as a champion.

“You’re incredible! You’re incredible!” Zheng Zhi had nothing else to say, only offering two emphatic thumbs up.

Dai Zhiwei’s goal shattered Club América’s dreams of a routine victory over Evergrande. And with their own energy spent after seventy minutes of relentless attack, Evergrande began to seize the initiative on the field.