Chapter 143 – End of the First Half (3)
143
Like most sports, soccer prefers fast players.
However, the speed that is important in soccer is slightly different from the general standard. For example, shorter 20 and 30m records are more important than 100m records.
The ground is wide, but the space is limited.
How many cases can sprint from the friendly penalty area to the opponent’s penalty area in a surprisingly tight space shared by 22 players, including allies and opponents? Opportunities like this are rare.
That’s why the important speed in soccer is ‘how fast you can reach the top speed’ rather than ‘top speed’ in general.
It is what is commonly referred to as explosive force.
It’s like a scene unfolding right in front of the audience’s eyes.
“Ohhh!”
“Fast!!”
The spectators at Deutsche Bank Parque, which were full for today’s game, exclaimed in unison at the sight unfolding in front of their eyes.
The European competition that the team entered after a long time. Also, the match that decides to advance to the finals is held at home, but Die Adler, armed with the pride that he will not lose anywhere if he is passionate, could not stand still.
Of course, the stadium was full of passionate Frankfurt fans, and Hong Min-jun, who has recently emerged as the team’s best player, made the home fans stand up all at once with a simple but deadly hit and run.
“Run! Run!”
“Go ahead and score a goal!!”
Hong Min-jun’s run, which started not too far from the center line, shook off Monaco’s players in an instant and headed for the penalty box, and even pushed aside Alvaro, the last bastion and Monaco’s key.
An intense left-footed shot exploded the moment even that Montana Alvaro lost his balance and collapsed due to a tremendous step-over followed by tremendous speed, and everyone, both home and away fans, stood up from their seats to watch.
Tremendous cheers echoed through the arena.
* * *
How long does it take to be this light?
My body feels light as if I’m about to fly with a sense of exhilaration for having spent the points I’ve been collecting for months in a good condition that I haven’t felt in a long time.
So it was.
Despite the coach’s instructions and the tactics prepared for the match against Monaco, the first half was a safe linked play that eliminated risks as much as possible.
It bothers me that I was repeatedly blocked by him in the last confrontation, and that I am looking down at him with a condescending gaze in front of me now.
He was once famous as a world-class defensive midfielder, but is that an enemy?
The guy is already in his late 30s.
If it was a dribble that would be blocked by something that was not in its prime, he would have given up his dream of becoming the best player of all time.
“Stupid— Huh!?”
The face of the guy who made a face that said so in the stance to break through the dribble quickly passes by.
No flashy painting, no individual skills, just simple hit and run.
But before he could react, Alex Richards couldn’t react to the sudden rush. I just blocked the empty space with my body as I passed by.
“Drive to the side!!”
At the same time as an angry shout is heard from behind, the Monaco players move, but even that is passed by with a long kick once again.
He cuts off the hand of the guy struggling next to him and pulls his uniform, and avoids the belated tackle with a light jump.
The breakthrough, which was made with just two touches, reached a distance closer to the opponent’s penalty box than near the center line.
Instinctively realized.
Stopping here will only cause turnover.
Even Donald Cook, who should be in the front line, is now behind me, and there is no place to give him a pass, and no ally to help. If you stop like this, you will be surrounded by opponents and the ball will be stolen.
‘Until the end… ‘
Even if it doesn’t make a goal, you have to connect to the shooting and finish it.
I caught my breath and kicked the ball again for a long time.
Running again.
In front of me, Monaco’s core, Montana Alvaro, famous for his alias ‘iron wall’, was seen running out to catch the ball.
Eyes meeting each other.
Even in the midst of this, the eyes of Montana Alvaro, who had a calm expression, grew bigger as if they were going to tear at the moment, and the momentum of running was reduced.
My momentum increased with each step or two, but his momentum, which had decreased in the opposite direction, soon turned in the opposite direction and began to walk backwards.
The appearance of realizing the reverse spin on the ball.
Indeed, it is the quick and accurate judgment of a player who was once called the world’s best defender.
When there was a speed competition like this, he must have realized in an instant that I was the first to catch the ball.
If it had been me before raising the stats that I had faced before, or if the ball hadn’t been reversed, he would have been able to secure possession of the ball first.
But,
‘Late.’
It catches the ball, which has significantly reduced speed due to reverse rotation, and hits it without slowing down.
As he backtracked, the distance he secured instantly decreased, and he shook his body at the same speed as he was running. His balance swayed in response to the left and right movements.
Montana Alvaro’s body was too frail to prevent the step-over that unfolded at running speed.
“Kuk!”
The balance that followed the first couple of times collapses, leaving behind the guy who hit the butt and entering the penalty box as it is, shaking his body left and right against the goalkeeper who runs out, then hits it to the right and goes out.
He kicked the ball hard toward the empty goal in front of him.
The moment the ball falls under the wildly fluctuating net and rolls around, only then does the slowed down time unwind and the world returns to normal.
Wow!!!
A late roar.
The stadium shook and my body trembled with tremendous cheers, so I stood tall and looked over the crowd.
Without a single seated person, everyone stood up and lightly punched their chests at the cheering spectators with their faces flushed red.
* * *
“Hong Min-joon can pierce it! Can it pierce it!! Run!!”
“It’s fast! It’s super fast!”
“Uh, uh uh!? Huh, in vain!! With a flashy step-over, Monta— passed, goalkeeper, passed!!”
“Oohhhhh!!! Goal, Goal!!”
The commentators, who had been raising their voices ever since Hong Min-joon beat Alex Richards, shook their butts when they pierced the Monaco camp at breakneck speed, and let out shrill screams at the speed of their running.
“My God… An unbelievable goal!!”
“Wow, what is this! It’s like Ronaldo… It was a goal that reminded me of Ronaldo in his prime!!”
“It’s a wonder goal made with a stormy run!! Hong Min-joon, the protagonist of the first goal!!”
Numerous commentators watching the game, from the dispatched Korean relay team as well as the German relay team on site, were shocked at the same time.
“The main character of this year’s Puskas has been decided!! A young genius from Korea sinks Monaco!!”
“Montana Alvaro, considered one of the best defenders in the world, collapses at only 21 years old! Ah… Montana Alvaro… Can’t get up.”
“This is Hong Min-joon, who scans the stands with awe. Everyone, pay attention to this player! Perhaps, we may be seeing the first chapter of a new history being written.”
Like the second Van Dyke, Lee Myung-min, based on his good physical condition of 191cm and 86kg, he has overwhelming body fights and air supremacy, speed comparable to that of a winger, incredible defensive power, and even play-making from the rear.
Just five years ago, Montana Alvaro, the ‘Iron Wall’, was called the world’s best defender as the nucleus of Real Madrid’s defense. However, the days when he was called the best passed and his body, which entered his late 30s, was complaining of its limits.
Even so, he thought he could still hold on… Montana Alvaro sat down blankly and looked down at the ground.
If it was 3 years ago… No, would it have been possible to stop it if it had been five years ago, when it was at its peak?
Maybe he could have stopped… At the thought, Montana Alvaro smiled bitterly. Are you not sure
“It’s time to retire.”
A rough palm descends in front of his eyes as he murmurs bitterly.
A familiar face was waiting for him where he climbed along his rough palm.
“I agree, friend. I was going to play for another 2-3 years… But I can’t anymore.”
Make a messed up face
* * *
『There was a lot of food at the rumored feast! Frankfurt won 3:1 in the 6th round of the group stage!!
『The Second Coming of Ronaldo!』
『Unbelievable Wonder Goal!! Puskatsu has already been reserved!!』
—It’s broken, it’s broken
—Is this Hong Min-jun?
—From now on, call me Hongnaudu
Bhonghhhhh
ㄴA crazy birdhahaHong Naw Doo fuckhaha
ㄴBut ㄹㅇ I was in Hong Na Doo mode today;; Seriously, while running, I was reminded of Ronalwood in Inter days…
Yes;
—Really, this bastard is a madman lol I just sprayed all of them with my individual skills against Alex Richard and Montana Alvaro ;;
—Mom, I want to be Hong Min-jun when I grow up!! Mom, I want to be Hong Min-jun when I grow up!! Mom, I want to be Hong Min-jun when I grow up!!
Uh huh! It’s Minjun Hong! Is Minjoon Hong your friend?
— Kya… It’s the first thrill I’ve felt since Son Heung-min’s Wonder Goal against Burnley on 19/20…
—Is a Korean player finally appearing to succeed Son Heung-min?
“Shock!! The two veterans of Monaco hinted at retirement!!』
“At a press conference after the 6th leg of the Europa League Group D group stage, Monaco’s Montana Alvaro (37) and Alex Richards (36) expressed their intention to retire.
Montana Alvaro was once called the second Van Dyke and was considered one of the best defenders in the world. Montana Alvaro, who joined Monaco as a free agent after his contract with Real Madrid ended three years ago, has led Monaco’s rise this season with his consistent performance.
At the press conference after the game, he praised Hong Min-jun, saying, “Hong Min-jun is a great player. In the last game, he was a talented player with a promising future. But today, he was different. Hong Min-jun is already a complete player.” .
On the other hand, Alex Richards, who is familiar to Korean fans as the core of Chelsea, also showed great success regardless of his age…
… The fact that the two players, who were showing off their old age, expressed their intention to retire side by side, is that the performance of Hong Min-jun, who had a confrontation today, might have an impact… 」
-OMG? What is this;
— And you crazy guys are both retiring?
—Allergic bastard, this year was the last year of his contract, he got hit by a FA roid and worked really hard, but suddenly what is this;;
ㄴIt looks like he was punched by Hong Min-joon and was embarrassedhaha