Chapter 74

Seeing Rong Guang had just lost the ball, he actually raised his arm to signal his teammates to pass it to him again.

Reinaldo, who was on the sidelines, covered his face: "Does this guy even know what shame is? I really don't know where he gets his confidence from..."

He felt embarrassed for Rong Guang.

Although Rong Guang had raised his arm, the football was not passed to him.

Because he had just lost the ball.

If it weren't for the other São Paulo players desperately regaining possession, Botafogo might have launched a threatening counterattack.

In the São Paulo team, Rong Guang had already won the recognition of his teammates, who acknowledged his qualifications and strength as a first-team player.

However, there was still a gap between a first-team player and a core first-team player.

At the very least, Rong Guang could not fully replace Kaká and gain everyone's trust.

Especially after just losing the ball, no one really wanted to pass the football to him.

Five minutes passed, and it was the 16th minute, but Rong Guang hadn't touched the ball once.

"I really don't know why Oswaldo let him start in place of Kaká..." Bueno said this for the Nth time during the match. "Now he can't even get the ball. It looks like the São Paulo players don't trust him. Of course, a guy who just buries his head and runs with the ball, with such low football IQ, how could he gain the trust of his teammates?"

Not just him, but others also felt puzzled for the Nth time.

Rong Guang didn't seem to be bothered by the situation. He was trying to test his plan—taking advantage of a dead ball, he found Luiz Fabiano.

"Luiz, when I get the ball, I'll make a breakthrough. Pay attention to me."

Fabiano was confused—what's so special about you?

"I'll give you a signal, and when you see it, run to the open space. Do you know how to run to the open space?"

Fabiano almost died from Rong Guang's last sentence—damn rookie, I know how to run to the open space better than you!

"What signal?"

Rong Guang pouted his upper lip, sucked it in with his nose, and showed his two front teeth, looking like a rat.

Fabiano was shocked, never expecting Rong Guang to make such an ugly face...

"What are you doing?" Fabiano's mind was full of questions.

Rong Guang looked around and noticed a Botafogo player paying attention to his conversation with Fabiano.

So he shook his head: "You'll know when the time comes."

After saying that, he turned and ran.

Fabiano noticed his glance at the Botafogo defender and thought, "This kid is being so mysterious, I wonder what he's up to. I hope it's not another one of his 'outlandish' ideas."

I don't want to embarrass myself with this rookie...

He turned his head and saw the Botafogo defender also run away.

The Botafogo player just happened to glance over and noticed that both Rong Guang and Fabiano had looked at him, which left him puzzled—did I forget to zip my pants? He looked down and remembered it was a soccer uniform, no zipper!

***

At the 20th minute, Rong Guang finally received the ball.

This time he was eager to execute his plan.

He started to dribble forward again!

Seeing him charge forward with the ball, Fabiano immediately remembered what Rong Guang had told him: "Watch me!"

He turned his head and looked at Rong Guang, his gaze landing on Rong Guang's face.

***

"Stupid!" Even Correia, in the stands, couldn't help but curse when she saw Rong Guang do this.

To her, Rong Guang was completely unrepentant and stubborn.

He seemed to have no idea how to be flexible and wouldn't listen to others' advice, just doing things his way on the field, like a complete obsessive.

The Botafogo defenders saw Rong Guang charging at them again and couldn't help but smirk—encountering such a fool in the match was their luck. This game would be much easier to defend.

The first defender, Edgar, stepped up—he didn't expect to be able to take the ball from Rong Guang in a one-on-one, as Rong Guang's speed had left a deep impression on him. If he didn't have teammates behind him and there was a large open space, he would definitely be broken through by Rong Guang.

His role was to disrupt Rong Guang, forcing him to accelerate past him, which would give his teammates behind a chance.

So he feinted, and Rong Guang, as expected, accelerated and dribbled past him.

He quickly turned to chase Rong Guang.

At the same time, his teammate Fernando also rushed from behind, surrounding Rong Guang to make him flustered!

Compressing Rong Guang's space and not giving him time to control the ball.

The two of them, one in front and one behind, believed they would definitely take the ball from Rong Guang this time.

They were even thinking about how to counterattack after taking the ball, determined not to let it be intercepted again like last time.

"Rong has backed himself into a corner!"

"That's a trap set by Botafogo, specifically to hunt Rong!"

Bueno and Caffrey, the commentators, said simultaneously.

Not just them, but the fans in the stands and the viewers at home, seeing this, already believed that São Paulo's attack would be ended.

***

Despite everyone's disbelief that Rong Guang could escape this time, he remained surprisingly calm. When the second Botafogo defender approached, he saw the open space again!

This is the moment!

So he immediately made the signal!

Fabiano noticed the ugly expression on Rong Guang's face and knew it was the signal.

However, he had already noticed the open space Rong Guang had created.

He was startled—could he be signaling me to run to the open space and pass me the ball?

He didn't have time to think about the implications; his instinct as a forward made him turn and run to the open space Rong Guang had created.

At the same time, Rong Guang poked the ball with his foot, accurately passing it to the open space!

Without the ball, Rong Guang was like a wild horse, suddenly stopping, almost causing Edgar, who was chasing him, to collide with him.

Then he pushed off with his left foot, shifting his body to the right, breaking free from the double team!

***

When the commentators, journalists, and fans, both in the stadium and watching on TV, saw Rong Guang poke the ball away, they were all stunned!

What's going on?!

How did Rong Guang, who was focused on dribbling, suddenly pass the ball?

Was it an accidental overpass or a deliberate pass?

While they were still in shock, they saw Fabiano run to the spot and receive the ball!

And when he turned with the ball, there wasn't a single Botafogo player around him!

This is...

"An open space!" Bueno shouted first. "Fabiano is unmarked! He received... Rong's pass at the edge of the penalty area!"

"Rong attracted two Botafogo defenders and then sent the ball to the open space, where Fabiano received it unmarked. This is a great opportunity for São Paulo!" Caffrey also shouted.

***

"This rookie..." Even the assistant coach Mauro was so shocked by Rong Guang's through pass that he stood up from the bench, let alone the others.

Oswaldo's eyes were almost bulging out.

"This is impossible!" In Reinaldo's terrified cry, Kaká's body lunged forward, looking towards the front of Botafogo's penalty area.

"Great pass, little buddy!" Cui Hao shouted, waving his fists in the stands.

His daughter Correia was so shocked she couldn't speak.

The two Botafogo players closest to Rong Guang were the most shocked. They were about to surround Rong Guang, but how did he suddenly break free, and where did the ball go?

Fernando, who was facing Rong Guang, only saw him extend his foot, and then the ball was gone.

Edgar, who was chasing Rong Guang, saw the ball go through his teammate's legs!

A nutmeg?

No!

His pupils reflected Fabiano's figure, São Paulo's main striker, who had received the ball!

Was this a through pass?

Edgar was so shocked he forgot to continue chasing Rong Guang, stopping and staring as Fabiano turned and started dribbling into the penalty area.

When Fernando turned, he stumbled and fell, but he finally knew where the ball had gone—he saw Fabiano turn and dribble the ball!

***

Fabiano couldn't believe how Rong Guang could find the open space so precisely and pass the ball. In his view, Rong Guang's individual skills were decent, but making a sharp through pass in the opponent's core area was beyond him. Even Kaká, who wasn't known for organizing attacks, could make such passes, and Rong Guang couldn't even compare to Kaká, let alone Ricardinho.

So before the match, the head coach Oswaldo had instructed Rong Guang to pass the ball more to Ricardinho, who would organize the attacks as a World Cup champion.

Who would have thought that Rong Guang would take over and deliver such a beautiful through pass!

He was shocked.

But at this moment, his instinct as a top forward made him control the ball and turn, despite his surprise, he didn't forget what he should do.

That was to shoot the ball into Botafogo's goal, giving São Paulo a good start to the new season's national championship!

***

The plan