Chapter 83

When the fourth official raised the substitution board, Rong Guang realized that the person Kaka was replacing was not him!

Instead, it was number 5, Wilson.

Even the commentator was surprised.

"Kaka is finally coming on! But... he is replacing number 5, Wilson, not number 23, Rong... Osvaldo has taken off a winger and brought on an attacking midfielder. What will Rong do?"

No one knew how Rong Guang would arrange things.

It wasn't until Kaka came on that everyone realized both of them were standing in the attacking midfielder position!

"Two attacking midfielders? Sao Paulo has never played like this before... Is this a desperate move, or a sign of disarray?"

"Rong and Kaka have overlapping roles, and both are crowding the center, which will only make the front more congested. This is actually detrimental to Sao Paulo's attack. Football isn't a math game where more people always means better..."

Seeing Rong Guang and Kaka standing side by side, many people frowned.

The TV broadcast even gave a close-up of Sao Paulo's head coach Osvaldo, using the camera to express their doubts.

If they knew that Osvaldo himself was unsure, they would have no idea what their expressions would be...

Osvaldo only had a vague idea about Kaka and Rong Guang playing together.

He hadn't thought through the specifics, so he could only let the two of them play on the field for now, hoping that they might spark something and give him some inspiration.

※※※

When Rong Guang saw Kaka run over, he opened his mouth to speak.

But Kaka beat him to it: "Don't hold me back."

Then he turned and ran away.

Rong Guang jumped in frustration: "Hey, that's what I should have said!"

Kaka ignored him.

"Hmph, what are you so proud of, my substitute!" Rong Guang muttered to himself, emphasizing the words "my substitute."

But no matter what, Rong Guang was actually relieved. Not being substituted meant he still had a chance, and he was determined to score a goal!

He clenched his fists.

※※※

The subsequent game unfolded as Rong Guang and Osvaldo had analyzed. Athletico Paranaense, having equalized, were not content with just one point at home. They continued to launch fierce attacks on Sao Paulo's goal.

They hoped to score another goal quickly, just like before, to completely turn the tide.

As for the speed threat posed by Rong Guang and Kaka, Athletico Paranaense didn't consider it at all.

Scoring two goals in five minutes had boosted their confidence. Alex Mineiro was in great form, and the Athletico Paranaense players believed it wouldn't be long before they scored again!

Sao Paulo, of course, was not willing to let Athletico Paranaense break through with such momentum.

They tried every possible counter-attack while defending.

After Kaka came on, they passed the ball to him more often than to Rong Guang.

It wasn't that they still looked down on Rong Guang, but from a practical standpoint, Rong Guang was easier to mark.

Rong Guang's change of direction dribble had been figured out in the last two games—he only had that one trick.

It was too easy to defend against.

When his left shoulder dropped, he was definitely going right. When his right shoulder dropped, he would definitely go left.

Although his move shocked many people in the first round of the tournament, once everyone calmed down, they realized Rong Guang was still a rookie.

His move was only effective when no one knew he had it.

But once everyone knew he had it, it wasn't impressive anymore.

As his teammates said, a change of direction dribble was a simple move, even goalkeepers could do it. Relying on such a simple move to replicate the miracle of dribbling past two players in the first game required luck.

As long as the defenders maintained their lines, they could stop Rong Guang's dribble.

Ultimately, Rong Guang's skill set was too limited.

He could provide fewer variations.

Opponents could easily figure him out.

※※※

"Rong is still a rookie, too easy to figure out... Compared to other players, the seven or eight years he lacks are now his fatal weakness." Assistant coach Mauro shook his head on the bench.

Osvaldo nodded, agreeing with Mauro. For Rong Guang, his lack of experience made him easy to figure out, which was indeed a weakness. However, he had a different opinion.

"But because of this, Mauro, we are so eager to see how he will solve these difficult problems... Isn't that right?"

Mauro smiled: "Exactly. That rookie always makes us look forward to him, like waiting for what gifts our parents will put in our Christmas stockings."

※※※

Kaka found it normal that his teammates passed the ball to him after he came on, because Rong Guang was in trouble.

His competitive spirit burned within him.

He wanted to show Rong Guang what a truly outstanding professional player looked like.

Not long after he came on, he got a chance to shoot.

It was a long-range shot, a sudden cold arrow!

Fortunately, Athletico Paranaense's goalkeeper Flavio was focused, leaping up and using one hand to push the ball over the crossbar.

Seeing the ball didn't go in, Kaka was frustrated, clutching his head.

But everyone else was cheering for him.

"Kaka is in great form! This is his first shot after coming on! He showed excellent form! Athletico Paranaense's goalkeeper Flavio could only push the ball over the crossbar, unable to catch it!" Commentator Bueno said.

"Kaka should have been on earlier!" In front of the TV, young fan Corey cheered for Kaka's shot, then glanced at her father.

As a victor.

※※※

"Be careful, don't let him take a long shot! Mark him tightly!" Athletico Paranaense's goalkeeper Flavio jumped up from the ground, pointing at Kaka and loudly reminding his teammates.

Rong Guang heard this and felt slightly annoyed.

Because the goalkeeper had never pointed at him like that.

Damn, am I such a small threat to you?

Kaka's excellent performance made Rong Guang feel even more threatened.

He felt that if he didn't perform well in this game, he might not start in the next one—his "outstanding performance" naturally meant scoring a goal.

Besides scoring, nothing else counted as outstanding.

※※※

"An attacking midfielder, one is enough. Kaka is in good form, but Rong seems redundant on the field. Why not take him off and bring on a forward?" Seeing Kaka's excellent performance, where was Rong Guang?

On TV, the Chinese player was almost invisible during this period.

Bueno believed that Osvaldo's plan to have Rong Guang and Kaka coexist on the field had clearly failed.

"Athletico Paranaense is not Corinthians, and this is not the Rio-Sao Paulo Championship final. A one-time success has no reference value. Rong and Kaka clearly conflict and interfere with each other on the field. If you want both to perform, neither will. If one performs well, the other will inevitably be overshadowed! These two absolutely cannot coexist on the field!"

Bueno concluded.

As soon as he finished speaking, Athletico Paranaense launched another attack.

This time, they went down the wing.

Alex Mineiro sprinted down the wing, shaking off the São Paulo right-back Gustavo Nery.

At this moment, São Paulo's Uruguayan center-back Lugano rushed out to the wing and finally cut off Mineiro's pass!

But as a center-back, moving to the wing is a dangerous move. If he lost the ball, the central defense would be weakened, and the opponents could immediately exploit the gap!

So the Athletico Paranaense players swarmed to try to tackle Lugano, a great opportunity for a counter-attack and another goal!

Lugano clearly understood this, so he didn't waste time in the back and kicked the ball directly to the midfield.

Fabiano was waiting in the midfield. Seeing the ball fly over, he held off the Athletico Paranaense center-back and leaped to head the ball!

He flicked the ball behind him, into the space behind the Athletico Paranaense defense!

It was a vast open space!

"This is a great counter-attack opportunity for São Paulo! The best so far!"

Commentator Bueno shouted excitedly.

Because he saw Kaka, the true genius, weaving past Fabiano and accelerating towards the ball!

With Kaka in possession, this counter-attack was almost certain to succeed!

※※※

"Kaka—!" The few São Paulo fans in the stands, especially Kaka's fans, let out excited screams.

Even Corey, who couldn't go to the game and could only watch the live broadcast on TV, was jumping and screaming.

"Kaka! Kaka! Go Kaka!"

Everyone's eyes were on Kaka, who carried their hopes as he chased the ball.

And he quickly received the ball, then without accelerating or hesitating, continued to charge towards the Athletico Paranaense goal!

※※※

"Damn!" Soto rushed to the sideline, nervously watching Kaka with the ball.

How did such a good opportunity suddenly appear for the other team after such a strong attack?

He had always been confident in his team's control.

This was the first time in the second half that São Paulo had such a good counter-attack opportunity!

When Kaka had already caught up with the ball and was charging towards the Athletico Paranaense penalty area, as the head coach, he had no other options but to watch from the sideline and pray to God that Kaka's one-on-one shot wouldn't go in...

※※※

After Fabiano's pass, he turned and ran forward, intending to support Kaka.

But as soon as he turned, he only saw Kaka's receding back.

He shook his head with a bitter smile—Am I actually thinking of chasing Kaka? Don't I know that Kaka is at his most powerful now? Look at his speed... it's like a gust of wind!

By the time I catch up, Kaka will have already scored a goal.

Well, I won't waste my energy. I'll slowly jog up to prepare for the goal celebration...

Thinking this, Fabiano slowed down.

Chasing Kaka was futile, just like chasing Rong Guang.

Speaking of Rong Guang... I haven't seen him for a while. Where is he?

Just as he thought of Rong Guang, Fabiano saw a white figure dart out from the other side of his vision, like a flash of light!

It's... it's Rong!

That kid!

He's chasing Kaka!