Chapter 31: The Situation Takes a Turn for the Worse

On September 1st, 361 Degrees held a press conference in Shenzhen to unveil Dai Zhiwei’s exclusive football boots, launching its first-ever football product line with two models: “Hurricane” and “Iron Cavalry.”

“Heh, I guess I’m a real big shot now, having my very own signature boots!” Although Dai Zhiwei had already seen the prototype designs specially crafted for him by 361 Degrees, today marked his first glimpse of the finalized versions.

According to Zhang Huafeng, the 361 Degrees football collection drew inspiration from the passion and clashes seen during the Rio Olympics, blending Brazilian elements and dynamic stripes with cutting-edge technology and traditional craftsmanship.

The “Hurricane” series is designed for those who win with speed. Its contrasting upper, paired with striking, hurricane-inspired lines, captures the beauty of power and velocity. Ocean and tropical storm colors offer a refreshing, stylish look. The KPU rubber lining on the inner waist provides enhanced ball control, and the professional FG long-stud outsole ensures exceptional grip, enabling you to explode with the extraordinary speed of a passing storm.

The “Iron Cavalry” series, on the other hand, is built for mastery and dominance. The toe features durable rubber granules to boost control and lift with curved shots. Raised stitched lines on the upper help with the angle and touch required for precise ball handling. The TPU heel protector offers additional ankle support, while the new control outsole, with its reinforced stud arrangement, delivers consistently accurate ball control.

Putting on the boots, Dai Zhiwei was genuinely impressed by the feel. Yet he couldn’t help feeling a little awkward—he had always worn Nike Mercurial boots before, and these new models looked suspiciously like knockoffs of the Mercurial Superfly!

Even more embarrassing, both pairs blatantly copied the American Trusox anti-slip socks so popular among professional players and elite amateurs.

But in the end, it mattered little. Whether for the sake of the paycheck or supporting domestic brands, Dai Zhiwei was quite satisfied with his new boots!

At the host’s suggestion, Dai Zhiwei juggled the ball a few times and performed a couple of tricks—nothing at all for someone with “Michael’s Dribbling” skills in his repertoire.

At the close of the event, Dai Zhiwei remarked, “As a globally recognized sports brand, 361 Degrees’ powerful R&D team and cutting-edge technology are second to none. They also have unmatched experience in athlete logistics and support systems. I’d like to thank 361 Degrees for their trust and support of Chinese football. I am honored to stand with them and give my all for the future of football in China!”

The timing of the signature boot launch was no coincidence; in three days, the Chinese national team would face Hong Kong in a World Cup qualifier.

Unsurprisingly, Dai Zhiwei remained on the national squad list.

In the previous group stage, China had a bye in the first round and then defeated Bhutan 6-0 away in the second. Hong Kong, meanwhile, won their first two home matches, 7-0 against Bhutan and 2-0 against the Maldives, topping the group with two wins. Ahead of the match, Hong Kong led the group with six points from two victories, while China and Qatar had three points each from one win, and the Maldives and Bhutan had both lost twice. Eight players in China’s 23-man squad hailed from Evergrande, while the Hong Kong team was mainly composed of players from the local league, including several naturalized athletes.

That evening, the match began as scheduled. Although technically a home game for China, Shenzhen’s proximity to Hong Kong meant the atmosphere was hardly in China’s favor.

Dai Zhiwei couldn’t fathom why the football association’s bumbling officials had chosen this venue. Wouldn’t it have made more sense to play in Shenyang and maximize the home advantage? Or was this all about demonstrating unity with the people of Hong Kong? As for the result—who really cared?

Dai Zhiwei had plenty of time for such musings because, once again, Perrin had left him out of the starting lineup, relegating him to the bench as a spectator. While Dai Zhiwei had accepted his omission for the first match against Bhutan, being new to the team, this time he felt differently.

“Yu Dabao and Wu Lei together haven’t scored as many goals as I have alone. Yu Hanchao and Zheng Long are both my substitutes at club level, yet they’re starting while I’m benched. Has Perrin lost his mind?” Dai Zhiwei could only curse inwardly.

In both his previous and present lives, Dai Zhiwei was never the most easygoing soul.

Starting lineups:

China:
Goalkeeper: Wang Dalei
Defenders: Jiang Zhipeng, Ren Xing, Mei Fang, Zhang Linpeng
Defensive Midfielders: Wu Xi, Zheng Zhi
Midfielders: Yu Hanchao, Wu Lei, Zheng Long
Forward: Yu Dabao

Hong Kong:
Goalkeeper: Yip Hong Fai
Defenders: Lee Chi Ho, Kilama, Festus, Jayson
Midfielders: Bai He, Huang Yang, Leung Chun Pong, Lam Ka Wai, Gao Fan
Forward: McKee

“Wow, half their team are foreigners. Just looking at their lineup, you’d think it was a club side!” Dai Zhiwei was startled by Hong Kong’s starting eleven.

He always believed that relying on naturalized players when your team wasn’t strong enough was a hollow path in competitive sports.

Hong Kong’s two wins in the World Cup qualifiers marked them as formidable opponents—not rivals China could easily defeat.

Yet within four minutes of kickoff, China carved out a golden chance. Zhang Linpeng intercepted on the wing and launched a long pass upfield to Yu Dabao. Shielding the ball from Lee Chi Ho, Yu Dabao set up the advancing Zheng Long, who found himself one-on-one with the keeper. However, just as Zheng Long was about to score, Hong Kong’s goalkeeper Yip Hong Fai rushed out and brought him down on the edge of the box, and the unattended ball rolled into the empty net.

As the home crowd erupted in celebration, the referee inexplicably ruled the goal out, ignoring the advantage rule and simply awarding a free kick to China, showing Yip Hong Fai a yellow card.

China’s subsequent free kick was blocked by the wall and cleared.

China continued to press, with Yu Dabao getting two chances on the edge of the box in the 8th and 16th minutes, but one shot sailed over the bar and the other was blocked by a Hong Kong defender.

Hong Kong responded in turn. In the 23rd minute, Huang Yang’s shot and, three minutes later, McKee’s header were both denied by Wang Dalei’s fine saves.

In the 31st minute, China nearly broke the deadlock: Wu Lei latched onto a clever pass from Newcastle midfielder Wu Xi, danced past defender Jayson, but struck the post with only the goalkeeper to beat. Jayson, recovering quickly, cleared the rebound before Yu Dabao could pounce, sparing Hong Kong’s blushes.

From the ensuing corner, Yu Dabao’s near-post dummy drew away defenders, freeing Wu Lei at the back post, whose luck failed him again as he struck the underside of the crossbar, allowing Yip Hong Fai to gather the ball.

For a moment, Hong Kong’s goal was under siege and a Chinese breakthrough seemed imminent.

Yet less than a minute later, Hong Kong nearly scored themselves. Yip Hong Fai launched the ball quickly, and with China’s defense not fully regrouped, Hong Kong mounted a swift counterattack, but Wang Dalei denied Gao Fan’s close-range strike.

That would be the last real scoring chance of the half.

The remainder of the first half saw both sides probing for an opening, but with both defenses resolute, the match went into halftime locked at 0–0.

After the break, neither coach made any tactical or personnel changes, apparently satisfied with their teams’ first-half displays. Yu Dabao remained the lone striker up front for China.

Though Yu Dabao looked ill at ease, Perrin persisted with him, much to Dai Zhiwei’s quiet frustration.

Still, Dai Zhiwei, mature in mind if not in years, kept his composure outwardly, though a certain disquiet simmered beneath the surface.

But such calm was unnatural, especially as the team struggled to gain the upper hand.

In the 54th minute, Hong Kong came close to breaking the deadlock again. Leung Chun Pong slipped past Yu Hanchao and threaded a pass into the Chinese box. Gao Fan deftly flicked the ball into the six-yard box, where McKee rose above Ren Xing and thundered a header against the crossbar.

Seeing the ball ricochet out, Wang Dalei breathed a sigh of relief and bellowed at his defenders, demanding they stay alert and not allow Hong Kong such easy access to the danger zone.

The second half then settled into a lull. Hong Kong, as the weaker side, focused on defense and countered only when opportunities arose.

Yet China failed to turn their dominance into goals, with efforts from Yu Dabao, Wu Lei, and others coming nowhere near to breaking the deadlock.

Time ticked by, and the match entered its final twenty minutes.