Chapter 7: Making an Entrance Once More

The match was becoming increasingly challenging for Guangzhou Evergrande. Playing on their home ground, Chongqing Lifan posed constant threats to Guangzhou Evergrande’s goal, but fortunately for the visitors, Chongqing Lifan squandered several clear chances to score.

Driven by their eagerness to break the deadlock before halftime, Chongqing Lifan missed two golden opportunities inside the penalty area. Evergrande’s superior skill eventually made the difference. In the 32nd minute, after regaining possession and pulling back, Evergrande struck first—Elkeson used his individual prowess on the left wing to beat his marker and send in a cross. Goulart, in the center of the box, met the ball with a header that arched perfectly into the far corner, putting Guangzhou ahead 1–0.

However, Chongqing Lifan responded quickly. Jackson threaded a diagonal pass behind Guangzhou’s defensive line, and Zhang Chimeng broke forward, coolly slotting the ball past the keeper to equalize.

The remainder of the first half passed without further goals, and the score remained 1–1 as both sides returned to the dressing rooms.

Inside the dressing room, Cannavaro made no tactical changes, insisting the team stick to their defensive counterattacking strategy. The players had no objections. Although Chongqing Lifan’s attacks appeared fierce, it seemed more bluster than substance.

Yet, not long after the restart, Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao nearly suffered a blow. In the 69th minute, Chongqing Lifan’s midfielder Wang Dong took a corner from the right, Sun Jihai flicked the ball on with his head, and substitute Liu Weidong’s close-range header rattled the crossbar.

This close call left Cannavaro in a cold sweat. He realized that if his team continued to defend passively, Chongqing Lifan would likely find the net before long.

Moreover, as defending champions, Evergrande had come here seeking more than just a single point.

Cannavaro glanced back at the bench, finally making a decision.

“Dawei! Warm up! Get ready to go on!”

Hearing the translator’s words, Dai Zhiwei, who had been anxiously watching his teammates, felt a jolt run through his mind.

Go on? Now?

Dai Zhiwei was delighted! Had his prayers truly worked?

In the 71st minute, Evergrande defender Feng Xiaoting, trying to block a cross outside the right corner of the penalty area, was forced into a sliding tackle that brought down his opponent. Referee Paul brandished a yellow card and awarded a free kick.

At that moment, Evergrande also signaled a substitution.

Number 29 off, number 24 on!

Dai Zhiwei, who had been moving non-stop, suddenly grew still and quiet.

Gao Lin, who had just received a gash on his calf from Sun Jihai’s boot, was somewhat hindered in his running, prompting Cannavaro to replace him.

As Gao Lin ran to the sideline, Dai Zhiwei gave him a quick hug and stepped onto the pitch once more.

This wasn’t merely setting foot on Yanghe Sports Ground; for Dai Zhiwei, it was a step toward becoming a football star!

Feng Xiaoting’s earlier foul had gifted Chongqing Lifan a free kick just outside the right side of the penalty area. Though the angle was poor for a direct shot, it was a prime opportunity for a set-piece delivery, even better than a corner.

Both teams’ players clustered at the edge of the six-yard box, hands subtly tugging at each other.

Augusto, whose earlier goal had been disallowed, retreated beyond the top of the penalty arc, then looked at Wang Dong, who was preparing to take the free kick.

Wang Dong met his gaze with a look of surprise and confusion, but Augusto made a strange hand gesture. Understanding dawned on Wang Dong, who nodded slightly. No one else noticed the silent exchange. Wang Dong took a step back, ready to launch the ball.

As he began his run-up and struck the ball, Augusto, who had been outside the box, took a small jump, inhaled deeply, and then, sprinting as if taking a penalty, charged straight into the box.

Seeing the ball flight towards the near post, Guangzhou’s Feng Xiaoting leapt, hoping to clear it before Augusto could arrive.

But the cross was higher than usual, and Feng Xiaoting couldn’t reach it, the ball skimming just above his head. Augusto, however, was perfectly positioned to meet it.

Yet just as Augusto envisioned scoring, a flash of yellow appeared in the corner of his eye—a figure emerged from the air!

A thunderous chorus of boos erupted from the stands, startling him.

Something was about to happen.

A figure in Guangzhou Evergrande’s yellow away kit suddenly appeared beside Augusto, soaring like an Apache helicopter, seemingly flying through the air.

This player’s leap was astonishing—his feet easily a meter off the ground—outjumping Augusto by nearly half a head and sending the ball behind for a corner.

Augusto landed awkwardly, turned his head, and saw that the “monster” who had just bested him in the air was now being mobbed by Evergrande teammates in celebration. He would never forget the number on that “monster’s” shirt—Guangzhou Evergrande’s number 24!

Augusto, last season’s top scorer in League One, stood 184 centimeters tall, while Dai Zhiwei was only 175. The latter’s extraordinary leap was truly remarkable!

Dai Zhiwei, making an immediate impact in defense, quickly became the focus of Chongqing Lifan’s players on attack as well.

Though most of them were only middling Super League players, not in the same class as Evergrande’s stars, each Chongqing Lifan player was a seasoned veteran of many years in League One. When faced with the young rookie Dai Zhiwei, their experience and subtle fouls caused him no end of trouble.

Despite his speed and exceptional dribbling, whenever Dai Zhiwei tried to break through, Lifan’s defenders would suddenly tug his shirt to stop his acceleration, then quickly let go; they would use their arms and knees to nudge his center of gravity—small, covert fouls, but highly effective.

There were plenty of these little tricks, all used on Dai Zhiwei. Having not yet learned to dive or counter such moves, he could only do his best to cope.

Yet football is an unfair game: if an attacker succeeds once, all the defender’s previous successes count for nothing.

In the 75th minute, Dai Zhiwei found his chance. During a counterattack, he switched positions with Goulart, drifting to the left. With dazzling, butterfly-like dribbling, he burst past the Lifan defense and calmly delivered a cross.

If not for the opposing goalkeeper’s brilliance, Dai Zhiwei would have assisted Elkeson in restoring Evergrande’s lead and sealing the match.

Again, after Goulart’s break down the left, he passed to Dai Zhiwei.

Receiving the ball at the edge of the box, Dai Zhiwei was immediately shadowed by Lifan’s veteran captain, Sun Jihai, who harried him from behind, pushing and shoving while slyly jabbing his knee into the back of Dai Zhiwei’s thigh.

Everyone knows that being poked there is both ticklish and uncomfortable, but such actions are hard for the referee to spot, and even if seen, are rarely penalized. Dai Zhiwei could only endure.

Such was the experience Sun Jihai had gained from years in the English Premier League.

As Rene ran towards him, Dai Zhiwei prepared to pass the ball back—but a sudden numbing sensation shot through his lower back, making him shudder. He lost his footing, and the ball bounced away!

Goulart saw it clearly: just as Dai Zhiwei was about to pass, Sun Jihai, taking advantage of his body position, sneakily jabbed his thumb into Dai Zhiwei’s lower back. The involuntary twitch that followed made even Goulart’s own waist itch in sympathy.

The ball rolled out of Dai Zhiwei’s control, and Lifan’s other center-back, Lei Yi’er, was poised to clear it from danger.

Yet in that instant, Dai Zhiwei lunged forward with a stride much longer than average and, exerting himself, managed to poke the ball to Goulart on the left.

With both center-backs committed and colliding with Dai Zhiwei, Goulart found himself completely unmarked on the left side of the box.

Taking the pass in stride, Goulart surged forward and, without warning, swung his left foot in a powerful strike.

The move caught everyone off guard—not just Lifan’s defenders, who hadn’t expected Dai Zhiwei to turn a blunder into a perfect assist, nor Goulart’s teammates, who didn’t anticipate a long-range shot at that moment.

The ball rocketed off Goulart’s foot, slicing through the air with tremendous force. No one could say how much power he put into it. The ball flew toward the left side of the goal, bouncing just in front of the six-yard box—a nightmare for any goalkeeper to handle.

Ordinarily, such a shot would be difficult for a keeper to judge, but today Lifan’s keeper, Sui Weijie, seemed inspired. He reacted instantly, diving and punching the ball clear with both fists.

Yet he could not fully control it—the ball remained in the penalty area, dropping right in front of the six-yard box!