Dominating Football with Perfect Ball Control

Chapter 14: 14. Debut, first goal!

ARD Germany TV Channel 1, Sport1 Channel.

These channels usually broadcast Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal matches in Germany.

Bayer Leverkusen playing a 3. Liga team normally wouldn’t be televised.

But it just so happened that there were no other matches at the same time, so the TV station simply arranged for this match to be broadcast live.

As expected, the viewership was not high, with only die-hard Bayer Leverkusen fans watching.

The commentator, Mehmet Scholl, a former German international, transitioned into commentary after retirement.

Today, it was his turn to commentate, and he spent the entire match using sarcastic remarks to criticize Bayer Leverkusen’s poor performance.

”It looks like Bayer Leverkusen is holding back in the first round of the DFB-Pokal, planning to save their trump cards for later. They want to intentionally show weakness against a 3. Liga team to mislead their Bundesliga opponents.”

”Oh, my apologies, they won’t have the chance. Losing this match means they can fully prepare for next year’s DFB-Pokal.”

”Wait! It seems Bayer Leverkusen hasn’t given up yet; they finally remembered to make a substitution, bringing on their secret weapon from the bench!”

”Who could it be?”

”Ho ho ho, it’s actually the 16-year-old youngster, Lance, who just signed this summer! He might become the key figure for a comeback!”

After saying this, the commentator Scholl himself burst into laughter.

”Oh, this match is truly outrageous. I’m telling you, dear viewers... Bayer Leverkusen fans, don’t listen, or your mentality will explode. Dare I ask, with Bayer Leverkusen’s current squad this season, do they have the strength to contend for the championship? Do they have the strength to reach the Champions League quarterfinals?”

”No.”

”Bold prediction: Bayer Leverkusen will find it very difficult to even compete for a top-four spot this season. Bayer Leverkusen’s midfield and defense are very strong, but what about the frontline? There’s no one!”

”In their rotated squad, there’s only 1 substitute forward, and he’s a 16-year-old kid! This really makes no sense. If they still want to compete for a top-four spot, it’s best to sign a substitute forward as soon as possible before the transfer window closes.”

”Alright! The match is temporarily paused, the fourth official holds up the electronic board. The starting attacking midfielder, number 27 Gonzalo Castro, is coming off. Replacing him is our 16-year-old youngster, Lance! A Belgian-Chinese player... He has broken the record for the youngest appearance in DFB-Pokal history, at 16 years and 75 days!”

...

”Come on, kid, enjoy the game.”

Gonzalo Castro was playing very frustrated, running for over 70 minutes without finding any opportunities.

Seeing Lance on the sidelines, Castro already understood.

The coaching staff intended to give up on the cup, letting a 16-year-old kid play just to experience the match atmosphere.

He high-fived the excited Lance, but saw Lance had already transformed into a gust of wind, sprinting from beside him onto the field.

”Young people truly have spirit,” Gonzalo Castro muttered with a bitter smile.

Template: Nagi Seishiro - S (Fusion Value 51%)

Skill: Perfect Ball Control

Rage Value: 0%

He moved!

Just as Lance’s foot stepped onto the field, the fusion value actually increased!

Although it was only 1%, at least it was a good start!

A 16-year-old kid, the opponents didn’t take him seriously and continued their attack.

The 3. Liga team’s rough attack, a random shot was caught by the goalkeeper.

Goalkeeper Andrés Palop originally wanted to kick a long ball to the front, just to play out the rest of the game.

He looked up, hey!

The Asian kid was waving at him.

Sure enough, young people have drive!

Anyway, the match was already like this; losing 0-2 to a 3. Liga team was embarrassing enough, how much worse could it get?

Andrés Palop changed to a hand throw, throwing it forcefully towards the center circle.

”Here it comes!”

Lance accurately judged the incoming ball, adjusting his steps with small, quick movements.

Just as he was about to get into position, the opponent’s defensive midfielder charged at him without a word!

Clearly trying to bully his fragile physique!

”Bayer Leverkusen, hand throw! Oh, that ball’s gone!”

Commentator Scholl saw the outcome in advance.

A 16-year-old boy couldn’t compete physically with a strong, dark-skinned midfielder; he would definitely be pushed aside.

The spectators in the stands also despaired; what could they expect from a 16-year-old kid coming on?

There were only 15 minutes left in the match; it was time to end this farce.

Just when everyone had given up on Lance stepping up, he remained calm and focused!

[Nagi Seishiro Template (Fusion Value: 51%)]

The accompanying passive skill should be calmness.

Lance made a judgment immediately, took a step run-up, and gently cushioned the ball with his chest.

Just before the strong, dark-skinned midfielder was about to collide with him, he lightly flicked the ball with his toe, and in an instant, skillfully turned to avoid the opponent’s charge!

The football, like a spiritual pet, cleverly arced over both their heads, landing precisely in front of Lance!

He had already successfully turned and was dribbling straight towards the opponent’s half!

”Eh? Wait! That ball! Beautiful!”

Commentator Scholl slapped the table in amazement!

Lance’s ingenious handling of that ball made his eyes light up!

In the entire ugly match, Lance’s dribbling was the only highlight!

”Bayer Leverkusen on the counterattack! Lance! Can he seize the opportunity?”

Lance had already dribbled past the halfway line in an instant, and the opponents only then reacted, with two midfielders closing in from the left and right.

”Fuck! Lance, hold on!”

Left winger Julian Brandt didn’t expect Lance to successfully dribble past; he was half a beat slow in starting.

Now, he gritted his teeth and accelerated, sprinting wildly along the sideline, rushing to the front to support Lance.

Bayer Leverkusen only had these two attacking players; the rest of their teammates reacted too late, and suddenly, the field was in turmoil!

”Lance! Still dribbling, being sandwiched by two... direct slide tackle!”

The opponent’s strong white midfielder was quite rough, a flying tackle was about to stop Lance.

A slight misstep and he would be tackled to the ground.

Even the soft-hearted fans didn’t dare to continue watching.

But who would have thought that Lance, a newborn calf unafraid of tigers, boldly scooped the ball up with his feet!

”OHHH— Rainbow flick! My God, he did it, successfully jumped over, continued to control the ball... Beautiful! Through ball to the left!”

”Bayer Leverkusen’s counterattack is still advancing!”

Lance’s rainbow flick broke through again, and before the opponent on the right could press, he timely transferred the ball to the left.

Julian Brandt had a clear path ahead!

”What a great ball! Lance!”

The blond young man Julian was overjoyed, accelerated to receive the ball, and with a powerful touch, cut inside towards the penalty area!

Using his speed, he forcefully beat the opponent’s right-back!

The BayArena stands immediately erupted in cheers, with thunderous applause!

However, Julian Brandt was overly excited and took too big a touch, slightly losing control of the ball.

Seeing the opponent’s center-back timely reinforce the defense, rushing up to clear the ball.

”Shit!” Julian cursed under his breath.

His face was contorted in a grimace, practically throwing everything into an accelerating sprint, finally managing to poke the ball away with his toe just before the opponent.

But the inside line was blocked by the center-back, making it difficult for him to break through inwards, so he had no choice but to go all the way, dribbling towards the byline.

”This ball! Julian Brandt didn’t handle it well, still dribbling towards the byline.”

Commentator Scholl shook his head, making a silent judgment.

This ball was gone.

No one to receive it in the box, the tall striker Eren Derdiyok was still 800 miles away; by the time he got into position, there would be no chance.

Julian was surrounded by opposing defenders, practically cornered.

The only available option was the 16-year-old Lance, but Lance’s 181cm height had no advantage against a defense averaging 190cm+.

This quick attack had reached a dead end; the optimal solution was to slow down, shield the ball, wait for teammates, and pass back to play a positional attack.

What a shame, such a beautiful breakthrough by Lance wasted.

”Damn it!”

Julian Brandt also regretted it.

He got overly excited and wasted an opportunity, now cornering himself.

He glanced to his right, only Lance was making a diagonal run at the far post.

Never mind!

Anyway, if I pass this ball, I won’t take the blame; how you deal with it is your problem.

Julian Brandt steeled himself, scooped the ball up with his left foot, creating a curved cross that flew towards the far post of the goal.

”This bastard!”

On the coaching bench, head coach Sascha Lewandowski slapped his thigh in anger.

It was a good opportunity, completely wasted.

Crossing to the far post, for whom? 90% it would go out for a goal kick.

No one could be... What the hell?

Sascha thought the ball was gone, but then watched wide-eyed as Lance sprinted towards the far post, just outside the six-yard box.

This kid, he actually jumped in the air and, with the outside of his foot, somehow stopped the ball!

Holy hell!

”Unm?glich! (Impossible!)”

Including head coach Sascha, all the opponents were stunned! Their faces filled with shock!

Lance stopped the ball in an unscientific way, preventing it from going out of bounds.

But... what to do next?

Almost a 0-degree angle, and the defender had blocked the inside line; at most, he could pass back to a teammate and reorganize the attack.

[Rage Value: 65%]

Seeing the opposing defender already moving his feet, preparing to rush back to cover the supporting teammates.

Lance glanced at his rage value; it wasn’t 100%, but it should be enough for a shot!

To the astonishment of everyone in the stadium, after Lance’s unscientific stop and landing, he followed it with an unscientific turn!

His left foot lifted, 0-degree angle—

Volley!

Shot!

Whoosh—

The football flashed by, transforming into a streak of lightning and drilling into the top corner of the goal!

”Goooooal—”

”Oh oh oh! Unbelievable! Lance—”

”When the team was in dire straits, the 16-year-old substitute, in his debut, transformed into a savior, scoring his first professional goal!”

”A 0-degree angle volley to pull one back!”

”The match has regained its suspense!”