Super Wingstorm

Almere, Netherlands. Shen’s Chinese Restaurant.

Even though the dinner rush was over, the Chinese restaurant was still packed.

As a satellite city of Amsterdam, Almere was home to a large number of Ajax fans. Tonight was Ajax’s crucial away match against Bruges, so it naturally drew even more of the fans’ attention.

But more importantly, the nephew of Shen’s Chinese Restaurant’s owner had made it onto Ajax’s eighteen-man roster.

Ever since joining the Ajax Youth Academy, Yang Yang had become a local celebrity in Almere. Shen’s Chinese Restaurant naturally became the star restaurant of Almere, as well as the unofficial gathering spot for the Almere Club.

You could find Almere players here almost every night.

Tonight, over a dozen Almere players had gathered at Shen’s Chinese Restaurant. Even head coach John Reep and assistant coach Dick Van Puer had shown up to watch the game. This prompted many fans who had finished their meals and were about to leave to change their minds and stay for the match.

The match kicked off shortly after dinner time, but Ajax’s performance was far from ideal. They struggled to break the deadlock and ended up conceding the first goal. Although Wesley Sonck later equalized with a penalty, the offense showed no signs of life even after Koeman made two substitutions, leaving everyone watching in the restaurant disappointed.

To make matters worse, in the eighty-fourth minute, Bruges’ substitute striker, Sertenes, scored with a header, putting them in the lead once again. This dealt a heavy blow to Ajax’s morale, and everyone watching felt their spirits deflate.

”What the hell are they playing at?”

”It’s like they’ve all forgotten how to play football.”

”Oh my god, are we about to get knocked out?”

”Can’t even get into the UEFA Cup... This Ajax team is really something else...”

Even head coach John Reep couldn’t help but shake his head and sigh. ”The pressure is just too immense. The opponent’s tactics are very targeted, and their counterattacks have been quite threatening. Our boys have done their best.”

But this explanation clearly did little to soothe everyone’s disappointment.

But just then...

”Ajax head coach Ronald Koeman is quickly making his third substitution.”

”This time, he’s bringing on a young player, wearing number ninety-nine. You rarely see such a high jersey number. He’s a player from China. If I’m not mistaken, at least in my memory, no Chinese player has ever appeared in a Champions League match. He’s the first.”

”The player’s name is Yang Yang. He just turned seventeen in October. I’m told he just transferred this summer from Ajax’s satellite club, Almere, to the reserve team, where he’s been playing under Van Basten. This is also his first-ever appearance for the first team.”

”We have to admire Ronald Koeman’s bold move once again, but we also have to wonder: by putting on such a young player at such a critical moment, is he getting ready to give up on the match?”

...

The commentator’s voice from the TV was quickly drowned out by the cheers erupting in the restaurant.

Seeing Yang Yang come on as a substitute was the biggest highlight of their night.

Moreover, the material the TV commentator was reading from even mentioned Almere, which made John Reep even happier.

”He’s finally on.”

”But the situation doesn’t look good.”

”Tell me about it. Down one to two, the whole team is under so much pressure. Putting him on now, he’s probably just there to fill a spot.”

”Ronald Koeman has probably already given up on the match.”

As everyone chimed in, it was clear that no one had much hope for Yang Yang’s substitution.

And it was no wonder. Wesley Sonck was a famous player in Europe, but he’d been completely shut down by Van der Heyden. Who would pin their hopes on a seventeen-year-old rookie making his club debut?

...

”Alright, let’s watch this Ajax attack.”

”Sneijder passes it to the right wing. The young substitute, Yang Yang, runs into space to receive the ball, facing Van der Heyden...”

”A beautiful move...!”

”Yang Yang fools Van der Heyden with a feint from a standing position and quickly dribbles forward along the right flank.”

”He’s very fast, and Ajax’s central players are quickly pushing up.”

”Let’s see what he does with it this time.”

”Yang Yang crosses it from the right, a low, driven ball to the near post...”

”Ibrahimovic gets to it first...”

”Oh... The Swedish Striker got to the ball, but his final touch sent it wide of the goal.”

”He looks incredibly frustrated, pounding the turf repeatedly. But who can he blame?”

”After coming on, the young Yang Yang created a brilliant breakthrough on the right with his very first touch. The quality of his cross was also very high. But unfortunately, Ibrahimovic’s shot wasn’t on target. Ajax misses a golden opportunity.”

...

As Ibrahimovic missed the shot, a wave of disappointment and groans swept through the Chinese restaurant.

”What a great chance, and he just missed it like that.”

”Ibrahimovic really needs to practice his shooting.”

”You’re telling me. That cross from Yang Yang just now was excellent.”

A flash of surprise also crossed Henk Demyer’s eyes. He had never imagined Yang Yang would improve so quickly.

He remembered back in early April of this year, Yang Yang was unanimously considered the deadweight of the Almere Youth Team, leagues below a rising star like himself. But unexpectedly, in just eight short months, he had shown astonishing progress.

The way he’d just used a feint from a standstill to fool Van der Heyden before suddenly accelerating to break through on the flank—the entire sequence radiated intense confidence. And that final cross was a testament to the progress he had made recently.

In the short three months since he joined Ajax, he had improved yet again.

Now, he was coming off the bench in a Champions League match, displaying a level of skill that had left his former teammates far behind. This made Henk Demyer, who had once seen Yang Yang as a nobody and later as a rival, feel not only inferior but also a little ashamed.

John Reep and Dick Van Puer were also deeply moved. They never expected Yang Yang’s progress at Ajax to be so great and so rapid that he almost seemed like a stranger.

Was this really the same Yang Yang they had once coached?

”Ajax really forges great players,” John Reep said with a sigh, looking at Henk Demyer with a hint of regret.

If Henk Demyer had also gotten into Ajax back then, perhaps he would have improved just as rapidly.

Staying at Almere, even though he made the first team, the level of internal competition, the coaching staff’s guidance, and the developmental platform the club could provide were all far inferior to Ajax.

In contrast, Yang Yang played in the Dutch Cup with the reserve team, then went straight to the first team to play in the Champions League. This was the kind of developmental opportunity that countless young players could only dream of their entire lives.

Of course, more importantly, Yang Yang worked harder than anyone else and improved faster than anyone else.

But tonight, could he really work a miracle?

...

...

Seeing Bruges prepare for a goal kick, Yang Yang quickly ran back.

’During that last play, I could clearly feel that Van der Heyden’s stamina was severely depleted. It’s obvious. The duels with Sonck earlier, plus his frequent forward runs on offense, have drained his energy. That’s why he was at a disadvantage during our first encounter. But he’s incredibly experienced. Even though he can’t keep up with my speed, he’s consistently blocking the inside, not giving me any chance to cut in.’

’He’s a Belgian international who’s played in the Four Major European Leagues, after all. To still perform like this when he’s exhausted... he’s truly impressive.’

’It’s just a shame Ibrahimovic fluffed that shot in front of the goal just now. Otherwise, the score would be tied.’

The Swedish Striker looked frustrated but quickly regained his composure and started jogging back. His eyes met Yang Yang’s, and they exchanged a nod of tacit understanding.

Eighty-ninth minute.

Time was running out for them.

The Bruges Goalkeeper was intentionally delaying, but under pressure from the referee, he finally took the goal kick.

This time, Escude headed the ball back to midfield. Litmanen passed it back to Heitinga, who then passed it horizontally to an undefended Maxwell on the left flank.

The Brazilian left-back dribbled forward. Seeing Ibrahimovic suddenly drop back and raise his hand for the ball, he quickly sent a diagonal pass to the Swedish Striker’s feet.

Ibrahimovic used his body to shield the ball from the closing center-back, controlled it with his chest, and without even looking behind him, quickly flicked the ball with his right foot over the top of the Bruges defensive line.

Out of nowhere, Yang Yang suddenly appeared in front of the defensive line, bursting at incredible speed through the gap between the opposing center-back and Van der Heyden, chasing after the ball.

”A beautiful two-man play from Ajax!”

”Yang Yang, it’s Yang Yang again!”

This sudden turn of events once again stunned everyone in the stadium.

No one had expected that this young substitute was not only fast, but could also link up with Ibrahimovic like this. Van der Heyden, in particular, was completely caught off guard by their move.

This was something Wesley Sonck had never managed to pull off.

Yang Yang reached the ball at top speed, but Van der Heyden was stuck to his back, not daring to let up for an instant.

Bruges’ covering center-back, Philippe Clement, quickly moved over to defend. He planned to slow Yang Yang down, ideally forcing him toward the right flank to prevent a direct threat on the box, and then double-team him with Van der Heyden.

But Yang Yang was no longer that green kid who was wet behind the ears. He understood the defender’s intentions perfectly. He had been using [God’s Vision] to survey the entire pitch and had already made his decision.

Clement had been anticipating Yang Yang’s speed, but to his surprise, just as Yang Yang entered his defensive zone, he suddenly slowed down. His body began to sway, making it look like he was about to cut inside.

The Bruges center-back knew this was bad. If he let Yang Yang cut inside, not only could he link up with teammates making late runs, but he could also take a shot himself. Plus, he was right-footed. Clement instinctively stuck out his right leg to block the path.

But to the defender’s utter astonishment, Yang Yang’s figure blurred. He suddenly changed direction from his feinted cut-in, instead breaking away along the right edge of the penalty area.

Clement was horrified, but his center of gravity had already shifted. It was now impossible to stop Yang Yang.