Football's No. 1 Prodigal Son

The first time was a big victory for Manchester City.

May 11, 2004, Manchester City Stadium.

Manchester City played against their city rivals Manchester United at home.

This game also attracted a lot of attention.

As long as this game is won, Manchester City can lock in the top three in advance.

If Manchester United wins, they can surpass Chelsea and Manchester City and come to the second place.

In this game, Ferguson made a change.

He arranged a 4411 formation, goalkeeper Howard, Neville brothers, Brown and Ayala in the back line, Quaresma, Roy Keane, Fletcher and Giggs in the midfield, Scholes in the front midfield, and Ruud van Nistelrooy in the forward.

Van Gaal still used 4231, but this time he mentioned Kaka to the starting lineup, forming a front four with Ronaldo, Ronaldinho and Eto'o.

After Lineker got the starting lineup, he immediately expressed his opinion: "Mr. Ferguson boldly changed the formation in such a crucial match, which makes people admire his courage. It seems that he wants to use a more layered formation to fight Manchester City."

Alan Hansen nodded: "In the previous match, Van Gaal was very good at using the gaps between the two lines in the 442 formation. I don't know if this adjustment of Manchester United will work."

Lineker nodded: "But most of Manchester United's starting players played in the last game against Chelsea, and their physical strength is also a problem."

Alan Hansen said: "Let's see if Manchester United can establish enough advantages before physical problems arise!"

While they were talking, the players of both sides had entered the field.

Van Gaal and Ferguson shook hands, and both of them had a smile on their faces.

But there was no communication between them, just nodding to each other.

As all the players returned to their positions, the referee blew the whistle to start.

Since Manchester United was the more anxious side in this game, they put all their forces into the attack from the beginning.

In the third minute, Manchester United launched a very threatening attack.

Giggs got the ball on the left, and he quickly advanced to the front court. Facing Sun Jihai's defense, he first made a fake move to cut in, and then made a quick change of direction to avoid the space for the cross.

Sun Jihai rushed to make up for the defense, but Giggs kicked the cross directly!

However, Van Nistelrooy was surrounded in the penalty area at this time, and his cross did not seem to pose much threat.

But the trajectory of the ball was not towards the penalty area at all, but towards the top of the penalty area!

Under the gaze of everyone, Scholes appeared at the landing point of the ball.

He swung his right foot and volleyed!

The ball was very powerful, and the football also drew a very beautiful arc and went straight to the goal!

This is Scholes's specialty!

In the eyes of everyone's expectation, the football went straight to the blind spot of the goal!

Bang!

The football hit the crossbar of the goal and bounced high!

The away fans sighed loudly.

Ferguson also patted his thigh depressedly.

But Van Gaal didn't seem to react. He still folded his hands and watched everything calmly.

But in fact, his heart was shaking several times just now.

It must be said that Giggs and Scholes, the two 92 classes, are the lower limit of Manchester United's hegemony.

But unfortunately, luck was not on their side this time.

Manchester City, who escaped the disaster, also started their counterattack.

In the eleventh minute, Roy Keane made a mistake in passing the ball, and Makelele intercepted the ball and handed it directly to Ronaldinho.

Ronaldinho rushed forward along the left side and then chose to cut inside directly.

Gary Neville stepped forward to intercept, but he was directly pushed away by his body and squeezed behind him.

Roy Keane had no choice but to step forward to block.

But Ronaldinho's goal was to move Roy Keane away from the defensive position. He glanced at the middle of the field and then passed the ball directly to Kaka.

After receiving the ball, Kaka dribbled the ball and shook off Fletcher's pressing, then began to speed up and rushed into the penalty area!

Fletcher chased helplessly behind him, but he could never get close to him!

In just five or six steps, Kaka had already reached the top of the arc!

Ayala had to come up to defend, trying to stick to him and limit his next move.

But Kaka directly pushed the ball to the right, and accelerated again!

Ayala's mind instantly flashed the figure of the English boy on that night in 1998.

But he was not unprepared like that year, but immediately

Adjust the center of gravity and catch up with Kaka!

But Kaka obviously has more than just this one trick!

He suddenly stopped, then quickly accelerated with a flick of the ball, and suddenly got rid of a body position!

Then he faked a shot and passed the ball to the front of the goal!

Eto'o understood, suddenly went around in front of Wes Brown, and took the lead in a shovel shot!

At this time, his position was already near the small penalty area, and Howard had no chance to make a save!

But the ball went out of the goal for some reason!

The Manchester City fans at the scene couldn't believe that the ball didn't go in, and immediately let out a huge sigh.

From the start to now, both sides have missed an excellent opportunity.

In the following time, Manchester United is still the main attacking side, and Van Gaal doesn't seem to be in a hurry to let Manchester City press forward, so Manchester City has been in a state of waiting for the opportunity.

But after the great chance at the start, Manchester United never got a better chance to score. Although they got many crosses from the two wings, Van Nistelrooy couldn't get any good chances under the care of the two tall guys, Stam and Distin.

Manchester United didn't get any chances, but Manchester City was waiting for the best opportunity.

And this opportunity came in the 31st minute.

Quaresma's cross from the right was once again headed out by Stam. Essien had the upper hand in the fight with Scholes. He controlled the ball under his feet and then passed it to Kaka in the middle!

Fletcher and Roy Keane immediately surrounded the Brazilian boy.

They had made up their minds that they couldn't let him speed up even if they committed a foul!

And Kaka was not a stubborn player. He passed the ball to Ronaldo before the two surrounded him!

This time, Ronaldo didn't choose to go to the bottom after getting the ball, but chose to cut inside!

Phil Neville was caught off guard and was left behind by Ronaldo!

Ronaldo started to speed up and rushed into the penalty area!

At this time, only Ayala was five meters away in front of him!

Ayala really couldn't figure out his next move, so he deliberately left a little distance to give himself some room for judgment and reaction.

After all, these people are all speed freaks, and the only thing he can show is experience!

Ronaldo took a few more steps, and at this time he was only about three meters away from Ayala.

Ayala was already in high spirits, waiting for him to make the next move!

But Ronaldo suddenly swung his legs, exerted force, and shot!

This was completely beyond Ayala's expectations, and he hurried forward to block it, but it was too late!

The football flew out against his body and shot towards the goal!

Howard knew it was powerful, so he jumped up quickly!

But this ball was faster and trickier than he thought!

The football passed through his fingertips and hit the goal!