Fox in the Penalty Area

Chapter 2003 Return

Xue Ming stared at the "2:0" on the scoreboard in a daze.

Before the game, he was still thinking about using his performance to force Brother Huan out - he took it for granted that as long as he performed well, he could help Kveit Athletic cause some trouble for Sarria on the away road.

When Saria finds that the game is not going as smoothly as they imagined, they may consider sending Zhang Qinghuan.

Unexpectedly, although it is difficult for Saria to compete for European qualification, they still have an advantage at home against the lower-ranked Kvit Athletic.

Seventy-five minutes have passed since the game started, and the score is 2:0, with Saria leading at home.

During the game, Brother Huan went to warm-up with his teammates several times, but he had no intention of being substituted.

This won't work, let's continue to put pressure on Saria!

Xue Ming regained his composure, then found an opportunity to cut in from the wing to the center and shouted at his teammates who were getting the ball:

"Here! I'm here!"

When his teammates saw him, they immediately passed the football over.

Xue Ming made a gesture to stop the ball, but when the football rolled over, he shot directly!

The football flew towards Saria's goal against the turf!

"Xue Ming suddenly kicked up!"

Sarria goalkeeper Joel Soho dived in, but he was still just short of it... just out of reach!

However, the football did not fly into the goal, but flew out of the bottom line by grazing the goal post!

The Sarria fans and Kvette Athletic fans in the stands exclaimed at the same time.

It's just that the meanings of the two exclamations are obviously completely different...

"Oh! What a danger!" the Spanish commentator exclaimed.

The Chinese commentator was so regretful that he held his head in his hands: "Xue Ming almost helped the team regain a point! What a pity! The ball slipped out! He was just one short distance away from his fifth league goal this season. A few centimeters!”

The slow motion shows that the football is indeed flying out of the baseline while grazing the goal post in a physical sense - it rubs against the outside of the goal post and bounces out of the ball.

When the camera cut back, Xue Ming was seen holding his head in his hands, looking up to the sky and roaring.

"Xue Ming, who just transferred from the Portuguese Liga team Portimao this season, quickly occupied the main position of Atlético Corvette. He has already scored four goals and had two assists in the league. He He is the beneficiary of Chinese football's vigorous promotion of overseas study plans in recent years. From Portuguese Second Division to Portuguese First Division, and then to La Liga, in just four years, Xue Ming's career has achieved a triple jump..."

the Chinese commentator lamented.

"There are still seventy days until the opening of this year's World Cup in China...compared to four years ago, our national team has more overseas internationals this time, and they are not just sitting on the bench. They are just sitting on the sidelines, but they are actually playing the main role in their respective teams...

"Of course, this is all thanks to the first generation of players represented by Hu Lai and Zhang Qinghuan who have studied abroad in large numbers. It is their outstanding performance in their respective teams that has laid a good reputation for Chinese players and attracted more European teams are willing to set their sights on China and are willing to give Chinese players more opportunities..."

In the TV broadcast, after the replay of Xue Ming's shot, it was cut to the fans in the away team's stands wearing KVET. They did not express dissatisfaction because Xue Ming failed to score, but instead applauded.

Although there are only fifteen minutes left in the game and they are still two goals behind, the fans of Kvitt Athletic are still satisfied with Xue Ming's performance. After all, Xue Ming can create threats and has always been very positive and has a good attitude towards the game. Who doesn't like that?

Even if we have to find someone to take the blame for the failure, it probably won’t be Xue Ming’s turn who was very active in this game.

The fans' tolerance and applause did not make Xue Ming happy.

Brother Huan finished his warm-up and just returned to the bench. He sat down and still had no intention of playing...

Xue Ming shook his head and ran back, not satisfied with his performance.

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The kick that hit the outside of the goalpost and bounced out was the closest Xue Ming came to scoring a goal in this game.

Seven minutes later, in the 82nd minute of the game, Xue Ming got another chance.

This is a chance for Kvette Athletic to fight back.

However, because he was too active in previous games, Xue Ming's physical strength dropped significantly at this time.

Although he was still receiving the ball outside the penalty area, due to exhaustion of physical strength, his shot hit the stands behind...

After this shot, Xue Ming, who was exhausted, was replaced.

Obviously, the head coach of Kvitt Athletic also knew that this game could not be won again, or even tied.

Rather than fighting until exhaustion in this game, it is better to let the main players rest and prepare for the next game.

It is true that Kvette Athletic want to avoid relegation, but the key points for them to avoid relegation may not necessarily come from Saria.

At the same time that Xue Ming was replaced, Saria's head coach Rodriguez Baltia personally called Zhang Qinghuan from the bench:

"Zhang, go up and get a feel for the game."

The score was 2:0, and there were less than ten minutes left in the game. At this time, Zhang Qinghuan was replaced. There was no special task. It was just to let him go up and feel the atmosphere of the game and find out the feeling of the game.

After all, he has been away from the green field for seven and a half months.

Zhang Qinghuan nodded, indicating that he understood.

"Congratulations on your comeback from injury. This time it's a real comeback from injury." Baldia grinned at Zhang Qinghuan, then patted him on the shoulder.

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"'Brother Huan'! 'Brother Huan'!!"

When Zhang Qinghuan stood at the edge of the court, waiting to play, deafening shouts rang out over the Parrot Stadium.

The Chinese commentator also raised his voice excitedly:

"Zhang Qinghuan is going to play! After a long recovery period from injury, Zhang Qinghuan is back on the court! Since he suffered a serious knee ligament injury in the first round of the league this season, he underwent surgery and waited until early March to return to training. As for playing in the game... we have waited until now, April 8, the 32nd round of the league! All of us have been waiting for too long! Welcome back, Zhang Qinghuan!"

His teammates ran off the court, hugged Zhang Qinghuan on the sidelines, patted him on the back and sent him on the court.

"With seven minutes left in the game, Zhang Qinghuan was replaced. Obviously Saria head coach Baltiya wanted to let Zhang Qinghuan get a feel for the game... because this substitution had no impact on the outcome of the game - Saria is currently leading FC Kveit 2:0. It is difficult for KV FC who is playing away from home to score two goals in a row and equalize the score in the last few minutes..."

Zhang Qinghuan stepped onto the court, exerted a little force, and felt the subtle sensation coming from the knee of his right leg.

Then he accelerated and sprinted a few more steps.

Everything is fine so far.

Soon his teammates passed him a ball: "'Brother Huan'!"

This is a very ordinary pass, just a simple reverse kick.

He easily caught the ball and passed it to another teammate.

Then he turned around and ran to the next pick-up location.

After he ran into position, the football was passed again.

Saria's players knew that this was Zhang Qinghuan's first official game seven and a half months after his injury.

Although he has already played warm-up matches and competitions during team training, those games are still different from official games with real weapons.

He needed to feel again.

This simple pass helps Zhang Qinghuan warm up.

Anyway, the team is now leading by two goals. As long as Kveit Atletico does not come to press, Saria's players can keep passing the ball to Zhang Qinghuan in the backcourt and playing with him to help him find the feeling of playing the game.

Faced with the kindness of his teammates, Zhang Qinghuan did not show any pretense. He accepted all the orders and cooperated with his teammates to pass and run back and forth.

Let your body remember the way it felt before the injury bit by bit.

In the process, he gradually forgot about his right knee and that he had been injured.

Then he became reluctant to leave, hoping that the game would not end.

A few minutes is too few...

A few minutes is enough for what? I want more playing time!

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Time passed quickly, and Kvette Athletic could no longer threaten Sarria's goal.

When the referee blew the full-time whistle, huge cheers erupted in Sarria's home stadium, Parrot Stadium.

Saria fans are celebrating the victory and Zhang Qinghuan's return from injury.

Sarria players came up to give Zhang Qinghuan high-fives and hugs to celebrate his successful return to the team.

Zhang Qinghuan also had a smile on his face and looked very happy.

The Chinese commentator sincerely praised: "What a warm scene! In eight seasons in Saria, Zhang Qinghuan has already won the love of players and fans. He is also the Chinese player who has played for the same team in Europe for the longest time. ...I hope this game will allow Zhang Qinghuan to quickly regain his form. After all, there are only seventy days until the start of the World Cup...

"Ah, Xue Ming also came from the bench of Kvitt Athletic. He walked towards Zhang Qinghuan. The two hugged each other, then took off each other's jerseys and exchanged them with each other... This scene is also very memorable. The two Chinese players exchanged jerseys during the game... After exchanging jerseys, the two people chatted for a while, and I don’t know what they were talking about..."

Xue Ming covered his mouth and said to Zhang Qinghuan: "Brother Huan, I'm waiting for you at the World Cup!"

Zhang Qinghuan smiled and nodded at him: "Okay!"

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"I almost regretted it today."

Zhang Qinghuan, who was lying on the bed with his head on his hands, suddenly said.

Sun Juan, who was sleeping next to her, asked softly: "What's wrong?"

"It feels great to play in Sarria. I have teammates who know me well and fans who like me. I really can't bear to leave..."

Sun Juan said: "It's okay if you don't want to leave. Anyway, you still have a one-year contract with the team."

Zhang Qinghuan did not speak immediately, but was silent for a while, and then said: "No, I still have to leave. All this happened today is just because I haven't been back for too long, it's just a fresh feeling. There is no point in staying, waiting for the fresh feeling No more. In the end, we must not like each other. Rather than getting to that point, it is better to end in happiness now."

This time it was Sun Juan's turn to be silent. After a while she said: "After you have made your decision, you should talk to Hu Lai and the others, right?"

"Of course I have to say it, but... let's talk about it tomorrow."

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhang Qinghuan suddenly turned over and got into the quilt.

Sun Juan was startled: "Hey, what are you doing?"

"Don't move!" Zhang Qinghuan controlled his wife who was trying to struggle, and then gently placed his ear on her belly, "Let me listen."

Sun Juan was a little shy and itchy: "What can you hear? It's less than three months..."

Zhang Qinghuan's dull reply came from the quilt: "Listen to her heartbeat! Shhh..."

After hearing this, Sun Juan calmed down and let her husband rest her head on her belly.

"Did you hear that?" she asked after a while.

"I heard it, it's quite powerful!"

After a rustling sound, Zhang Qinghuan got out of the quilt, turned sideways and raised his head, staring at his wife who was close at hand.

"What are you looking at?" Sun Juan looked at him and asked.

"Look at the baby."

Zhang Qinghuan said the most earthy words in the most affectionate tone, which amused Sun Juan: "Then you are an old man." (Note 1)

Then the two people touched their heads and laughed happily.

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PS, Laohan means "dad" in the dialect, and his parents are "Mama Laohan".