The Day I Played with Ronaldo

The national championship will not start until April. During this month, Sao Paulo only needs to focus on the Copa Libertadores.

On March 19, in the second leg against Cali America at home, Sao Paulo was able to field the strongest lineup except Luis Fabiano, who was absent due to injury.

The coach of the Cali American team, Lozada, seemed very low-key at the pre-match press conference this time. The score of 5:1 in the last round made him no longer arrogant. "Sao Paulo is the strongest team in our group. Our goal in this game is to get a draw. Of course, this goal is not easy to achieve, after all, we are playing away."

"The lads are very well prepared and we will give our all in the game. Qualifying from the group? You have to play game by game. Of course I believe we can get the right to qualify."

"The most dangerous people in Sao Paulo? Ricardo of course, and Kaka. When they play well, it is difficult for anyone on the planet to stop them. We have some countermeasures, but the actual game is needed. test."

"The unpleasantness of the last game is over and I think we can move on. Ricardo is a young player and although he behaved inappropriately, he can be forgiven."

Ricardo was also interviewed and was asked about his throat slitting during the last match against Cali America.

"I was so angry at the time, I lost my mind, I knew it was not right, it set a bad example for teenage fans in front of the TV, and I'm sorry for that." That being said, Ricciardo's true thoughts But it was: Do it, if I do it again, of course I will do it! The fans of Cali America are so unqualified!

"Tomorrow's game I will play with a normal heart. I have missed two Copa Libertadores games, which taught me a profound lesson, and I will become more mature in the future."

"Of course I hope I can score goals," Ricardo said in an interview for the first time. "My partner with Kaka is invincible. I don't believe that Cali America can stop us."

The next day, more than 50,000 fans poured into the Morombi Stadium. Amidst the singing of the fans, Ricardo scored the first goal for Sao Paulo in the 11th minute.

This was an opportunity for a free kick in the front court. Ricardinho took the ball. The football flew high and had a wide arc, and the goalkeeper dared not attack rashly. No one touched the ball in front, but Ricardo jumped high from the back point and scored a successful header.

"God's favorite child, your glory comes from God!"

"Licado, dear god-given son, you have our love!"

"You always entertain us with goals!"

The fans sang "God-given Son of Sao Paulo" in unison. After scoring the goal, Riccardo rushed to the side of the court, raising his hands continuously, signaling to the fans to speak louder and louder.

The little loli Yang Jingyu and her father Yang Rui were also in the crowd, singing along to the rhythm, immersed in the joyful atmosphere.

Cali America, who was behind in the score, was not in a hurry to attack, and they were fully prepared for the possibility of falling behind in the away game. They still organized the attack leisurely, not giving Sao Paulo a chance to fight back.

At the same time, they strengthened their defense. Kaka and Ricardo were kicked down consecutively. By the end of the first half, their team had already received 5 yellow cards.

After a short break, the two sides fought again in another place. Sao Paulo, who had the advantage of one goal, played more calmly. Ricardo retreated slightly and retracted, forming a triangle with Kaka and Ricardinho. Well groomed.

After Ricardo retracted, the left back Gustavo Neri made frequent assists.

Sao Paulo's second goal was initiated by him. After receiving a diagonal pass from Ricardo, Neri pierced the Cali American team's penalty area like a sharp knife, and then passed the ball to the back point.

After Rico took the ball, due to the long adjustment time, there was no shooting angle,

He had to pass the ball again, this time he gave an inverted triangle pass and hit the ball near the penalty spot.

Kaka made a shot towards the ball, two players of the Cali America team jumped up to block it, but it was a false move, Kaka turned the ball to the left, Ricardo followed up and shot with his left foot, the football bypassed the opponent Goalkeeper Zapata's arm rolled into the bottom right corner of the goal.

Sao Paulo leads 2:0!

Shortly thereafter, the Americas of Cali got worse.

When Ricardo tried to break through with the ball at the front of the penalty area, he was tackled from behind by Ferrari. The referee gave Sao Paulo a free kick in an excellent position and showed Ferrari a second yellow card, sending him off. .

After rearranging the shin guards, Ricardo was about to go to ambush in the penalty area when Ricardo stopped him: "Come here, you kick this ball."

The Colombian speaks Spanish and Ricardinho is not worried that his opponent will understand him.

Ricardo was stunned. Last season, he was designated by Osvaldo as the team's third free-kick taker. After Rojas took over the team this season, he retained this arrangement. But he has yet to take a direct free kick in the game.

"Really let me come?"

"Come on, this is an opportunity for you to perform a hat-trick, you have to seize it!" Ricardinho said with a smile, "I will cover you."

So Ricardo also stood in front of the ball. The ball is about 22 meters away from the goal, a little to the left outside the penalty area, which is the most suitable position for a right-footed player to take a free kick.

Ricardinho stood a little further away from the ball, and his free-kick required a longer run-up.

Zapata directed the players of the Cali America team to form a human wall, blocking Ricardo's face tightly.

The human wall must be 9 meters away from the ball, but in this day and age, referees don’t know how to draw a line in front of the human wall, so the players in Cali America will move forward secretly. According to Ricardo’s visual inspection, they are the farthest away from the football 7 and a half meters.

Ricardinho protested to the referee, and the referee ran over to signal the wall to retreat, but after the referee ran away, the wall moved forward again.

Ricardo didn't care about it anymore, with this distance, it was enough.

When the referee blows his whistle, Ricardo starts his run-up. His run-up distance is relatively short. When he runs to the ball, Ricardo starts his run-up.

The Cali American team thought it would be Ricardo to complete the shot, so when Ricardo's calf swung, the wall did not take off.

Ricardo's foot kicked heavily on the lower right part of the football. The football flew into the air, spun rapidly, and soon passed the wall. Judging from this trend, it is likely to be higher than the goal.

But Zapata did not dare to neglect, and still made a save.

In his sight, the football started to fall! His left hand was stretched as far as it could go, but just barely, just barely!

After rounding his fingertips, the ball hits the net headfirst!