Chapter 632 - 120: Eliminating Real Madrid; The Champions League Hat-trick Club; Klopp’s Three Moves; The Belated Bundesliga Championship Reward
If Dortmund could win the title undefeated, it would make Bundesliga history.
’In that case, wouldn’t the reward for winning the title be much more generous than for a normal Bundesliga championship?’
So, Wang Shuo guessed that the reason the Ball God System had yet to deliver the championship reward was that it was waiting for the final result of their undefeated run.
If they lost a match along the way, it would just be a normal Bundesliga title.
But if they ultimately won the title undefeated, the reward would surely be far more substantial.
Wang Shuo had been observing this pattern for the past few rounds.
He had always been Dortmund’s safety net, coming on whenever the situation looked grim.
Today, against Werder Bremen, Wang Shuo was subbed on in the 65th minute.
Just six minutes after Wang Shuo came on as a substitute, Dortmund launched an attack down the right flank.
After Kuba and the overlapping Piszczek completed a one-two, Piszczek charged with the ball toward the byline on the right side of the box and sent a high cross to the near post for Lewandowski.
Lewandowski and Mertesacker both jumped to challenge for the header. In the end, the taller Mertesacker only managed to graze the ball, failing to clear it away.
Wang Shuo appeared at the far post like a phantom. Meeting the descending ball, he unleashed a furious shot with his left foot before it could even hit the ground.
Just like that, Wang Shuo blasted the ball into Werder Bremen’s goal.
"GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!"
"It’s in!!!"
"In the 71st minute, Wang Shuo, who just came on as a substitute, has scored for Dortmund!"
"It’s 2-1! Dortmund pulls one back!"
"After 70 minutes of fruitless attacks, Dortmund’s ace striker has finally arrived!"
"You have to say it, Dortmund truly can’t do without Wang Shuo’s goals this season."
"It’s just as many in the media have said: when the team can’t break the deadlock, Klopp generally only has three tricks up his sleeve."
"Sub on Wang Shuo, pass the ball to Wang Shuo, and trust in Wang Shuo!"
...
After scoring, Dortmund’s morale soared, and they began a frantic counter-assault.
Werder Bremen wasn’t a particularly strong defensive team to begin with.
Moreover, Schaff was a world-renowned coach famous for his attacking style of football.
So, when Dortmund pressed forward to attack, Werder Bremen showed no fear, boldly engaging them in an offensive battle.
For this match, Schaff had employed a 4-3-1-2 formation.
The presence of three defensive midfielders had significantly restricted Dortmund’s rotated squad.
This was why Dortmund had been unable to score for so long.
Whether it was Lewandowski, Kuba, or Grosskreutz, they had mostly resorted to threatening the opponent with long-range shots.
Wang Shuo also took a long-range shot.
Time ticked by, second by second.
Especially after the 85th minute, his [Domain Skill: Reverser] began to take effect.
Wang Shuo could clearly feel it. Not only was his stamina abundant, but more importantly, his mind was exceptionally clear. He entered a state of pure clarity, his perception of everything around him becoming sharp and keen.
This was especially true in the 89th minute. Wang Shuo made a diagonal run to the left to receive a pass from Grosskreutz, trying to open up the play from the flank, but the pass was blocked out of bounds.
As Schmelzer appeared on the left touchline preparing for the Throw-In, Wang Shuo had a sudden stroke of genius.
He first ran from the center toward the left edge of the penalty area, as if to receive the ball from Schmelzer.
Marking him was the German center-back Dominik Schmidt, who had just been subbed on.
He was tailing Wang Shuo relentlessly.
But just as Wang Shuo reached the left side of the box, he suddenly changed direction and ran toward the byline.
Schmidt didn’t have time to think and immediately chased after him, failing to notice that Wang Shuo was gesturing behind his own back.
Schmelzer instantly took the Throw-In, tossing it into the empty space Wang Shuo had just vacated.
Wang Shuo, who had just run off, suddenly stopped on a dime, turned, and sprinted back. Arriving before anyone else, he met Schmelzer’s Throw-In and delicately flicked it toward the six-yard box with his right foot.
He spun around again to give chase. As the Finnish center-back Pasanen and Mertesacker teamed up with the goalkeeper to rush over and block all shooting angles, Wang Shuo beat them to the ball by a step, sending a low pass across the face of the goal with his right foot.
Lewandowski made a quick run forward, got in front of Mertesacker, and connected with a sliding shot.
The Polish striker didn’t miss the golden opportunity Wang Shuo had created, sliding both himself and the ball into Werder Bremen’s goal.
2-2!
In that instant, Lewandowski leaped up from inside Werder Bremen’s goal and rushed excitedly toward Wang Shuo.
When Wang Shuo heard the referee’s whistle confirming the goal and saw the scoreboard change from 2-1 to 2-2, he felt a great sense of relief.
’Just one last round to go: a home game against Frankfurt!’