At 10 PM on the evening of September 13th, Selhurst Park Stadium was packed to capacity.
If it weren't for most of the surplus funds being used to pay off debts, Huang Hao would have truly considered expanding Abbey Stadium. In the away team's locker room, Huang Hao looked at Warnock's starting lineup, which was largely consistent with pre-match estimates.
Warnock's tactics this season were still conservative, employing defensive counter-attacks against strong teams. Many people were deceived by Crystal Palace's 4-3-3 formation, thinking that Crystal Palace was a team that advocated offense. In reality, it was because Crystal Palace lacked a central midfield organizer, and their offense primarily relied on a front-line pivot and quick wide advances.
After putting down the list, Huang Hao looked at the players waiting for his instructions and smiled easily.
"Lads, today's opponent isn't bad. Many people say that Cambridge United has been incredibly lucky recently, achieving a four-game unbeaten streak."
"I think today is your best chance to prove yourselves!"
"Since the opponent excels at possession and likes defensive counter-attacks, we must continue to strengthen our pressing! I believe that under sustained high-pressure pressing, unless it's Barça, it will be enough to give them a tough time!"
"Remember the intelligence Darren gave you; don't slack off for even a minute! Crystal Palace is in very poor form. There's an old saying in my country: 'When your enemy is sick, take his life.'"
"Cambridge United!!!" Sager shouted this classic slogan again.
"Must win!!!" Accompanied by thunderous applause, Huang Hao's team, led by referee Oliver, appeared in the center of Selhurst Park Stadium.
Cambridge United's old friend Smith opened his microphone in the commentary box.
"Aha! Good evening, my dear friends. I've once again come to the familiar Selhurst Park Stadium."
From the first match, where he couldn't even pronounce Huang Hao's name, to today, where he knows Cambridge United's players like the back of his hand, Smith has witnessed Cambridge United's growth step by step.
"Today, Crystal Palace will face the challenge of Cambridge United at home. To be honest, although Cambridge United often makes me lose face, I still have to say that I still favor Crystal Palace today."
Even with his face swollen from being beaten, Smith remained unrepentant!
"Warnock's Crystal Palace team has inherited his excellent defensive talent, having scored 2 goals and conceded 5 goals so far this season."
"Although Huang Hao's team has also scored 10 goals, they have conceded 7. Although both teams have some issues in attack and defense, Crystal Palace has, after all, been immersed in the EFL Championship for many years, and their experience is not something Cambridge United can compare to."
Smith eloquently explained his reasons for favoring Crystal Palace, while referee Oliver had already completed the coin toss.
Cambridge United won the kick-off for the first half.
Dzeko and Vardy stood within the center circle, waiting for the referee's whistle to start the match.
The fans were already impatiently singing Crystal Palace's cheering song.
"Oh oh oh ~ oh oh oh ~ We are fearless!"
"Oh oh oh ~ oh oh oh ~ We want to go to the top League!"
"Though we don't know when it will be."
"We will eventually return there."
A loud, long whistle sounded with the singing.
Dzeko kicked the ball to Vardy and ran full speed towards Crystal Palace's half!
The big battle officially began!
"OK, the match has officially started! Let's see if Cambridge United can bring us some surprises!"
As the match began, Smith also officially entered his role.
Vardy had already transferred the ball to Tadić on the wing. Tadić advanced two steps along the wing, then passed the ball back to Dzeko. Dzeko then slipped it through, and the ball, following the surging O'Connor, went directly into Crystal Palace's penalty area!
O'Connor's cross was directly blocked out of bounds by Lawrence, and Cambridge United earned a corner kick right at the start.
"Oh, Cambridge United is lucky. They got a corner kick right at the start. Statistics show that Cambridge United has already scored 5 goals from corner kicks this season, which is clearly a very good scoring method for them."
Smith glanced at the statistics on the commentary desk and continued to talk volubly.
The corner kick was still taken by O'Connor.
The experienced O'Connor glanced at the situation in the penalty area, raised his right hand high, and then directly kicked the ball towards the far post!
The ball had a slight outward spin added by O'Connor, and during its flight, it quickly drifted towards the edge of the six-yard box!
Lovren held off McCarthy, who was marking him, and powerfully headed the ball towards the goal!
Speroni quickly dove to the right side of the goal, but he was still a hand's distance from the ball!
Just as the Cambridge United fans behind the net were about to stand up and celebrate, the ball heavily struck the top of the crossbar and flew out of bounds! Lovren covered his face with both hands, then let out a roar. He was so close, just a tiny bit more, and he would have brought a goal for Cambridge United in just 1 minute into the match!
Speroni kicked the goal kick to Hill on the right, who then passed it to Carl in the middle.
Carl's pass, as precise as a surgeon's knife, directly sliced through Cambridge United's entire backline vertically!
The ball flew over Cambridge United's midfield and defender Lovren, landing directly at the feet of the surging Moses!
Moses dribbled directly into the box and, facing Pantilimon, chose a low shot from a tight angle! The ball was directly blocked out of bounds by Pantilimon's hand!
"Oh, I have to say, the speed of attack and defense transitions between the two teams is a bit beyond my imagination. I originally thought I could comment on the game leisurely, but I didn't expect that in just 2 minutes of the opening, both teams had completed a very high-quality attack!"
Smith, who had commented on hundreds of matches, was also amazed, never expecting two EFL Championship teams to play such a fast-paced game.
Three minutes later, O'Connor directly intercepted Clyne's throw-in in the attacking third, then passed it to Dzeko in the penalty area. Dzeko's cross was blocked again, and Cambridge United earned another corner kick.
O'Connor's corner kick once again accurately passed to May in the penalty area, but unfortunately, May's header went over the crossbar again!
With the change of possession, Crystal Palace also earned a corner kick opportunity, but the ball was directly kicked to midfield by a Cambridge United player, ending that attack.
For a time, the two teams were locked in a fierce, evenly matched battle!
In the 9th minute of the first half, Cambridge United earned a free kick just outside Crystal Palace's penalty area, and O'Connor opted for a direct shot!
The ball went just over the crossbar!
In the 16th minute of the first half, Bennett dribbled to the right byline near Crystal Palace's goal and crossed the ball!
Dzeko in the center arrived swiftly, leaping high!
The ball grazed the right post and hit the side netting!
In the 19th minute, Crystal Palace midfielder Derry took a long-range shot from the edge of the penalty arc, and the ball went just wide of the goal!
In the 23rd minute, Carl once again precisely found John between Suxi and Lovren!
However, John kicked a close-range shot out of bounds!
Smith looked at the two teams constantly switching between attack and defense and couldn't help but feel emotional. This Cambridge United team had brought him too many surprises since he first commented on their game three years ago!
At this moment, he couldn't tell that this was a newly promoted team in the EFL Championship!
Facing Crystal Palace, Cambridge United showed no fear, instead making their offense flourish!
Huang Hao and Warnock were both standing on the sidelines in the same posture, watching the match intently.
Warnock had now coached this Crystal Palace team to be even better defensively, but they still lacked many scoring methods in attack.
If it weren't for John's poor shooting, Cambridge United would probably be trailing by more than one goal by now.
Just as Smith was feeling emotional, Clyne once again dribbled to the byline, then suddenly back-heeled the ball to Carl on the right side of the penalty area. Carl then passed the ball directly to Moses in the middle!
Moses put all his strength into it, powerfully shooting the ball towards the goal! The ball was powerful and heavy, and Pantilimon dared not slack off, directly batting the ball out of bounds!
Moses, a product of the youth academy, performed exceptionally well last season, virtually becoming a favored general of Warnock, firmly holding a starting position. However, he encountered a rookie wall in the four matches this season.
Although the ball was saved, a glimmer of hope still ignited in Warnock's heart. This match, barring any surprises, was only a matter of time before Crystal Palace won.
In the 33rd minute, it was Moses again with a long-range shot from outside the penalty area. The ball went just wide of the goal, flying past the right post and out of bounds!
Crystal Palace gradually gained the upper hand on the field as the match progressed.
In the 37th minute, Sun Jihai made a good pass from the back!
The ball flew half the length of the field and landed perfectly in the empty space between Richards and Ward!
At this moment, Vardy was moving at an extremely fast pace, passing between the two to catch up with the ball!
Vardy adjusted his steps slightly in the penalty area, then directly chose to push the ball with his left foot towards the near post!
It looked like Speroni wouldn't have time to dive and save!
The ball, by some strange twist of fate, hit the outside of the post and bounced out of bounds!
Even Huang Hao couldn't help but hold his head in his hands, unable to believe what he was seeing!
What a golden opportunity!
In the 41st minute of the first half, Lawrence's pass was directly intercepted by Sun Jihai in the backfield.
Sun Jihai passed the ball to Bennett on the left, for him to organize Cambridge United's attack.
Bennett shrewdly saw that Dzeko was unmarked and immediately made a lobbed pass, finding Dzeko!
Veltman dared not press rashly and could only follow Dzeko all the way to the left byline near Crystal Palace's goal!
Saquill, who broke through to the byline, evaded Veltman's interference and successfully sent the ball to the front of Crystal Palace's goal!
O'Connor and Vardy attacked the goal like a pair of ghosts!
Moses followed behind O'Connor, accelerating with all his might, trying to overtake him!
In front of the goal, McCarthy struggled to hold off Vardy, trying to kick this dangerous cross out of bounds!
McCarthy finally got to the ball first, attempting to poke it out of bounds!
Moses arrived swiftly! Too late to brake!!! The ball poked out by McCarthy thus hit Moses's leg, deflected, and bounced into the goal!!!
And it was still in the corner!!!
1:0! Cambridge United surprisingly took the lead away from home!
Poor Moses, after several failed attempts on goal, finally put the ball into his own net!