On September 27th, at Madejski Stadium, Cambridge United played their final match of September.
Reading had an excellent season, currently ranking sixth, and exhibiting a strong home and weak away performance.
They had won all three home games, scoring 10 goals with fierce firepower, while failing to win any of their four away games, scoring only one goal.
After the match began, Reading achieved an ideal start.
In the 18th minute, Reading's Schmidt advanced with the ball along the left wing, and after encountering Smith's defense, he passed the ball to Barrow, who was ahead.
Before Lovren could get close, Barrow passed the ball into Cambridge United's penalty area!
Facing Huth's close marking, Pantilimon managed to punch the ball towards the right side of the penalty area!
Davey got the ball on the right wing and kicked it back into the penalty area again!
Huth looked back over his shoulder!
The ball flew directly into the top left corner of the goal!
Reading took a 1-0 lead!
In the 26th minute, Cambridge United brought the battle to the front of Reading's penalty area.
Barrow seized the opportunity, directly stealing the ball from Bennett's feet, and then immediately passed it to Granqvist on the left wing!
Granqvist accurately sent the ball into the penalty area, and Doyle quickly overtook and arrived before Suxi!
This time, Doyle did not disappoint, still shooting powerfully into the net despite the tight angle! 2-0!
The second half began with a change of ends.
In the 58th minute, Harber intercepted Cambridge United's pass in the air, directly passing it to Huth in the middle, who advanced with the ball along the right wing, then turned and passed it back to Doyle in the middle.
Doyle, closest to the goal, received Huth's pass and immediately followed up with a sweeping shot!
The ball, flying low to the ground, was extremely fast!
Goalkeeper Pantilimon was unable to save it! 3-0!
In the 92nd minute, Reading scored another goal through Huth from a counterattack, winning 4-0 against Cambridge United.
Thus, Cambridge United suffered their first defeat of the season at Madejski Stadium, while Reading demonstrated terrifying home combat strength.
Despite suffering a heavy defeat and with only 8 rounds of the League having been played, the voices questioning Cambridge United grew louder.
Cambridge United uncharacteristically canceled their post-match holiday and returned directly to the base.
The next day, Huang Hao locked the entire team in the tactical analysis room, repeatedly watching the match replay of their loss to Reading, allowing everyone to discover their own problems from a different perspective.
Especially Suxi, who was utterly mortified watching his own defending.
Barnet, returning defeated, faced Preston, another team at the top of the table, in the next round.
Preston, who had always hovered in the lower-middle ranks of the EFL Championship, started this season with four consecutive wins, briefly occupying the top of the table, but their recent two draws and two losses gradually exposed their true strength.
After the match began, Cambridge United launched a wave of attacks against Preston!
Today, Ayu was given more freedom to shoot by Huang Hao, in addition to organizing the offense.
Ayu, with his excellent speed and dribbling skills, could better disrupt the opponent's defense when making runs from deep, with his only lacking aspect being his ability to deliver the final blow, which still needed some time to be honed.
Ayu, playing as a shadow striker for the first time, was very active, frequently threatening Preston's goal with shots after the match began.
In the 24th minute, Cambridge United earned a corner kick.
After Bennett took the corner, it did not pose much of a threat, as Cambridge United's corner tactics had clearly become gradually known to various teams.
At this moment, inside Preston's penalty area, apart from the goalkeeper, as many as nine players were involved in defense!
The lads from Cambridge United continued to patiently look for opportunities outside the box.
Adam May received the ball at the top of the penalty area and passed it directly to Lovren near midfield.
As the ball moved back, Preston's defense gradually pushed forward.
After Lovren received the ball, he directly transferred it to Tadić on the other side.
Tadić carried the ball forward and passed it to Ayu!
Ayu and Smith, who came to support, executed a brilliant one-two, directly evading McNally's defense, and then immediately passed the ball into the penalty area!
At this moment, Dzeko and Vardy appeared simultaneously inside the penalty area!
The two exchanged a knowing glance and made cross runs to opposite sides of the penalty area!
Legge, the defender, momentarily didn't know who to focus on, and just then, Dzeko had already used his run to get in front of him, then jumped high!
Legge, half a beat late, also jumped immediately, but was clearly at a disadvantage!
Dzeko successfully headed the ball into the far corner of the goal, opening the scoring for Cambridge United!
After the goal, Cambridge United's morale soared, and their attacks intensified!
In the 39th minute, May directly sent a powerful pass from the backfield to the front of Preston's penalty area!
Legge lost again in his duel with Dzeko, who literally overtook him from behind to get the ball!
Facing goalkeeper Rona, Dzeko chose to push the ball towards the near post!
Rona, quick to the ground, bravely parried the ball out for a corner!
Dzeko's rapid growth as a striker greatly pleased Huang Hao; if his shooting accuracy improved a bit more, he could absolutely become a superstar!
After adjustments during halftime, Preston's offense gradually improved, but their shots were also off target, with most of them missing the goal.
Soon, Preston paid the price for their wanton waste of opportunities.
Pantilimon directly kicked the ball long to midfield.
After Smith received the ball, he immediately made a through pass!
Preston's backline was a half-step slow due to Mavini, leading to a failed offside trap!
Thus, after Vardy received the ball, only Rona remained in front of him!
After dribbling the ball near the penalty spot, Rona easily pushed the ball into the left side of the goal!
2-0! Cambridge United scored another goal!
Besides their offense, Cambridge United was equally excellent defensively!
Preston lofted the ball into Cambridge United's penalty area three consecutive times, all of which were individually neutralized by Lovren, leaving Pantilimon no chance to even make a save!
Seeing that the overall situation was decided, Huang Hao sent on the 16-year-old Gotze to experience a real professional match.
In the 86th minute, Sun Jihai received a pass from Pantilimon and directly threaded it to Bennett ahead.
Bennett's surgical-precision pass found Gotze at the top of the penalty area!
Gotze used his speed to rampage through Preston's penalty area, attracting the pursuit of three Preston players in one go!
After wreaking havoc on Preston's defense, Gotze, hugging Preston's byline, passed the ball from the left side of the penalty area back towards the center of the box!
Dzeko, arriving in the middle, powerfully blasted the ball into the top left corner of the goal!
3-0!
Huang Hao spread his hands in disbelief, and the 7,500 spectators at Abbey Stadium cooperatively exclaimed “Oh,” followed by thunderous applause, cheering and encouraging the young player Gotze.
Erwin offered no excuses after the match.
Cambridge United's performance in this match deserved the victory, and the post-match statistics confirmed this.
Cambridge United had a high of 18 shots throughout the match, demonstrating a strong desire to win.
Huang Hao was not fantasizing that the team would make it into the Premier League this season.
Successfully remaining in the EFL Championship would bring a significant financial boost, which was an indispensable process for Huang Hao, who planned for greater ambitions in the future.
The biggest surprise the team had given him so far was the acquisition of several excellent versatile players in the front field!
Whether it was Ayu, Paul Smith, or Robise, all of them could play multiple positions from midfield to forward, which filled Cambridge United's tactics with diversity!
As such, Cambridge United could now prepare some surprises for their predecessors in the EFL Championship!
Three days later, Cambridge United faced another strong opponent, the top-ranked Wolves.
Wolves had achieved a terrifying record of 7 wins, 1 draw, and 1 loss in their first 9 rounds, leading the League table by a significant margin.
Under McCarthy's coaching, Wolves adopted England's traditional 4-4-2 formation, emphasizing defensive solidity and quick counterattacks.
Their forward line was a standard big-man-small-man combination, with Iwelumo responsible for winning headers and Black for breaking through.
In the home team's locker room, Darren, at Huang Hao's instruction, once again emphasized the key points to the players for the match.
The match was about to begin, and Huang Hao cleared his throat,
“Remember, the key to this match is defense.”
“Everyone always thinks we are a team that is strong in attack but weak in defense.
Today, I hope you can change their perception.”
“Suxi, Lovren, your biggest task in this match is to mark Iwelumo tightly.
Remember my words, use every means to stifle his offense.
Sun Jihai is responsible for marking Black, and Bennett, you and Tadić, pay attention to tracking back on both wings.”
“As long as you do that, what if they are at the top of the table?”
Hearing Huang Hao's instructions, Suxi and Lovren looked at each other and nodded heavily.
“Build the strongest defense; today, let the opposing Wolves turn into Huskies for me!”
Huang Hao's nonsensical analogy made the players burst into laughter, and they walked onto the field in a relaxed mood.
After the match began, Cambridge United frequently launched attacks from both wings, requiring Wolves' central midfielders to constantly shift to the sides to curb Cambridge United's wide attacks.
And this was exactly what Huang Hao wanted to see.
After 10 minutes of the first half, although Wolves had a slight advantage, their shots caused almost no substantial threat.
Cambridge United's players were very quick in both pressing and covering, and apart from a few shots that went directly wide of the goal, their other attempts were directly blocked by Cambridge United's players with their bodies!
Pantilimon didn't even have a chance to make a save!
In the 12th minute, Wolves earned a free kick in the attacking third.
Jones directly lofted the ball into the penalty area, and Iwelumo leapt at the far post to head the ball towards the goal!
Pantilimon stretched his body and directly parried the ball away!
Sun Jihai got the ball on the left side of the penalty area and immediately kicked it long to Ayu in midfield!
After Ayu received the ball, he accelerated and changed direction, directly faking out Henry!
Facing Tommy Smith's defense, Ayu directly passed the ball into the middle!
Vardy was through on goal!!!
Unfortunately, the ball was pushed a little too far!
By the time Vardy adjusted his steps, Tommy Smith had already rushed over!
Disturbed, Vardy's shot was a bit too central!
Goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey easily parried the ball out for a goal kick!
And from the subsequent corner kick, Ayu's shot flew directly into the sky.
In the 15th minute, Cambridge United again dispossessed Wolves in their own half and immediately passed the ball to Bennett on the left wing.
Bennett attempted to transfer the ball to Vardy ahead, but Foley pulled down Vardy in a challenge, earning Cambridge United a free kick in the attacking third.
After the free kick was taken, facing Wolves' rather tight defense, the lads from Cambridge United did not rush, but instead repeatedly passed the ball horizontally in Wolves' attacking third, attempting to follow Huang Hao's deployment and constantly create openings in Wolves' defense by stretching them on both wings!
When the ball was again passed to Bennett's feet on the left side of the penalty area, Bennett stopped passing and suddenly accelerated into the penalty area!
Bennett broke through towards the right-front while eyeing O'Connor in the middle.
Suddenly, Bennett kicked the ball to O'Connor, then made a sudden stop and turned to run towards the left-front of the penalty area!
Wolves' defenders immediately rushed towards Bennett!
This clearly looked like a one-two!
But O'Connor, with his back to goal, flicked the ball to Sun Jihai outside the penalty area!
Sun Jihai dribbled the ball to the left side of the penalty area near the byline!
As Tommy Smith and El-Abd ran towards Sun Jihai, they didn't notice that Bennett had quietly run into the center of the penalty area!
Sun Jihai accelerated, stopped suddenly, and played the ball back to the middle!
Bennett was unmarked!
He received the ball and chipped it towards the near post!
Wayne Hennessey was unable to save it, and the ball found the back of the net!!!
1-0!!! Cambridge United delivered a fatal blow to Wolves in the 17th minute!!
Old Jack at the Cambridge United base nearby didn't even need to listen to the radio commentary; he jumped up and started dancing wildly!
For Abbey Stadium to have such a huge cheer, Cambridge United must have scored!
This young man, Huang Hao, is truly remarkable!
Iwelumo was a bit annoyed today; Lovren was sticking to him like a plaster, almost inseparable.
Whenever the two had physical contact, the opponent always had some subtle little movements that made him very uncomfortable!
Just when he finally managed to shake off May's defense, Suxi would immediately rush over!
This place was simply terrible!
In the 37th minute, Jarvis made a surging run from the backfield all the way to the right side of Cambridge United's penalty area, and seeing Iwelumo near the box, he unhesitatingly passed the ball to him!
Iwelumo once again broke free from Lovren's entanglement, and just as he was about to control the ball that came out, he was suddenly bumped and stumbled!
Suxi burst out from behind and directly kicked the ball towards midfield!
Iwelumo looked at the referee in confusion, but the referee showed no reaction!
This level of collision was commonplace in the EFL Championship, and the referee was too lazy to interrupt the match!
Henry, who remained for Wolves, intercepted the ball and again lofted it forward!
This time, Suxi and Lovren, one in front and one behind, directly sandwiched Iwelumo in the middle!
Lovren jumped high and headed the ball out for a throw-in!
Midfielder Jarvis received the throw-in and passed the ball to Iwelumo for the third time!
Iwelumo suddenly started at high speed, shaking off Lovren!
Watching the flying ball, Iwelumo confidently extended his right leg and easily brought the ball down!
After receiving the ball, Iwelumo immediately turned his back to the goal.
His current position was not suitable for cutting inside, so he tried to observe the situation on the field and pass the ball to a teammate!
Just as Iwelumo confirmed his passing target, he suddenly felt the ball lighten under his foot, and then he fell heavily onto the grass!
Lovren made a fierce tackle, winning the ball and incidentally bringing down Iwelumo!
Iwelumo angrily slammed his fist on the grass!
He had had enough!
Cambridge United had no time to console the poor Iwelumo!
Lovren won the ball and immediately passed it to Paul Smith, who directly lofted it forward!
Ayu received the ball, and by constantly changing his dribbling rhythm, he quickly found a passing lane despite Insúa's defense!
Ayu accurately sent the ball into Wolves' penalty area!
Vardy headed the ball towards goal!
Hennessey punched the ball out with both fists, and the ball accurately landed at Vardy's feet.
Vardy gratefully accepted the gift and pushed it in with the inside of his foot!
2-0!
McCarthy's team was in trouble because Iwelumo was successfully neutralized, making their offense feel like it had lost a leg.
After the second half began, the situation still did not improve.
In the 62nd minute, Iwelumo finally got his first chance to shoot!
However, the ball was easily gathered by Pantilimon!
McCarthy looked at the young Gibbs on the bench and shook his head negatively.
Clearly, this was not a good option.
In the 81st minute, Jarvis took a corner kick!
Coady at the far post headed the ball across, and Black, lurking in the middle, turned and volleyed!
Saint Pantilimon landed incredibly fast and directly parried the ball out for a goal kick!
Wolves missed a golden opportunity to equalize!
The match quickly entered the second minute of injury time.
Iwelumo, who had been entangled with Lovren in midfield, finally had a moment of triumph, directly stealing the ball from Lovren's feet!
After getting the ball, Iwelumo immediately passed it to the top of the penalty area!
Black vigorously outran Suxi to catch up with the ball!
After entering the penalty area, facing Suxi's close marking, Black first pushed the ball slightly to the left!
Then he used his left foot to shoot the ball directly towards the right side of the goal!
The ball went over Pantilimon!
And directly over the crossbar!
Beep! Beep! Beep~~~
Two short and one long whistle sounded throughout Abbey Stadium!
