Huang Hao kept his word; immediately after the match, he had the club staff compile the game materials and submit an appeal report to English Football Association.
Cambridge United, with minimal investment, achieved remarkable results in the English Championship League, which completely contradicted English Football Association's initiative to encourage greater investment, introduce famous players, and enhance the League's popularity.
As a result, some people were displeased.
Huang Hao's Cambridge United, with shareholders only from the second-rate Li family in Hong Kong, held no weight compared to the owner of Queens Park Rangers. But precisely because of this, Huang Hao had to resist certain forces to the end, otherwise Cambridge United's situation would only become more difficult!
However, the media did not advocate for Cambridge United's injustice; instead, they focused more attention on Huang Hao's red card.
Cambridge United fans were not happy, especially the enthusiastic Chinese fans, who made various screenshots and diagrams, even going over the Great Firewall to publish them on foreign self-media, which stirred up a considerable stir.
Soon, English Football Association, under pressure, released the match report. Cambridge United's first goal was not offside; the Head Coach Atkinson made an officiating error, resulting in a deduction of 3 points and a one-match suspension from officiating in the EFL Championship. Cambridge United's third goal, where Smith's arm was ahead of Hall, was a reasonable call.
And Head Coach Huang Hao, for repeatedly interfering with the referee's officiating, received a valid red card and a one-match ban.
At the same time, English Football Association reiterated that the England League is the most inclusive League in the world, and we will not discriminate against any small or medium-sized club, regardless of its shareholders.
However, this statement had a strong 'protesting too much' undertone!
These inconsequential penalties did not change the 2 points Cambridge United lost, although with the draw from this match, Cambridge United's ranking improved by one spot.
Huang Hao would have to spend the next match in the stands of Abbey Stadium.
On October 25th, with no time to rest, Cambridge United welcomed Southampton, ranked 21st in the League table, to Abbey Stadium.
Huang Hao, accompanied by staff from the League officiating committee, obediently took his seat in the stands of Abbey Stadium.
Sitting in the stands, Huang Hao looked at the meticulous staff member next to him and joked, "Do I have the right to know your name?" The staff member next to him looked at Huang Hao warily and did not answer.
Huang Hao shrugged and said, "Don't be nervous, I'm not planning to complain. I can't keep calling you 'the staff member of the England League officiating committee,' can I?"
This staff member seemed to feel that the name was not very pleasant, so he softened his tone a little and said, "Hello, Mr. Huang, my name is York."
"OK, Mr. York, very pleased to meet you."
After speaking, Huang Hao smiled and extended his right hand. York, seeing this, nodded and shook Huang Hao's hand.
"Mr. York, I have one more thing I'd like to ask, is there a rule that you and this gentleman next to you must sit so close to me?"
"I'd like to ask you and this beautiful lady next to me to switch seats. I think I'd enjoy watching the game much more that way."
York's face twitched in pain, while Lin Kexin next to him was already laughing so hard she couldn't straighten up.
York was not foolish; he clearly saw that the relationship between the two was unusual, and after some thought, he wisely swapped positions with Lin Kexin.
Huang Hao grinned; his teasing of York had put him in a great mood.
"Thank you, kind Mr. York. By the way, this is my girlfriend, Lin Kexin."
York never expected that his ordinary officiating duty would be subjected to such a display of affection, so he could only nod faintly at Lin Kexin and turn his attention to the field.
"My Head Coach, look what you've done to him!"
Lin Kexin finally managed to stop laughing and spoke up for York. "No choice, only when you're by my side can I feel a little better."
Huang Hao spread his hands, looking helpless.
"I never thought I would be watching my own team's match from this position!"
"So you can't be so impulsive in the next match. Luckily, this time it's a home game."
Lin Kexin was a bit worried for Huang Hao.
"No way, if the team is wronged, and I don't rush up, they'll just do whatever they want!"
"But I'll try to avoid getting cards. Next time I'll speak Chinese to them and curse them to death!" Lin Kexin looked at the somewhat childish Huang Hao and chuckled again.
York's expression became even more uncomfortable.
Although Huang Hao appeared relaxed in front of Lin Kexin, he was actually a little worried.
At 22:00 that evening, Head Coach Oliver blew the whistle to start the match.
Just 1 minute into the game, Southampton player Prutton unleashed a powerful shot from outside the penalty area, but Pantilimon was not careless and calmly gathered the ball into his arms.
Walcott, Gareth Bale, Luke Shaw, the Saints' youth academy always managed to produce brilliant stars from time to time. Today's Southampton, Pierce also fielded promising young stars like Schneiderlin and Lallana.
Huang Hao couldn't help but wonder, if Cambridge United was promoted to the Premier League and Southampton was relegated to League One, Lallana and Schneiderlin wouldn't be impossible to acquire, but Southampton players generally had high valuations, which was indeed a problem for the struggling Cambridge United.
One minute later, Southampton came back strong! 18-year-old Schneiderlin delivered a superb curling ball from the left side of the front field!
The ball obediently bypassed Sun Jihai and Lovren, who were defending the middle, and landed directly at Saganovski's feet!
Saganovski dribbled into the penalty area and, facing the goalkeeper's block, attempted to curl the ball into the far corner!
Saint Pantilimon descended again, almost instinctively blocking it with his left hand!
The ball changed direction and flew out of bounds!
Saganovski covered his head with both hands, unable to believe that this one-on-one opportunity hadn't gone in!
The match had only been going for two minutes, and Southampton already had two shots, both on target.
Huang Hao knew that this match would likely be extremely difficult.
O'Connor seemed particularly excited today, running and intercepting tirelessly in midfield.
Although this young player didn't feel wronged joining Cambridge United, he still wanted to prove himself against his former club that had given up on him.
Finally, Prutton's dribble had a pause, and O'Connor seized the opportunity, making a flying slide tackle that successfully sent the ball to Dzeko in front!
Dzeko dribbled past midfield, then cleverly passed to Smith on the side, giving Smith a one-on-one opportunity!
Smith, who had vigorously charged into the penalty area, still shot the ball towards the upper left corner of the goal with his left foot, despite the interference from the defending Lancashire and Malipan!
Davis dared not be careless! He directly tipped the ball out of bounds!
The 6,100 spectators at Abbey Stadium naturally gave their warmest applause to this promising star of Cambridge United.
O'Connor then took the corner kick, and Perry got to the first point, heading the ball out.
Smith immediately stopped the ball from outside and passed it back to O'Connor on the byline! This time, O'Connor's cross just cleared Perry and landed at the near post!
Dzeko was unmarked! He headed the ball from a standing position!
The ball hit the post and bounced into the net.
1:0!
At 15 minutes, the highly active young player Schneiderlin once again broke through to the left byline of Cambridge United's penalty area, then passed the ball to Prutton in the penalty box!
Prutton adjusted with his left foot, then unleashed a powerful shot!
Saint Pantilimon leaped, once again denying the ball entry!!! Prowse looked at Campbell in disbelief; he found it hard to believe that such an unknown team would have such an excellent goalkeeper!
Lallana took a tactical corner, and after a passing exchange with Prutton, he again lofted the ball into the penalty area!
McGoldrick easily chested the ball down, took a step to the right, and then unleashed another cannon shot!!
Pantilimon was beyond his reach, and the ball went directly under his arm and into the net!
Southampton finally broke through Cambridge United's goal after 16 minutes of play!
1:1!
At 22 minutes, Southampton continued their dominance.
Captain Prutton received a pass on the left side of midfield, then sent a super long-distance pass directly to Saganovski near the right byline of Cambridge United's penalty area.
Facing the incoming ball, Saganovski first raised his right foot high, directly hooked the ball in mid-air! Then, with the momentum, he pushed it forward, turned, and accelerated! All in one fluid motion!
Facing the double block from Robise and Suxi, Saganovski still managed to send the ball into Cambridge United's penalty area!
Lallana, from an almost zero-degree angle at the near post, still chose to shoot!
Although Pantilimon had covered the angle, he still couldn't hold onto the ball and could only punch it out forcefully!
At 24 minutes, after withstanding a wave of Southampton's attacks, Cambridge United began to counterattack.
Sun Jihai once again passed the ball to Robise on the right wing.
This time, defending Robise was Southampton's captain, Prutton.
Robise, facing his former captain, chose to force a breakthrough!
Prutton made a direct slide tackle, preparing to win the ball!
Just as Prutton had lowered his center of gravity and slid towards Robise, Robise kicked the ball away from his feet!
Prutton fouled! Southampton's captain then realized that this kid had no intention of breaking through; he was just going for the free kick!
Clearly, this was Robise's best option when facing Prutton, who was superior to him in all aspects.
The foul occurred more than 30 meters from the penalty area, and O'Connor did not rush to take the free kick. Instead, he carefully observed his teammates' positions in the box, and various passing routes appeared in his mind.
Having chosen his route, O'Connor kicked the ball towards the far post. At this point, it was Lallana who was marking Suxi!
This young player was clearly no match for the experienced Suxi when competing for a header.
So Suxi easily passed the ball in the air to Ayu, who was lurking near the penalty spot!
Ayu didn't wait for the ball to land before winding up his left foot! He unleashed a direct side-volley!
The ball went directly between Davis and Thomas and into the goal!!!
2:1! Cambridge United took the lead again in the 25th minute! This time, Abbey Stadium was no longer filled with sighs; the long-suppressed Cambridge United fans celebrated this spectacular goal with thunderous cheers!
Pierce frowned slightly. Scoring from a set piece inherently had some element of chance, but Pierce's sixth sense seemed to be telling him that this match was deviating a bit from the planned trajectory. He hoped it was just a misconception!
At this moment, Southampton launched another attack. Prutton passed the ball to Lallana, who was supporting in front. Lallana then made another precise long pass, directly transferring the ball to McGoldrick on the right wing. McGoldrick easily eluded Suxi and passed the ball back to Armstrong in the middle! Armstrong met the ball with a powerful shot!
This shot was wildly off target, flying directly out of bounds!
At 52 minutes, Cambridge United earned a corner kick.
O'Connor, after seeing his teammates' positions clearly, took two steps back.
The corner kick was taken!
This kick seemed to be wildly off target, flying out of the penalty area...
A tactical corner kick?!
Pierce suddenly saw Smith rapidly running towards the ball! He cried out, 'Not good!'
Jones sensed the danger and immediately flew out to block. After gaining possession, Smith immediately changed direction to the front right!
While dribbling forward, Smith suddenly took a shot, sending the ball towards the left side of the goal!!!
Davis, who had already started moving to the right with Smith, couldn't even touch the ball despite using all his might!
3:1!!! Cambridge United scored another goal!!!
Abbey Stadium instantly erupted, turning into a sea of joy!
Meanwhile, the Southampton fans behind Cambridge United's goal sat silently in the stands, their eyes filled with disappointment.
At 80 minutes, Schneiderlin's dribble in midfield was intercepted by Kante. Kante then sent a through ball to Gotze, who had also come on as a substitute. Perry slowly ran towards Gotze, not moving too quickly; at 36 years old, his stamina was quite depleted at this point.
Gotze dipped his left shoulder, and as Perry moved to the right, he suddenly flicked the ball to the right, evading Perry's interception and bursting into the penalty area. Facing Davis, Gotze calmly pushed the ball towards the far corner, and the ball once again slipped through Davis's grasp!
4:1!!! Cambridge United scored another goal!
