Others always believed that Cambridge United's victories against powerful teams were just a stroke of luck or clever tricks.
This time, Huang Hao intended to show those who underestimated Cambridge United a glimpse of Cambridge United's proud youth storm!
On January 24th, Fratton Park Stadium was packed to the brim.
Although it was winter, the temperature in Portsmouth reached 11 degrees Celsius. A gentle breeze caressed the face, which was very pleasant.
In the away team's locker room, Cambridge United's players were eager to show their skills.
This team, accustomed to facing challenges, under Huang Hao's guidance, showed an extremely strong fighting spirit whenever they encountered a strong opponent.
Looking at the players' expectant expressions, Huang Hao smiled contentedly.
"Today is destined to be another tough match, and like you, I'm full of anticipation!"
"Remember everything Darren told you; don't let our efforts these past few days go to waste."
"You know, my girlfriend is already suspicious that I have a new lover because I haven't been home all night."
With a roar, the players never expected Huang Hao to say something like this before the game, and they burst into laughter!
The last trace of tension was also blown away by Huang Hao's humorous remarks!
"Let's talk seriously, the more expensive the player, the more they cherish their body, especially at the most crucial moment of the League."
"So, you know."
Huang Hao's signature mischievous smile once again appeared on his face.
"Let Portsmouth's stars feel what Cambridge United's toughness is like."
Huang Hao waved his fist at everyone. "We must reduce the opponent's chances of crossing, so that their big oafs have no chance!"
Darren was a little worried and reminded them again.
Huang Hao turned to look at Darren,
"Old man, I like your word 'big oafs'!"
Darren was a little embarrassed by Huang Hao's praise and subconsciously scratched his head. Having been with Huang Hao for a long time, it seemed his own vocabulary had also become less formal.
"Alright! Get ready to go!"
With a wave of Huang Hao's hand, all the players stood up, ready to head to the battlefield.
"Cambridge United!!!" Captain Pantilimon shouted the familiar slogan.
"Fearless!!!"
With that, the players walked towards the player tunnel, embarking on their journey to conquer Fratton Park.
Huang Hao looked at the players' backs with doting eyes, full of pride!
Kanu stood in front of the ball, looking at the unfamiliar faces on the opposite side, truly unable to understand how such a group of people could have caused trouble for Tottenham.
When the head referee Craig blew the whistle to start the game, Kanu immediately kicked the ball to Diop behind him and ran towards Cambridge United's penalty area.
In the 8th minute of the match, Cambridge United won a free kick on the right side of the penalty area.
O'Connor chose to shoot directly. The ball successfully went over the wall, but it lacked power after dropping, and the English national goalkeeper James easily caught the ball.
In the 12th minute of the first half, Vardy broke through to the left byline of Portsmouth's penalty area and crossed. Kaboul accurately judged the ball's trajectory and directly kicked it out of the penalty area.
Sun Jihai headed the ball directly to May beside him on the outside. May and Sun Jihai tried to open up Portsmouth's defensive gaps through passing. Johnson slowly pressed forward. Facing May, who had his back to him, he never had an angle to steal the ball.
A somewhat annoyed Johnson directly kicked May's ankle. May instantly fell to the ground in pain!
Craig immediately blew his whistle and rushed over. The experienced Johnson immediately started chattering to the referee.
Craig did not show a yellow card. He pressed his hands down, signaling Johnson to control his emotions. Johnson, who had benefited, naturally nodded in agreement repeatedly.
This free kick was in the middle of the center circle and the big penalty area, not within effective shooting range. O'Connor slowly raised his right hand, holding up three fingers. His teammates understood the signal and immediately took their positions according to the pre-match tactical plan.
Seeing his teammates in position, O'Connor retreated slightly, then quickly kicked the ball towards the right side of the goal!
Although Hreidarsson and Kanu had Lewandowski sandwiched in the middle, the nimble Lewandowski still got to the first ball!
Kanu was looking at Lewandowski with some surprise when he unexpectedly saw a young man in a Cambridge United uniform quickly emerge from the crowd in front!
The newcomer was none other than Cambridge United's attacking defender, Paul Smith, who had just recovered from injury!
Smith, who had gotten there first, was now all alone!
He swung his right foot in a full circle, and as soon as Lewan's pass landed, he blasted it directly towards the goal!!!
James was half-crouched on the ground, completely unresponsive!!!
0:1!!!
Cambridge United scored in Fratton Park Stadium just 15 minutes into the first half, opening Portsmouth's goal!
Kanu was stunned!
What the hell?!
His team was behind?
In Fratton Park Stadium, with over 50,000 people, only a small group of fans behind Portsmouth's goal were cheering, while other areas were silent!
The seemingly weak Cambridge United had their second shot after the start, and both were from set pieces!
Kanu silently ran to the center circle, a surge of anger rising in his heart. Alright! It seems I need to show you some color!
In the 15th minute of the first half, Diarra threw a throw-in from the left side of the front field, directly to Kanu beside him. At this time, Kanu was still some distance from the goal, so he passed the ball to Diop in the middle.
Diop made a long pass, and the ball was accurately transferred to Lovren on the right side of the field!
Lovren feigned a breakthrough to the byline to cross, but instead passed the ball back to Johnson, who had surged forward. Johnson shot a cross!
Kanu jumped at the far post and headed the ball towards the goal!
The ball grazed the left post and flew out of bounds!
An annoyed Kanu angrily waved his fist! Damn it! That should have been a brilliant goal!
In the 16th minute, Kranjcar took a free kick from the right side of the front field. Kanu got the ball outside the penalty area, passed it with Crouch, and then dribbled into the penalty area!
Three Cambridge United defenders were lined up in the penalty area!
May directly blocked Kanu's first cross!
After regaining the ball, Kanu did not recklessly choose to continue, but instead passed the ball directly to the top of the penalty area, giving it to Davis!
Davis stopped the ball with his left foot, then shot with his right foot towards the right side of the goal!
The ball went slightly over the goal!
After conceding a goal, Portsmouth gradually began to dominate the game, launching continuous attacks into Cambridge United's territory!
In the 18th minute, Paul Smith got the ball in the backfield. Just as he was about to wait for a teammate to surge forward, Diarra directly stole the ball from behind him!
Diarra, Crouch, and Kranjcar instantly formed a triangular position at the front of Cambridge United's penalty area. After two passes, the ball was successfully passed to Kranjcar in the penalty area!
Kranjcar dribbled the ball directly to the left side of the six-yard box and shot towards the far corner of the goal!
The ball slid directly across the goalmouth, rolling out of bounds just past the right post! After Cambridge United scored, they hardly had any more chances to attack Portsmouth's penalty area!
The battleground between the two sides was mainly centered around the midfield and Cambridge United's penalty area.
Until the 40th minute of the first half, Portsmouth still hadn't found a way to break through Cambridge United's goal!
Kanu was gradually getting annoyed. These seemingly unknown youngsters were fierce in their tackles and tight in their defense, making him and his teammates return empty-handed time and again!
Cambridge United once again kicked the ball out of their penalty area. Diarra intercepted the ball in midfield and passed it to Kranjcar in front. Kranjcar faced two Cambridge United players defending together, turned, and passed the ball to Diop in the middle.
Diop once again displayed his passing prowess, and the ball flew over the heads of Cambridge United players again, obediently landing at Johnson's feet on the right wing!
Warren got to the first ball and headed it out!
Diop got the ball outside the penalty area and took a long shot, but the ball was once again blocked by May!
Davis got the ball outside and passed it to Linwo on the left wing!
Linwo dribbled the ball towards the byline and was directly tackled by Lovren, who kicked the ball out of bounds!
Kranjcar took the corner kick, and the ball was once again kicked out by the united Cambridge United players!
After several scrambles, the ball was passed to Kranjcar on the right side of the front field again!
Kranjcar looked like he was going to cross directly. Sun Jihai immediately jumped up, trying to block Kranjcar's cross!
As a result, Kranjcar quickly put down his swinging right foot and gently poked the ball to Lovren in front!
Just like that, the unmarked Lovren broke through to the byline, almost hugging the byline, and crossed the ball into Cambridge United's penalty area!
Warren, who was out of position defending Kanu, saw him about to jump and frantically grabbed Kanu's jersey!
However, it still failed to stop Kanu from jumping!
It was as if a wall had flown up in front of Warren. Kanu almost directly faced Pantilimon, slamming the incoming ball heavily into Cambridge United's goal!!!
1:1!!! Portsmouth's furious attack in the first half finally paid off!
Kanu lived up to expectations, equalizing the score for Portsmouth!
After scoring, Kanu desperately broke free from all his teammates who tried to stop him from celebrating, and Domineering ly rushed to the sideline. He suddenly stretched his crossed arms behind him with force, then slid on his knees!!!
His teammates instantly surrounded Kanu in the center. At this moment, he was Portsmouth's god!
Fratton Park Stadium finally erupted in celebration at the end of the first half!
Kranjcar took the corner kick, and Diop in the middle headed the ball with a diving header!
The ball once again flew over the crossbar and out of bounds!
Craig then blew the whistle for the end of the first half.
Portsmouth's storm-like attack had to come to an end.
Huang Hao stood by the player tunnel, high-fiving and encouraging each of the Cambridge United lads before heading back to the away team's locker room.
Upon entering the locker room, Huang Hao immediately clapped for the players. Then he gave a thumbs up to these young men.
"You guys look really cool when you defend seriously!"
The somewhat disheveled players, hearing Huang Hao's words, all smiled wryly.
"Alright! No complaining! At least not now, hahahaha!"
Huang Hao directly shut down the players' complaints.
"Many people criticize our team for only knowing how to attack and not how to defend. I really want to drag these people over and let them see your excellent performance!"
"The second half will only be more challenging than the first. As the game time decreases, Portsmouth will only attack more fiercely. This is also your opportunity!"
Huang Hao's eyes gradually revealed a fierce gaze.
"Remember, we didn't come here to practice offense and defense with Portsmouth!"
"You must find every way to seize every opportunity and deliver a fatal blow to them!"
"Portsmouth's defenders aren't that scary, are they, Paul?"
Facing Huang Hao's sudden question, Smith quickly stood up and responded, "That's right!"
"Alright, Smith, you're not a student, why are you standing up?"
Amidst everyone's laughter, Smith awkwardly sat down. The players' tense nerves also relaxed a lot.
"If one person can't mark Kanu, then two can. Remember Darren's words, and teach these big oafs a good lesson!"
The soundproofing at Fratton Park Stadium was good, otherwise, if Kanu heard such words, he might directly rush into the away team's locker room to have a word with Huang Hao.