Parallel universe, Blue Star World, Da Xia Country, July 2009.
Sui City Tianhe Stadium.
On the giant screen.
Da Xia U19 vs. Wo Country U19
Score:
0 : 2
Match Time: 79 : 02 : 21
“I’ve been reborn?”
“I’m back two years ago, back to this match?”
Ye Cheng sat on the bench, staring incredulously at his hands. He lifted his foot.
“My foot… it can move!”
He looked up at the stands.
Sweat streamed from his forehead.
“This isn’t a dream…”
Ye Cheng’s thoughts churned.
It was a scorching summer day, and even at night, Sui City’s intense heat was almost causing the fans in the stands to suffer collective heatstroke.
“Damn it, which idiot arranged a July match in Sui City?”
“It’s those good-for-nothing Football Association officials again!”
“Football Association, you idiots, idiots, idiots, big idiots!”
“We’re already down two-nil, why are we still playing five defenders? And still parking the bus with five defenders! Why are you parking the bus?!”
“Damn you! Refund!”
In the stands.
The fans were vocal but not violent.
They showed strong endurance and high quality.
Just then.
From some corner of the stands, a fan shouted, “Bring on a striker!”
Yes.
They were already down two-nil.
With only ten minutes left in the match.
At this point, what was the point of playing a 5-4-1 and parking the bus?
Instantly.
The entire stadium echoed with calls of “Bring on a striker.”
This made Li Tie, the head coach of the Da Xia Country U19 National Youth Team, at the edge of the field, feel a little dazed, as if recalling the scene when the entire stadium used to chant “Bring on Li Tie.”
However…
It really seemed to be time for a substitution now.
Li Tie looked at the bench.
Bringing on a striker at this moment would most likely be to make someone a scapegoat.
Because Li Tie had no intention of letting his players continue to attack.
What a joke?
The scores he had bet on before the match were 【0:2】 and 【0:3】.
Before the match, he told his players that although this was a home game, the strength of Da Xia football was far inferior to that of Wo Country football.
So.
The chances of winning were slim.
But if they pushed forward to attack.
They might very well concede a large score to the opponent.
At that time, everyone would be affected by public opinion from the National Football Team fans.
It was better to defend stubbornly; if they were lucky, they’d get a nil-nil draw, and if not, they wouldn’t lose too badly.
Now it seemed.
His plan was about to succeed.
Breaking down a compact defense was, after all, a world-class problem.
Even with the Wo Country National Youth Team facing the Da Xia Country National Youth Team, despite the significant difference in strength.
The Wo Country National Youth Team had only scored two goals.
And now…
The fans in the stadium were loudly chanting “Bring on a striker” out of dissatisfaction.
So, bring one on.
There were strikers on the bench.
And putting one on now… would most likely make him a scapegoat.
Since it was about being a scapegoat.
Of course, he couldn't use those players who had ‘made arrangements’.
Therefore, Li Tie had only one choice.
On the bench, the one he had hinted at multiple times but who had shown no response… Ye Cheng.
“Ye Cheng, go warm up!”
…
Two years, two nightmarish years.
Two years ago, it was during this match.
Ye Chen came on as a substitute, and with good luck, he scored a goal.
The result…
He offended the head coach, Li Tie—Ye Cheng later learned that Li Tie had bet on a 【0:2】 score for this match, and his goal changed the score to 【1:2】, causing Li Tie to lose a large sum of money.
Afterward, in training.
Li Tie repeatedly ostracized him.
And had someone maliciously slide tackle him during training, leading to his right leg being crippled.
Later, his parents took him to file lawsuits everywhere, but two years later, after a court hearing, they were involved in a car accident…
“Is this heaven giving me another chance?”
Ye Cheng’s eyes flashed with a hint of hatred.
He originally had a happy and complete family.
It was all those villains from the Football Association who caused him such misfortune!
Ding! If you had another chance, would you… score a goal again?
A mechanical voice suddenly appeared in his mind.
Would he?
Ye Cheng gritted his teeth.
A coward?
Collude?
Or be a hero?
“I will make them pay!”
Ye Cheng gritted his teeth and said in his heart.
Ding! Host selection complete…
Strongest Football System… Loading!
System loading complete!
Ding! Host has received a Novice Gift Pack…
Open?
“Open!”
Although Ye Cheng was somewhat stunned by the system’s voice.
He had already experienced rebirth.
A system?
That was no longer surprising.
Ding! Novice Gift Pack opened.
Max-level Heading Ability * 1
Injury Immunity Badge * 1 (Duration: 3 months)
Virtual Training Ground Experience Voucher * 1
Along with a series of system prompts.
Ye Cheng felt as if something had been added to him.
Before his eyes, a virtual light screen appeared.
…
Name: Ye Cheng
Height: 190cm
Weight: 83kg
Overall Rating: 60 (Asian Third-rate)
Note: Historical Superstar: 95-100 (Historical Legacy Player); Superstar: 90-95 (Club Core Player); Continental Class: 85-90 (Absolute Starter for Top Clubs + Absolute Core for Upper-Mid Tier Teams in Top Five Leagues, non-Top Club); First-Class Player: 80-85 (Absolute Starter in Top Five Leagues);
Technical Attributes
Shooting: 60 (Terrible Technique)
Short Passing: 42 (Can you pass accurately?)
Long Passing: 50 (Don’t pass, the fans won’t return the match ball.)
Dribbling: 38 (No words)
Free Kicks: 38 (Airball Specialist)
Ball Control: 44 (Three meters away)
Long Shots: 40 (Do you want to shoot the fans in the second tier stands?)
Heading: 100 (Max Level! Max Level! Max Level!)
Landing Point Prediction: 95 (You are a human radar!)
Positional Sense: 60 (Do you understand how a center forward should play?)
Physical Attributes
Strength: 89 (Strong Contender)
Stamina: 60 (Half-match fitness)
Acceleration: 65 (First three steps are not bad)
Reactions: 65 (Turns like an aircraft carrier)
Balance: 88 (At least not easy to fall)
Jumping: 89 (Vertical jump, feet 90cm off the ground)
Mental Attributes
Aggression: 85 (Even center-backs fear you)
Willpower: 93 (More boos, more ferocious)
Big Match Performance: 88 (Always explodes in key matches)
Teamwork: 40 (You’re a ball hog!)
Leadership: 60 (Captaincy is not for you)
…
Ye Cheng stared intently at the 【Heading】 attribute.
He was actually a tall and strong center forward to begin with, meaning he originally relied on his heading ability to make a living.
Before this, his heading attribute was definitely the best among all his technical abili ties.
But…
It could never have been 100!
A rating of 100.
That was a maximum rating.
Max-level heading.
How powerful would that be?
Ye Cheng had been playing football for over a decade.
He knew very well that professional football relied heavily on talent, and a striker with max-level heading ability.
Even with a current rating of only 60, it was enough to establish himself in professional football.
What’s more…
This was still just a National Youth Team.
He looked at Li Tie.
This time… you will pay the price!
Ye Cheng stood up, put on his warm-up bib, and went to the warm-up area.
Ding! Side quest triggered: From this moment on, be a hero!
Mission Objective: Turn the match around! Disrupt Li Tie’s scheme!