There was no change in the second half of the match; Tajikistan still parked the bus, trying not to let the score widen, waiting for the China Team to make a mistake and bring variables to the game.
The China Team also didn't launch a massive offensive; they still played steadily, as getting 3 points was the most important goal.
In the 55th minute of the match, Liu Yang successfully stopped the opponent's breakthrough on the wing, and the China Team launched one of its few quick counterattacks.
Gao Nuo, following the coach's instructions, called for the ball on the right side of the front field, received a pass from Wu Xi, played a one-two with Xu Xin, and moved the ball towards the right byline.
Right midfielder Liu Binbin made a run into the channel, drawing away a defender and creating space for Gao Nuo to break through, while full-back Deng Hanwen lingered behind Gao Nuo, ready to receive or switch the play at any moment.
Midfielders Wu Xi and Xu Xin pushed up appropriately, while Wu Lei and Dai Weijun on the left moved towards the center, ready to pounce on the ball.
This was coach Jankovic's tactic: two forwards hugging the wings, forming a triangular attack with the winger and central midfielder on one side, while players on the weak side moved towards the center, using crosses from the byline to deal with Tajikistan's dense defense.
Gao Nuo successfully broke through and crossed, but unfortunately, neither Wu Lei, who was attacking the center, nor Dai Weijun, who was at the far post, managed to touch the ball.
In the 68th minute of the match, despite attacking both wings, there was no breakthrough. Gao Nuo gave Wu Lei a look, then dropped back to the attacking midfielder position.
Xu Xin saw Gao Nuo reach out for the ball and didn't hesitate, passing it directly to him.
Wu Lei on the left saw that Gao Nuo had successfully turned after receiving the ball, and he immediately sprinted, making a diagonal run into the penalty area.
As soon as Gao Nuo turned, he saw Wu Lei's movement, put power into his left foot, and played a half-height through ball straight into the box.
The defenders, who had been focused on the wings, were clearly flustered by this sudden through ball, which passed between two central defenders.
Wu Lei successfully shook off his marker, and facing the incoming half-height ball, he jumped while running, controlled the ball with the inside of his left thigh, then poked it with the tip of his right foot, and the ball went in.
The China Team led Tajikistan 2:0.
The goal-scorer Wu Lei swept away the gloom in his heart, shouting towards the stands, and together with his teammates who rushed over, waved to the fans.
Coach Jankovic's eyes lit up when he saw Gao Nuo's through ball. If Gao Nuo wasn't just having a flash of brilliance and could maintain this passing standard, then his tactics could become much richer.
With a two-goal lead, the China Team strengthened its midfield control, withstood Tajikistan's counterattacks, and maintained the 2:0 score until the end.
Having successfully won the first match, Gao Nuo, despite not scoring, received the highest rating, and his ability to create chances on the field was unanimously praised.
Jankovic stated, "The starting striker of a top team not only possesses the well-known ability to score goals; in Gao Nuo, I see many more possibilities."
Captain Wu Xi mentioned Gao Nuo in a post-match interview: "This kid is the core of our National Football Team for the next 10 years. I look forward to him wearing the captain's armband."
Erik ten Hag, far away in Manchester, also answered a reporter's question: "It's natural for Gao to perform well on the international stage. I believe he will score very soon, and I hope he can go further with his National Team."
The opening victory boosted the National Football Team's morale. It must be said that the opponents in the group stage were not strong. Besides host Qatar having the home advantage, the next opponent, Lebanon, was also a weak team.
Luck in the draw is also part of strength, for the next two group stage matches.
In the first match, they easily defeated Lebanon 3:0. Gao Nuo came off for a rest in the 60th minute, scoring a header and his first goal for his National Team.
In the second match, they narrowly beat Qatar 1:0. Before the match, both teams had 6 points and had already secured their qualification spots. Based on the results of other groups, qualifying as second in the group meant facing a weaker opponent in the Round of 16. So, Qatar played a conservative game, and the China Team didn't push too hard either. Gao Nuo still came off for a rest in the 60th minute, and in the end, thanks to a long-range shot from Wu Xi, they won all three group stage matches.
The Round of 16 will take place in a week, allowing the China Team to get ample rest and make adjustments.
Jankovic experimented, with Gao Nuo appearing in the attacking midfielder position in the match against Qatar. Although the team's ball control improved, it was difficult for other players to find space, and Gao Nuo had limited passing options.
This gave Jankovic a headache. Gao Nuo would find space, but the ball couldn't reach him, and when Gao Nuo passed, there was no open space. After a thorough discussion with the coaching staff, they abandoned the idea of Gao Nuo playing as an attacking midfielder.
A few days later, the China Team's next opponent was confirmed: Bahrain.
On the China Team's training ground, Gao Nuo juggled the ball while thinking. He didn't care who the next opponent was; he only knew that his performance wasn't good enough. He could perform a 'big four' (four goals) against higher-level defenses in the Premier League, so why couldn't he perform well against these weaker Asian teams?
Even after the extra training session ended, Gao Nuo couldn't figure it out. Back at the hotel, before virtual training, he couldn't help but complain to the system: "System, why do I find playing for the National Team so difficult?"
A mechanical voice responded: "host, the difference between a club and a National Team is significant. It's not just you; based on the data I've collected, many star players experience this problem."
Gao Nuo hadn't expected the system to know even this, and he continued to ask, "Then tell me, why is this?"
The system was silent for a moment, clearly analyzing the data. "Your personal attitude is not the issue, so it must be due to objective factors.
Most of your career has been spent at a club. You train and play together with your coach and teammates, and your tacit agreement accumulates continuously.
However, in the National Team, the team's management, the coach's tactics, and the teammates are all very different from before. Plus, this is your first time being selected, and you are not familiar with the entire environment and system. Before you fully adapt, there will indeed be many influences."
Gao Nuo felt the system was talking nonsense and asked directly, "Don't say so much, just get to the point. What should I do?"
The system's voice remained unchanged: "Relax, do your job in your position, don't handle the ball according to your club experience, and observe your teammates' habits more."
Gao Nuo let out a long breath: "So, it's just about continuing to build chemistry, huh? Easier said than done."
It's like being used to driving a G-Wagen, constantly charging forward, and suddenly being told to drive a Wuling Hongguang. While you can still drive it, and it can still be fast, if you don't change your driving style, the Wuling will fall apart on the spot.
Gao Nuo's current dilemma is how to drive this 'divine car' that is the Wuling Hongguang both fast and well. The system genuinely had no solution, leaving Gao Nuo to enjoy his troubles alone.
