Chapter 128: The First Victory

"Tell them to intensify the attack! Use offense to suppress and neutralize their counter-attacks. If we can score a second goal early, this match is ours!" Cheng Jingang said to his assistant coach, his face dark. "As for that seventeen-year-old kid, tell Zhang Baofeng and Liu Cheng that they are being far too polite. The opponent is just a youngster with no professional experience!"

The assistant coach immediately relayed the instructions. Cheng Jingang checked his watch; thirty minutes had passed in the second half. If they continued to sit back and be pummeled, it would only drain his players' stamina further. It would be better to exhaust that energy on the attack; at least it would keep their morale high.

Cheng Jingang’s reasoning was sound, but unfortunately, the passive state on the pitch could not be reversed simply by decree. The Qingdao Haifeng players were now in a frenzy. With no way out, they unleashed immense power, suppressing the mighty Changchun Yatai to the point where they had no ability to counter.

There is no logic in football. A team that has fully unleashed its spirit, forgotten its fatigue, and reached a state of extreme excitement can absolutely dismantle a team that is stronger on paper but suffering from a decline in morale. Moreover, Changchun Yatai’s dominance was only relative to the China League One; the gap between them and other teams was not as large as the standings suggested.

On the sidelines, Cheng Jingang felt as if he might vomit blood from frustration. His original plan had been solid—Qingdao Haifeng's offensive capabilities shouldn't have posed a major threat to Changchun Yatai. Using fast counter-attacks while the opponent was forced to push forward was an effective strategy. But now, his own defensive line was in jeopardy, forcing his players to focus entirely on defense, leaving them no time to consider counter-attacks.

And the cause of all this was that two-meter-two tall kid, Long Bisheng, who had just been substituted onto the field!

Since when did China produce a center-forward like this? His movements were still raw, and he clearly had no prior professional experience, but based solely on his height and natural talent, he was already exerting such influence. What would happen once he truly matured?

Cheng Jingang watched as Long Bisheng leaped high in the penalty area. Although only sixteen centimeters taller than Liu Cheng, he jumped a full head and a half higher—and then headed the ball toward the goal. Cheng knew Liu Cheng well, and he knew how excellent Liu’s jumping ability was. But jumping wasn't just about height; Yao Ming was twenty centimeters taller than Jordan, yet he couldn't jump as high. Sometimes, excessive height is a burden.

But this guy possessed both a two-meter frame and the jumping ability of someone over 1.80 meters. Faced with a striker like this, how many defenders could compete for a header? On this merit alone, he would have no trouble establishing himself in the league.

Cheng Jingang felt his eyelids twitching, while Cai Sheng’s eyes were already crinkling with joy. Although they were still trailing by a goal, he was no longer afraid. At this rate, an equalizer was only a matter of time. Even if they had bad luck and couldn't equalize today, once they understood Long Bisheng’s true capabilities and the teammates grew accustomed to him, how could they not win future matches? None of the upcoming teams seemed to have particularly outstanding central defenders. With Long Bisheng charging into the penalty area, and other players seizing one or two opportunities, wouldn't winning be effortless?

With Qingdao Haifeng’s actual strength, they shouldn't have been languishing in a relegation battle. The only reason they were in this position was the lack of a potent striker. Now, although they still didn't have a prolific goalscorer, they had someone who could smash the opponent's defense into pieces. Facing a shattered defense, how could the others fail to score?

Cai Sheng was right. Five minutes later, Qingdao Haifeng equalized. After receiving a through ball from Liu Jian outside the penalty area, Lü Baozi feinted past a defender and scored. While the goal had little to do with Long Bisheng directly, it was his presence that drew the vast majority of the defense, allowing Lü to score with such ease.

The final score was 1-1. Qingdao Haifeng managed to scrape a point from Changchun Yatai’s "Devil’s Home," but their situation remained dire. Including this match, they were now nine games without a win, and Dalian Botao’s victory had widened the gap to the relegation zone to seven points.

With only nine rounds left in the league, chasing seven points was a daunting task, especially for a Qingdao Haifeng side that hadn't tasted victory in nine games.

Yet, despite the difficulty, the Qingdao Haifeng players were full of confidence after this match. During training after returning to Qingdao, the training ground rang with long-absent, cheerful laughter.

Previously, even though the atmosphere had been harmonious, the winless streak had dampened everyone's spirits. Even "Brother Baozi," usually the most talkative, had lost his spark. Why? Because they saw no hope for victory. Even though they hadn't won the last match, they had suppressed a second-place powerhouse on the road. Facing Changchun Yatai’s two excellent center-backs, Long Bisheng had performed so well; against other defenders, he would be even more effective. While his direct scoring ability wasn't top-tier, his presence alone boosted the offensive capability of the entire team by several levels.

He was like a living saint on the pitch! He helped improve the team's offense without stealing the glory, and gave everyone else more opportunities to shine. Looking at his goofy demeanor, he probably wouldn't even think to hog the spotlight. Such a person was a treasure—a treasure better than a striker who scored all the goals himself.

In the next match, Qingdao Haifeng would host Chengdu Jiuniu, a mid-table team. Ending their winless streak at home would be ideal. That match was a great opportunity to make an impression; it was rumored that some big shots from the main company would be in attendance. If they played well, wouldn't securing a better contract be easy?

Suddenly, in the eyes of his teammates, Long Bisheng became incredibly endearing.

In the twenty-second round of the league, Qingdao Haifeng hosted Chengdu Jiuniu.

Chengdu Jiuniu were currently in a state of apathy. While they hadn't mathematically secured their safety, they were virtually impossible to relegate, and the gap to the top three was massive. Beyond competing for a better ranking to earn more TV broadcast revenue, they had little to strive for.

In this match, Long Bisheng made his first start in a professional league. He played for eighty minutes before being replaced by the foreign striker Ricardo. When he left the field, the score was 2-0 in favor of the home side.

Lü Baozi had scored in three consecutive matches, and he opened the scoring in this game. However, Brother Baozi felt quite ashamed afterward. In the twenty-third minute, Long Bisheng provided a beautiful header to captain Liu Ziyan, who had cut into the penalty area. Facing the keeper from a tight angle, Liu calmly knocked the ball to the other side of the goal. Lü Baozi, facing an almost empty net, actually kicked the ball directly at an opponent's defender. If he hadn't reacted quickly to poke the rebound into the net, the man who had already squandered two scoring chances would have had no face to show the local fans.

Lü Baozi was the undisputed choice for the front line because his individual skill could create opportunities, but his finishing had never been consistent—otherwise, he wouldn't have gone through a five-game goal drought. Scoring in three consecutive rounds was a first in his professional career.

The second goal came in the second half. An opponent's rushed defensive header landed right at the feet of Huang Zhenghong at the edge of the penalty area. Unmarked, he unleashed a beautiful long-range shot that pierced through the crowd and flew into the corner of the goal. Huang was ecstatic—it was the first goal of his professional career!

2-0. The Qingdao Haifeng players celebrated wildly after the final whistle. Nine games without a win! What a long nine games it had been! And for Long Bisheng, it was the first victory of his professional career.

Resting on the sidelines, Long Bisheng was pulled onto the pitch by his ecstatic teammates. They lifted the ninety-five-kilogram giant into the air. Everyone knew that although Long hadn't scored or tallied an assist, this clean 2-0 victory wouldn't have been possible without him.

The fans were also in a frenzy. They hadn't seen their team win in a long time. At this moment, the victory was precious to both the team and the supporters. With this win, there was real hope for avoiding relegation!

Although the fans voted Lü Baozi as the Man of the Match for opening the scoring, during the celebratory dinner afterward, Long Bisheng was the one receiving the most toasts. If Cai Sheng hadn't intervened, Long would have been drunk by his crazy teammates.

Even so, Long Bisheng had been forced to down several glasses of beer and left the venue midway, his face flushed red.

Stepping out of the restaurant, the boisterous sounds of his teammates drifted from behind. Long Bisheng took a deep breath, the cool night air helping him calm down.

My performance in this match was still not quite good enough... Although I helped the team's offense significantly, I didn't manage to score, and I missed a few good opportunities. In the upcoming matches, I must improve my ability to finish in front of the goal.