In the second leg of the UEFA Champions League 18 final, Ajax and Arsenal were in a stalemate.
Both teams were unable to create danger in each other's penalty area, but Ajax's long shots from the periphery were obviously more threatening.
Wenger clenched his fists and hoped that time would pass faster!
As long as the score didn't change, the more time passed, the more anxious Jax would be, and the more space Arsenal would have to attack, and the more space Arsenal would have to attack.
But time would not pass faster. It was not a good idea to let Ajax shoot so recklessly.
What if?
What if Ajax was really lucky and broke through the goal with a world-class shot? What would Arsenal do?
Vieira gestured to his teammates and ordered the defensive players to fight outside the penalty area to increase their enthusiasm and be more fierce!
If they could not expose the space in the penalty area for Ajax to shoot from behind, they could only restrict Ajax in this way.
They were very wary of Qin Xiong's straight pass skill, and could not easily let the rear defensive line press on.
Before the end of the first half, Henrique dribbled the ball and broke through the end line before cutting inside the penalty area. He completed a beautiful one-two pass with Ljungberg. Unfortunately, his shooting angle was too narrow and he ended up with a close-range volley that hit the side netting.
In injury stoppage time, Ajax received a free kick on the left side of the front field. Lauren knocked Snede to the ground before Snede could receive the ball.
Jax purposely changed the free kick arrangement to target the opponents.
The left side facing the goal was given to Snede, the right side was given to Van Der Vaart, and the middle was given to Qin Xiong.
Snede's free kick was an anti-aircraft attack.
After this free kick attack, the first half ended.
"0: 0 in the first half. The total score is 1: 1 for Arsenal and 1: 1 for Ajax. Both teams played more conservatively in the first half and did not create very good scoring opportunities. However, Ajax is ahead of Arsenal in terms of shooting data and goal scoring data. It looks like Arsenal is planning to win the ticket to the top eight of the Champions League with defense."
The players of the two teams returned to the locker room. Comain encouraged the players to play better in the second half. There were no changes to the tactics. He firmly believed in the current Ajax. This set of play was the most balanced with offense and defense.
Moreover, Ajax did have a chance to break the goal with two or three long shots. If it were not for Lehmann's outstanding performance, an ordinary goalkeeper would not have been able to turn the situation around.
In the second half, the two sides switched sides and fought again.
Ajax and Arsenal did not change their offensive and defensive stances, and the situation remained in a deadlock.
Qin Xiong was still actively creating opportunities for the team, but as Arsenal's interceptions in the midfield and backfield increased, Ajax received more and more free kicks.
In the 51st minute, Ibrahimovic almost fell to the ground after being pulled by Silva with his back to the ball. The referee ruled that Arsenal had committed a foul. The home fans erupted in dissatisfaction, thinking that the referee's penalty was too harsh.
Of course, the English fans, who were used to the lax penalty standards in the Premier League, naturally turned a blind eye to this kind of action that seemed to be a foul but was not out of line.
Qin Xiong stood in front of the free kick and waited for the opponent to set up a human wall. He took a deep breath, ran up, and fully exerted his strength to shoot!
The football that was shot out by him hit Lauren and bounced off. Although Lauren used his arms to protect his chest, he still fell to the ground as if he had been hit hard. Qin Xiong's shooting power was too strong.
Snede raised his hand to signal for Lauren to handball. Qin Xiong did not think it was a handball, so he appeared very calm and immediately went to defend.
Lauren lay on the ground, and Galasek had no choice but to kick the ball out of the sideline. Then he waited for about 30 seconds before Lauren stood up again. The referee made sure he was okay, and then he kicked off again.
Arsenal returned the ball to Ajax in a very competitive sportsmanship.
After another three minutes, Vieira tripped Van Der Vaart when he intercepted van Der Vaart, and the referee gave Ajax a free kick.
Van Der Vaart personally took the shot. He shot the free kick over the top of the human wall. He wanted to hit a near corner, but the football's arc was too big, and it was less than half a meter away from the goal near the goalpost and flew out of the end line.
The Ajax fans in the away team's stands had mixed emotions. They were nervous, excited, and expectant, but they still enthusiastically cheered for the team.
Wenger was a little uneasy on the sidelines.
Why? Why? Why?
Why was Ajax still not in a mess?
Why didn't they press on to attack?
There was almost half an hour left in the game.
Pressing on to attack would not necessarily create a chance!
It would take many, many efforts to create a goal.
"Jax, attack! Attack! Attack! Attack!
Give Arsenal a chance to kill the game, beat Ajax into the abyss, step on your corpses, and advance to the top eight of the Champions League with his head held high!
Ajax might be young, but most of the players, except for Qin Xiong, had experienced the baptism of last season's Champions League.
Even Snede, who was promoted this season, had a place in the Netherlands national team despite not having the experience of a key battle in the Champions League. He had the experience of playing in a game, which was also a very high-level game with a lot of pressure.
And Qin Xiong?
He had the same calm mentality.
He had been relied on by his companions since he was a child. He knew what kind of role he should play in the team and what kind of mentality he should use to face the game.
I've been very calm since I was a child. How can I be in a mess?
Even if time was running out, Ajax methodically organized the attack and used their planned strategy to attack Arsenal's goal step by step. This in itself represented their maturity in temperament and the improvement of their psychological quality.
In the 64th minute, Ibrahimovic passed the ball back to Qin Xiong in the middle. Qin Xiong took advantage of the situation and dribbled the ball forward. He saw the hope of bypassing Vieira, but when the football passed by Vieira, Vieira's center of gravity could not keep up due to his previous attention on Ibrahimovic. He stretched out his leg to block Qin Xiong's advance and deliberately used his arm to hit Qin Xiong's body.
This time, Qin Xiong fell to the ground and did not immediately get up. He felt that his arm seemed to fall apart and needed to slow down.
As he held his arm on the ground and gritted his teeth to endure the pain, Ibrahimovic rushed over and pressed the football on the spot where Vieira had fouled. The referee had already whistled.
After setting up the football, Ibrahimovic leaned over and patted Qin Xiong on the shoulder. He asked seriously, "How is it? Are you okay? "
Qin Xiong gritted his teeth. His expression was stubborn and ferocious as he replied, "It's okay. I'll be fine soon."
He stood up again and moved his shoulder. He felt that it had almost been dislocated just now.
After moving a few times in a row and feeling that there was no problem, Qin Xiong stood in front of the football and raised his leg to make a quick kick. Silva immediately stretched out his leg in front of him to block. Qin Xiong did not kick the ball out. He stretched out his hand to signal to the referee: The opponent is not close enough!
The referee pointed at Silva to warn the opponent and then let the Arsenal players retreat.
Lehmann directed his teammates to form a human wall and then moved to stand close to the far goal post. He looked dignified as he prepared to save.
Ajax's teammates quickly stood in position. There were those in the penalty area waiting for a rebound shot in the chaos, those outside the penalty area who controlled the outside landing point to prepare for a second attack, and Galasek beside Qin Xiong as a possible short pass to confuse the opponent's defensive attention.
Qin Xiong's gaze was extremely cold as he stared at Arsenal's goal. At this moment, Highbury was filled with boos.
The Arsenal fans probably could not stand Qin Xiong's behavior of falling after being fouled by Vieira. The concept of English football was to bravely collide and confront.
It was also possible that they were using the boos to disturb Qin Xiong.
The Ajax fans were very quiet in the away team's stands. They watched Qin Xiong nervously and expectantly.
This was the talented new star that Ajax loved and chased after!
He began his run-up. He stood firmly with his feet supported and his body slightly tilted. The surface of his right foot was straight. When he swung his leg, it contained incomparable strength.
Bang!
The football flew up rapidly. After leaving the ground, it rose diagonally in a nearly straight line and went forward!
Arsenal's human wall took off. The direction of the ball's flight was still at Lauren.
But this time, Lauren seemed to have taken off too late. When the football flew over his head, he was a beat slower and jumped to the maximum height.
Lehmann was shocked when he saw the direction of the football's flight.
He quickly moved to the right side of the goal. When the football passed over the human wall, it suddenly changed its trajectory rapidly!
Lehmann gritted his teeth and pounced to the right.
The German goalkeeper, who had made at least two world-class saves in this game, had already closed his eyes in despair during the pouncing process.
He knew in his heart that when he pounced, it was already too late!
After the football fell rapidly, it fell into Arsenal's goal!
The football that was entangled with the net and spun violently inside the goal changed the situation in Highbury!
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