Li Ang's gesture conveyed two meanings.
One was to wait for an opportunity to attack and strike Roma's counterattack!
The other was to protect the flanks!
Li Ang studied Spalletti's tactics very thoroughly. When attacking, the Roma team often tried to pass more direct passes, especially in the ribs between the center back and the full back. This was the Roma team's sharpest way to break through the attack.
Although Li Ang did not think that Spalletti's team would pose a threat to Inter Milan, he was very vigilant in the details. There was an old saying in China, "Strategically despise the enemy, tactically value the enemy." This was Li Ang's mentality at this time. He did not want to fail miserably.
As Roma's midfield commander, Pizarro's strength was indeed impressive. As Roma began to strengthen their offense and play the football they were most familiar with, Pizarro's role in the offense began to manifest. He constantly combed Roma's midfield, arranged the organization, and delivered energy to the team's offense.
In the 41st minute of the game, Pizarro and Taddei made a beautiful cooperation. He pretended to pass the ball to Taddei, but turned around and passed the ball to Mancini on the other side.
If the ball had been passed, it would have directly broken through Inter Milan's defense.
"Decaux! He appeared in the most appropriate position! "The commentator, Ferrari, shouted.
At the junction between Zanetti and Samuels, Decaux rushed out from the diagonal. With a beautiful slide tackle, he shoveled Pizarro's direct pass out of the sideline.
Li Ang instructed the team to pay attention to the flanks. His players immediately understood and faithfully carried out the manager's tactical instructions.
On the sidelines, Spalletti jumped up regretfully. He saw clearly that Pizarro's pass was very threatening. Unfortunately, Decaux returned at the most crucial moment to cover the position and destroy Roma's attack.
Later, the Roma team tried to attack again. This time, they tried to tear apart Inter Milan's left flank. However, Evra reacted quickly and destroyed the Roma team's threatening ball.
Spalletti's expression was even more regretful. He was slightly excited. Roma's offensive had shown signs of rising in the past few minutes. Most importantly, they had tried to attack twice in a row, and they had almost torn apart Inter Milan's side. This made Spalletti see hope. Just a little bit, just a little bit!
Perhaps, in the next attack, Rome would be defeated!
*****
Li Ang glanced at the away team technical area and saw Spalletti's regretful expression. He was secretly happy.
Spalletti was now a little excited. He only saw that Roma's offense seemed to be improving, and seemed to be very close to scoring, but he forgot what their opponent, Inter Milan, was most powerful!
Li Ang's Inter Milan team was good at both offense and defense. However, if one had to point out which of the two sides was the most outstanding, Inter Milan's strongest point was their super offensive scoring ability!
In the 45th minute of the game, on the sidelines, the fourth official raised the electronic signboard indicating one minute of injury stoppage time.
Inter Milan made a mistake in the midfield pass. After De Rossi intercepted the ball, he passed the football forward. Roma's team immediately pressed forward. They thought that it was a good opportunity to fight back.
Pizarro controlled the ball. This time, he tried to tear apart Inter Milan's right flank. He sent a straight pass towards the junction between Zanetti and Samuels. At the same time, Mancini suddenly sped up and prepared to rush to the empty space in the flank to receive the ball.
This time, the experienced Zanetti saw through it in advance and intercepted the ball.
After intercepting the ball, Zanetti did not pass the football to Modric or Decaux. He directly kicked the football to the front field. His target was Inter Milan's number seven player, Juan Mata!
At this time, Roma's team had just pressed forward. A large gap appeared in their back half of the field!
Mata began to accelerate when Zanetti passed the ball. The 20-year-old Spanish lad had followed Li Ang to Inter Milan for two and a half seasons. He already had a good understanding with Zanetti!
Mata received Zanetti's precise long pass!
Mata did not stop the football. Instead, he pushed the football forward and then accelerated to chase the ball. This way, he could play to his speed advantage.
Mata dribbled the ball and rushed directly to Roma's half of the field.
*****
Roma's right back, Tonetto, came up to intercept. Roma's team pressed forward. Tonetto and the center back, Macy, were their only defensive players in their own backfield other than the goalkeeper, Doni.
Tonetto rushed toward Mata. He was now considering using a tactical foul to stop Mata if he could not do it. His teammate, Macy, was behind him. He was not the last defensive player. Even if it was a tactical foul, it would at most be a yellow card and would not be stained red.
Mata dribbled the ball very close to Tonetto. He glanced at the interceptor.
Tonetto did not get a chance to foul at all!
Just as the two men were about to meet, Mata suddenly kicked the football out from a diagonal line. Then he accelerated again and bypassed Tonetto.
Tonetto forcibly turned around and wanted to give chase. However, looking at Mata, who was as agile as a rabbit, sweeping past his side, the old Tonetto was a little powerless in the face of Mata, who was running at full speed … By the time he picked up speed, Mata had already surpassed him by two positions and broke into the penalty area!
Spalletti trusted the veteran Tonetto so much that he was superstitious. Li Ang was very puzzled by this, but he was happy to see it. He regarded the old Tonetto's side as one of the shortcomings of Roma's team. He firmly believed that the lively Mata would make Tonetto very difficult.
Now it was time.
*****
"Mata! Mata! Beautiful! It's over! " The commentator, Ferrari, roared excitedly. Such a sharp counterattack and overtaking was always the most exuberant adrenaline secretion.
The Inter Milan fans in the stands were as excited as the commentator. Mata had performed very well after he followed Li Ang to Inter Milan and had been improving. He was one of the most outstanding star players of his age group. Seeing Mata galloping on the left flank had already been called a grand sight in the Meazza Stadium.
Now blocking in front of Mata was Macy, who was the Roma team's last line of defense in front of Roma's goalkeeper, Doni.
Mata did not give Macy a chance to close up and force him to slow down. He suddenly raised his leg to shoot!
Macy immediately fell to the ground to tackle the ball, hoping to touch the football.
His movements were fast enough, but he was still unable to stop the football.
The football had already left the ground before Macy's tackle. It swept past Macy's side and flew straight in front of the goal.
It was a volley with a wide arc from the outside of the instep. The football bypassed Roma's goalkeeper, Doni's ten fingers and fiercely drilled into the snow-white net …
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