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Chapter 368 The Domino Effect

Although for the fans of Hoffenheim and Schalke, the first half was enough to make them nervous, and the courage and attitude of the players on the pitch and the attitude of fighting for every inch of the field were enough to satisfy them, but for the neutral fans, this first half was just a messy first half.

However, after the start of the second half, the situation was still stalemate. Players on both sides wanted to create a threatening attack, but it was difficult to perform in the opponent's layers of interception and fierce pressing from the midfield. On the contrary, it was difficult for the opponent's offense to break through their own defense...

Although both sides have good offensive players like Ibisevic, Long Bisheng, Eduardo, Marin, Kuranyi, Farfan, and Rakitic, most players pay attention to defense and turn the midfield into a huge meat grinder. It is difficult for even the best players to perform well.

"If this continues, maybe we will see a zero-to-zero game, and then the winner will be decided by penalty kicks. The German Cup should be an offensive game, but because of the importance of both sides, the utilitarianism of the game has increased and the charm has decreased...I am not surprised that Schalke can perform like this, because Magath's team has always been so uninspiring, but even Hoffenheim, which is famous for its total defense in the Bundesliga, also performed like this. I can only say that they value it too much. chance."

After watching the game 15 minutes into the second half, the commentator on German TV sighed and said that the opening performance of Hoffenheim and Schalke [-] made him look forward to it, but the disappointment after hope was even more unacceptable.

Long Bisheng was running on the court, but his mind was always thinking about other things. He intuitively felt that it was impossible to continue playing like this. Although no one could tell who would prevail in such a entanglement, Long Bisheng felt that there should be other ways to win.

Hoffenheim's midfielder's technical ability is better than Schalke's, but they have the upper hand in the confrontation. Although this kind of entanglement is not a disadvantage, it can be regarded as using one's own weakness to counter the opponent's strengths. This kind of game is very disadvantageous.

Of course, Rangnick also saw this, but Schalke has been forcing Hoffenheim to fight this kind of attrition war with them since the beginning of the game. If they give in, it is easy for the opponent to directly take advantage and overwhelm their own defense.

You must know that Hoffenheim is not bad in this kind of midfield entanglement and confrontation, so Rangnick will choose to persevere.

Long Bisheng thought for a while while running, but he couldn't think of any good way out.

At this time, the ball was passed to Eduardo's feet. He planned to control the ball, but under the attack of two Schalke players, he couldn't do it. He could only pass the ball to Salihovic who was next to him.

"Damn, I can't hold the ball at all, there is no cushion at all." Eduardo cursed and ran back, Salihovic comforted him: "It doesn't matter, they are the same, as long as we can seize the opportunity first, then it will be fine."

"Do you want to hold the ball for a while longer?" Long Bisheng thought in his heart, "Maybe I can do that."

Rangnick's face became tighter and tighter. Although the current situation is still chaotic, it is quite unfavorable for Hoffenheim, who are used to attacking through the cooperation of several players in the frontcourt, because they are used to relying on the strength of the whole.
Kuranyi, Farfan and Rakitic are all players who can break through with the ball and score on their own. On the contrary, apart from Marin’s excellent ability to counterattack with the ball, other offensive players in Hoffenheim need the cooperation of their teammates.
"What a Magath, you really are not an ordinary person! No wonder Schalke pressed the formation so tightly at the beginning!" For Magath who can think of this method, Rangnick can't help but admire: "Now as long as someone can hold the ball for a while in the midfield and slow down the rhythm, maybe the situation on the field can be changed!
However, Eduardo and Salihovic have tried to do this before, but they all failed to do so under the oppression of the opponent. Although they have excellent skills, their physical fitness is at a disadvantage in such a confrontation!
Just when Rangnick was thinking hard, Hoffenheim launched a counterattack. Eduardo just got the ball near the center circle when he saw Long Bisheng running back to ask him for the ball.

Seeing that the opponent's two midfielders were about to pounce again, Eduardo had no time to think, and immediately passed the ball to Long Bisheng.

He regretted it when it was passed out—in such a dense crowd, even he couldn't get the ball to break through smoothly. Long Bisheng usually can rely on his own body to break through when facing a defender. Could he break through this time?

Of course, Long Bisheng would not have a magical scene of sudden explosion. He just stopped the ball under his feet, then turned sideways, carried the opponent's two players behind him, and constantly controlled the ball under his feet.

With his body and basic skills, the ball protector also has the demeanor of a great emperor, not to mention like a great emperor, at least he looks like Henry!
Two Schalke [-] players were squeezed behind him, trying to get around and poke the ball away from behind. Long Bisheng controlled it very tightly and didn't give the opponent any chance.

It was a rare scene on the court where the ball stopped at a certain place. The players of Schalke [-] were stunned for a moment, and then another player rushed over from the front-three people, can you still control the ball?

However, Long Bisheng did not continue to control the ball, but raised his hand to support the player behind him, and then passed the ball to Salihovic, who was just defending by the Schalke player!
Salihovic took the ball without any defense, and then quickly broke forward. When he saw another Schalke [-] player rushing towards him, he immediately regained his spirits.

After dribbling the ball forward for a while, the crowded midfield has become much empty. A defender...see if I can make a breakthrough!
"Beautiful! Salihovic easily passed Rafinha who was back on defense! Although Rafinha kept passing Salihovic when he broke through, Salihovic got his revenge this time! There is an open field in front of him..."

In the commentator's shout, Salihovic quickly dribbled the ball to the corner of the penalty area, then turned inward, wiped out a defender who hastily returned to the defense, and immediately kicked and shot!

This shot was quick and tricky. Even if Neuer had a good reaction, he could only make a save and watch the ball fly into the upper right corner of the goal...

"Boom!" There was a huge cheer from half of the stands. The fans of Hoffenheim raised their arms and shouted to celebrate the goal that made them wait for 10 minutes. Salihovic ran for dozens of meters and rushed over to hug Long Bisheng tightly!
If it weren't for the players of Schalke [-] who were basically concentrated near the midfield, he would not have been able to drive straight in so smoothly and score such a goal destined to leave a deep mark in the history of Hoffenheim!
In such a final, maybe it is just such a goal that determines the outcome of the game!

This time it was the turn of Schalke [-] to start attacking like crazy, while Hoffenheim used their own way to control their own body, and began to desperately entangle with the opponent in the midfield, constantly leading the opponent into the quagmire of frequent mistakes...

The News of the World came too fast - if Magath knew Chinese, he would definitely look up to the sky and sigh...

Originally, the tactics he used had suppressed the characteristics of Hoffenheim, but it was because Long Bisheng took the ball in the middle, and the stunned Schalke [-] players pounced on three at a time, resulting in a serious lack of defense against others. It was like a domino effect. Break through one point, and the rest all collapse...

And the time left for him is really running out.

In the remaining time of the game, the Hoffenheim players worked together to maintain the lead until the end. At the same time, once there was a collision, when the referee whistled, the Hoffenheim players would roll around in pain on the ground, completely ignoring the deafening boos of the Schalke [-] fans.

At the same time, Rangnick also began to use the three substitutions in his hands. In the last 10 minutes of the game, Hoffenheim's substitutions could always kill nearly 1 minute of time...

Hoffenheim began to retreat to the penalty area to defend, and Long Bisheng also returned to the penalty area, using his jumping and header ability to continuously help the team successfully clear the siege.

After 3 minutes stoppage time, the referee blew the whistle for the end of the game!

Relying on Salihovic No.70's golden goal in two minutes, Hoffenheim won the last German domestic match of the season and won the first national championship in the club's history!
Hoffenheim finally won the first national championship in their club history on the occasion of their 110th year of establishment!

(End of this chapter)