195: Proving himself at Bramall Lane

On the stands of Bramall Lane Stadium, thirty thousand Sheffield United fans sang their team anthem in unison, the sound surging like a tide.

Red and white scarves fluttered in the night sky, each one telling the story of this steel city's pride.

"Welcome to hell, lads!" A fan in the stands gave the Hartlepool United team bus the middle finger, the malicious boos deafening.

In the locker room, Sun Jihai was tying his shoelaces, his movements calm and professional.

This Chinese defender had been playing in England for eight years and had seen too many conceited young teams.

"James, I heard there's a kid on the other side who runs very fast?" Sun Jihai asked in English with a Manchester accent.

James Beattie sneered, "Speed? At Bramall Lane Stadium, speed can't save anyone.

Only fists and muscles are recognized here."

Head coach Kevin Blackwell pushed the door open, his face as gloomy as the sky before a storm.

"Gentlemen, those kids out there think they're geniuses," Blackwell's voice was rough like sandpaper, "Tonight, let them understand what reality is!"

"Coach, we'll tear them apart." Beattie clenched his fist, his knuckles cracking.

"Don't tear, crush!" Blackwell drew fierce arrows on the tactics board, "High press, physical confrontation, don't let them even touch the ball!"

At the same time, the atmosphere in the away team's locker room was completely different.

The young players of Hartlepool United were pale, the boos from outside penetrating the walls, cutting at everyone's nerves like knives.

"Damn it, their voices are so loud." Smalling swallowed, his palms sweating.

"Chris, don't be nervous." Henderson patted his shoulder, "We've trained for so long, this is what it's for."

Vardy quietly put on his boots in the corner, there was no fear in his eyes, only a cheetah-like focus.

"Jamie, how is it?" Old John walked up to him.

"Coach, I can already smell the goal." Vardy stood up, stretching his neck, "Let them see what speed is."

In the player tunnel, the players of the two teams lined up in two rows.

Sheffield United's players were all tall and muscular, like a pack of hungry wolves.

In contrast, Hartlepool United's players appeared smaller, but a defiant flame burned in their eyes.

"Little kids, ready to go home and cry?" Beattie deliberately bumped Vardy's shoulder.

Vardy didn't respond, just gave him a cold glance.

That look was as sharp as a knife.

The whistle for the start of the match blew, and Bramall Lane Stadium instantly erupted.

Sheffield United immediately showed their "iron-blooded" nature, every tackle was full of gunpowder, and every physical contact put pressure on Hartlepool's young players.

In the 5th minute, Beattie fouled Henderson near the midfield, his action so rough it was astonishing.

"This is the Championship, kid!" Beattie leaned over and said to Henderson, who was on the ground.

Henderson gritted his teeth and stood up, his clothes covered in grass clippings.

He didn't complain, but re-entered the match.

In the box, Lin Feng stared intently at the situation on the field.

The Player Radar showed that the team's physical energy consumption rate was 20% faster than expected, and the young players were quickly overdrawing themselves under such high-intensity physical confrontation.

"Boss, our boys look like they're having a hard time." Richard Arnold said worriedly.

Lin Feng didn't answer, his fingers rapidly tapping on his phone.

Text messages were sent to Old John's phone one by one.

"Change tactics, avoid direct collisions.

Use speed and passing to find their weak points."

After receiving the text message, Old John immediately walked to the sidelines and shouted to the players on the field: "Pass! Quick passes! Don't linger!"

But Sheffield United's pressure was too fierce.

They were like a pack of hungry beasts, giving Hartlepool United no chance to breathe.

In the 23rd minute, Sun Jihai's accurate long pass found Beattie in the front field.

Beattie used his physical advantage to overpower Smalling, turned and shot!

Joe Hart flew to save, barely tipping the ball out for a corner.

"Good job, Joe!" Henderson shouted, encouraging the young goalkeeper.

But the crisis continued.

In the 34th minute, during Sheffield United's corner kick attack, Beattie overpowered all the defenders in the penalty area and headed for goal!

Bang! The ball hit the crossbar and bounced out!

Bramall Lane Stadium let out a huge sigh, all the home fans clutching their heads, unable to believe the ball hadn't gone in.

"Damn it! So close!" Beattie angrily kicked the turf.

In the box, Lin Feng's brows were tightly furrowed.

He knew that if they continued to be passively beaten like this, conceding a goal was only a matter of time.

Suddenly, the Player Radar captured a key piece of information: Sheffield United's left-back's defensive return speed was significantly slow after an assist, and his physical energy consumption had already reached 70%.

A sharp glint flashed in Lin Feng's eyes.

He immediately picked up his phone and sent a crucial text message to Old John:

"Have Snodgrass and Walker focus on attacking the left wing; opponent's number 7's stamina is down, and he's not getting back in time."

After receiving the text message, Old John immediately walked to the sidelines and shouted to Snodgrass: "Robert! Left wing! Push up!"

Snodgrass nodded, his eyes gleaming with excitement.

In the 67th minute, the opportunity came.

Henderson successfully intercepted the ball in midfield; he didn't choose to pass forward but instead played it across to Snodgrass on the wing.

Snodgrass immediately accelerated after receiving the ball.

His speed wasn't the fastest, but his technique was very refined.

Facing the fatigued left-back, he made two consecutive feints, then suddenly cut inside!

"Beautiful!" The Hartlepool fans in the stands erupted in cheers.

After successfully breaking through, Snodgrass immediately observed the situation in the penalty area.

Vardy was tangled with two center-backs, but he keenly spotted an open space.

Without hesitation, Snodgrass delivered a precise cross.

The ball traced a beautiful arc, heading straight for the far post of the penalty area.

Vardy, like a cheetah, suddenly broke free from the defenders' entanglement.

He leapt high, engaging in a fierce physical confrontation with Sun Jihai in the air.

"Jamie!" Henderson shouted from midfield.

Bang! Vardy's header slammed heavily towards the goal!

Sheffield United's goalkeeper, Paddy Kenny, reacted quickly, but Vardy's header was too tricky.

The ball grazed the underside of the crossbar and nestled into the net!

1-1!

After landing, Vardy ran wildly towards the corner flag.

He tore off his jersey, revealing his lean but powerful physique, and roared towards the away fans!

"This is speed! This is technique!" Vardy's roar drowned out the boos from the entire stadium.

In the away stands, two thousand Hartlepool fans celebrated wildly.

Although their voices were faint, at this moment, they seemed exceptionally loud.

In the box, Lin Feng finally showed a slight smile.

He knew that this goal was not just to equalize the score, but also to declare to the world: Hartlepool United was not a lamb to be slaughtered.

"Boss, we did it!" Richard jumped up excitedly.

"This is just the beginning." Lin Feng's voice was calm, but the light in his eyes grew brighter.

On the field, Sheffield United's players looked at each other.

They hadn't expected these "kids" to be able to equalize at Bramall Lane Stadium.

"Damn it!" Beattie angrily kicked the turf, "A bunch of brats!"

Sun Jihai patted his teammate's shoulder: "James, calm down.

The match isn't over yet."

But his heart was also filled with shock.

Vardy's movement and header just now showed a maturity and skill beyond his age.

"This kid is not simple." Sun Jihai thought to himself.

In the final ten minutes, both teams desperately sought a winning opportunity.

Sheffield United used their home advantage to launch wave after wave of attacks.

But Hartlepool United's defense, led by Joe Hart, stubbornly resisted every onslaught.

In the 89th minute, Beattie received a pass from a teammate in the penalty area.

He turned and shot, the angle extremely tricky.

Joe Hart made an incredible save!

He flew sideways, tipping the ball out for a corner with his fingertips!

"Impossible!" Beattie clutched his head, unable to believe his eyes.

"Joe! Joe! Joe!" The away fans in the stands chanted the goalkeeper's name in unison.

The final whistle blew, and the score was set at 1-1.

Hartlepool United drew with promotion favorites Sheffield United away from home!

In the post-match mixed zone, Sun Jihai was interviewed by reporters.

"Sun, what is your assessment of tonight's opponent?" the reporter asked.

Sun Jihai pondered for a moment: "They are very young, but their technical ability impressed me.

Especially the number 9, his positioning and shooting skills have reached a very high level."

"Do you think they can establish themselves in the Championship?"

"Football is round." Sun Jihai said with a smile, "Anything can happen."

At the same time, in the away team's locker room, the Hartlepool United players hugged each other tightly.

This point was hard-earned but significant.

"We did it!" Henderson's eyes welled up with tears of excitement, "We got a point at Bramall Lane Stadium!"

"This is just the beginning!" Vardy clenched his fist, "Next, we're going to show everyone what Hartlepool United is all about!"

Old John walked into the locker room, a proud smile on his face.

"Lads, you proved yourselves tonight." Old John's voice was a little choked, "But remember, this is just the first step.

Our goal is the League title!"

"League title! League title! League title!" A chorus of cheers erupted in the locker room.

Three days later, Victoria Park Stadium welcomed another important match. Birmingham City, another favorite for promotion to the Premier League, arrived in this small town in northeast England with their ambitions.

In the locker room, De Bruyne and Coutinho were putting on their jerseys. The two had just returned from the Olympics, and although tired, their eyes still sparkled with excitement.

“Kevin, what do you think of the Championship’s level?” Coutinho asked in Portuguese.

De Bruyne replied in English, “Philippe, I think we’ll give them some surprises.”

Lin Feng walked into the locker room, scanning all the players.

“Gentlemen, tonight is a full house,” Lin Feng’s voice echoed in the locker room. “Fifty thousand fans will witness our performance. Don’t disappoint them.”

“Boss, we’ll give it our all,” Henderson stood up as captain.

“Jordan, I don’t want just ‘giving it our all’,” Lin Feng’s eyes flashed with a certain awe-inspiring light. “I want dominance!”

In the executive box, Sophie Green sat not far from Lin Feng. She wore a light blue dress tonight, looking exceptionally beautiful under the lights.

“Miss Sophie, what do you think of tonight’s match?” the photographer next to her asked.

Sophie smiled and replied, “I believe there will be surprises.”

After the match began, Birmingham City demonstrated the strength of a Championship powerhouse. Their passing was smoother, and tactical execution more precise. In the first half, Hartlepool United, though not falling behind in terms of play, could not break the deadlock.

During halftime, Old John walked into the locker room, his expression grave.

“Lads, we played well, but it’s not enough.” Old John looked at De Bruyne and Coutinho on the bench. “We need a change.”

Just then, his phone rang. A text message from Lin Feng:

“Bring on De Bruyne and Coutinho. Let them see what genius looks like.”

A flicker of excitement flashed in Old John’s eyes. He knew the second half would be a slaughter.

“Kevin, Philippe, get ready to go on!” Old John shouted.

De Bruyne and Coutinho exchanged glances, battle raging in their eyes.

As the second half began, the moment the two young talents stepped onto the field, the entire Victoria Park Stadium erupted. The fans sensed something extraordinary.

In the 52nd minute, De Bruyne received the ball in midfield. Faced with two defenders, he showed no panic. An elegant turn, he shook off the first defender, then delivered a surgical through ball!

The ball precisely found Vardy, who had run forward, and he easily slotted it home!

1-0!

“Oh my god! That pass!” The commentator’s voice trembled. “De Bruyne’s pass is as precise as GPS navigation!”

In the executive box, Sophie looked at the 17-year-old Belgian boy on the field, her eyes full of shock.

“Is he really only 17?” Sophie murmured to herself.

In the 67th minute, it was Coutinho’s turn to perform. The Brazilian talent received the ball on the wing, facing three converging defenders. The ball seemed glued to his feet, always sticking to his toes.

A Marseille turn, he got past the first defender. A 'elastico' dribble, he beat the second defender. Facing the third defender, Coutinho suddenly accelerated and cut inside!

“This is magic! This is absolutely magic!” The commentator roared wildly.

After successfully breaking through, Coutinho chose not to shoot, but instead crossed the ball to Vardy in the center. Vardy easily tapped it in, scoring his second goal!

2-0!

The entire stadium of fans went wild! They witnessed the birth of two geniuses, the perfect display of football artistry.

“Jamie! Jamie! Jamie!” The fans in the stands chanted Vardy’s name in unison.

But the show wasn't over yet. In the 81st minute, Henderson received the ball in midfield. Faced with the opponent's press, he didn't choose a safe pass, but suddenly unleashed a long-range shot!

The ball flew like a cannonball straight into the top right corner of the goal!

Bang! The net shook violently, 3-0!

After scoring, Henderson ran wildly towards the stands, taking off his jersey and waving it. This goal was the best response to all the doubts.

The final whistle blew, and Hartlepool United defeated Birmingham City 3-0!

At the post-match press conference, media reporters vied to ask questions.

“Coach John, De Bruyne and Coutinho’s performance exceeded everyone’s expectations. What do you have to say?”

Old John smiled and replied, “They just showed their talent. At Hartlepool United, we have many such talents.”

“How do you feel about the team’s current state?”

“We are moving in the right direction,” Old John’s voice was full of confidence. “The League title is our only goal.”

Meanwhile, in the executive box, Lin Feng was undergoing an exclusive interview with Sophie.

“Mr. Lin, does tonight’s victory mean the team has emerged from its slump?” Sophie’s voice was soft and professional.

Lin Feng looked into her eyes, showing a hint of warmth for the first time in public.

“Sophie, a slump is never an end, but a beginning,” Lin Feng’s voice was calm and firm. “Tonight, the whole world saw what the future looks like.”

“Are you satisfied with De Bruyne and Coutinho’s performance?”

“Satisfied?” Lin Feng chuckled softly. “This is just the tip of their potential iceberg. In a few years, they will stand at the pinnacle of world football.”

Sophie looked at Lin Feng, her eyes full of admiration and some complex emotions. This man always saw a future that others couldn't, always made the right decisions at the most critical moments.

Three days later, the away trip went even smoother. Facing Crystal Palace, De Bruyne and Coutinho made their first joint start, and their chemistry surprised everyone.

In the 23rd minute, Coutinho’s breakthrough on the wing earned the team a corner kick. De Bruyne took the corner, and the ball accurately found Smalling in the penalty area. The young center-back leaped high, heading the ball into the net!

1-0!

In the 67th minute, De Bruyne’s long pass from midfield found Vardy, who had run forward. Vardy controlled the ball, turned, and shot, all in one fluid motion!

2-0!

Although Crystal Palace pulled one back in the 84th minute, Hartlepool United still defeated their opponent 2-1.

Three days later, in the second round of the League Cup, Victoria Park Stadium once again hosted a tough match. Stoke City, a team newly promoted to the Premier League, was known for its “long throw” tactics and rough defense.

“Tony, remember, don’t give them any space to show their skills,” Stoke City manager Tony Pulis roared in the locker room. “Destroy their confidence with physicality!”

“Coach, we’ll make them understand that skill is worthless in the face of muscle,” Captain Ryan Shawcross clenched his fist.

But Lin Feng was well prepared for this. In the pre-match tactical meeting, he specifically devised a strategy to counter Stoke City’s rough style.

“Gentlemen, they will use physical confrontation to limit us,” Lin Feng drew diagrams on the tactics board. “But remember, skill is always more lethal than muscle.”

After the match began, Stoke City indeed showed their “long throw” true colors. Every tackle was full of gunpowder, every physical contact was heart-stopping.

In the first half, the two teams were tied 0-0. Stoke City’s rough defense indeed caused Hartlepool United a lot of trouble.

In the second half, Lin Feng made a crucial adjustment. He kept the in-form Coutinho, but replaced several other technical players with physically stronger ones.

“Philippe, this match is up to you,” Old John said to Coutinho from the sidelines.

Coutinho nodded, his eyes shining with determination.

In the 73rd minute, Hartlepool United finally broke the deadlock. Henderson’s long pass from midfield found Vardy in the attacking third. Vardy headed the ball down to a surging teammate, who slotted it home!

1-0!

But Stoke City’s counterattack came quickly. In the 79th minute, they equalized using a set-piece opportunity.

1-1!

The match entered a heated phase. Both teams were desperately looking for a winning opportunity.

In the 88th minute, a miracle happened. Coutinho received the ball 30 meters outside the penalty area. Surrounded by three defenders, he chose not to pass, but suddenly unleashed a long-range shot!

The ball flew like a shooting star, streaking across the night sky, straight into the top right corner of the goal!

Bang! The net shook violently!

2-1! A last-minute winner!

After scoring, Coutinho ran wildly towards the corner flag, taking off his jersey and raising it high. At this moment, the entire Victoria Park Stadium erupted!

“World-class goal! This is absolutely a world-class goal!” The commentator’s voice was hoarse. “Coutinho killed the match with a wonder goal!”

The final whistle blew, and Hartlepool United defeated Stoke City 2-1 with a last-minute winner, narrowly advancing to the third round of the League Cup!

After the match, Lin Feng’s phone rang. A text message from an unknown number:

“Lin, a beautiful goal. Your boy is a magician. But magic sometimes fails in the real world. See you soon. K.K.”

Lin Feng looked at the text message, his brows furrowing slightly. He recognized the signature—Keira Knightley.

The international movie star was finally making her official appearance.