Chapter 1065 Cameo Fullback
After Giggs came on the court, Manchester United's offense focused on the left, but Giggs' brain was much more flexible than Nani. He did not deliberately break through to Barcelona's penalty area. Once he attracted Barcelona's defensive forces, he would immediately move to the middle or right to fully attack Barcelona's weak defense.
It has to be said that Giggs is an experienced and wise veteran. Although he does not have Nani's explosive power and speed, his sometimes breakthrough and sometimes passes the ball makes Puyol and Mascherano unable to figure out the routine, and defense becomes very difficult.
In the 105th minute of the game, the last minute of the first half of the overtime game, Manchester United counterattacked, Giggs dribbled the ball and hit Barcelona's right side. Puyol has not come back yet, Giggs dribbled the ball and went straight into Barcelona's penalty area.
When Mascherano saw Giggs pounce fiercely, he rushed over to make up for the defense.
Giggs seemed to be coming in full force, but in fact he wanted to attract Barcelona's defense. After Mascherano arrived, Giggs suddenly slowed down and made a long pass to another side to find teammate Valencia.
Valencia stopped the ball and quickly entered Barcelona's bottom line.
Manchester United quickly transferred the attack line, and Barcelona didn't have time to block Valencia as soon as possible. After Valencia went to the bottom line, he immediately passed to Barcelona's penalty area.
Valencia passed the ball quickly and decisively from the bottom. Barcelona's defense line didn't have time to intercept the ball outside the penalty area, and the ball flew towards Barcelona's goal at high speed.
It is very dangerous to try to clear such a pass. Fortunately, Rooney, who was grabbing the point in Manchester United, was not tall. Pique judged that Rooney would find it difficult to get the header. He gave up on understanding the ball and just used his body to go to Caroni's position.
Rooney couldn't jump up under Pique's interference and did not grab the landing point. Gao Xiaodong rushed out of the penalty area and was slower, and the ball flew through Barcelona's penalty area to the sideline.
However, the ball did not go out of bounds. The old monster Giggs was experienced. When Mascherano and Puyor rushed to the penalty area to help, he quietly came to the sideline to wait for a bargain. The ball happened to be intercepted by him on the sideline.
Giggs glanced at Barcelona's inside and outside the penalty area and found that there were only Gao Xiaodong and Rooney in the penalty area, while Puyol, Mascherano, Busques and Pique were all in the penalty area. There was no threat to pass him again. Xavi and Iniesta, the front of the penalty area, also came back, Scholes and Fletcher did not have the chance to shoot long shots.
At this time, full-back Evra also assisted Barcelona's half. Seeing that Giggs did not pass the ball immediately, he glanced at the penalty area and immediately understood Giggs' intention. He immediately gave up the wing and ran quickly to the penalty area.
Giggs was overjoyed. This was a temporarily untouched area. He immediately passed the ball across to Evra who was in front of the rib.
The Barcelona players were so anxious that they were in a hurry. When Giggs passed the ball, they realized that this was another gap. Mascherano immediately rushed up.
Evra rushed to the front of the ball and swung her thigh and shot hard.
Evra was not good at long shots, and finally got the chance to shoot. He wanted to make a contribution and exerted too much force. As a result, his foot was not suppressed and the ball flew directly into the sky. Evra also slipped and fell directly.
Evra's actions and image are ridiculous, but Barcelona fans and players are not in the mood to laugh because Evra's long-range shot is very good. If it were Gao Xiaodong, Scholes or Rooney, it would be a great threat to Barcelona's goal. This time, there was actually a loophole in the defense.
After Manchester United's attack, the first half of overtime was also overtime. The two sides exchanged venues and continued to play in the second half of overtime.
In the first and second half of the overtime, Manchester United only exchanged venues and did not rest. Manchester United, who had one more player, was not conservative, pushed the defense line to the midfield, trying to eliminate Barcelona's offense beyond the 30-meter area, and at the same time, after intercepting the ball, he resolutely played Barcelona's counterattack.
Barcelona is missing one person, and after playing for 105 minutes, they are actually very tired, but they are now behind in the score and they have to fight for the final victory.
At this time, Barcelona had no way out, and Guardiola also made decisive tactical adjustments, pushing Pique to the center position, leaving only three defenders in the back line.
Pique is more than 1.9 meters tall and he is rooted in Manchester United's penalty area. Barcelona's two sides finally have a reliable pass point, no longer relying entirely on short pass penetration, and the threat of offense is getting bigger and bigger.
In the 108th minute, Pique received a long pass from Xavi over the top. After Iniesta received the ball, he threw away Scholes and Fletcher in two consecutive fried balls, and then passed to Villa. Villa broke into the penalty area and passed to Pique across the ribs.
At this moment, Pique and Manchester United's two central defenders had already run past. Pique alertly knocked on his heels, and the ball flew towards the goal from Van der Sar.
At such a close distance and so hidden shots, Van der Sar had no time to get off the ground and had no choice but to do anything about it.
Fortunately, Fabio reacted quickly, and a big fork in gymnastics blocked the ball from the goal line.
Barcelona fans and players did not expect such a ball to be blocked. Pique covered his face with both hands, and Xavi, Iniesta, and Villa also showed despair.
Although Fabio completed a fatal relief, his movements were too large and too fierce, and his thigh muscles were strained and he had to leave the field for treatment.
Manchester United has brought too few defenders this time, only a 22-year-old Smalling. He is 1.94 meters tall and he is still playing center back. If he plays fullback, he will be staked.
Ferguson has a strong adaptability. He replaced Fabio with Anderson, who has strong running ability, and let Gao Xiaodong play right back instead, ready to defend the last ten minutes.
Seeing Gao Xiaodong playing as a full-back, Manchester United fans sighed that it is great to have Gao Xiaodong, and he can make up for any position he lacks. Chinese fans even joked that money is not omnipotent, but Gao Xiaodong is omnipotent. Gao Xiaodong is a brick for Manchester United, and he can move wherever he needs it.
But the neutral fans were wondering, would it be okay to let Gao Xiaodong play the full-back? Gao Xiaodong has never played this position.
When Barcelona's players were overjoyed when they saw Gao Xiaodong playing right back, they were overjoyed. In Manchester United's attacking lineup, the one Barcelona feared the most was Gao Xiaodong, followed by Rooney. Now, Gao Xiaodong plays the defender, and Rooney alone cannot pose a threat. Barcelona, who is one less, began to attack with confidence and boldness.
Barcelona is very talented in offense. Even if they play less, they still make a wonderful offense in Manchester United's half due to the high point of Pique.
In the 111th minute, Puyol forced Evra to the side and passed the ball to the front of the penalty area. Because Pique, Pedro and Villa pushed Manchester United's defense into the penalty area, Xavi easily gained space at the front of the penalty area, and he shot straight to the right side of the goal.
Van der Sar stood very well this time, and he flew to save the ball out of the bottom line.
Barcelona served a corner kick, and Pique and Vidic fought for no one to hit the ball. Puyol headed the ball and hit the defender.
After the ball bounced out, it landed at Busquez's feet again. Busquez, Pedro and Xavi made consecutive short passes and cooperated. Pikra took away a defensive player. Then Pedro returned in the middle. Iniesta shot strongly from 25 meters away, but the angle of the ball was slightly hugged by Van der Sar.
Chapter completed!