"Ajax's long diagonal ball is played to the left wing."
"Yang Yang controls it on the touchline…"
"He's immediately confronted by Carragher!"
As Yang Yang brought the ball down near the sideline, Jamie Carragher closed in. The Liverpool captain didn't hesitate, pressing with the same rugged commitment that had defined his career. He was similar in height to Yang Yang, but noticeably broader, and his physical approach carried an edge designed to intimidate.
But Yang Yang had faced tough defenders before—he had gone up against the likes of Vieira and come out unshaken. Carragher's aggression wasn't enough to rattle him.
Using his body as a shield, Yang Yang leaned into Carragher and edged the ball toward the byline. Carragher stayed glued to him, shoulder to shoulder, never giving him half a step of freedom. Internally, the Liverpool veteran was surprised. He had expected Yang Yang to be easier to unbalance, but the Chinese winger was resilient, firm on his feet, and quick to adjust.
Carragher used every ounce of his experience—leaning in, tugging subtly, trying to prod for a mistake—yet Yang Yang refused to yield.
Suddenly, Yang Yang halted, pulled the ball back behind his heel and turned sharply away from the byline. He didn't just pivot—he angled his frame again between Carragher and the ball, maintaining control in a tight space. Carragher tracked every movement, still clinging tightly.
The problem was space. Yang Yang had tried going down the line and was stopped. Now he was trying to shift inside, but Carragher closed the lane almost instantly. Any cross from this position would likely be blocked, and Maxwell, the overlapping full-back, was still caught behind play with Steve Finnan shadowing him.
In truth, all of this happened in a flash. The entire sequence from control to cutback was only a few seconds long. But in a moment like this, Yang Yang didn't have the luxury of time.
His mind raced.
Repeat the same move? No. Carragher would expect that.
Suddenly, Yang Yang spotted it—a narrow gap between Carragher's legs. It was barely there, but just enough.
A nutmeg.
It was a high-risk option, but close pressure actually made it more viable. Defenders in tight contact often open their stance unconsciously. Carragher was one step behind and holding tightly to Yang Yang's arm, pressing his body into the duel.
Yang Yang feinted a burst forward, prompting Carragher to lunge to close the space. That was the bait.
In one smooth motion, Yang Yang killed the ball under his left sole, leaned his shoulder into Carragher to break the arm hold, then flicked the ball straight through the defender's legs with the outside of his boot.
Carragher realized it too late.
He turned to recover—but the ball was already behind him, and Yang Yang was in full stride chasing it.
The crowd surged with excitement as Yang Yang broke free. The nutmeg had left Carragher momentarily flat-footed, and Ajax's number eleven now had a pocket of space at the edge of the box.
...
"One-on-one on the left flank!"
"Yang Yang pulls it back... and there it is—nutmeg! Brilliant execution!"
"Carragher's beaten!"
The Stade Louis II erupted. For a moment, it felt like time had frozen—then snapped back into motion as the crowd surged in volume. Few had expected such a bold move from Yang Yang, especially against Liverpool's captain, but the 18-year-old had just humiliated Carragher with an audacious nutmeg.
Carragher had no chance to recover. His defensive stance had shifted just enough, and Yang Yang's read was perfect. He accelerated instantly after slipping the ball through, catching up just as it reached the edge of the box on the left.
Now came the next challenge.
Josémi had tracked back quickly and positioned himself just outside the penalty area, squaring up for a one-on-one.
He faked a shift to the outside, shoulder dipping left—Josémi leaned that way instinctively.
In the same motion, Yang Yang rolled the ball across with his right foot, then snapped it back with his left, almost instantly.
Step-over with the right—his body swayed inward.
Another step-over, tighter now, feet nearly blurring.
A third, just as quick, but this time, as Josémi flinched to cut off the inside drive, Yang Yang chopped the ball back with the outside of his boot and burst toward the near post instead.
It was the pause between the second and third feint that undid Josémi.
He bit hard on the inside cut, only to realize too late that Yang Yang had already shifted outside. A twist of the hips, a push off the left foot, and the Ajax winger was gone.
A blur of red and white broke into the box.
Without a touch to settle, Yang Yang let the ball run slightly ahead, aligned his steps perfectly, and curled his shot toward the far post with his right foot.
"What a combination of step-overs—Yang Yang shoots!"
"It's in!"
"GOAL! Ajax lead two-nil!"
"In the 38th minute, Yang Yang doubles Ajax's advantage with a stunning solo goal!"
It was unstoppable.
Reina had launched himself toward the shot, fully extended, but the strike was too well-placed—bending away, just brushing past the outstretched fingertips before nestling in the top corner.
The stadium was in disbelief.
"That's a perfect finish—far post, upper corner. No goalkeeper in the world stops that."
"Yang Yang just carved open Liverpool's defense on his own. He beat Carragher on the wing, danced past Josémi in the box, and curled it past Reina."
"He's 18. And he's doing this on the European stage, against the reigning Champions League winners."
"There's been talk—doubts about whether Yang Yang could deliver on the big stage. Well, that question's been answered tonight."
"Two chances, two goals—both entirely of his own making."
"Liverpool's backline, so solid for most of the match, has just been undone twice by individual brilliance."
"Carragher looks shaken. And Josémi—well, he'll want to forget that moment."
...
After Yang Yang scored his second goal of the night, the entire Stade Louis II erupted.
From the corners of the stands, fans in red and white jerseys leapt to their feet, arms raised, voices soaring with a single chant that echoed across the stadium: "Yang Yang! Yang Yang! Yang Yang!"
He sprinted toward the sideline, fists clenched, then slid on his knees just in front of the touchline camera. His eyes found the lens. This time, he didn't hesitate.
He kissed the colored hand rope wrapped around his left wrist—firm, deliberate—and raised both arms skyward. No words, just the gesture. A message delivered.
But before he could fully rise to his feet, his teammates came charging toward him.
"Beautiful!" Sneijder yelled as he arrived first, throwing an arm around Yang Yang's neck.
"God, what did you just do?" Maicon shouted, laughing in disbelief.
"The nutmeg—my God! Carragher won't sleep tonight!" said De Jong, wide-eyed.
One by one they piled in, celebrating not just the goal, but the audacity of it.
It wasn't just a second goal—it was a statement.
Yang Yang stood at the center of the group, grinning from ear to ear. His chest heaved, his hair stuck to his forehead with sweat, but his expression was clear: satisfaction. He had done what no one expected—what only he seemed to believe was possible.
Scoring once against this Liverpool defense was hard enough. Scoring twice, in under fifteen minutes, with nothing but initiative and technique?
This wasn't luck. This was his growth laid bare.
Last season, against Valencia in the Super Cup, he had struggled. The experience had taught him patience, the need for precision under pressure. Against Juventus in the Champions League, he had found space but lacked the composure to make it count consistently.
Now, against one of Europe's most disciplined defenses, he had delivered.
It was proof—his decision-making was sharper, his control tighter, his ability to read and exploit defensive space more advanced. He had evolved.
Yet amid the cheers and backslaps, Yang Yang's mind stayed grounded. His eyes scanned the pitch.
"Don't relax!" he shouted above the noise, raising his voice to cut through the adrenaline. "This is Liverpool! You give them one opening, they'll take it!"
The huddle tightened. The players circled closer.
He looked at each one—Sneijder, De Jong, Pienaar, Maicon, Maxwell, and the rest—then placed a hand on the shoulder of the two nearest to him.
"They came back from three down against AC Milan," he said. "This is not over."
His teammates nodded, more solemn now, but fired up.
"No mistakes. We stay sharp. We hold the line. And if we get another chance—we kill the game."
The circle of players roared as one. "Come on!"
Then they broke, jogging back toward the halfway line with renewed focus.
At the edge of the technical area, Ronald Koeman was clapping, his expression controlled but clearly satisfied. Behind him, Ruud Krol gave a low whistle.
"That kid," he muttered, "he's growing up right in front of our eyes."
Koeman didn't respond. He just kept clapping.
...
...
At halftime, Liverpool trailed 0–2. And as the second half began, they had no choice but to press forward.
Benítez had to let go of his caution. There was no second leg to fall back on. This was a final.
But by pushing his team forward, the weaknesses in Liverpool's attacking efficiency were once again exposed. Just like in the opening half, they wasted too many chances. Clear opportunities came and went, but there was no end product. On the touchline, Benítez could only pace anxiously, visibly frustrated.
If Liverpool's defense gave him the confidence to stand against any top team in Europe, their lack of a reliable finisher gave him constant headaches.
Solid defending may win you battles, but football is ultimately a game of goals. And right now, Liverpool couldn't score.
He muttered to himself on the sideline, the regret surfacing in a moment of honesty.
"We should have signed Yang Yang this summer…"
After lifting the Champions League, Benítez had presented three priority signings to the Liverpool board.
The first was Peter Crouch from relegated Southampton — a tall, technical forward who could offer a unique presence up front and diversify Liverpool's tactical options.
The second was Yang Yang — the Ajax prodigy who, even at 18, had already shown the ability to decide games on his own.
The third was Gabriel Milito from Real Zaragoza — a composed centre-back who could strengthen depth and compete for a starting role.
In the end, only Crouch arrived.
Liverpool didn't have the financial muscle to secure all three targets. And Yang Yang? His rising price tag was simply out of reach unless the club offloaded players first. But Benítez, still basking in the glow of Istanbul, hesitated. Selling key players from the Champions League run felt wrong. He feared it might fracture the dressing room.
Now, he could only reflect bitterly.
If Yang Yang had joined Liverpool, they might have put away two, three, or even four goals in that first half alone.
Instead, the teenager was standing across from them, wearing Ajax red and white — and he had scored both goals himself.
Everything Benítez prized — defensive discipline, collective structure, intelligent pressing — was present in his Liverpool side. But Ajax had something more: a dagger that could strike with ruthless precision.
None of Cissé, Crouch, Morientes, or Luis García could offer that level of clinical edge. They could all threaten in phases, but none could guarantee goals week after week. And that, Benítez feared, would haunt Liverpool throughout the season.
On the pitch, his players had finally synchronized. There was urgency, pressure, conviction — all too late.
Ajax, for their part, had retreated into a compact block, focused on preserving their lead. But even then, they couldn't hold forever.
In the 86th minute, Liverpool finally broke through.
A loose ball outside the box fell to Xabi Alonso, who struck it clean with his right foot. The ball flew low, skimming the turf, and punched through the crowd before smashing past Stekelenburg.
2–1.
There was still time left. But not much.
...
...
The European Golden Boy Scores a Brace, and Ajax Lift the UEFA Super Cup After Ten Years
Just minutes after the final whistle in Monaco, UEFA officially confirmed the result on its website: Ajax 2 – 1 Liverpool, with 18-year-old Yang Yang scoring both goals. Ten years after their last triumph, Ajax were once again UEFA Super Cup champions.
The result sent shockwaves across Dutch football and ignited celebrations among Ajax supporters around the world. It was the club's first Super Cup title since 1995, when Louis van Gaal's legendary side dismantled Real Zaragoza 5–1 over two legs. Now, a decade later, this young Ajax team had written their own chapter in European history—and at the heart of it was the electric Yang Yang.
Having shattered Ronaldo's Eredivisie goal-scoring record the previous season, Yang Yang had been the subject of relentless transfer speculation throughout the summer. Real Madrid, Barcelona, Manchester United, Chelsea—and even Super Cup opponents Liverpool—had all been linked to the Chinese forward. But none had made a decisive move.
Part of the hesitation stemmed from the uncertain reputation of Eredivisie exports in recent years. Despite being just 18, Yang Yang was valued at €30 million, and there were lingering fears that he might fall victim to the same fate as other hyped young talents—injuries, inconsistency, or failing to adapt.
But UEFA's match report did not hesitate in its praise. The article labeled Yang Yang the decisive figure of the game, crediting him with shifting the entire balance with his two moments of brilliance.
"Since his debut, Yang Yang's iconic step-overs have drawn comparisons to Ronaldo Nazário. Many already believe he could become the most gifted attacker in Europe since the Brazilian."
The report went on to highlight Yang Yang's meteoric rise. In 2004, he had come off the bench to score the winning goal in the Champions League final against Porto. That summer, five starters were sold, yet Ajax placed their faith in the teenager to lead the team—and he delivered.
"Thirty-four league goals. The youngest Golden Boot winner in Eredivisie history. The youngest scorer in a UEFA Champions League final. The best player in last season's UEFA Cup. In every major European competition, Yang Yang has delivered."
And in July, he led China's U-20 team to its first ever FIFA World Youth Championship, capturing both the Golden Ball and Golden Boot in the process. No other Asian player had ever reached such heights.
The media frenzy surrounding him only intensified during the summer window. Reports linked him with every major club in Europe—Madrid, Barça, Inter, Juve, Milan, United, Chelsea, Liverpool, Bayern. His market value soared. Some speculated that his worth already dwarfed Messi's, whose potential was enormous, but yet to be fully realized.
"Barcelona recently renewed Lionel Messi's contract with a €150 million release clause. But many in the media argue Yang Yang is worth twice that. Messi remains promise; Yang Yang is already product."
Yang Yang's form this season has been nothing short of blistering—six goals and two assists in three league matches before the Super Cup. And then, against Liverpool, he seized the spotlight once again with a brace, confirming his place as Europe's most valuable teenager.
At the post-match press conference, Rafael Benítez admitted his regret.
"Yang Yang surprised me again tonight," he said. "I regret not pushing harder to bring him to Anfield this summer. With a player like him, any coach or club would be lucky. He doesn't belong in the Eredivisie anymore—he needs to challenge himself in one of Europe's top leagues."
When asked directly whether Liverpool would try to sign him, Benítez smiled.
"If we had the chance? Of course. No coach would turn him down. He's a dream player."
Liverpool captain Jamie Carragher, who was nutmegged and left behind on Yang Yang's second goal, also showed humility and class in his interview with the British press.
"Angry? No, no. He's a great player—and a good lad too. At halftime, he actually waited for me in the tunnel and apologized. Told me it was a whim, not disrespect. I appreciated that. I even joked that if he fancied another nutmeg in the second half, he could go for it."
Carragher acknowledged that Liverpool had their own issues, both in defense and in finishing. As for the growing rumors about a potential transfer?
"If it happens, it would be the shock of the window. But what a signing that would be."
In addition to Liverpool, even more top European clubs were now showing strong interest in Yang Yang — especially after his dominant performance in the UEFA Super Cup.
Scoring twice to lead Ajax past the reigning Champions League holders had sent shockwaves through the football world. And in the final three days before the European summer transfer window closed, the rumors only intensified.
Media outlets across the continent were unanimous: Yang Yang had delivered a performance that no scout, coach, or sporting director could ignore.
On one side, coverage focused on his two goals against Liverpool. On the other, speculation soared about a possible transfer — with Real Madrid leading the headlines.
According to AS, Florentino Pérez had decided: Real Madrid would pursue Yang Yang. Not only was he a sensational attacker on the pitch, but his global marketability, especially in China, made him a commercial dream. Pérez believed a partnership of Yang Yang and Robinho could lead the club into a new era of dominance.
AS even published an open appeal from Real Madrid's superstar Ronaldo, who publicly invited Yang Yang to join Los Blancos.
"This is the best club in the world. It's where every top player should prove themselves," Ronaldo stated.
Captain Raúl echoed that sentiment, saying Yang Yang would bring new energy and strengthen the squad for both La Liga and the Champions League.
Meanwhile, over in Catalonia, reports suggested that Frank Rijkaard was also pushing hard. According to local outlets, the Barça coach saw no conflict between Messi and Yang Yang. In fact, he envisioned a future where the two young stars played side by side — one on each wing, both creating chaos.
Even Messi himself was quoted saying:
"If he comes to Camp Nou, it would be incredible. I believe I can partner and compete with anyone."
In England, The Sun claimed Chelsea had prepared a new offer — a staggering €40 million bid — which would break the Eredivisie's all-time transfer record if accepted. Manager José Mourinho was quoted praising Yang Yang's efficiency in front of goal.
"He's already one of the most stable and lethal scorers in European football," Mourinho said. "Alongside Robben and Duff, he'd make our attack almost unstoppable."
But the Manchester Evening News challenged that idea, questioning whether Mourinho's system truly suited Yang Yang's development. Instead, they urged the Chinese star to consider Manchester United.
"With Ronaldo and Rooney already in place, Yang Yang would complete the next generation of United's attacking force," one column read. "Ferguson could build a new Class of '92 around them."
Not to be outdone, London-based publications fired back, noting United's internal turmoil and the uncertainty caused by the Glazer takeover. Some argued that Cristiano Ronaldo already filled the role Yang Yang would occupy, making such a move tactically redundant.
Sir Alex Ferguson himself stepped in, telling the British press:
"I don't think this summer is the right time for Yang Yang to leave Ajax. He should stay another year in a stable, familiar setup and focus on refining his game."
Ferguson warned that many young players struggle after an early move abroad, and that Yang Yang risked losing momentum by rushing.
But others weren't buying it. Some media figures claimed Ferguson's comments were self-serving, designed to mask the fact that United simply couldn't afford the transfer.
Whatever the perspective, one thing was clear: Yang Yang dominated the headlines.
From Madrid to Milan, London to Munich, clubs were making their interest known. Real Madrid, Barcelona, Juventus, Inter, Bayern, Chelsea, Manchester United — they were all watching.
And even with Ajax insisting they would not sell him this summer, The Telegraph broke the story that Chelsea had prepared a final offer: €50 million.
If accepted, it would not only break the Eredivisie record, but also eclipse Michael Essien's €35 million fee — making Yang Yang the most expensive transfer of the 2005 summer window.
Fans and media alike believed it: if this transfer happened, Yang Yang wouldn't just be the story of the summer — he would be the story of the season.