As expected.
By the 70th minute of the match,
the few Leeds United players assigned to tightly mark Kai…
couldn't keep up anymore!
Kai's "self-destructive" style of play
had finally exhausted them.
Bielsa's crucial defensive unit in the 3-3-1-3 formation—the "midfield meat grinder"—had completely broken down!
Their marking movements grew disorganized,
and they even began making low-level errors, like mis-kicking the ball.
Bielsa's 3-3-1-3 aimed for all-out attack and defense,
relying on intense physical exertion to apply pressure.
This demanded an incredibly high level of fitness from every player.
By halftime, the Leeds players had already burned through a lot of stamina.
The mere 15-minute break wasn't enough to make up for the gap!
As a trade-off,
Kai's own stamina was also nearing the limit.
But fortunately,
after dragging down several markers with him,
he no longer needed to run as much.
His sharpest weapon now
was his precision passing ability!
With Leeds' overall stamina plummeting,
Kai realized—
The chance had come!
82nd minute!
Crystal Palace executed a brilliant passing sequence down the flank!
Kai coordinated the midfield,
directing his teammates to stretch and shift Leeds' defensive line.
Full-back Clyne passed the ball to Kai.
Upon receiving it,
Kai glanced across the field.
Up front, Vaughan instantly understood!
He made a darting run into the heart of Leeds' defense!
Without hesitation,
Kai shifted the ball to his stronger foot—
then made a smooth, grounded pass!
The ball zipped along a golden arc,
heading for the final third—
tracking Vaughan's run like a homing missile!
"OHHHH!!"
The away stands erupted with wild cheers!
Leeds' defense was pierced once again by a long pass!
On the sidelines, Bielsa's face turned grim.
The legendary manager actually broke out in a cold sweat!
Due to their fatigue, Leeds' defenders couldn't recover as quickly as in the first half.
Vaughan easily latched onto Kai's pass.
The full-back chasing desperately from behind couldn't block in time—
Vaughan shoots!
Many Leeds fans instinctively shut their eyes—
The next second—
"Ahhh!!"
A collective gasp of regret rang from the away stands!
Vaughan clutched his head in frustration!
His final strike
had been spectacularly saved by Kasper Schmeichel!
As the son of the legendary goalkeeper,
young Schmeichel had kept Leeds' goal intact!
"Worthy son of Peter Schmeichel! He's got his father's presence!"
"Wait… wait!!"
"The second ball!!!"
Back on the pitch—
Leeds fans didn't even have time to celebrate—
when another roar erupted from the stadium!
After Schmeichel deflected Vaughan's shot,
the ball rebounded outside the penalty area!
And at the landing spot—
a figure with black hair appeared like a phantom!
On the sidelines, Holloway threw both hands up in excitement!
It was Kai!
With his "God's-eye" vision,
his off-ball movement had led him precisely to where the ball would drop.
As the ball flew toward him,
Kai's eyes focused—his body suddenly tensed!
His plant foot slammed into the turf—
His gaze locked forward—
His right foot swung back and then forward in a flash—
striking the ball flush with his instep!!
Gerrard's "Super Cannon" Module—
Activated!
Explosive power surged through both his legs—
In a flash of lightning—
"BOOM!!"
The ball launched off his foot with thunderous force—
like a fired shell!
Rattle the mountain to shake the tiger!
It screamed through the air—
slamming toward Leeds' goal!
All 40,000 fans in the stadium stared in wide-eyed shock!
The next second—
Whoosh!!
Without suspense,
the ball smashed into the net—
slamming fiercely into Leeds United's goal!
The net flew high into the air!
Kasper Schmeichel, standing on the goal line,
was frozen—again—by Kai's shot!
Watching the goal net ripple violently,
the keeper—successor to the legendary Peter Schmeichel—
stood there, eyes vacant, like his soul had left his body.
After a split second of silence—
Elland Road erupted like a volcano in a frenzy of roars!
"GOAAAAALLLL!!!"
"He's scored!!"
"2-0!!"
"Kai's super cannon strike from outside the box!! This shot blew Leeds' goal apart! It left Kasper Schmeichel completely stunned!"
"Even if his dad were in goal, it wouldn't have mattered!!"
The on-site commentators shouted with hoarse voices—
"OHHHHHH!!!"
"KAI!!"
"KAI!!"
Above the pitch—
the cheers and cries of the Crystal Palace fans
shattered the night sky!