Chapter 157: World Champions! Mid-Season Champions! Crushing Mourinho
December 9th, evening — Wembley Stadium, London.
Final matchday of the Champions League group stage.
Bayswater Chinese FC vs Inter Milan.
This was José Mourinho's first return to the Premier League stage since his comeback — and London fans, especially those in Wembley, turned out in full force for the Portuguese maverick.
Bayswater Chinese FC had already qualified for the knockout stage with a game to spare, and Yang Cheng had announced well in advance that he wouldn't field his strongest lineup.
Even so, Wembley was packed with 90,000 fans.
Not just for Bayswater — but also for Inter Milan and Mourinho.
Compared to Bayswater's relaxed position, Mourinho's Inter was standing on a cliff edge.
After Matchday 4, Inter sat on 7 points — 3 ahead of Atlético Madrid.
A solid advantage.
But then, they lost 0–1 at home to Marseille in Matchday 5, while Atlético beat a fully rotated Bayswater side 2–1 at the Calderón.
So heading into the final round, Inter and Atlético were tied on 7 points.
Matchday 6: Atlético away to Marseille. Inter away to Bayswater.
Both were fighting for survival.
Bayswater, on the other hand, could afford to enjoy themselves. Top of the group secured. Stress-free.
That relaxed attitude carried over into the match.
Yang Cheng sent out his full League Cup lineup—youth and backups across the board.
And from kickoff, these kids dominated.
Especially in the first 10 minutes — Inter barely touched the ball.
The hosts earned corner after corner, and each one made Mourinho more and more nervous.
To the Portuguese manager, Wembley that night felt like a living nightmare.
Yang Cheng couldn't stop grinning on the sideline.
"I just told them to press early—I didn't expect them to beat up Inter this badly!"
He returned to the dugout, nearly bursting with laughter.
"These kids... no experience at all. No idea how to ease up."
Brian Kidd and the rest of the staff laughed out loud.
If Mourinho had heard that line, he might've exploded on the spot.
Inter stuck with a 4-3-3, but the lineup was curious.
He benched "Champions League choker" Ibrahimović and started the in-form Adriano.
The flanks were manned by Mancini and Quaresma.
Midfield trio: Stanković, Vieira, and Cambiasso.
Backline: Burdisso, Materazzi, Córdoba, and Zanetti.
Clearly, Mourinho hoped to launch attacks from the wings and capitalize on Adriano's power up front—while also trying to shut down Bayswater's dangerous wide players.
But to his surprise, Inter completely lost control in midfield.
Matić, continuing his fine form, was even better this time.
Matuidi and Aaron Ramsey helped solidify the midfield battle.
Matić, newly renewed, took charge — dictating the tempo and anchoring the defense.
He was the true engine of Bayswater's midfield.
Inter's midfield? Practically nonexistent.
In the 28th minute, Ramsey and Walcott double-teamed Burdisso on the right flank.
Burdisso tried to clear under pressure, but his pass didn't go far.
Ramsey intercepted and surged forward.
Vieira scrambled over, but the 17-year-old Welshman used a series of sharp dribbles and a clever feint to glide past the aging Frenchman.
He shifted the ball to his left foot, spotted a gap, and let fly.
The shot soared like a comet toward the top left corner.
From the interception to the run, the feint, and the shot—Ramsey executed it perfectly.
Vieira could only watch.
César had no chance.
GOAL! A stunner from the edge of the D — right into the top corner!
"WHAT A GOAL!"
"From 17-year-old Welsh wonderkid Aaron Ramsey!"
"Another rising star from Bayswater Chinese FC's academy!"
Wembley erupted again.
90,000 fans roared in unison for Ramsey.
The boy wheeled away in sheer joy, sprinting toward the corner flag.
...
In the second half, Bayswater kept the pressure on.
Azar and Marcelo linked well on the left. Azar crossed low to the six-yard box — Lewandowski missed it by inches.
Then Matuidi blasted one from distance — just wide.
Lewandowski danced past two defenders in the box but saw his tight-angle shot saved by César.
On the ensuing corner, Kompany rose high and powered a header toward goal.
César was beaten—but Zanetti saved Inter at the back post, somehow clearing it off the line.
Bayswater's youngsters played fearlessly—with sleeves rolled up and fists clenched.
They attacked without pause, beating Inter black and blue.
Inter's midfield had vanished. The wingers were invisible. Adriano? Anonymous.
In the 72nd minute, Matić intercepted a pass and launched a counterattack.
He carried it forward and laid it off to Ramsey.
Ramsey threaded a pass to the right side of the box.
Walcott burst past Burdisso, caught the ball, stopped sharply, and cut inside with his left foot, leaving Burdisso sprawled on the ground.
He fired—César made a great save.
But the rebound fell right to Lewandowski, who smashed it in.
2–0!
Mourinho reacted with a flurry of changes.
He threw on Balotelli, Ibrahimović, and Maxwell, all to boost the attack.
But it wasn't until the 88th minute that Inter finally responded.
Ibrahimović, on the left wing, chested down a long pass, spun, and hit a world-class volley—curving it past the keeper and in off the far post.
It was a stunning goal—but only a consolation.
Final score: 2–1 to Bayswater Chinese FC.
...
"You call that a reserve squad now? You're getting more and more full of it!"
Inside a room at Wembley after the match, Mourinho roared at Yang Cheng.
His mood was terrible.
Because just moments ago, he'd received word that Atlético Madrid had drawn 0–0 away at Marseille.
Which meant, after the final round of group stage matches, Atlético had overtaken Inter.
Mourinho was fuming.
Yang Cheng, as always, was grinning ear to ear—which made Mourinho want to punch him even more.
"Look at our squad tonight—what more do you want?"
"Hazard, 17. Aaron Ramsey, also 17. Matić, 20. Walcott, 19. Lewandowski, 20. Count them—how many were even over 20?"
Yang Cheng was clearly enjoying himself.
When it came to his young players, he couldn't help but get excited.
They were just too good.
He'd meant for them to just gain experience—but they ended up beating the living daylights out of Mourinho's Inter.
And not just beating them—absolutely embarrassing them.
Looking at Mourinho's "black is white, nose isn't a nose" expression, Yang Cheng could barely contain his laughter.
I let you win—and this is how it turns out?
The thought nearly made him burst into laughter.
"Guess I forgot to tell the kids before the game to go a little easier…"
The moment he said that, Mourinho's face got even darker.
A little heavy-handed?
Are you joking?
"This isn't just about being heavy-handed, Yang. Keep talking like that and we're not drinking tonight."
Yang Cheng laughed out loud and quickly raised his hands. "Alright, alright. I'll give them a proper scolding later."
"They didn't think about the consequences at all—zero tact."
Mourinho squinted at him and cursed silently in his heart.
This bastard actually pulled it off!
But he had to admit—it wasn't just talk. Bayswater's kids were the real deal.
"Honestly, José," Yang Cheng added, smiling, "you can't put this all on us. You guys screwed up yourselves. If you hadn't lost to Marseille last round, this wouldn't even be an issue."
Mourinho nearly exploded.
You think I don't know that?
You need to rub it in?
"Alright, forget it. No point crying over spilled milk," he sighed. "You've still got a good shot at the treble this season. As for us, we'll keep fighting."
Mourinho paused—then realized something.
Treble?
Serie A, Coppa Italia, and... UEFA Cup?
"You just keep gloating. Next time we meet, I'm going to destroy you."
With that, Mourinho turned to leave.
"You're going already? What about the wine?" Yang Cheng called out.
Mourinho stopped at the door, suddenly spun around and came back.
Yang Cheng thought he'd forgotten something—only to watch him grab his own half-full wine glass and down it in one gulp.
Then he snatched the other glass—and even took the oak bottle stopper—before walking out while muttering curses.
"Enjoy drinking nothing, you bastard."
Yang Cheng cracked up right there.
"Damn, you're so shameless—you missed your calling as a delivery driver!"
...
Inter Milan's humiliating loss to Bayswater's youth squad and subsequent elimination from the Champions League made headlines across Italy.
AC Milan's CEO Galliani immediately jumped on the chance to throw shade in front of reporters.
"If you want to see how an Italian club should perform in Europe, just look at us at Milan."
That sparked open warfare between the Milan clubs.
Italian media turned on Mourinho as well.
After all, expectations were sky-high.
But now? He hadn't even made it out of the group stage.
At the post-match press conference, Mourinho slammed his own team's performance—particularly their lack of focus.
"These years of habitual complacency have cost us again and again."
The media also questioned his tactics—especially why Ibrahimović didn't start.
Sure, he hadn't been great in Europe in recent years, but he came off the bench and scored a screamer tonight.
Why start Adriano instead?
Mourinho refused to justify his decisions and wouldn't comment on Ibrahimović either.
His only response:
"I've just begun reshaping this team."
"As I've said before, my teams usually need three years before results come. I've signed a long-term deal. Rebuilding Inter won't happen overnight."
Meanwhile, Bayswater Chinese FC earned widespread praise from the Italian press—particularly the performance of their youth players.
Last season, they'd already made waves by reaching the FA Cup final.
But this year, they'd taken it up another level.
Matić, freshly renewed, was outstanding.
He was one of Bayswater's best on the pitch, and his run of stellar form had pundits buzzing about his future.
According to The Sun, multiple Premier League clubs were already looking to buy or loan Matić during the upcoming winter window.
"With Touré's starting spot nailed down, loaning Matić for match experience might be a good option," the article suggested.
But Bayswater flatly refused all offers.
...
Premier League Round 17 — Bayswater Chinese FC away to Stoke City.
From kickoff, they pushed forward aggressively, constantly threatening the Stoke goal.
14th minute: Rakitić slipped a through ball into the box.
Džeko beat the offside trap, brought it down with his chest, and smashed it in.
1–0!
The game stalled for a while, but then...
46th minute (72 seconds after second-half kickoff): Gareth Bale launched a 20-yard rocket with his left foot.
Straight through Sorensen.
2–0!
66th minute: Modrić intercepted the ball high, passed to a retreating Džeko, who then played a brilliant through ball.
Walcott slashed into the box and slotted it into the bottom right.
3–0!
Final score: Bayswater win comfortably away.
Elsewhere:
– Arsenal won 1–0 at Middlesbrough.
– Liverpool drew 2–2 with Hull at Anfield.
– Manchester City beat Everton 1–0 thanks to a stoppage-time winner from Kaká.
– Manchester United drew 0–0 away at Spurs.
– Chelsea were held 1–1 by West Ham at Stamford Bridge.
After 17 rounds, Bayswater Chinese FC led the table with 46 points (15 wins, 1 draw, unbeaten).
Liverpool and Arsenal both had 38 points.
Manchester United were fourth with 35.
Chelsea finished with 32 points, Manchester City with 30, placing the two clubs 5th and 6th in the standings.
Among them, Bayswater Chinese FC and Manchester United had both played one game fewer.
A game in hand and still 8 points ahead—this made everyone look at Bayswater's season with newfound respect.
Džeko led the Premier League scoring chart with 14 goals.
In just 16 matches (not even the full 17 rounds), the Bosnian striker had surpassed his tally from last season and looked even more dominant.
Gareth Bale and Lewandowski had each scored 6 goals, while Walcott had 7.
These three young talents had all taken a significant step forward compared to last season.
The only surprise? Di María.
The Argentine winger had yet to score a goal in the league.
It was unexpected, especially since all of his other metrics—dribbling, passing, even defensive contributions—had improved significantly.
It was proof that Di María was in the rapid growth phase of his career.
But the goals just wouldn't come.
According to analysis from Brian Kidd and the sports science department, there were two main reasons:
First, bad luck.
Second, he was still adjusting, especially his right foot.
Di María was fully committed to improving—he'd worked hard on his weaker foot and made clear progress—but during matches, he sometimes still hesitated or lost confidence.
These things simply took time.
Yang Cheng repeatedly emphasized: he had full confidence in Di María.
...
After Round 17, the team returned to London for a brief rest.
On December 15th, they departed for Tokyo, Japan, to compete in the FIFA Club World Cup.
This was Bayswater Chinese FC's first-ever appearance in the competition.
Two years after their last visit to Japan, the reception this time was on an entirely different level.
Because now, they weren't just Premier League champions—they were European champions.
Their first match in Japan, the Club World Cup semifinal, would be against Gamba Osaka, who had just won the AFC Champions League in November.
While the Japanese side wasn't expected to seriously threaten Bayswater, Yang Cheng still gave the match his full attention.
Upon arrival in Tokyo, the team first checked into their hotel.
Three hours later, they reported to a nearby sports center for training.
This was a venue arranged by the local organizers—a multipurpose stadium in a small Japanese town.
But hilariously, the host had clearly not anticipated Bayswater showing up so soon.
The field wasn't ready, and there weren't even any footballs.
With no other choice, Yang Cheng had staff scour the surrounding area to find enough balls just to start recovery training.
The session wasn't intense—it focused on light work and adaptation.
Halfway through, the organizers rushed to deliver the proper training equipment and official match balls.
After the session, Yang Cheng and Adam Crozier attended FIFA's pre-tournament press conference.
The trip to Japan had been exhausting—long flights, jet lag, logistics.
But Yang Cheng was clear: if they could win the trophy, it would all be worth it.
"Before I came to Tokyo, a lot of people back in England reminded me—no English team has ever won the Club World Cup."
"They hope we'll be the first."
"For Bayswater Chinese FC, that would be an incredible honor."
"In my eyes, this is exactly the kind of challenge we strive for—and that's what makes this tournament so meaningful to us."
He acknowledged that the long journey and time zone difference were difficult—but all manageable.
"We were mentally prepared long before arriving in Tokyo."
"We're here because we won the Champions League."
"For us, that makes this opportunity all the more special. In fact, we'd love to play in the Club World Cup every year."
When asked about the opposition—particularly Gamba Osaka—Yang Cheng spoke with great respect.
"I've studied them. They're Asian champions, a strong side. We can't underestimate them."
Since they were in Japan, and benefiting from Japanese sponsorship, Yang Cheng took the chance to praise the development of Japanese football.
"Whenever we face Japanese teams, I always remind my players—no slip-ups. Every match is a serious test."
"Japanese football has made tremendous progress in recent years."
"Yes, we have an edge in overall strength, but with all the travel and an 8–9 hour time difference, we're under a lot of pressure. We need to play at our very best."
Yang Cheng's respectful remarks won him—and Bayswater Chinese FC—praise from Japanese media and fans.
Hearing such praise from a Champions League-winning coach, of Chinese nationality, from a club with strong ties to China—it resonated deeply with the local audience.
Saying it was one thing. Doing it was another.
...
December 18th, evening — Yokohama National Stadium.
Club World Cup Semifinal: Bayswater Chinese FC vs Gamba Osaka
Yang Cheng's starting XI made one thing clear: he wanted to win and reach the final.
With just four days between matches and after traveling halfway around the world, Yang Cheng rotated the entire squad.
Aside from Begović in goal, every other position was filled by backups.
That gave Gamba Osaka, playing "at home," a chance to launch an early wave of attacks.
But in the 12th minute, Bayswater earned a free kick from 27 meters out.
Gareth Bale stepped up—and delivered a stunning knuckleball free kick.
1–0!
In the 29th minute, Walcott broke down the right and beat his marker, crossing into the box. The ball deflected out for a corner.
Rakitić took it short, and Kompany headed in at the far post.
2–0!
In first-half stoppage time, Lewandowski held up the ball in the middle, then played in Walcott, who burst down the right.
From just outside the penalty spot, Walcott drilled a low shot into the net.
3–0!
In just 45 minutes, Bayswater showed off their overwhelming attacking firepower—and the gulf in class was plain to see.
The Japanese fans at the stadium couldn't believe it.
Even the local commentators were stunned.
"If this is Bayswater Chinese FC not playing at full strength... what would it look like if they were?"
Ironically, their dominance earned them even more admiration from Japanese fans.
The crowd grew more enthusiastic—even friendlier.
In the 51st minute, Lewandowski struck again, making it four.
And in the 78th, he finished a pass from Aaron Ramsey to complete his brace.
Final score: 5–0.
Bayswater Chinese FC crushed Gamba Osaka and advanced to the Club World Cup final.
In the final 20 minutes of the match, Yang Cheng had actually signaled to his players to ease up a bit.
At the very least, let Gamba Osaka score a consolation goal and save some face.
Everyone watching could tell—Bayswater Chinese FC were going easy on them.
But even then, the Japanese side couldn't find the back of the net.
Yang Cheng was helpless.
He couldn't exactly have his players start scoring own goals like some other country's team, right?
In the other semifinal, Ecuador's LDU Quito defeated Mexico's Pachuca 2–0, advancing to the final.
...
From a sporting perspective, the Club World Cup is often criticized as a logistical disaster.
Right before Christmas, during the tightest part of the European schedule, teams fly across continents to play two completely lopsided matches.
What's the point?
But from a commercial standpoint, the tournament is a gold mine.
FIFA offered a total of £10.7 million in prize money.
The winner takes half—£5 million straight to the club.
For Bayswater Chinese FC, that's a deal worth making.
But what they valued even more than the prize money?
The Asian market.
This trip to Japan wasn't just a football mission.
Yang Cheng was accompanied by Adam Crozier, Omar Berrada, and other top executives from the commercial department—a star-studded team focused on expanding the club's presence in Asia.
Sponsors like Puma showed up in full force too.
At Tokyo Airport, many fans wore Bayswater Chinese FC kits.
During the semifinal match, it was hard to count how many fans in the stands were wearing jerseys of the club and its star players.
These were the results of Puma's aggressive marketing campaigns.
Merchandise sales alone were generating serious revenue.
But not every plan was going smoothly.
A week before Bayswater Chinese FC arrived in Tokyo, Premier League CEO Richard Scudamore had already landed in Asia.
Now, he was in Tokyo too—here to watch the Club World Cup and to meet with Adam Crozier and Yang Cheng at the team's hotel.
His trip's agenda had already been leaked to the press:
Premier League Round 39.
This so-called "39th Round" wasn't a friendly—it was an official league fixture co-hosted by the Premier League and the AFC.
Yes, official—results would count toward the league standings.
The idea was to schedule the game either in January or after the season ends, using it as a vehicle to further tap into Asia's massive market potential.
Scudamore greeted Yang Cheng enthusiastically, praising Bayswater's past Asia tours in 2006 and 2007, which had drawn overwhelming attention.
Now, with the team in Japan for the Club World Cup, the buzz was even louder.
He called Bayswater Chinese FC "the Premier League's best ambassador in Asia."
But his mission this time? Not going well.
"I met with AFC President Mohamed bin Hammam," Scudamore said. "He's very interested in the 39th Round and believes it could significantly raise the level of Asian football."
"Countries and regions across the Middle East, East Asia, Southeast Asia, even North America—they all want to host this game. They're eager to see Premier League stars live."
Then Scudamore sighed.
"But both FIFA and UEFA are opposing the idea of hosting league matches in Asia."
That last line carried obvious frustration.
This was his project, one he'd fought hard for.
But the biggest resistance was from FIFA and UEFA.
"Why are they against it?" Adam Crozier asked, visibly irritated.
When global football's governing bodies said "we don't support this," they really meant "we oppose it."
And when both FIFA and UEFA oppose something, it's basically dead in the water.
"The reasons they give are always so high-sounding," Scudamore muttered, not elaborating.
But Yang Cheng had already figured it out.
At the end of the day—it was all about money and control.
With football's commercialization booming, all international tournaments were now monopolized by FIFA.
Take the Club World Cup, for example—it was previously known as the Toyota Cup.
FIFA had fought hard to take over that competition, rebrand it, and dump millions into prize money.
Why?
Because they wanted to control the revenue stream.
Just like UEFA monopolized European cross-border competitions with the Champions League and Europa League.
So when UEFA says no to Premier League overseas games, it's because they don't want the Premier League encroaching on their turf.
Of course, they'd never admit that. Instead, they'd say it's "to protect the fans."
"You know," Scudamore continued, "our overseas media rights are growing faster than domestic ones. In the near future, overseas rights might even surpass domestic revenue."
He wasn't exaggerating.
"If we could host official matches in the Middle East, Asia, or North America, I guarantee—we'd sell out every stadium."
"But right now, our hands are tied."
Crozier nodded vigorously. "Just look at the Club World Cup. It's only a few games, and the prize pool is £10.7 million. Knowing FIFA, they're making much more than that."
The commercial income from tournaments wasn't just about tickets and TV rights.
There were sponsorships, partnerships, and branding too.
The Toyota Cup had failed largely because its organizers weren't professional and didn't understand football.
Now that FIFA was in charge, the Club World Cup's status had skyrocketed.
The truth was, all 20 Premier League clubs wanted to play matches abroad.
Even managers and players were fine with it—as long as it didn't affect the domestic schedule.
Playing cup finals overseas? Sounds good—but not feasible.
League Cup finals are in February or March—the busiest time of the year. Logistically impossible.
The FA Cup final? Sure, the timing works—but no one dares to suggest moving it overseas.
Try that, and the British fans would riot.
So, in reality, moving finals abroad was not an option.
The Community Shield? Too low-profile.
Yang Cheng finally spoke.
"If Round 39 is dead in the water, then why not go all in on the Premier League's pre-season tour?"
Scudamore and Crozier both turned to him immediately.
If Yang Cheng had managed to build Bayswater Chinese FC into what it was today, his vision was clearly exceptional.
Scudamore had always respected him.
"I think the Premier League pre-season is still far too rough—disorganized, inconsistent, and honestly, a bit amateurish."
Even Scudamore nodded at that.
The league had been doing overseas pre-season tours for years, but they were random and scattered—not professionally executed.
Most of them felt like glorified friendlies.
That reminded Yang Cheng of the International Champions Cup.
That tournament's success proved that Asia and North America had a huge appetite for competitive summer matches.
"Why not formalize the Premier League's pre-season tour? Make it a regular, official event. Designate which clubs go where—plan everything well in advance."
The benefit of formalizing the format is that it facilitates commercial operations and allows for centralized broadcasting rights sales.
In contrast, the Premier League's current pre-season setup is inconsistent—some years it's held, some years it's not. The number of participating teams varies—sometimes three, sometimes four, sometimes none at all. There's no continuity.
Only with a stable structure can commercialization be truly effective.
"We should also rationally allocate and divide zones," Yang Cheng said.
"For example, five teams to North America, five to Asia, and then add a European zone, maybe even an African zone..."
He paused, then grinned, "If we really want to expand, we can even include a South American zone!"
That last comment made both Scudamore and Adam Crozier chuckle.
South America has long been a La Liga stronghold.
The Premier League does have a broadcast presence there, but nowhere near La Liga's influence.
Still, Yang Cheng's words planted a seed in their minds.
"If we turn it into a zone-based structure," Crozier said excitedly, "we can invite high-profile local clubs or even European giants to participate and immediately raise the tournament's appeal. I think this is totally viable."
Scudamore began calculating the numbers in his head.
The Premier League already had massive influence in North America and Asia.
If they could ride that momentum and grow pre-season into a major platform, it would be an incredible revenue generator.
As for structuring the format, that was the Premier League's specialty.
Even commercial partnerships and media resources were already in place.
Yang Cheng had his own motivations too.
He knew just how profitable the International Champions Cup had been.
He couldn't recall the exact start date, but from 2013 onward, ticket prices rose by 4% annually.
By 2015, the average ticket revenue per match reached $8 million—just from ticket sales alone.
In the China zone, the organizers had attracted 13 major sponsors, and broadcasting rights were sold to 170 countries and regions.
It was a gold mine, and the clubs' appearance fees kept climbing.
However, the ICC also had serious flaws.
Its massive commercial success led to reckless expansion.
The biggest issue? The American organizers lacked the experience and understanding needed to run football tournaments, which caused organizational chaos.
Couple that with inevitable conflicts of interest with top European clubs, and the tournament collapsed completely in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
But what that saga proved was clear: there is huge demand—from fans, clubs, and markets—for summer tournaments.
The key is maintaining sporting purity and professionalism, while developing a long-term IP that attracts Premier League and even top European clubs.
Hearing Yang Cheng's analysis, both Scudamore and Crozier immediately recognized the potential.
But this was a major initiative. Even if they were determined to push it forward, it wouldn't happen overnight.
...
December 21st, evening — Yokohama National Stadium.
Club World Cup Final: Bayswater Chinese FC vs LDU Quito (Ecuador)
Unlike the semifinal, Yang Cheng went all in with his strongest lineup for the final.
That was also FIFA's requirement.
The semifinals had some leeway, but the final had strict rules: only first-choice players allowed.
From the opening whistle, Bayswater Chinese FC took the initiative.
10th minute: Thiago Silva launched a 60-meter diagonal from the back.
Di María chested the ball down in the left channel, drove into the box, and cut it across the face of goal.
Džeko beat the defender and finished.
1–0!
Just 7 minutes later, Di María and Rakitić combined on the left.
Di María slalomed past three defenders and passed to Džeko at the top of the box.
The Bosnian unleashed a thunderous shot that rattled off the left post.
22nd minute: Modrić floated a pinpoint pass over the top.
Walcott burst in from deep and chipped the keeper from near the penalty spot.
2–0!
The first half ended with Bayswater firmly in control.
But only four minutes into the second half, a defensive error let LDU Quito strike back on the counter.
Argentine forward Bieler slipped past the backline and beat Neuer.
2–1.
From then on, the game turned into a thrilling back-and-forth.
Quito were not your typical South American side.
Instead of flair and finesse, they played defensive and physical counterattacks—a reflection of their Argentine coach, Edgardo Bauza.
It was this pragmatic style that had brought them the Copa Libertadores title.
After scoring, they pressed even harder.
In the 73rd minute, Yaya Touré played a diagonal to Di María.
The Argentine turned, accelerated down the left channel, broke into the box, and cut back from the endline.
Džeko met the pass at the edge of the six-yard box and smashed it home.
3–1!
And with that, Bayswater Chinese FC became Club World Cup champions.
The first English club in history to lift the trophy.
Džeko, with a brace in the final, was named Player of the Tournament.
The prize? A Toyota car from the sponsors.
But since Bayswater were backed by Mercedes-Benz, the car would be exchanged for cash instead.
...
While Bayswater were lifting their trophy in Tokyo, back in England, the Premier League was busy with Round 18.
In the biggest clash of the round, 2nd-placed Arsenal hosted 3rd-placed Liverpool at the Emirates.
The Gunners won 2–1, thanks to goals from Van Persie and Benzema, leapfrogging the Reds into second place.
Manchester United beat Wigan 1–0 with a Rooney goal.
Chelsea were held 0–0 at Everton.
So after 18 rounds, Bayswater Chinese FC—despite playing two fewer matches—still topped the table with 46 points.
Arsenal followed with 41.
United and Liverpool both had 38 (United ahead on goal difference).
Chelsea sat 5th with 35.
City were 6th with 33, after a 2–1 away win at West Brom—Kaká scored the winner.
Bayswater Chinese FC had officially claimed the Premier League mid-season title.
The media and fans around the world showered them with praise.
Before the season began, who would have thought Yang Cheng could sell two core players and still deliver this kind of performance?
But the Christmas fixture crunch was coming—and it would test them like never before.
December 26: away to Tottenham Hotspur.
December 28: home against Chelsea.
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