Lu Chuan's third goal has arrived!
The second half began, and Rayo Vallecano's tactics underwent a clear change.
The entire team was serving Lu Chuan alone, with Óscar Trejo and José Pozo constantly delivering passes into the penalty area.
Wingers Thiago Bebe and Andrés Martín also frequently cut inside, tearing open defenses for Lu Chuan.
This tactic completely panicked Barakaldo's players.
Their defense was shattered, and everyone was frantically chasing Lu Chuan's shadow.
"Pass! Pass!" Trejo shouted loudly in midfield, his voice echoing in the empty stadium.
Lu Chuan began his shooting exhibition.
In the 51st minute, he suddenly shot from outside the penalty area. The shot was at a tricky angle, but goalkeeper Javi Ruiz desperately dived, his fingertips just managing to tip the ball out for a corner.
"Ah!" The Rayo Vallecano fans in the stands let out a sigh of regret.
In the 57th minute, Thiago Bebe crossed from the right wing, the ball drawing a perfect arc in the air.
Lu Chuan leaped high in the penalty area, his body stretching out in mid-air, unleashing a powerful volley!
"Bang!" The ball slammed heavily against the crossbar, making a deafening sound.
The entire stadium could hear that loud impact. Fans in the stands clutched their chests, their hearts almost stopping.
The crossbar was still trembling. Lu Chuan shook his head in frustration after landing. Such a good opportunity, yet it hit the crossbar.
Martín crossed after breaking through on the left wing, and Lu Chuan received the ball in a very tight angle within the six-yard box.
He didn't hesitate at all, shooting directly, but the shot went just wide of the far post.
"Damn it, just by a little!" Álvaro García jumped up from the bench, his palms sweating from tension.
Barakaldo's defense was completely thrown into disarray.
Félix Cala and Óscar Platz could only stop Lu Chuan with constant fouls, both receiving a yellow card early in the second half.
Platz's legs felt a bit weak, his mind was blank, with only one thought: don't let that number 19 get the ball again.
"Félix, mark him! Don't give him another chance!" Barakaldo's goalkeeper Javi Ruiz shouted at his defenders, his voice already trembling slightly.
"He's unstoppable!" Fernando Sánchez slammed his fist on the table. "Rayo Vallecano has found a sharp knife that can tear open any defense! All Barakaldo can do now is pray!"
His partner, Juan Carlos, also couldn't help but exclaim, "This young man is only 19 this year, but his performance on the field is nothing like a rookie.
Every shot is threatening, every run is perfectly timed. Barakaldo's players have been completely bewildered by him."
AS the match entered the 75th minute, Lu Chuan finally got his chance.
Trejo took the ball in midfield. He lifted his head, scanning the attacking third. Lu Chuan was currently battling with Platz.
Just then, Lu Chuan suddenly accelerated, his explosive power instantly shaking off the defender behind him.
The moment Lu Chuan accelerated, Trejo's right foot also moved, a low diagonal pass piercing the gap between Platz and the full-back. The ball's trajectory seemed tailor-made for Lu Chuan's sprint.
Lu Chuan successfully beat the offside trap, creating a one-on-one opportunity!
The Las Gaunas Stadium instantly fell silent; everyone held their breath.
Javi Ruiz saw Lu Chuan was through on goal and immediately rushed out of the box, wanting to clear the ball before Lu Chuan could shoot.
Facing the charging goalkeeper, Lu Chuan's eyes showed no fluctuation. His heartbeat even slowed by half a beat, and his footwork remained agile.
He didn't choose to shoot directly but deftly pushed the ball to the right with the outside of his foot, completely unbalancing Javi Ruiz!
AS the goalkeeper fell, Lu Chuan easily tapped the ball into the empty net!
3-0!
A hat-trick!
"Goal! Goal! Goal!" Commentator Fernando Sánchez roared wildly, his voice echoing over the entire stadium.
Lu Chuan finally released all his passion. He sprinted to the corner flag, slid on his knees, performing a knee-slide celebration! Turf flew up under his knees, and his jersey was covered in mud and grass stains.
This was his first hat-trick in professional football in Spain!
All his teammates rushed over like madmen, piling on top of him.
Trejo jumped on his back, Mario Suárez vigorously patted his shoulder, and Thiago Bebe was even moved to tears.
"Lu Chuan! Lu Chuan! Lu Chuan!" The Rayo Vallecano fans in the away stand chanted his name in unison, their voices shaking the heavens.
Paco Jémez on the sidelines finally smiled. He turned and patted Assistant Coach Carlos Zaragoza on the shoulder: "This kid's predatory instinct in front of goal is innate."
Zaragoza nodded vigorously: "I've never seen such an intuitive young player. Every one of his shots seems precisely calculated."
Paco then signaled for a substitution. He told young Antonin Cortés to get ready. "Lu Chuan, come off!" He made a substitution gesture towards Lu Chuan on the field.
When Lu Chuan walked towards the sideline, the entire Las Gaunas Stadium stood up.
Most of the home fans were still booing loudly, but some rational Basque fans stood up and applauded the young striker's brilliant performance.
"Remember this name, Lu Chuan," a veteran Barakaldo fan told his son. "Someday we can boast that we were conquered by him in this small stadium before he became famous."
Lu Chuan walked to the sideline and high-fived Antonin Cortés for the substitution.
AS he passed the coaching bench, Paco Jémez firmly patted his shoulder.
"Well done, kid," Paco's voice carried an unprecedented satisfaction.
Lu Chuan sat on the bench, accepting congratulations from his teammates. His jersey was soaked with sweat, but a satisfied smile was on his face.
"Ding! A resounding victory!"
The system's prompt sounded in his mind.
"Match Rating: 9.8 (Man of the Match)"
"LP Gained: 200 (Match Win) + 200 (MOTM) + 50 (Normal Goal) + 100 (Header) + 50 (One-on-one) + 150 (Hat-trick) = 750LP!"
"Current LP Balance: 50 + 750 = 800LP"
Looking at the data on the system panel, a sense of accomplishment welled up in Lu Chuan's heart. 800LP meant he was one step closer to those advanced skills.
The final whistle blew, and the score was set at 3-0, with Rayo Vallecano advancing comfortably.
After the match, Lu Chuan was surrounded by a group of reporters.
Flashbulbs continuously flickered, and microphones were practically shoved into his face.
"Lu Chuan, what are your thoughts on your hat-trick?" A reporter squeezed to the front.
Lu Chuan tidied his sweat-soaked hair: "This is an unforgettable night in my career." His voice was calm and humble. "Thanks to the trust of the coach and my teammates."
"Do you think you're ready to perform at a higher level of competition?" another reporter pressed.
Lu Chuan shook his head: "This is just the Copa del Rey. My goal is to do the same thing in the League."
"There are rumors that La Liga teams are very interested in you. What do you think?"
"I'm currently only focused on Rayo Vallecano's matches."
Lu Chuan's answers were impeccable.
The next day, Madrid's AS sports section reported on the match with a small page.
Although the space was small, the headline was eye-catching—"The 'New Vallecas Gun' from China Ignites Copa del Rey with a Hat-trick!"
The report read: "This 19-year-old Chinese striker announced his arrival with a perfect performance.
Three goals, each demonstrating different technical characteristics. Lu Chuan's name is one every Spanish football fan should remember."
Lu Chuan's name, for the first time in a true sense, entered the sight of mainstream Spanish football media.
On the bus back to Madrid, Lu Chuan's phone rang.
It was Carlos calling.
"Lu!" Carlos's voice was full of excitement. "Do you know? Joma saw your performance, and they've decided to immediately start endorsement negotiations with you!"
Lu Chuan held his phone, his heart rate accelerating slightly: "Really?"
"They believe you are their key to opening the Asian market!" Carlos's voice grew more agitated. "And there's even more important news."
Lu Chuan waited for him to continue.
"The national team..." Carlos lowered his voice, "It seems someone has noticed you."
Lu Chuan suddenly stood up from his seat.
The height of the bus compartment forced him to hunch his back, but he didn't care, only pressing: "Are you saying... the real national team?"
"What's the specific situation?"
"I can't reveal too much for now, but my source is very reliable."
Carlos's tone became serious, "Lu, you need to be prepared. Opportunity has come, but pressure will follow."
After hanging up the phone, Lu Chuan leaned against the cold bus window.
The joy of the hat-trick, the unexpected Joma endorsement, and the huge impact brought by the words "national team"—all these mixed together, leaving him unsure whether to be excited or feel pressured.
A hat-trick, an endorsement contract, national team attention... all of this came too quickly.
He closed his eyes, his father's words surfacing in his mind: "You don't just represent yourself; you carry the hopes of many people."
Now, that hope seemed to have grown heavier.