"Mark Lane!!!"
"A brace!"
"He killed the suspense of the match within ten minutes of coming on as a substitute!"
"This goal perfectly demonstrates his extraordinary predatory instinct in front of goal..."
Of course.
The reason Mark happened to be at the far post was naturally due to the effect of the Super Substitute card.
When Vieirinha broke through on the right wing and reached the byline, his intuition told him—he had to rush into the penalty area!
And after rushing into the penalty area, he had a premonition that the ball might come to the far post.
So, he followed his premonition, arrived at the far post, and completed this seemingly very simple goal.
Just like how Solskjaer appeared at the far post in that Champions League final years ago!
Of course, in addition to intuition, in the team's tactical playbook, wingers attacking the far post of the penalty area is also a regular move.
And this goal was a fatal blow for Hertha BSC.
What was originally a one-goal difference had now become two goals.
With twenty minutes left in the match, Hertha BSC, playing at home, naturally did not give up.
They simply pressed forward with even greater effort!
After all, losing by one is still a loss, and losing by two is also a loss. Under the gaze of tens of thousands of home fans, they couldn't just surrender!
Thus, Hertha BSC, for a time, pressed forward fiercely like mad dogs.
Wolfsburg, on the other hand, did not choose to retreat and defend, but instead sped up the pace of attack and defense, engaging in an open exchange of blows!
The previous match against Leverkusen had already made Hecking understand that only by embracing an attacking philosophy could the team unleash its full potential.
Only through offense could they defeat their opponents, and only by attacking could they defend, alleviating pressure on the defense.
With both sides pushing their formations forward, the game immediately became wide open!
One moment, Hertha BSC's attack advanced to the front, completing a shot;
The next moment, Wolfsburg launched a quick counterattack, creating a three-on-two situation in the attacking third!
Both sides were like putting on a boxing match for the fans, where 'whoever defends is a wimp,' with one punch after another.
Fortunately, Wolfsburg was still clearly a notch above in attack.
In the seventy-sixth minute, Wolfsburg's long pass from the back found Mark on the left wing. Mark carried the ball and surged along the sideline like a sharp sword, piercing into Hertha BSC's flank.
Then, from the left side of the edge of the penalty area, he delivered a perfectly weighted diagonal pass.
The substitute striker, "Lord" Bendtner, successfully beat the offside trap and unleashed a powerful right-footed shot, scoring his first goal for Wolfsburg!
After scoring, this slightly eccentric fellow was very excited and ran to the home fans' stand, putting his hands behind his ears in a very showy manner.
Of course, this move also earned him curses and international gestures from the home fans.
After the score became four-to-one, the Wolfsburg players couldn't help but relax a little, only for Hertha BSC to immediately pull a goal back:
In the seventy-ninth minute, Hertha BSC launched an attack from the left wing. Left-back Plattenhardt delivered a precise cross, helping Kalou score with a quick shot, narrowing the gap once again.
It's a pity that in the final ten minutes, both sides created numerous scoring opportunities but failed to capitalize on them.
Finally, the referee blew the whistle for the end of the match!
Thanks to Mark's brace in just ten minutes, and goals from Olić and Bendtner, Wolfsburg narrowly defeated Hertha BSC four-to-two away from home!
While securing their fifth consecutive League victory, they also firmly pushed Hertha BSC deeper into the relegation zone.
After the match, the Wolfsburg players in the locker room were excitedly singing and dancing.
And Hecking, returning to the locker room after the post-match press conference, was also beaming.
"Guys, we've achieved five consecutive wins!"
"I'm satisfied with your performance on the field!"
"Tomorrow is a day off!"
As soon as this news was announced, the Wolfsburg players all cheered in unison. This was because it was currently the time for Germany's largest folk festival, the Munich Oktoberfest, also known as Octoberfest.
Originating from the wedding celebrations of Ludwig I on October 12, 1810, it is held annually from late September to early October on the Theresienwiese (called "Wiesn" in Bavarian dialect) in Munich, lasting for two weeks, and is Munich's biggest event of the year!
As one of the world's three major beer festivals, alongside the London Beer Festival in the UK and the Denver Beer Festival in the US, the 181st
Munich Oktoberfest officially opened yesterday.
It's worth mentioning that Bayern players participate in the Oktoberfest every year.
Of course, in addition to Bayern players, stars from other Bundesliga teams, as well as celebrities from various fields, also attend this grand event.
Just like at last year's Oktoberfest, the Jamaican track and field athlete "Lightning" Bolt made an appearance!
After the match, on the bus ride back to Wolfsburg, the active member Gustavo suggested in the team chat: "Guys, how about we all go to the Oktoberfest tomorrow?"
This suggestion was also approved by many teammates.
Since the start of the League season, they had always focused on the team's matches and competition.
And the grand festival of Oktoberfest was a perfect opportunity for them to relax their minds and bodies.
However, faced with this suggestion, Mark found himself in a dilemma.
Because, on the opening day of Oktoberfest, Keeley Hazel had already sent him a message, hoping to attend the Oktoberfest with him!
However, she wasn't the only woman who had actively invited him.
Right after the match, Hisch also sent him a message.
She first congratulated Mark on winning the match, and then invited Mark to attend Oktoberfest with her. In fact, Hisch wasn't the type of girl who liked to take the initiative.
However, Mark's rumored relationship with Keeley Hazel had aroused her sense of crisis.
She thought Mark would explain it to her.
But Mark didn't.
This left her somewhat at a loss.
Mark had been so enthusiastic and proactive with her before, so why did he suddenly cool down?
Or was it that he felt she was difficult to approach, so he shifted his target?!
However, what she didn't know was that after experiencing a curvy and sexy goddess like Keeley Hazel, Mark had seemingly opened a new world.
And he had suddenly lost interest in Hisch's relatively slender model figure.
Being invited by two beautiful women at the same time was a blessing and a bother.
Because Mark knew very well that if he chose one, the other would definitely be sad.
After careful consideration, Mark finally made a decision:
He wouldn't choose either!
So, he sent messages to both Jili and Hisch, claiming that he was going to the Oktoberfest with his teammates and couldn't accompany her (or them).
Upon receiving the messages, Jili and Hisch felt regret, but also a slight sense of relief.
At least Mark hadn't chosen her rival in love...
The next day, morning.
Mark, De Bruyne, Gustavo, and other Wolfsburg players boarded a flight to Munich.
As a former Bayern player, Gustavo was very familiar with the Oktoberfest and served as everyone's guide.
They first went to a place to rent clothes, changed into traditional Bavarian attire, then rented two cars, and headed together to the Theresienwiese, where the Oktoberfest was held.
When the Wolfsburg players arrived, they were surprised to find that the entire festival site was simply packed with people!
...Mark, attending Oktoberfest for the first time, also showed a surprised expression: "Wow, so many people!"
Many men and women attending the festival, seeing the Wolfsburg players also dressed in traditional Bavarian attire, recognized some of them: "Mark!"
"I'm your fan!"
"Gustavo, long time no see!"
Compared to other stars who brought their families, Mark, being alone, seemed quite solitary.
Seeing Mark alone, De Bruyne was a little surprised: "Mark, where's your sexy English girlfriend? Why don't I see her?"
"She didn't come."
"What about that model Michelle introduced you to last time?"
"She didn't come either."
Hearing Mark's answer, Gustavo, like an experienced man, put his arm around Mark's shoulder and said earnestly: "Buddy, I told you early on not to play both sides; it's very troublesome.
"Now look, you've lost both!"
"No, they both wanted to ask me out, I just refused."
"Why?"
"Because I promised to come with you guys!"
Hearing this, Gustavo was first stunned, then gave a thumbs up: "Good brother!"
It is worth mentioning that due to Mark's immense popularity, his appearance once caused serious congestion at the scene.
Many people wanted to have a drink with this rising super genius of German football.
So, with the swift reaction of the organizers, Mark and others were also arranged in a specific beer tent.
In return, Mark also accepted a small interview with a reporter from the Munich Daily: "Mark, it's great to see you at Oktoberfest."
"Thank you."
"Is this your first Oktoberfest?"
As a German, Mark's predecessor had attended Oktoberfest more than once.
However, as a Chinese soul, this was truly his first Oktoberfest experience!
To him, it was no different from a Chinese market fair or temple fair.
Of course, he didn't answer that way, but said half-truthfully: "Too many times, I've forgotten which time it is."
"How's the atmosphere at Oktoberfest?"
"It's fantastic, whether it's the mellow beer or the delicious sausages, it's truly unforgettable..."
"How do you feel about the city of Munich?"
"Munich is great, the beer is delicious, and the people here are very enthusiastic..."
It was this polite answer that inspired the reporter to immediately concoct an article titled "Mark Longs for Munich" after the interview.
It's important to know that ever since he led Wolfsburg to defeat Bayern in the opening match of the season, there have been internal rumors that Bayern was observing Mark's performance, hoping to introduce this hottest imperial star of German football next season.
Many Bayern legends have praised Mark in various public settings.
However, in previous interviews, Mark had repeatedly expressed his love for Wolfsburg.
Of course, Mark didn't know that the Munich Daily reporter in front of him was so insidious.
But even if he knew, he wouldn't care.
After all, the media using selective quoting is not a new thing...
Besides the usual questions, the reporter also asked about Mark's rumored relationships with the two beautiful women.
He tried to find out from the person involved which one was the true girlfriend of this great German imperial star.
However, Mark, who was already an experienced interviewee, simply deflected the reporter's attack by avoiding the topic: "Today is for enjoying Oktoberfest, not discussing personal life."
After the interview, Mark returned to the tent where the Wolfsburg players were, and celebrated with his teammates.
"Cheers!"
The team had just achieved a club-record five consecutive wins, and the players were in high spirits.
Everyone held large beers, drank, sang, danced, and enjoyed delicious roasted pork knuckles and various sausages.
After several beers, the distance between teammates was greatly narrowed, and the team's atmosphere surged with the sounds of "chugging."
Subsequently, everyone also fulfilled the small requests of the fans present, taking photos and signing autographs... It's worth mentioning that when posing for a photo with a female fan, she actually turned and kissed Mark on the cheek.
Then, in subsequent photos, every female fan would kiss him on the cheek.
Mark was also high on beer and accepted all comers.
However, when a bearded old man wanted to kiss him, he quickly refused.
This humorous scene also made everyone present burst into laughter.
The Wolfsburg players stayed (and drank) in the tent until 5 PM before reluctantly leaving.
Since they had all drunk at least five or six beers, the organizers specially arranged a bus to take everyone to Munich Airport.
As the plane back to Wolfsburg took off, Mark, sitting by the window, looked down at the entire city of Munich and couldn't help but feel a sense of unparalleled dominance.
For him, Munich was indeed a more interesting city than Wolfsburg.
Moreover, he had left beautiful memories in this city, such as defeating the Bundesliga hegemon Bayern under the gaze of over seventy thousand fans at Allianz Arena!
This season, his goal was to break Bayern's monopoly on the Bundesliga title.
Defeating Bayern in the Supercup and the opening match was just the beginning.
He knew very well that once Bayern overcame this period of injuries and their key players returned, they would be virtually unstoppable in the entire Bundesliga!
Especially the stability of Guardiola's tiki-taka style in crushing weaker teams was terrifying.
Don't look at Wolfsburg leading Bayern by seven points now; that's only two matches' worth of difference.
Next, they must continue to maintain their current winning momentum and try to maintain and expand their lead as much as possible.
Only then will they have more confidence in their second direct confrontation with Bayern this season on January 30th!