Sneijder chased back while watching everything unfold, completely speechless.
I've said it a hundred times—Cristiano Ronaldo doesn't have a damn pass button.
Why would anyone guard against Kai shooting?
Ronaldo would never pass the ball to Kai.
When you're facing a super scorer like Cristiano Ronaldo, you must defend him with everything you've got. If you can stop him, then stop him properly.
Don't get greedy!
"Equalizer! Sporting Lisbon have equalized!"
"Three–three! Unbelievable!"
"Sporting Lisbon score twice in just six minutes!"
"Cristiano Ronaldo completes his hat trick! He's playing like a god descending to earth today!"
"The partnership between him and Kai is absolutely lethal. The Ajax goalkeeper had no chance at all!"
"And let's not forget Manuel's long counterattacking pass."
"The quality of the pass wasn't perfect, but it didn't matter. When you have two lightning-fast attackers like Ronaldo and Kai up front, accuracy becomes secondary."
"For those two speed demons, timing is everything! As long as the timing is right, even a sloppy long ball can turn into a killer assist!"
Sneijder watched as Deng Kai rushed past him and celebrated with Cristiano Ronaldo, Kai, Lorenzo, and the rest.
Suddenly, he understood something.
It wasn't about whether Sporting Lisbon needed a playmaker.
He finally understood why Deng Kai had looked at him earlier—why, before the counterattack, Deng Kai had aggressively demanded the ball and deliberately run toward Sneijder's defensive zone.
He was dragging Sneijder out of position.
If Sneijder hadn't stepped up, his position would have been right in Ronaldo's cutting path off the ball.
Sneijder might not be able to outrun Ronaldo—but could he have grabbed him? Pulled him down?
He would've had a chance to stop the attack.
He'd been led around by the nose.
For the first time, Sneijder felt real pressure from the opposing midfielder.
Although they hadn't directly confronted each other much, they'd already fought several tactical battles through their teams.
Right now, the situation wasn't good for Sneijder.
Van der Vaart was practically invisible.
Ronaldo, on the other side, was still a monster.
And Kai was like a newly unleashed wild horse.
Fine.
I'll go to war myself.
Sneijder adjusted his thinking and began signaling subtle tactical changes to his teammates.
82nd minute.
Sneijder pushed forward personally to help create chances.
Defending Van der Vaart was already troublesome for Sporting Lisbon—but Sneijder's sudden involvement made things even more dangerous.
However, the moment Sneijder released the ball—
Deng Kai came flying in with a sliding tackle and knocked him down.
Sneijder jumped up angrily, spread his hands, then walked over and bumped into Deng Kai. When Deng Kai stepped forward, the two pressed foreheads together.
The referee rushed in and separated them.
Yellow card to Deng Kai—for the sliding tackle.
Sneijder protested, arguing it should've been a red.
Deng Kai's pupils shrank.
Damn it.
Sneijder was trying to bait him into a red card.
Sometimes a challenge is only worth a yellow—but if the "victim" acts miserable or furious enough, it can influence the referee.
Sneijder's shove wouldn't earn him a card. But if Deng Kai retaliated? That could mean a second yellow.
After realizing this, Deng Kai instantly calmed down. He even flashed Sneijder a faint smile.
Sneijder was resorting to mind games.
That meant he was anxious.
Worried.
Afraid of losing.
The balance of victory was tilting toward Sporting Lisbon.
Sneijder's face darkened. He knew Deng Kai had seen through him—but he forced himself to stay calm.
87th minute.
Kai tracked back aggressively, stole the ball cleanly, and passed it to Deng Kai.
As Deng Kai received it, he used his arm to shield Sneijder, who was pressing him hard.
Sneijder tried to overpower him physically—but Deng Kai's upper-body strength surprised him. He held firm.
Boom!
Deng Kai launched another long counterattack pass.
Cristiano Ronaldo received the ball but was surrounded. Relying on his technique, he managed to win a throw-in.
From the sideline restart, Lorenzo rose for a header—but it drifted just wide.
Sporting Lisbon were clearly dominating now.
89th minute.
Deng Kai received the ball and faced Sneijder's aggressive press.
With a sharp croqueta-style touch, he burst past him.
Seeing Deng Kai about to break away, Sneijder stuck out his leg and tripped him.
The referee blew the whistle.
Yellow card to Sneijder.
Deng Kai stood up and gave him a playful wink.
Sneijder nearly exploded in rage.
But he restrained himself.
He wasn't going to fall for it.
The two young midfield generals displayed every trick in the book—clean and dirty alike. The tension between them was suffocating.
90th minute.
Sporting Lisbon took a quick tactical free kick. Deng Kai controlled the ball in midfield.
Van der Vaart, who had been conserving energy for half the match, suddenly lunged forward to press.
But Deng Kai casually dragged the ball behind his standing foot and slipped past him.
Van der Vaart overcommitted. He didn't even have the strength left to stop and turn.
He was done.
Sneijder, however, timed his challenge perfectly and charged in.
Deng Kai had just completed a technical move and couldn't evade the pressure—
But boom!
After releasing the ball forward, Deng Kai exploded with acceleration and caught up to it, turning the move into another lightning-fast croqueta burst.
Sneijder's eyes widened.
He's even faster now?!
Knowing he was beaten, Sneijder converted his attempted poke into a full tackle, stretching out and bringing Deng Kai down.
The referee put the whistle to his lips.
Clear foul.
But he hesitated.
Because Deng Kai bounced up immediately, regained possession, and continued forward.
By now, Ajax's full-back had arrived.
The stumbling Deng Kai pulled off yet another explosive touch to escape.
"This is dangerous…"
Sporting Lisbon's attackers were flooding into the box again.
"At this distance, Deng Kai could play a through ball or a reverse pass," the commentator analyzed. "He excels from this area."
But Deng Kai saw that every teammate inside the penalty area was tightly marked.
Passing wasn't the best option.
So he decided—
Screw it.
I'll shoot.
Boom!
From at least thirty meters out, Deng Kai unleashed a ferocious long-range strike toward goal.
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