Chapter 14: Not Only Scoring Goals, But This Guy's Dribbling Is Also So Unbelievable?
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3:1! After clawing back a goal, the match quickly resumed thanks to Lin Hao's swift return to position! Although Bayern Munich had just witnessed Lin Hao score an astonishing world-class strike—one that even Klose would have admired—it did little to dampen their spirits. After all, Bayern still held a comfortable two-goal lead, and to their superstar-laden squad, Lin Hao’s goal seemed like nothing more than a stroke of luck.
It was entirely possible that this young Schalke 04 player might never score another like it in his lifetime. Even Bergkamp had only once executed his signature perfect turn. The Bayern players barely reacted, and Van Gaal, who had been composed all match, merely gestured for Schweinsteiger to keep an eye on Lin Hao, then said no more. To Van Gaal, a world-class goal was just that—one spectacular shot. It might inspire a struggling Schalke 04 to fight a little harder, but beyond that, it posed no real threat.
And so, with the referee’s whistle, Bayern resumed their methodical offensive push. There were no new tactics—Bayern, fully aware of Schalke’s weaknesses, unsurprisingly fed the ball back to Ribéry. But this time, before Ribéry could even get going, Lin Hao sprinted directly from the forward line right up to his face.
“Oh! Lin Hao's back on the wing!”
“Looks like Magath specifically told Lin Hao to keep an eye on Hao Junmin’s flank in defense.”
“Facing Ribéry!”
“Not just Lin Hao, Baumjohann has come over too!”
“A double-team!”
“Ribéry’s still dribbling!”
At the Veltins-Arena, Lin Hao’s explosive strike had resurrected a Schalke 04 side that had looked completely defeated. Lin Hao and Baumjohann clung to Ribéry like their lives depended on it.
Ribéry at his peak was formidable—speed, footwork, agility—no matter how hard Lin Hao and Baumjohann tried, they couldn’t dispossess him outright. Yet, Ribéry also struggled to shake off the double-team.
On Bayern’s side, seeing Ribéry pushed to the flank by the double team, Schweinsteiger and Lahm quickly rushed to his side to offer support. But Lahm was shadowed relentlessly by a rejuvenated Raul, who showed no concern for his stamina. Meanwhile, young Rakitić stuck close beside the much stronger Schweinsteiger.
In football, morale is the most magical element. Just like Schalke 04 at this moment: their spirits soaring, they suddenly overwhelmed a Bayern Munich that had moved freely moments before, leaving them flustered.
Especially when Hao Junmin, who had been humiliated by Ribéry and was on the verge of collapse, suddenly lunged forward and, with a 3v1 advantage, stole the ball from Ribéry’s feet. The dynamic shifted instantly, with what seemed like Bayern’s regained control flipped.
“Hao Junmin’s sudden tackle!”
“Wow, what a beautiful move!”
“Hao Junmin just poked the ball away from Ribéry!”
“Hao Junmin!”
“Dribbling down the wing!”
“Lahm’s coming up!”
“Instead of blindly trying to dribble past, Hao Junmin paused slightly and passed to the trailing Rakitić!”
“Schweinsteiger’s blocking head-on!”
In 2010, Rakitić was only 22 years old. Though not yet matured enough to anchor Barcelona’s midfield as he would in later years, he had already proven his immense talent in the Bundesliga during over three years of hard work.
Facing the well-established Schweinsteiger, Rakitić first feigned a pass back to Hao Junmin, tricking Schweinsteiger into shifting his weight slightly to the left… just a fraction.
At that instant, Rakitić, who was initially sideways, flicked the ball sharply to his left with the arch of his right foot, while twisting his body awkwardly to the opposite side of Schweinsteiger.
And just like that, Rakitić outmaneuvered Schweinsteiger, regarded as Germany’s strongest midfielder at the time!
“Beautiful!”
“Number 10 of Schalke 04 indeed!”
“That was a stunning move!”
“Gotta say, Lin Hao’s goal was absolutely crucial.”
“One goal completely restored Schalke 04’s morale!”
Commentator He Wei praised the young Rakitić enthusiastically.
On the pitch, within just two minutes—from Lin Hao’s goal to Rakitić’s brilliant dribble—Schweinsteiger, who had been toyed with twice now, was visibly shaken.
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Adjusting his balance, Schweinsteiger spun quickly! Determined to regain his dignity immediately from this Schalke midfielder, even if it meant a yellow card, he moved in.
But to his surprise, Rakitić, after beating him, passed the ball early to the irritating Schalke No. 23 youngster.
Boom!
What does a goal bring? At this moment, the roaring crowd at the Veltins-Arena answered that question best. Even though many Schalke fans didn’t know Lin Hao’s name, that didn’t stop them from cheering wildly for the young man who had reignited their hope.
Amidst the reawakened Schalke anthem echoing through the stadium, Lin Hao, empowered by a double buff, charged boldly toward Bayern’s backfield.
An 80 speed rating—modest compared to Ribéry and Robben’s near-90—was more than enough for a center forward.
Lin Hao strode purposefully into Bayern’s defensive heartland.
Now fired up, Schweinsteiger and Hamit Altıntop lunged desperately toward Lin Hao from opposite sides.
Having witnessed Lin Hao’s long-range shot power, Schweinsteiger was the first to shadow him closely before he reached the penalty area.
Schweinsteiger tried to position himself to block Lin Hao’s shooting angle, but just as he shifted his body to cut off the shot, Lin Hao suddenly slammed on the brakes!
Not just braking—Lin Hao smoothly pulled the ball back with the tip of his foot behind him, then nudged it slightly to his left.
Stop, pull, nudge.
Three clean, effortless moves.
Lin Hao had just bypassed Bayern’s strongest midfield duo: Hamit Altıntop and Schweinsteiger!
Hamit’s eyes widened.
He had anticipated Lin Hao’s sudden stop and had preemptively extended his leg to intercept—only to be utterly fooled. How did this kid anticipate his anticipation?
Boom!
A blistering goal ignites the stadium. Just as much, such dazzling footwork sends the thirsty Schalke fans into ecstasy.
“Beautiful!”
“That dribble by Lin Hao was stunning!”
“Oh my god!”
“To do this against Schweinsteiger and Hamit Altıntop!”
“Only 18 years old!”
“On a stage like the Super Cup final!”
“Even without considering the outcome, just having the courage to pull off those moves is unmatched domestically!”
“18 years old!”
“I can barely imagine Lin Hao’s future…”
—“Damn, that move… that stop, pull, nudge… absolute world-class!”
—“Right? Is he even Chinese? Maybe mixed blood? Samba in his veins?”
—“Shut up, what nonsense! Only Brazilians can dribble? Remember, football originated in China…”
—“Tsk tsk, one dribble and you’re already winning? Origin story now? Face reality, stop dreaming of the Celestial Empire!”
—“I just wanted to compliment Lin Hao’s dribble, what’s wrong with you guys?”
...
After that one dribble, not only did Schalke fans erupt, but even commentator He Wei was trembling with excitement.
Yet Lin Hao on the pitch paid no mind to the fans’ cheers. After shaking off Bayern’s entire midfield defense with a move he’d never dared dream of without his buffs, he keenly spotted his captain making a run into Bayern’s penalty area.
At that moment, seeing the gap in Bayern’s defense, Lin Hao did not hesitate. Though he knew his outside foot technique was poor, empowered by buffs, he confidently smashed a fierce curling pass with the outside of his left foot toward the lower left edge of the penalty area.
“A casual touch!”
“Lin Hao!”
“Direct pass!”
“Whoa, an outside-foot pass?”
“Outside foot!”
As Lin Hao sent the ball, commentator He Wei jumped to his feet, having anticipated the run of Schalke’s No. 7 and the flight path of Lin Hao’s pass.
Inside Bayern’s penalty area!
At the same moment, Van Buyten, who had been scrambling to cover midfield, regretted it deeply. He saw Raul—the player he had worried over all night—burst past his side.
And that No. 23, who had just scored on them, casually curved the ball past Van Buyten with the outside of his foot.
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The arc was so perfect that interception was impossible.
Van Buyten turned anxiously to Raul.
Inside the box, after a frustrating night, Raul received the pass from his teammate and without hesitation unleashed a fierce right-footed strike.
Bang!
That was the roar of the proud Ring King!
It also sounded the final rallying cry of Schalke 04’s desperate counterattack.
“Raul!”
“Facing the advancing Kraft!”
“A ruthless, thunderous shot!”
“The ball flew straight into the bottom corner of Bayern Munich’s goal without any deviation!”
“2:3!!!”
“69th minute!”
“Schalke 04, fueled by relentless pressing and led by Hao Junmin’s interception, Rakitić’s transition, and Lin Hao’s perfect midfield escape and outside-foot assist to Raul, have narrowed the score!”
“2:3!!!”
“Now, Schalke 04 has hope with 20 minutes remaining!!!”
At the Veltins-Arena, as the referee’s goal confirmation whistle blew, Magath on the Schalke bench was already sprinting excitedly along the sideline.
Honestly, when he subbed in Lin Hao, Magath only intended to expose the young man to the toughest Bundesliga challenge early, so he’d understand the obstacles ahead in the new season.
But… damn, it seemed he’d got it backwards.
Ten seconds on the pitch, a goal scored, and within minutes, a sublime dribble and outside-foot assist to Raul.
Within less than ten minutes, what seemed a hopeless 0-3 deficit had become an even 2-3.
Damn… damn…
Eighteen years old, and against Bayern!
Even Huntelaar, who had been at Real Madrid, had been substituted after an unremarkable 60 minutes.
An eighteen-year-old, a U20 player from the third division… was performing like this!
Just like that!
Magath was once again thrown into chaos!
Meanwhile, not far away at the Bayern bench, after ten minutes of having his perfect scenario dismantled by Lin Hao, Van Gaal finally lost his composure.
“Damn it, didn’t you say this guy is just third-division quality? Did you check his data carefully?”
“Third division and this kind of skill?”
“............”
On the sidelines, Van Gaal and Magath each entered their own new mental states.
On the pitch, after the goal was confirmed, the long-restrained Raul tore off his shirt in jubilation and charged toward the Schalke fans.
Though a legend who had scored countless spectacular goals, this was Raul’s first for Schalke 04—and at such a critical moment.
Not only Raul, but Lin Hao, Baumjohann, Rakitić, Hao Junmin—all Schalke 04 players embraced each other.
“Raul!”
“Raul!”
“Raul!!!”
In the stands, Schalke fans, inspired by their team’s heroics, shouted without restraint.
Meanwhile, “Lin! Great pass!” Raul, shirtless, ruffled Lin Hao’s hair affectionately.
With the captain setting the example, others followed suit, tousling Lin Hao’s hair too.
Okay!
Though his cool hairstyle was now a mess, Lin Hao smiled brightly and glanced at the big screen on the side.
2:3!!!
Twenty minutes left, with buffed abilities—could today’s destined runner-up crown…
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