Chapter 65: Tactical Moves
"Wow! What just happened is truly a spectacle! First, Mallorca hit the post right at the start of the second half, then Arsenal quickly counterattacked, and Kion missed a sitter from practically point-blank range! Both teams narrowly avoided disaster! It's exhilarating—I'm sure many fans' hearts are still racing. This is the beauty of football—who would've thought that Mallorca's first threatening attack nearly resulted in a goal? And no one could have predicted that after creating a solid goal-scoring chance, they'd almost concede right away..."
"Luck still favors Mallorca! Although Tristan's shot that hit the post was unfortunate, slow-motion replay shows that his shot actually grazed Adams' foot. Arsenal's defense did everything they could to block Mallorca's attack, but when it came to Arsenal's counter, Mallorca could barely mount any defense. Kion, however, missed a clear-cut chance. The score is still 0-0, meaning the match remains in a stalemate!"
In reality, both of these attacks left both teams' coaches and players in shock.
Arsenal was surprised by Mallorca's attacking power—Tristan's shot hitting the post showed they had the ability to score against them. Even though that attack had a bit of luck due to Arsenal's defenders being caught off guard, the Mallorca players were keenly aware that if they pushed forward and got caught by a counter, Arsenal's attack could be terrifying. Despite Mallorca's defense staying solid throughout, they still created a killer chance. Fortunately, the coach had opted for a defensive strategy; if it had been a back-and-forth exchange with the opponent, the defense might have already been torn apart...
This scare was a valuable lesson for Mallorca: even Eto'o and Tristan realized that it was better to play it safe with defense...
So after everyone's emotions were stirred up, they were disappointed to see the match return to a boring deadlock, with Mallorca's tight defense and Arsenal having no effective solution.
The only difference from the first half was that Mallorca's defense was even more resolute and stable!
Arsenal's players continued their patient attacks. Following Wenger's instructions during halftime, they first tried breaking through the flanks, then suddenly switched sides to mount another attack, but the results weren't good. Mallorca's defense was a collective effort, and their numbers allowed them to quickly concentrate force in key areas, covering any gaps with only a few steps.
After a few attempts at this back-and-forth approach, Arsenal's players realized this wasn't effective. They returned to their previous attacking method—relentlessly pressuring Mallorca's defense, hoping to create cracks in the wall with constant force. It was the simplest approach, yet, in some ways, the most effective.