host must win

Chapter 320 The Challenge from Henry

On the third weekend of April, the 4th round of the Premier League started one after another.Arsenal took the lead in the game, and the Gunners slaughtered Leeds United 34:5 at home, and rose to the top of the standings again.And Henry showed his power in this round of the game, staged a big four, and raised his league goals to 0 goals, surpassing Yin Jun to occupy the top scorer list.

A day later, United traveled down the south coast to challenge Portsmouth at Fratton Park.

Portsmouth are on the brink of the relegation zone, former Manchester United striker Sheringham was placed on the bench, while Primus and Faye both started after passing physical tests before the game.

For Manchester United, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Roy Keane, Ronaldo and Phil Neville are all absent from the starting lineup due to injury. In addition, this is the third game played by Manchester United in a week. The first round of the Champions League semi-finals is about to usher in again, which makes Ferguson's deployment of troops encounter a big problem.

After the start of the game, Portsmouth, whose relegation is more important than anything else, looked vigorous at home. Although Manchester United had a slight advantage in strength, the home team's ferocious pressing once made the Red Devils at a loss.It is difficult for both sides to find a breakthrough space in the confrontation, and there are very few opportunities to shoot in the frontcourt.

However, Manchester United took the lead in creating a murderous opportunity.

In the 13th minute, Yin Jun made a 40-yard pass from the left, and Forlan headed the goal 10 yards in front of the restricted area, slightly wide of the goal.

4 minutes later, Gary Neville crossed from the right and Scholes missed a shot near the penalty spot.

Because he was overtaken by Henry in the scorer list, Yin Jun is very active today.Although he is a midfielder in the starting lineup, he is more active on the front line in the game.

In the 23rd minute, O'Shea dribbled the ball all the way from the backcourt and drove straight in.After taking almost 50 meters the ball was passed to the right, and Gary Neville delivered a fine cross.In the penalty area, Yin Jun jumped high, shook his head and attacked the goal, sending the ball into Portsmouth's goal.

1:0, Manchester United took the lead.

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The lagging Portsmouth immediately launched a counterattack and equalized the score after 13 minutes.Lua Lua broke through from the right and made a cross. Stone missed the ball under Brown's pressure. Yakubu blocked the ball from a far point before Gary Neville. Stab and shoot.

The morale of Portsmouth, which equalized the score, soared and continued to besiege Manchester United's goal. Manchester United seemed very passive.

When the first half was about to enter injury time, the home team almost expanded the score. Lua Lua headed back in the penalty area and Yakubu volleyed from 18 yards from the center.Manchester United goalkeeper Carroll was ill-prepared for the shot, but Yakubu's shot just missed the goal.

Although the goal was not scored, Manchester United was still frightened into a cold sweat.Ferguson even ran to the sidelines, shouting loudly to the players on the field, asking the team to strengthen their defense in the last 2 minutes of the first half, so as not to allow the opponents to score.

During the intermission, Ferguson turned on the hair dryer again in the locker room. This time even Yin Jun was sprayed bloody by him.

Yin Jun kept silent, he knew that his performance in the first half was substandard.

As the core of the team's offensive organization, he nailed himself in the penalty area. Although he also scored a goal, it also made the team lose control of the midfield and made the team very passive on the field. .

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After the start of the second half, Yin Jun returned to his position and joined forces with Scholes to control the midfield.This changed the situation on the field all of a sudden, and the ball was firmly controlled by Manchester United.

After stabilizing the situation, Yin Jun began to try to plan an attack.

Just 5 minutes later, Solskjaer got an excellent opportunity by interspersed running in the middle. He received Yin Jun's through ball and kicked a strong shot, which almost pierced Portsmouth's goal.

But just when the situation on the field is more and more inclined to Manchester United, when it feels that the goal will come at any time, the goal has not happened for a long time.Several players on Manchester United's offensive line felt very cold on their feet.

Seeing Manchester United's delay in scoring goals, Ferguson couldn't sit still.In the 60th minute, Ronaldo replaced Djimba with the injured Ronaldo.

Seeing Manchester United strengthen their offense, this made Portsmouth more determined to defend.All of them retreated to the vicinity of their own penalty area, using intensive tactics to block Manchester United's offense.

Portsmouth's shrinking defense left Manchester United at a loss. Manchester United's breakthroughs and crosses were still blocked by the home team's tenacious defense, and long-range shots were frequently blocked by Portsmouth players.

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Seeing less and less game time, Manchester United players have become more and more impatient.

Ferguson's brows were deeply frowned, because Ruud van Nistelrooy was absent due to injury, it was difficult for Manchester United to make adjustments on the offensive line.After replacing Ronaldo, the other four players on the bench are all defensive players. Even if they are replaced, they will not help the offense.

Manchester United is in a hurry, but Portsmouth is in no hurry.A tie with Manchester United at home, scoring 1 point is completely acceptable to them.

Ferguson finally made another substitution adjustment at the No.80 second minute. He replaced Fran with Fletcher.

This substitution seems to be inclined to conservative adjustments, but in fact it is not.Because after Fran left the field, Yin Jun was put on the front line, forming a trident with Solskjaer and Ronaldo.Scholes and Ryan Giggs, the work of the midfield scheduling organization, fell to two people.

After Yin Jun was pushed to the winger position, he quickly formed a strong breakthrough on the right, but was cleared by the Portsmouth central defender when he passed the ball into the penalty area.

After 3 minutes, Yin Jun received a pass from Scholes on the right, suddenly started and dribbled the ball inside.

Solskjaer understood and retreated from the front, seemingly to meet Yin Jun, but in fact he pulled out Portsmouth's central defender.

Yin Jun made a diagonal pass with his right foot, and Scholes quickly crossed into the penalty area, stopped the ball, and shot, all in one go!
Soccer hits the net!

2: 1!

In the 87th minute, Manchester United scored from Scholes by Yin Jun, once again surpassing the score!
After scoring this goal, the home team had to choose to attack, which also gave Manchester United more opportunities to fight back.

In the 89th minute, Manchester United counterattacked. Yin Jun dribbled the ball from the right side of the frontcourt and broke through quickly, but was fouled by Portsmouth players just after the midfield.

Yin Jun made a free kick in the frontcourt, Solskjaer and Ronaldo's shots were blocked one after another, and Gary Neville's barb shot was over.

In the 92nd minute, Manchester United once again made a quick counterattack.This time Yin Jun dribbled the ball all the way through, and when he was approaching the penalty area line, before the opponent fouled, he curved the ball to the far corner.

When Yin Jun made a breakthrough, Ronaldo also advanced quickly and received a pass from Yin Jun near the penalty area line on the left. Ronaldo didn't stop the ball and shot directly into the far corner, and the ball missed the post.

In the end, Manchester United beat their opponents 2:1 in the away game and regained the top position of the lost day.With the same number of goals as Henry, Yin Jun returned to the top scorer list by virtue of the advantage of not having a penalty kick.

(End of this chapter)