Chapter Six: Once More

Page 1/3

P.S. I do occasionally go back to fix typos, but I’ve noticed that on sites outside of Qidian, the text basically stays the same as when it was first posted, or only gets revised after a very long time. Watermark ad test. Watermark ad test. Well then, I ask for your recommendations.

The match continued, and in the forty-second minute of the first half, Rostock scored a goal.

“As the first half is about to end, number 30, Wobeck of Rostock, finds the net, opening the scoring for Rostock. This is also his first goal in the Bundesliga. I think now Sweden’s number 10 striker, Arvidsson, should be worried. If Wobeck keeps performing like this, his jersey number might just change from 30 to 20.”

It was indeed a beautiful goal, nothing more needs to be said. At that moment, Munich 1860 tried to form a 2-1-2-1, but number 8, midfielder Lanz, made a precise chip pass and found number 30, Wobeck, who did not disappoint—an excellent header, the ball flying into the far corner, skimming the post as it found the back of the net.

Simon Jänchen had no reaction at all. At that moment, he was defending near Lanz’s post, expecting a shot, but instead it was a cross, and it set up number 30, Wobeck, for the goal.

“Both sides return to the center circle, preparing for the kickoff. Now, trailing in the score, what will Munich 1860 do? The ball is quickly put into play, and this scene feels oddly familiar! Mo Mo!!!”

Chen Nu’s sudden shout made the watching fans’ hearts leap. What happened? What’s going on? What’s up with Mo Mo?

It was almost a carbon copy of the threatening attack from the opening minutes—the only difference now was the addition of Martin Max.

When there are no tactical adjustments on the field, the situation doesn’t change much, even to the point of being completely contained. In the 2015 Champions League, Porto’s 3-1 defeat of Bayern Munich in the first leg was precisely because of tactical containment; Bayern simply couldn’t implement their game plan.

Porto knew Bayern’s passing routes and key players inside out. In such circumstances, Ricardo Quaresma scored two goals, reliving past glory.

Even Bayern Munich can be brought down when completely targeted—let alone Munich 1860?

If they kept to their original tactics under such circumstances, the result would likely be continued suppression and helplessness. That’s when Mo Mo recalled their attacking move from the very start.

While Rostock was still celebrating, Mo Mo, Martin Max, and Thomas Hässler had a brief exchange.

They both agreed with Mo Mo’s suggestion, but would Rostock really fall for the same trick twice? Martin Max and Thomas Hässler made a small adjustment.

Mo Mo passed to Martin Max, who quickly sent it on to Thomas Hässler, and Hässler lifted the ball with a precise chip pass!

Page 2/3

Number 3, Jacobsen, reacted instinctively—ha! Do they take us for fools? Fall for the same trick twice?

But as he glanced at Mo Mo running past him, he realized the ball wasn’t going in Mo Mo’s direction; when he turned again, he saw Martin Max fiercely head the ball away!

Quick, consecutive turns left Jacobsen a bit dizzy, and he ended up misleading his partner, number 6, Kienz.

The two were long-time partners, usually each marking an opponent. When Jacobsen turned the first time, Kienz noticed and chose to mark Martin Max.

Human vision isn’t 360 degrees, so he didn’t notice Jacobsen’s second turn. He assumed Jacobsen was still tracking Mo Mo.

Rostock’s defensive line had been a neat straight line. Mo Mo paid careful attention to maintaining parallel movement with Rostock’s far-side defenders. When he ran past Jacobsen and didn’t see the ball, anxiety churned within him.

But then, the entire stadium erupted in a gasp. Gritting his teeth, Mo Mo decided to keep running. If the ball was played, it would arrive faster than him; if not, even if he ended up offside, it wouldn’t matter.

Kienz immediately raised his hand for offside; Jacobsen did the same, signaling to the referee that Mo Mo was offside, and Rostock’s goalkeeper quickly followed suit.

But Mo Mo paid no mind. If the referee didn’t blow the whistle, he would keep going, offside or not—he’d just take a shot and see what happened!

“No offside! The referee signals play on—Mo Mo breaks into the box!”

Seeing that Mo Mo wasn’t stopping, Rostock’s goalkeeper hastily lowered his hand, but before he could reset his stance, Mo Mo smashed the ball with a powerful shot.

“Mo Mo! Mo Mo! Mo Mo!!! Mo Mo goes for goal!!!”

In that instant, Mo Mo’s eyes were razor sharp. He’d been waiting for this chance. If Rostock’s keeper hadn’t tried to deceive Mo Mo (or perhaps he misjudged), given his defense and Mo Mo’s shooting, the odds of scoring weren’t high.

But the problem was, he tried to claim offside! Some might hesitate or even give up the shot (as has happened before), but that’s not Mo Mo’s way. So the moment the keeper put his hand down, Mo Mo unleashed a thunderous shot, sending the ball straight into the net.

“Mo Mo! Mo Mo equalizes for the team! The Rostock goalkeeper was frozen! In the forty-third minute, Mo Mo levels the score!”

Page 3/3

Munich 1860’s head coach, Pacult, clenched his fist in excitement! The investment paid off! This is it—the relentless pursuit of opportunity and composure in front of goal!

The Rostock goalkeeper was in disbelief. That shot—he could have saved it! Under normal circumstances, he would have stopped it easily. But in that moment, he was bending down, unable to adjust.

Mo Mo ran behind the goal, spreading his arms wide to face the Munich 1860 fans in silence.

A shower of streamers and confetti rained down on his shoulders, on his face.

Mo Mo looked at his blue-and-white striped jersey, at the sea of Munich 1860 fans gazing at him with feverish devotion. They were like a vast ocean, embracing him—the little fish darting free.

Mo Mo could no longer contain his surging emotions. Looking at the fans before him, he shouted at the top of his lungs,

“Once a Blue, always a Blue!”

Whether he could live up to those words or not, in that moment, Mo Mo’s mind was spinning. It’s hard to imagine staying calm when sixty thousand people are chanting your name, all wearing the same jersey as you.

“Once a Blue, always a Blue!”

At first, just a few echoed the phrase. Gradually, more and more people learned what Mo Mo had said, until finally, from every corner of the stadium, everyone was shouting the words!

Mo Mo’s declaration made the Munich 1860 supporters love him all the more.