Chapter 162: Qualifying for the Champions League
Seeing Wang Lie score twice, the remaining Tyne fans in the Miners Bar cheered.

Some people even ran over to high-five and hug Tang Lin to celebrate.

Because Tang Lin is Chinese and is a compatriot of Wang Lie.

As Tyne fans, they couldn’t really hug Wang Lie, so they could only express their feelings by hugging Wang Lie’s compatriots.

So Tang Lin became Wang Lie’s substitute.

Then the bar’s owner Harry Collins also announced: “From now on, Tang, all your consumption in my bar will be free of charge!”

Tang Lin was surprised: “It was Wang Lie who scored two goals, not me!”

Harry Collins’s reason was impeccable: “Of course I know. But Wang will not come to my little bar to spend money, so you can represent Wang. Anyway, you are all Chinese, ha!”

Tang Lin didn’t expect that he could benefit from Wang Lie’s help.

Of course, he wouldn’t come to the bar often…

However, he still felt a little vain because he and Wang Lie had the same nationality and could receive such preferential treatment.

Then Harry Collins asked again: “Don, I hope you can help me write some Chinese menus.”

Tang Lin was very puzzled: “It’s no problem to write, but why? I can read English…”

Harry Collins explained: “There are already many Chinese fans in Newcastle now. I think there will be more Chinese fans next season – for example, in our match against Sofia United some time ago, I heard that there are even travel companies in China that bring Chinese fans here to watch the game… I guess there may be Chinese fans coming to my pub at that time.”

Tang Lin understood: “You want to do business with Chinese tourists.”

Harry Collins quickly shook his head: “No, no, no, I want them to feel like home!”

Tang Lin didn’t believe the bar owner’s excuse.

He admired the boss’s brains, he was worthy of being a businessman.

In fact, in recent times, his relatives and friends in China have contacted him many times, asking him to come to Newcastle to watch Wang Lie’s game.

Especially after he posted photos of himself watching the game in person on his Moments, his WeChat exploded that day – never before have so many people contacted him so intensively in a short period of time.

On the one hand, everyone was surprised that he would go to watch the game in person, and on the other hand, they asked him how to go to watch the game in person.

He seemed to have suddenly become a “celebrity” among his circle of friends.

From his experience alone, we can imagine how many Chinese tourists will appear in this city next season.

By then, he should often see faces from his motherland and hear familiar voices.

It turned out that he felt football was very far away from his life.

Now, without realizing it, football has actually penetrated into every aspect of his life…

※※※

Thanks to Wang Lie’s goal, Tyne went into halftime with a score of 2:0.

As soon as Wang Lie entered the room, he shouted to his cheering teammates:

“Forty-five minutes left, guys! Forty-five minutes left! We have forty-five minutes left to the Champions League!”

His words were immediately responded with even louder cheers.

Wang Lie did not interrupt them, but let them cheer.

He knows that it is normal to vent emotions, and it is impossible to ask teammates to remain rational all the time. No one can do it.

It would be unwise to pour cold water on everyone at this time.

He didn’t say anything, just looked at everyone with a smile.

But with his current prestige in the team, he doesn’t need to say anything, it will naturally attract everyone’s attention.

The cheering teammates looked at the captain who didn’t say anything but just smiled, and they knew that the captain had something else to say next, so they all quieted down and looked at Wang Lie seriously.

After everyone stopped cheering, Wang Lie spoke again:

“In China, there is a saying that goes ‘A journey of a hundred miles begins with a single step’, which means that for a goal of a hundred miles, ninety miles is only halfway. This is the case now. It seems that we only need to wait for another half time to create club history. But we must also be careful that Kensington will turn the tables in the last half of the game – never think it is impossible. Anything can happen on the football field. So, guys, let’s play the last half of the game well and completely lock in the victory. Wait until we qualify for the Champions League, and then have a party!”

Head coach McNeill was the first to express his support and agreement: “Wang is right! Let’s focus on playing well in the last 45 minutes and write the most perfect ending for this season!”

After the two bosses spoke, everyone in the locker room started shouting, morale was high, and they couldn’t wait to start the second half without any halftime break.

※※※

In the home team locker room at Redstone Stadium, Lindsay already knew that Wang Lie had helped Tyne lead Kensington 2:0 away from home.

Although the game was not over yet, based on his understanding of Wang Lie, he felt that if Kensington hoped to reverse the situation after Tyne relaxed in the second half, it would be impossible.

He could fully imagine how Wang Lie encouraged the Tyne players in the Tyne dressing room not to relax and to keep fighting.

That man is simply a demon…but people like Tyne, who have not yet been fed with championship honors, should be easily inspired by him.

Unlike his later years in Sofo, everyone was basically “immune” to his bold words…

Although they are destined to miss out on the Champions League qualification, it does not mean that the next games will lose their meaning for themselves and Sofia United.

Regardless of whether he can get a new contract from the club management, he hopes that Sofia can end this season, which started off well but ended badly, with a victory.

So he said:
“I know you are all very concerned about the result of the game in London, and I also know that you should already know it. But is this over? We are playing our own game, and I hope you can focus on this game. After all… our fans, they deserve a victory at the end of the season. For them, and for yourselves, play well in these last 45 minutes.”

※※※

In the second half of the game, the two sides changed sides and fought again.

Kensington made two substitutions during the half-time break.

It is clear that their head coach Giacomo Faye has not given up the struggle.

Trying to take advantage of Tyne’s slackness after leading by two goals to turn the situation around.

After all, at the end of the first half, he could see clearly that the Tyne players were dancing and excited when they walked off the field.

The gap of two goals seems huge, but as long as the team can quickly score a goal after the start of the second half and narrow the gap between the two teams to one goal, the situation will be reversed.

That’s what Faye intended, and he asked his players to do on the court.

So after the start of the second half, Kensington’s offense did improve.

But unfortunately, Tyne did not relax as Faye had expected because they were leading by two goals.

They took advantage of Kensington’s offensive to launch a quick counterattack, which was even more threatening!

“Vitini! That’s fast!”

In Tyne’s forward line, Vitini and Dean are both fast, with Vitini being the fastest.

Now Wang Lie’s speed has also increased.

So Tyne can fire three arrows at once when counterattacking.

When the three people rushed forward at the same time, the scene was quite spectacular.

Just like now.

Vitini dribbled the ball down the left side, and Wang Lie was moving forward at high speed in the middle to meet him. A little further on the right flank was Dean who was sprinting.

Because this was a counterattack after Kensington was intercepted halfway through the attack, it was already a luxury to be able to devote three players to the counterattack at the same time.

Kensington looked very embarrassed when defending.

In the end, Vitini took advantage of the running positions of Wang Lie and Dean and completed a shot.

However, the shot after the full sprint was slightly off target, and the ball eventually went out of bounds, failing to change the score…

Some people might scold Vitini for not passing the ball and being a “self-centered person”, but after Vitini missed the opportunity, Wang Lie was the first to give him a thumbs up and praised him for his good shot.

Vitini made an apologetic gesture to Wang Lie.

Big brother doesn’t scold himself, but we have to be aware of it!

Just now, after he dribbled the ball up, he saw Wang Lie suddenly go from the middle to the left rib and take away Kensington’s defensive players. He was indeed a little excited and chose to cut inside to the middle and then shoot.

If this ball goes in, it will be a beautiful goal.

But unfortunately I didn’t get in.

※※※

Kensington, who had escaped the disaster, did not give up the attack. In fact, they had no other choice but to attack, unless they wanted to give up the game at the beginning of the second half.

With continuous attacks, there were still several times that threatened the goal guarded by Goetz.

But they were just threats and no real goals were scored.

At the same time, their own defense was also under tremendous pressure from Tyne’s counterattacks.

It can be said that for both teams, conceding a goal and scoring a goal are both “a fine line apart”.

In the 66th minute of the game, when Kensington was attacking and reached the 30-meter area of ​​Tyne, they were blocked by Tyne’s midfielder Joshua Parker and center back Hugo Guenduzzi.

Then another central defender Mats Katic made a long pass to Wang Lie in front.

This time, Wang Lie did not return to the backcourt to defend, but instead stood at the front as a center forward.

Facing Katic’s long pass, he jumped up and competed for the header with Kensington center back Zach Ortiz.

Although Australian international Ortiz is 1.9 meters tall, he loses to Wang Lie in judging the landing point of the football and his jumping ability.

The football was passed to the left rib by Wang Lie.

As the football flew towards Wang Lie, Vitini had already moved inward from the wing to the left rib, and Wang Lie passed the ball to him.

However, Wang Lie did not pass the ball directly to his feet, but placed it in the empty space in front of him.

So Vitini doesn’t have to engage in physical combat with Kensington’s defensive players. He can fully utilize his speed advantage and go straight into the space behind the opponent!
That’s exactly what he did!
“Vitini!”

Following the commentator’s roar, the Kensington fans in the stands of the Garden Stadium booed loudly.

Obviously they also saw the danger coming!

Vitini chased the ball, with Kensington centre-back Grant McGregor keeping close behind him, preventing him from getting the ball easily.

After Wang Lie completed the header, he landed and turned to rush forward.

Another Kensington center back, Zach Ortiz, also pursued Wang Lie relentlessly.

After Vitini caught up with the football, he slowed down and controlled the ball. Grant McGregor took the opportunity to catch up with him, reached out and grabbed Vitini’s shoulders and arms to prevent him from speeding up.

So far, Kensington’s defense against Tyne’s counterattack has actually been successful.

They didn’t allow Vitini any chance to shoot directly.

Under the entanglement of McGregor, Vitini was forced to slow down, then tilted his body center of gravity and tried to push the ball to the middle.

McGregor immediately took a step sideways, intending to continue blocking Vitini.

But Vitini’s cross cut was just a feint. He jumped over without touching the ball.

The football remained in place, and then he used the inside of his right foot to drive the football to the left, and then immediately turned around and cut into the penalty area!

McGregor wanted to turn around and defend again, but because the center of gravity shifted too much, his feet slipped and he fell to the ground in a split position…

He could only watch Vitini rush into the penalty area!
The screams and boos at the Garden got louder!

The central defender Zach Ortiz, who was originally following Wang Lie, accelerated and rushed over. Goalkeeper Pablo Gorkin also quickly ran to the near corner, opened his arms to expand the defensive area and block Vitini’s shooting angle.

After Vitini caught up with the football, he swung his left leg and pretended to shoot directly.

Zach Ortiz tackled the ball with all his might, and goalkeeper Gorkin immediately lowered his center of gravity and made a save.

But Vitini didn’t really mean to shoot.

After his left foot landed, he kicked the ball towards the middle!
“Vitini! Inverted triangle pass!”

Kensington midfielder Wilken Adila, who was chasing back, saw the ball being passed to Wang Lie in the middle, and immediately accelerated to catch up, preparing to interfere with Wang Lie’s shot.

But he missed!
Because after Wang Lie got into position to shoot, he didn’t even touch the ball.

He just kept shooting, letting the ball pass under his crotch and pass it to Sonny Dean who was rushing up from behind!

“Dean—!!”

When the football passed between Wang Lie’s legs, Dean had already appeared in the direction of its landing point.

Kensington’s left back Silas Holmberg was originally a player closer to the landing point of the football than him, but when Wang Lie swung his left foot to meet the football, his attention was drawn over and he didn’t notice Dean’s movements at all.

By the time he reacted, Dean had already squeezed in front of him. He subconsciously reached out to pull Dean’s jersey, but failed…

So he used more force on his hands!
This time, Dean was finally pulled down, but as Dean fell to the ground, he also saw the football fly into the goal…

“Dean! Sonny Dean! Tyne is leading Kensington by three goals! The outcome of this game is no longer in doubt! We can congratulate Tyne in advance for making club history! They have made it to next season’s Champions League!”

commentator Connor Cowley shouted excitedly.

What he said was a bit like “opening champagne at halftime”, but the Tyne fans in front of the TV didn’t think there was anything wrong with it.

Even they themselves started celebrating the Champions League in advance.

For example, the people in the miners’ bar kept shouting: “Champions League! Champions League! Champions League!!”

They also believe that qualification for the Champions League is secured and there is no suspense in this game!

※※※

Wang Lie, who had let the football slip behind him, looked back and saw Dean push the ball into the goal. He immediately stopped and turned around, running towards Dean.

At the same time, he did not forget to wave to Vitini behind him, signaling him to come up as well.

After he hugged Dean, the two turned around and Vitini appeared in front of them.

So Wang Lie put his other hand around Vitini, and the three of them hugged each other.

Luo Jin was extremely sad when he saw this scene, and said with emotion:

“Dean finally scored a goal after completing two assists! If we were to say who has performed the best so far in this game, it would definitely be Dean. I think everyone probably hopes that he can score a goal… and score another goal in his last game for Tyne! This goal can be regarded as a perfect end to his 16-year career in Tyne…”

Luo Jin used the sixteen years to count from the time Dean joined the Tyne youth team at the age of eleven.

In today’s world where football is becoming more and more commercialized and loyalty is becoming increasingly scarce, or even a shortcoming, Dean can actually create the “one man, one city” miracle…

But now it is destined to be impossible.

Zhao Chuanfeng said at the side: “If Dean could have performed like this earlier, he and Tyne wouldn’t have had to come to this point today… It’s just a pity. In fact, the attacking lineup formed by him, Wang Lie and Vitini is still very sharp… Now we can only hope that Dean’s performance in this game can make Kensington pay attention to him…”

The other players of Tyne ran up and hugged the three of them, even the players on the bench ran up.

They hugged each other first, and then hugged Dean one by one.

Because everyone knew this was Dean’s last game at Tyne.

Although Dean was not considered a popular player in the past.

But everyone saw his changes in the second half of the season.

Just like the table tennis match between him and Wang Lie, everyone still hopes that Dean can win once.

So seeing Dean finally score a goal in this game, everyone was happy for him.

They each hugged Dean, ruffled his hair, and patted his head and back.

Dean didn’t resist either. He was like a small boat, tossed around by the waves, completely out of control.

Finally, Wang Lie hugged Dean alone, covered his mouth with his hand, and whispered in his ear:
“Great, Sonny! That’s it! It’ll be the same even in Kensington! I’ll be waiting for you at the World Cup!”

After saying that, he patted Dean’s shoulder hard and ran away.

Dean thought everyone had left, but when he turned around, he found Vitini was still by his side.

He was stunned for a moment.

The Brazilian boy, however, extended his hand to him: “Our grudge ends here, Dean.”

His slightly childish face shows a maturity and seriousness that does not match his age.

For some reason, Dean felt that Silly Bird’s face had some of the shadow of an old rogue…

So he snorted and slapped Vitini on the palm.

He is going to London to be the boss, so the team he has loved since childhood will be handed over to the Brazilian boy…

(End of this chapter)