Chapter 28: Deceiving Even the Teammates!

"Alright, the match is underway! *Hiss*, let me first introduce Utrecht's starting lineup for today's game!"

Utrecht (5-3-2)
Goalkeeper: Ruiter
Defenders: Klaiber, van der Maarel, Timo Letschert, Strieder, Nganioni
Midfielders: Amrabat, Tang Ye, Ramselaar (C)
Forwards: Barazite, Haller
Head Coach: Erik ten Hag

Wang Chao’s voice trembled as he introduced the Utrecht starting eleven. For streamers like him, the daily routine usually involved making simple "outcome predictions" and then letting the "bean warriors" in the chat charge into battle. Did the streamer bet himself? Rarely. They were the commanders of the bean warriors, standing safely behind the front lines. If the soldiers were defeated, the streamer remained unscathed, sometimes even pocketing a handsome commission from the fall of his troops.

But today was an exception. Today was Meng Ge’s match, and Wang Chao had abandoned his right to command from the rear. He was going to charge to the front line!

"Tang Ye, let's go!"

Whether it was because they heard the streamer's call or something else, Utrecht pushed the tempo of the game right from the kickoff, with defensive midfielder Ramselaar pressing forward with the ball. The Sneek players, of course, wouldn't let their opponents bully them like that; their wingers and midfielders rushed toward the ball-carrying Ramselaar. Ramselaar was fond of holding onto the ball, but his control was not particularly strong.

"Pass it! What are you doing, Ramselaar?"
"The great Tang Ye is standing right next to you, pass the ball already!"
"Okay, Ramselaar passes! It goes to Tang Ye. Tang Ye! Tang Ye is observing!"
"Positioning... he's moving. Tang Ye is starting to find space. He's still some distance from the final third, and Haller isn't in the best position!"

Haller wasn't in a good spot, but another Utrecht player had completed an overlapping run. It was the left back, Nganioni! Tang Ye saw the opportunity; it was a viable passing option. But Tang Ye first had to deal with the problem right in front of him. Gonzalez was charging straight at him!

"Give it to me, you can pass to me!"

Ramselaar had found space again, preparing to assist Tang Ye in clearing the pressure.

"Okay!" Tang Ye shouted, pointing to the open space in front of Ramselaar. He was preparing a through ball!

Pass...

A split second before his instep touched the ball, Tang Ye’s leg, which had been swinging out, suddenly stopped in mid-air. With a flick of his ankle, he bypassed Gonzalez before the defender even realized what was happening.

Gonzalez: ?
Ramselaar: ?

"Damn..."

Van der Gaag looked at Ten Hag in front of him, who was holding his forehead with his hand.

It could only be said that this was typical Tang Ye. He even fooled his own teammates!

"Haha!"

Having completed the turn, Tang Ye didn't rush to pass; instead, he glanced back to mock Gonzalez. Only then did he strike the ball. Seeing Tang Ye play like this, the players on the pitch were stunned. He hadn't even looked to see where his teammates were running!

The ball landed near the left byline, and Nganioni lifted his leg, successfully bringing it down.

"Tang Ye! A beautiful shift in play!"
"A no-look pass to the left! That was a bold move!"
"But he pulled it off! Look at Nganioni!"

The camera focused on Nganioni as the Utrecht wing-back began a 1v1 duel against the opposing defender. Defenders should be taking on defenders! He cut the ball back, intending to feed a teammate arriving at the edge of the box.

Hm?

Nganioni paused for a moment, completely surprised that the player occupying the top of the arc was none other than Tang Ye. Tang Ye’s long-range shooting... Never mind, just pass!

The cut-back rolled straight into the space in front of Tang Ye. *Thump*. Tang Ye controlled the ball with his right foot. He nudged it to the right with the outside of his boot and then curled it toward the far right corner of the goal.

[Kevin De Bruyne Long-Range Curl, Lv1: Imitation]
Proficiency: 2/50

On the screen, Tang Ye’s curled shot, struck with his instep, traced a trajectory that wasn't particularly elegant but found the top right corner of the goal. The goalkeeper, Luister, made a desperate dive, but unless a goalkeeper was two and a half meters tall, there was no stopping that.

"GOOOOO—AAAAAAA—LLLLLLLL!!!"
"It's in! The ball is in! Tang Ye!"
"He opened the scoring!"
"Holy shit, that's incredible!"

*Bang, bang, bang!*

Wang Chao picked up his mechanical keyboard and slammed it against the desk. At the same time, the scoreboard in the top left corner confirmed Tang Ye’s goal.

Utrecht: Sneek
1 : 0
17' Tang (99)

[666666]
[Ahhhhh, Meng Ge!]
[Unbelievable, Tang Ye never said he could shoot from distance!]
[What do you know? Just because he didn't say it doesn't mean he can't. What's wrong with my King Tang being an all-rounder?]
[Verdict: That was just a lucky strike.]
[Haters, speak up!]

...

After the goal, Tang Ye held the back of his head with both hands as Haller and Barazite sprinted toward him.

"Tom!"
"Beautiful!"

Haller and Barazite arrived at almost the same time, and with Nganioni coming from the left, the three of them blocked Tang Ye from three different directions.

"Tang, great goal, great goal. Uh, why aren't you saying anything? Isn't this a great goal?"
"Wait, we don't know if it's a 'great goal' yet."

Tang Ye waved his hand, remaining incredibly calm. He was waiting. Waiting for something very important.

[Scored in your first start at 37, your fans are suddenly enlightened: you aren't just here to stream for cash; you actually have footballing talent!]
[Reward: Contribution Points * 10]

Tang Ye opened his arms to hug Haller and Ramselaar. "Great goal! This is a great goal!"

One goal equals two draft beers. What a massive profit!

...

Second Team Cafeteria.

"Tom! Tom, oh my god, he has to treat us! He can't escape this!"

Several players from the second team and the youth squad jumped onto the tables, waving at the television screen.

"Merent, do you think this is worth at least a million euros?" U17 coach Richard asked Merent, who was standing to the side.

Although Tang Ye’s current ability hadn't quite reached the million-euro mark, considering he was only 16, it wasn't impossible!

"He betrayed me!" Merent pointed at Tang Ye on the TV, who was constantly moving into space, his expression one of grievance.

"Hm? Why?"

"Why is he so strong now that he’s with the first team? And his movement—you know, Tang’s running distance in his recent games has been getting longer and longer. Why is he like this only now that he's with the first team?"

"Isn't that just because his playing time has increased?" Richard reminded him.

"No, it’s different. Damn it! Erik must have used some kind of method!"

"Tang has been brainwashed by him!" Merent clenched his fists. "Erik is a bastard! I have to save Tang!"