After scoring a goal, Ye Chen mocked Makino Tomoaki, further fueling the fire in Makino's heart.
Without hesitation, Makino scrambled to his feet and reached out to grab Ye Chen's shirt.
"You think you're all that? I just let my guard down!"
But Ye Chen wasn't about to let him get his hands on him and quickly shoved Makino away.
At this point, players from both teams approached the scene.
Götze gave Makino a hard push, shouting, "What's your problem? Are you here to play soccer or hurt people?"
Even Kagawa joined in, running over and saying, "Makino, your moves were way too rough!"
Makino's eyes widened in disbelief as he snapped back in Japanese, "Kagawa, we're on the same team! He's just a Chinese pig!"
But Kagawa gritted his teeth and retorted, "Football should be pure, and what you did was pure dirty play!"
Ye Chen was quickly surrounded and protected by his teammates. On the other hand, Makino's teammates from Cologne trudged back, heads hanging low, offering him no support whatsoever.
Makino was never part of the team's core circle, and many questioned his skills.
Even for the goal they just conceded, Makino's lack of focus bore at least 50% of the blame!
However, someone was "concerned" enough to approach Makinoâ the referee, who promptly pulled out a yellow card and held it up in Makino's face.
"That was a dangerous move. One more, and you're off!"
Makino's eyes widened in shock. "But I didn't even touch him!"
The surrounding players looked at him with disdain. On a football pitch, it's not just physical harm that earns a cardâintention matters too.
Frankly, given that play, a red card wouldn't have been excessive. The yellow card was the referee being lenient!
But Ye Chen didn't want Makino sent off just yetâhe wasn't done having fun!
Ye Chen's goal had completely ignited the Westfalenstadion!
"Goooooooooooal!!!"
The commentator's ecstatic shout echoed across the stadium, and the fans erupted into thunderous cheers.
"Oh my God, what did I just witness?"
"Ye's long shot just smashed past Lenzing's goal!"
"Last season's impenetrable wall of a keeper had no answer to Ye's strike!"
"This is our incredible Ye!"
"Tell me, who scored that goal?"
"Ye!"
"Ye!"
"Ye!"
"What's the name of the player who just scored?"
"Chenye!"
"Chenye!"
"Chenye!"
"Louder now! Let's chant the scorer's name together!"
"Haha, Ye Chen! Ye Chen!"
"Our boy from China, Ye Chen!"
"Our favorite Chinese hero..."
This was the tradition at the Westfalenstadion. After every goal, the announcer would ask the fans three times who scored, engraving the scorer's name in their memories.
The entire stadium's Dortmund fans started singing Ye Chen's song, celebrating him as their hero.
Hearing his song for the first time, Ye Chen was momentarily stunned, a smile spreading across his face. He clapped his hands, expressing gratitude to the fans.
The song lasted a full three minutes before dying down as the match resumed.
Meanwhile, back in China, the sports network CCTV-5 erupted with excitement.
After Huang Jianxiang finished cheering, commentator Zhan Jun couldn't help but marvel, "That was incredible! Ye Chen silenced Makino Tomoaki with the most direct responseâa goal! This was a head-to-head showdown between Ye Chen and Makino, and Ye came out on top!"
Huang Jianxiang nodded in agreement. "This is exactly the kind of player Chinese football needsâbold and decisive!"
"Unfortunately," Zhan Jun sighed, "the Football Association has already stated they won't call up players under 18. But in a way, that's a blessing. Ye Chen has a year to grow even stronger. When he returns to the national team, it'll mark the rise of Chinese football!"
"I can't wait to see Ye Chen represent our country!" Huang Jianxiang said, his excitement palpable.
"Let's just hope his U-17 experience doesn't leave him bitter," Zhan Jun added, somewhat worried. "But I'll always support him. I read a feature by journalist Li Xinran, who's based in Germany, in Sports Weekly. She said Ye Chen is the first to arrive and the last to leave Dortmund's training ground. A player like that deserves all our love!"
Huang Jianxiang nodded. "Alright, back to the matchâDortmund's on the attack again!"
...
After scoring, Ye Chen finally opened his match status bar. Upon seeing his "Exceptional" status for the day, he couldn't help but smile.
No wonder his shots felt so effortless and natural. His condition was outstanding!
Of course, this was thanks to the "Fans' Blessing" bonus. Without it, his natural peak condition would only allow him to perform at 90% of his potential. With the boost, he could now reach 95%.
The system assigned percentages to each condition level, dictating how much of a player's potential they could utilize.
⢠Low: 50% (a severe handicap)
⢠High: 90%
⢠Exceptional: 95%
⢠Perfect: 100%
Back on the pitch, Cologne resumed play, attempting to push forward after conceding. But their advance was quickly intercepted by Kehl.
Kehl passed to Schmelzer on the left flank, who chose not to rush the ball forward or cross but instead passed it back to stabilize the pace and maintain control of the game.
At 8:35, Kagawa carried the ball to the byline and attempted a cut-back for the trailing Ye Chen, only for Sascha Riether to intercept and clear it.
Dortmund earned a corner.
Ye Chen stayed outside the penalty box, lingering near the top of the arc instead of joining the crowd in the box.
Having played with Ye Chen before, Kagawa knew exactly what he was planning. So did Götze.
Götze, being short, wasn't suited for aerial battles, and with tall players like Hummels, SubotiÄ, and Kehl already in the box, he didn't bother joining the fray. Instead, he went to the corner flag to assist.
"Bang!"
Kagawa delivered a low pass to Götze, opting for a tactical corner rather than a direct cross.
But Götze still didn't send the ball into the box. Instead, he slid a pass toward Ye Chen at the top of the arc.
Ye Chen, already in position, prepared to strike as the ball came to him.
"I've read you like a book!" Makino Tomoaki, fixated on Ye Chen, charged in as soon as the ball was passed.
"This time, you're not scoring!"
But as Makino rushed in, Ye Chen's lips curled into a cold smirk.
"Who said I was aiming for the goal?"
"Boom!"
Ye Chen's foot struck the bottom of the ball with precision, sending it rocketing through the airânot toward the goal but toward Makino Tomoaki's face.
"Thud!"
The ball, traveling over 100 km/h, smashed directly into Makino's face.