"Ding ding, Side Quest 1: Gain the upper hand in the confrontation with Antwerp's midfielder Pogba. If completed, you will be rewarded with 200 experience points, +1 to Strength attribute, and +1 to Courage attribute. No penalty for failure."
"Side Quest 2: Score a goal in the match against Antwerp. If completed, you will be rewarded with 200 experience points, +1 to Shooting attribute, and +1 to Long Shot attribute. Failure will deduct 200 experience points and -1 from Long Shot attribute."
"Side Quest 3: Successfully make more than 20 tackles in the match against Antwerp. If completed, you will be rewarded with 200 experience points and +1 to Tackling attribute. Failure will deduct 200 experience points and -1 from Tackling attribute."
"Side Quest 4: Complete 25 successful passes in the match against Antwerp. If completed, you will be rewarded with 200 experience points, +1 to Passing attribute, and +1 to Vision attribute. Failure will deduct 200 experience points and -1 from Passing attribute."
The match had not even started, and Zhang Xu's mind was already filled with a series of notifications from the system. To his surprise, there were ten side quests available, and each quest offered attribute point rewards!
It seemed that the system attached great importance to this match as well. Zhang Xu didn't hesitate to accept all the quests.
"Whistle!"
The whistle blew, and the match officially began.
Antwerp, once a top-tier team, showed its superiority over White Star from the very beginning, putting immense pressure on the visiting team.
In the game's second minute, following a tentative attack from White Star that was quickly neutralized, Antwerp regained possession. They began orchestrating their play from the back, moving the ball with confidence. After a few passes in their own half, the ball ended up at the feet of their midfield maestro, Pogba.
Pogba, with his robust physique and excellent dribbling skills, charged towards White Star's defense.
As Pogba began his offensive drive towards White Star's defense, Driss was quick to react and quickly positioned himself to counter, with Zhang Xu closely supporting. Pogba, being the promising young star he was, a midfielder with a keen tactical mind, subtly adjusted his pace, giving him time to survey the field and evaluate his opponents' positions. Pogba, with the ball at his feet, began assessing his options, simultaneously observing his teammates' positioning and Delris and Zhang Xu's defensive stance..
Approaching Delris, Pogba executed a cunning feint, shifting his body as if to move left. Delris, momentarily deceived by the feint, shifted his weight in response, beginning move in that direction. In that instant, Pogba demonstrated his skillful ball manipulation; he dragged the ball back and accelerated sharply, exploiting the gap created between Delris and Zhang Xu.
At that moment, just as Zhang Xu hadn't fully processed what was happening, Pogba suddenly pulled the ball back and swiftly accelerated, squeezing through the narrow gap between Driss and Zhang Xu.
Zhang Xu, a step behind in reading Pogba's intention, found his positioning not ideal, his tactical awareness wasn't on par with Pogba's. It was only when Pogba was about to pass through the gap that he realized what was happening.
But it was precisely his exceptional physical attributes that now came into play. With a burst of speed, Zhang Xu arrived at Pogba's left side before he could fully comprehend the situation and matching shoulders with him forcefully shoulder barged into him.
"Hmph! A slender kid like you dares to challenge me?" Pogba, usually the aggressor in physical challenges, sneered as he naturally met Zhang Xu's force with his own, resulting in a significant impact.
"Bang!"
A dull thud followed, and despite weighing less than 70 kilograms, Zhang Xu stood his ground, and both players momentarily recoiled from the collision.
Following the collision with Zhang Xu, Pogba, still in possession of the ball for Antwerp, struggled momentarily to regain his composure. The physical challenge had disrupted his balance and rhythm, forcing him to make an immediate decision under mounting pressure from Driss, who was swiftly closing in. In an effort to maintain possession for his team, Pogba quickly offloaded the ball, executing a quick sharp diagonal pass towards Smith, Antwerp's agile forward.
Zhang Xu's first confrontation with Pogba ended in a draw.
The encounter between Zhang Xu and Pogba was evenly matched, with neither player gaining a definitive upper hand. However, this moment of equilibrium was met with a wave of enthusiasm from White Star's supporters. The fans, thrilled by Zhang Xu's resilience against a player of Pogba's caliber, responded with a fervent display of support, waving flags and cheering.
Despite the balanced outcome of the duel between Zhang Xu and Pogba, the play that unfolded next was a testament to Antwerp's attacking prowess. Pogba's quick pass, made under pressure, found its way to Smith in the final third. Upon receiving the ball, Smith showcased his skillful footwork and tactical intelligence.
As Smith received the ball, he was immediately challenged by two White Star defenders. But with a display of sheer skill, he executed a series of rapid stepovers, a blur of deft footwork that left the defenders second-guessing. This mesmerizing display of agility and control bought him precious space and time.
Sensing an opening, Smith then performed a slick touch to maneuver the ball through the legs of one of the closing defenders, effectively taking both out of the equation, beating them and breaking into a clear area in front of the goal.
Now with a clear sight of goal, Smith set himself for the shot, carefully angling his body to aim for the far corner of the goal. With a precise and smooth motion, he curled the ball with the inside of his foot, imparting both power and spin. This technique ensured that the ball arced gracefully away from Kevin, the White Star goalkeeper, who was positioned to cover a straight shot.
The shot, executed with the inside of his foot, was a perfect blend of power and precision. The ball swerved elegantly, carving a path through the air that was both beautiful and lethal.
Kevin, White Star's goalkeeper, reacted instinctively, diving in an attempt to thwart the shot. Displaying remarkable reflexes, he launched himself towards the ball, determined to make a save. The shot, with its precise curl and power, seemed destined for the top far right corner of the net.
In a moment of sheer goalkeeping brilliance, Kevin extended his arm to its fullest, managing just to graze the ball with the tips of his fingers. This slight but crucial contact altered the ball's trajectory, tipping it upwards. The ball, now redirected, struck the crossbar with a resounding clang, denying what seemed like a certain goal.
The stadium erupted in a mix of awe, excitement and shock at Smith's brilliance and the goalkeeper's spectacular save.
Corner kick!
Right from the jump, Antwerp had just given the visiting White Star team a sharp warning!