In the morning, the English Major's team launched an aggressive offensive, aiming to break through the defense of the Management and Engineering Department's team and score goals.
However, in the afternoon, although the English team appeared to be on the offensive, it was actually a feigned attack.
Most of the time, the ball was being passed around near the midfield.
The opposing forwards made intermittent sprints, seemingly probing the defense and looking for opportunities, but in reality, they were trying to exhaust the players from the Management and Engineering Department.
After observing for a while, Xu Xiu-Wen quickly understood the English team's strategy.
They were clearly trying to wear down the Management and Engineering team's stamina by making them chase the ball around.
After all, the team in possession of the ball uses less energy passing it around than the team chasing it.
In addition, the English team's players, whether white or black, were robust and appeared to have good stamina.
However, the English team underestimated the endurance of the Asian players and the Management and Engineering team members.
The endurance of Asians was not inferior to that of their white and black counterparts.
The players from the Management and Engineering team, including Yang Baishan's four hometown friends and five out of the six members from room 412 (excluding Wang Juncai), were all physically fit and not homebodies, matching up well against the English team's players.
Xu Xiuwen deliberately did not warn his teammates, allowing the opponents to continue their game.
Another ten minutes passed.
The ball remained with the English team.
In the stands, students from other departments were starting to feel drowsy from watching.
Among the Management and Engineering supporters.
Bai Yue'er, Su Yanyan, and Tang Weiwei did not understand much about the game and were worried since the ball was always with the opponents.
Shen Minyao, however, was calm, knowing that the Management and Engineering team was leading and the opponents hadn't even had a single shot on goal despite all their passing. She remained unfazed throughout.
The boys understood that the current situation was advantageous for the Management and Engineering team. While the opponents had the ball, it was useless if they couldn't score, so they were relaxed and unworried.
This situation continued until around the 20th minute of the second half.
The English team's players, having passed the ball for 20 minutes without seeing any signs of their opponents tiring, started to get anxious as time was running out.
Suddenly, one of their players shouted something in Italian.
The Management and Engineering players didn't understand Italian and thought it was normal communication.
Xu Xiuwen's expression tightened, recognizing that the change in language indicated the opponents were planning something.
He soon noticed that the English team's defenders were pushing up, almost to the midfield.
Their forwards and midfielders were also making aggressive runs into the Management and Engineering half, dragging the defenders with them.
Their players numbered 1, 2, and 3 were advancing towards the Management and Engineering goal from the left, center, and right.
The ball was with number 2, who was sprinting down the right wing, gasping for air.
Number 2 was very fast and giving it his all.
Shi Xiangming, who was defending him, was left behind, but luckily Liu Zhihao and Jin Haonan were closing in, and the left midfielder was coming from behind to cut him off.
Just as they were about to encircle him, number 2 made a high cross into the penalty area.
His cross was precise.
The center player, number 1, received the ball, drew the defense, and quickly passed it to the left, to the oncoming number 2.
Number 2 immediately passed it to the left to number 3.
Number 3, positioned at a 15-degree angle to the goal, was now just one powerful shot away from scoring.
In number 3's eyes, there was no way the Management and Engineering goalkeeper could save it.
But Xu Xiuwen had been watching the three players closely and had anticipated their move, sprinting towards number 3 at full speed.
Xu Xiu-Wen believed that number 3 was the key player, as he had scored and directed earlier plays. By marking him, they could neutralize the threat.
Xu Xiuwen's speed matched number 3's.
As number 3 received the ball, Xu Xiuwen slid in from the side, accurately kicking the ball to Liu Zhihao.
Liu Zhihao, seeing the ball at his feet, immediately cleared it.
The English team could only watch as the ball flew towards their half.
Yang Baishan quickly reacted, turning to chase the ball.
The English team's two center-backs also reacted instantly.
Yang Baishan ran from the center, while the center-backs chased from the left and right, all three sprinting towards the ball.
This scene mirrored the earlier run by numbers 1, 2, and 3.
Yang Baishan, who had been defending, was initially far from the ball but knew he was behind.
Gritting his teeth, he burst into speed.
Despite being a bit slower than the center-backs, he managed to steal the ball from between them.
The English goalkeeper, misjudging the situation, had rushed out, thinking he could reach the ball before Yang Baishan.
This mistake left the goal unguarded.
Without hesitation, Yang Baishan lobbed the ball over the goalkeeper.
The ball sailed over the goalkeeper's head and rolled slowly into the goal.
The crowd erupted in cheers!
The English players looked dejected, with numbers 1, 2, and 3 cursing loudly, their frustration evident.
That opportunity had been their best chance, but they failed to score and instead conceded another goal on the counterattack.
With less than 20 minutes remaining and needing to score four goals to win, everyone knew it was over.
The English players gave up, ceasing their efforts for the rest of the game.
Yang Baishan, taking advantage of their surrender, scored again before the match ended.
The final whistle blew.
The Management and Engineering Department defeated the English Major 5-1.
The English players were visibly upset and couldn't hide their frustration.
Despite trying to maintain a facade of sportsmanship earlier, their true feelings showed after the loss.
After the match, they left without acknowledging their female classmates, who had come to watch, faces stern and upset.
Since this was the last day of matches at the Jiangling campus, many students had come to watch, with freshmen making up the majority, but also many sophomores and juniors.
The Management and Engineering team had put on a spectacular performance, making a memorable impression on the entire school.