Chinese fans who watched the first half were somewhat disheartened.
Leaving aside Manchester United being two goals down, many fans who specifically came to watch Gao Nuo play were quite disappointed.
Humans are sometimes strange animals; even Xiao Heizi, who constantly criticizes the National Football Team and Gao Nuo, secretly hopes in their hearts that our team and players can truly perform well. Otherwise, why would they waste time watching the game and complaining?
In the Manchester United locker room, Gao Nuo ate a banana while listening to Ten Hag's tactical arrangements:
"You played well in the first half. Being temporarily behind is just them being too lucky. I need you to forget the score and continue to control the rhythm of the game.
In the second half, focus on their two flanks. Both full-backs push up and break through to the byline, while the two wingers cut inside towards the center.
Bruno, you push directly forward. Casemiro and Eriksen, when the flanks are blocked, go and receive the ball more often, switch that damned football, and pick up the tempo.
Garnacho and Gao Nuo, stay focused and always cover the defensive positions on the flanks to stop their counter-attacks… …"
Gao Nuo listened to the tactical arrangements while reflecting on his performance in the first half. Facing Wolves' heavily contracted defense, his speed couldn't be fully utilized. He needed to find a solution, and it seemed he didn't have much time left.
After the half-time break, Manchester United captain Harry Maguire put his arm around Gao Nuo in the player tunnel and whispered a few words. Both teams' players returned to the field, and the second half began.
The teams switched sides, and Manchester United kicked off.
Soon, Gao Nuo received the ball on the right. Seeing Wan-Bissaka pushing up behind him, Gao Nuo feigned a pass with his left foot. Wolves' left-back Semedo quickly turned and moved backward.
The moment Semedo moved, Gao Nuo lifted his left foot slightly, sweeping it over the top of the ball, then flicked it in the opposite direction. Gao Nuo dribbled into the penalty area from the ribs.
Gao Nuo faked a pass to trick the full-back. Wolves' defensive midfielder and center-back quickly closed in. Gao Nuo poked the ball forward just before they could close him down, then accelerated sharply, attempting to squeeze between them.
The ball went through, but the man didn't. Gao Nuo was cleanly brought down, and Manchester United earned a free-kick 25 meters from the goal on the right side.
Casemiro ran over, helped Gao Nuo up, and patted his backside: “Good play, keep it up.”
Gao Nuo nodded and followed Casemiro to take his position in the box.
In the 49th minute, Bruno took the free-kick, and the ball flew to the far post. Rashford headed it in.
Manchester United didn't celebrate after scoring. Rashford picked up the ball from the net and ran towards the center circle amidst the boos of the home fans.
With one goal back, Manchester United's momentum grew stronger. Gao Nuo frequently got on the ball, making several consecutive attempts to break through. Although he didn't create any chances, he successfully attracted the attention of Wolves' defense.
In the 65th minute, Garnacho dribbled inside from the left, beat two defenders, and then laid the ball off horizontally.
Eriksen, who was supporting in the middle, deliberately let it pass, and the ball quickly rolled to Casemiro on the right.
Casemiro didn't stop the ball, pushing it forward with the inside of his foot.
Gao Nuo's positioning technique, learned from the virtual Drogba, came into play.
As he started, he blocked the opposing center-back's position, utilizing his excellent explosiveness. Three powerful strides allowed him to successfully break through the defense.
The Wolves goalkeeper rushed out to meet the ball, and the center-back also came from the left, ready to slide tackle and block. Together with Gao Nuo on the right, the three formed a triangle. Gao Nuo, seeing he was running out of time, opted for a slide shot directly.
And so, the three collided, and the football rolled into the net. Goal!
Everything happened too fast. From Casemiro's through ball to the three-way collision and the ball rolling into the net, it was only a matter of seconds. The fans on the sidelines were stunned for two seconds before the Manchester United fans who had traveled with the team began to cheer and celebrate.
Wolves' players surrounded the Referee. The goalkeeper shouted excitedly, "He fouled me, he fouled me!" Other players also protested. Manchester United players followed, indicating to the Referee that it was a good goal.
The Referee raised his hand to calm them down and also inquired about the situation from the VAR assistant Referee.
"Whistle—", 10 seconds later, the Referee blew his whistle, pointed to the center circle, and the goal was valid. Manchester United had equalized.
At the same time, a slow-motion replay showed that in the scramble, Gao Nuo's long legs had reached the ball first, and the ball went through the goalkeeper's legs before rolling into the net.
Furthermore, after touching the ball, Gao Nuo turned his body and pulled back his leg, making no physical contact with the goalkeeper. Instead, the Wolves center-back, unable to slow down, first collided with his own goalkeeper and then kicked Gao Nuo's left backside.
The scene shifted, and Gao Nuo was limping towards the stands, waving his hands vigorously with his teammates to the fans who had traveled to the away game, then received examination from the team doctor amidst applause.
The match continued. Gao Nuo's backside was just red, with no injury, just pain.
After recovering on the sidelines, he re-entered the game with the Referee's permission.
Wolves, having been equalized, no longer defended compactly and began to attack Manchester United. The pace of the game quickened once again.
In the 70th minute, Elanga replaced Garnacho, Antony replaced Rashford, and Fred replaced Eriksen for Manchester United.
After Antony came on, he signaled Gao Nuo to move to the center forward position.
Although Gao Nuo had always played as a right winger for Manchester United, he had played as a center forward domestically before.
Ten Hag had previously assigned Gao Nuo the role of center forward, requiring him to be a target man, drop deeper to receive the ball more often, and excel at winning the first aerial duels, which suited Gao Nuo, who was 192cm tall, physically strong, but lacked finishing ability.
In the 78th minute, Harry Maguire's long pass went directly to Matheus of Wolves.
Wolves launched a counter-attack, and substitute Mexican striker Jimenez shot from outside the box.
The ball narrowly flew past the post and out for a goal kick.
De Gea roared: “Wake up, no mistakes!”
In the 85th minute, Gao Nuo had been constantly battling for headers, passing, and making runs to create space for his teammates for over ten minutes, and his stamina had reached its limit.
McTominay was already ready on the sidelines, waiting for a dead ball to replace Gao Nuo.
A minute later, Harry Maguire, who had successfully intercepted a Wolves pass, cleared the ball from the backfield with a long kick.
Gao Nuo, playing at the front, leaped vigorously and headed the ball to the right. Antony, full of energy, quickly chased after the ball, exchanging a one-two wall pass with Gao Nuo, which simply and effectively broke through Wolves' defense.
Gao Nuo's through ball was a bit too strong. When Antony caught up to the ball, he was only about ten meters from the goalkeeper.
Antony took on the goalkeeper one-on-one, poked the ball to the left with his left foot, feigned a shot, poked the ball to the left again, feigned another shot, the goalkeeper fell to the ground, and Antony shot with his left foot. Goal!
After scoring, Antony jumped directly onto Gao Nuo, who had run over to celebrate, punching the air and shouting. Gao Nuo carried Antony as they ran towards the bench to celebrate wildly with their teammates. Manchester United led Wolves 3:2.
Ten Hag then replaced Gao Nuo with McTominay, and Manchester United tightened their defense. Wolves were unable to change the score in the final few minutes.
The match ended with Manchester United, after being 0:2 down away from home, completing a 3:2 comeback victory thanks to their excellent performance in the second half.
……
