The thrilling moment was fast approaching, and the second half of the match began shortly after the referee blew his resonant whistle.
On the sidelines, the spectators waved their jerseys excitedly, reaching the peak of their exhilaration.
Whether they were Chelsea fans or Arsenal fans, at this moment, they were all witnesses to history. For the home crowd of Chelsea, as each minute of the first half ticked by, their hope had gradually waned, and now they were utterly despairing.
Just like every Chelsea player on the pitch at this moment, and like Chelsea's head coach, Potter, and his coaching staff, their expectation of equalizing in this match had, to put it mildly, completely vanished.
They were no longer sure if they were more eager for Cao Baiming's brilliant performance to break a record that had stood for over a decade, or if they were more hopeful that their supported team could maintain a shred of dignity under such fierce onslaught.
But no matter what they thought, at this very moment, only the players on the field could truly decide everything.
In the live broadcast, the camera flashed across Cao Baiming's face, catching a hint of worry in his expression. Immediately after, the scene shifted to the sidelines, showing Kante preparing to enter the game.
Although the worry on Cao Baiming's face was not genuine apprehension, and could even be considered almost imperceptible, the fans still felt the aura.
Few people in this world could possibly cause Cao Baiming to worry, or even to draw his attention.
Kante's defensive ability was indeed outstanding, earning him the recognition and admiration of numerous professional footballers.
His defensive style was completely different from Cao Baiming's. Both his defensive awareness and his timing in making tackles were exceptionally precise, and his attention was almost entirely focused on interceptions.
While he might not have been able to contribute significantly in attack, he served as a stabilizing force for the entire team in defense. Despite occasional fluctuations in performance, he remained the world's irreplaceable, strongest defensive midfielder.
As the saying goes, there are no insurmountable obstacles, but there is Kante who is insurmountable!
Recalling that World Cup four years ago, among all the players in the entire tournament, Kante was perhaps the only one capable of defending against Messi.
In just one match, he proved to the world how to defend against Messi. And today, his appearance was as if destined by fate. Moreover, his pressure today was not just from Messi alone, but from both Messi and Cao Baiming.
Even players like Martinelli in the front line could not afford to be careless. The entire Arsenal attacking lineup, even without Henry on the field, was unprecedentedly formidable. This needed no further explanation; the result of the first half alone had already proven it.
As the match progressed, it was evident that the Chelsea players' spirits had been somewhat lifted after the halftime break.
As Kante jogged onto the pitch, the entire team's morale seemed to surge.
Although they still did not opt for high pressing, a tactic completely divergent from their team's inherent style, everyone was running incessantly.
They were constantly on the move even without the ball, a clear indication of their increased intensity. It was predictable that Chelsea's current state was vastly different from the first half, and they would not be far from scoring.
However, Cao Baiming's face no longer showed any trace of worry.
After a few minutes of intense contest, he gradually began to feel the quality of the match warming up, which in turn made him even more excited.
The most significant change for Chelsea was the intensity of their midfield interceptions, which was entirely different from the first half. From being completely open, it now felt like trying to break through a bronze wall and an iron rampart.
With such improved defensive stability, players like Drogba in the forward line began to more actively seek opportunities.
He was like a ferocious beast, a beast born and raised in the vast wilderness, and such an individual possessed a keen sense for goals and all sorts of chances.
This sharp intuition far surpassed the level of ordinary humans!
Arsenal's midfield possession began to exhibit minor issues, which Cao Baiming quickly noticed.
As long as it wasn't Messi, no one else stood a chance against Kante's defense. It was impossible for them to succeed in a one-on-one encounter. Messi might still have a sliver of hope; even at 35, his individual ability remained top-tier, and his understanding and tactical awareness had even improved considerably from before.
But to solve the problem by relying on others was utterly futile. When it truly came down to it, one had to rely on oneself.
To play on the field with an injured body and still achieve such results was something Cao Baiming genuinely admired from the bottom of his heart.
But defending others was easy; defending oneself was another matter entirely.
Kante was sent onto the field by the head coach with a heavy burden. In addition to fulfilling his role in overall midfield interception, he was also tasked with providing some coverage for Cao Baiming.
In this regard, Potter was a clever man. He did not assign his most prized asset to man-mark Cao Baiming one-on-one; instead, he assigned two other players.
History offered a lesson: the truly best way to defend against Cao Baiming might not be to defend him directly, but to defend everyone else apart from him.
Because even if everyone else was shut down, it would still be far easier than preventing his individual breakthrough.
Kante lived up to expectations, successfully cutting off almost all of Cao Baiming's passing routes. Even if a pass managed to reach a teammate, that player would find it difficult to break through on their own.
But they had forgotten that Cao Baiming could break through on his own. Wasn't it as simple as carrying the ball from the back to the front and then kicking it into the goal? It was as effortless as waving a hand.
Five minutes had passed in the second half. During this period, the Chelsea team had gradually found their rhythm. Arsenal's attacks had lost much of their sharpness compared to the first half, and they were even regaining their confidence.
However, in the very next moment, this confidence was completely extinguished by Cao Baiming alone.