Although this city-level match was not as exciting or lively as the World Cup, it was evident that the players on both sides were working very hard and treated this game with great importance.
Less than fifteen minutes into the game, sweat was already glistening on the players' faces.
The initial tackles were all fiercely contested, with both sides adopting a high pressing strategy.
In Cao Baming's opinion, the tactical arrangements and playing style of these teams were relatively simplistic. Compared to the tactics organized by coaches in the Premier League, they appeared quite immature.
However, for a city-level team in Tangguo, it was considered quite good.
Although the score was still 0:0, both sides' offenses were sharp, and they had created several chances. The star player he was truly focused on had single-handedly created four opportunities!
If things continued like this, it shouldn't take long to break the deadlock, and the final score would likely not be a low one.
The situation on the field changed rapidly, and by the seventeenth minute, the moment they had been anticipating finally arrived!
The teenager wearing the number seven jersey faked out his opponent, then accelerated on the spot, leaving the nearby defender far behind in just a few strides.
Even more surprisingly, he didn't choose to go down the wing to outpace his opponent. Instead, he broke through the middle, weaving past three players before reaching the penalty box and taking a shot!
The power and angle of this explosive shot were well-controlled, but unfortunately, it was ultimately blocked by the goalpost. However, judging by the quality of the shot and his dribbling past several players, this individual's technical skill was truly exceptional!
At the very least, among everyone present, he was the most outstanding.
"What's this person's name?"
Cao Baming asked calmly, turning to Liu Yunpeng beside him.
Liu Yunpeng was the scout Cao Baming had found, and also his most capable and diligent subordinate.
"His name is Hu Tao, a graduate student from Shangcheng University."
"Hu Tao. The name contains both softness and strength, concise and powerful. He's a good prospect… Wait, how old is he?"
"Eighteen."
"Eighteen and a graduate student? Are you kidding me!"
"He skipped grades all the way through, entering a gifted program in the research institute. He's currently the youngest student in his class!"
Cao Baming pondered.
With such intelligence, it was no wonder he played football exceptionally well. After all, football is a sport that requires brains. Unlike many other sports, those with sharp minds can truly excel in football.
Watching the boy on the field, who moved like the wind, Cao Baming grew happier. Compared to the current group of simple-minded players in the Tangguo team, this boy was undoubtedly far superior!
Finally, the team had a player with strategic thinking, and he also possessed extraordinary speed. This was truly a gift from heaven!
Looking at him, Cao Baming felt as if he saw the future hope of the Tangguo team!
Perhaps by coincidence, he was wearing a bright red uniform today, a long-sleeved jersey, which truly resembled the Tangguo team's colors.
"Not bad, not bad. This person definitely needs to be kept an eye on! Excellent, I'll give you a bonus tonight!"
Hearing the word "bonus," Liu Yunpeng's face broke into a satisfied smile.
As the game continued, in the thirty-second minute, Hu Tao's team, Huacheng, successfully took the lead with a high-quality header into the net of their opponents, Xincheng. 138 Reading Network.
The fans erupted in cheers and shouts.
Although Hu Tao did not assist this goal, and someone else scored, the attack was initiated by him. After Hu Tao's move, the situation immediately opened up!
Cao Baming saw it, but he could discern more.
After passing the ball, Hu Tao's choice to move to the wing to receive was clearly a mistake.
This also indicated that although he had tactical ideas, he was still somewhat immature due to a lack of experience, and there was significant room for improvement in his awareness.
If he could coach him personally in the future, everything would be alright!
Indeed, Tangguo was not short of talented football players; they simply didn't have the opportunity to join the national team!
The first half ended quickly. In the remaining ten minutes, both teams made mistakes leading to conceding goals. It was as expected that semi-amateur teams couldn't compare to professional ones.
Mistakes were indeed quite frequent.
During the halftime break, Cao Baming and Liu Yunpeng chatted, their conversation naturally revolving around Hu Tao's performance and his future.
At this moment, Cao Baming was already considering bringing him into the Tangguo team, and this idea was quite solidified.
For Cao Baming, half a match was more than enough time to understand a player.
It seemed that he rightfully deserved to contribute to the Tangguo team, but he would need to ask for his own opinion. If the person himself wasn't interested, it couldn't be forced, and that would be a pity.
After a period of waiting, movement on the field below resumed, and the second half of the match began quickly.
As the referee's whistle blew, the players on both sides quickly got into their rhythm.
Watching the situation on the field, Cao Baming couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation.
It was a bit disappointing that only three goals were scored in the first half, given how fierce the attacks were from both sides and how weak their defenses were!
How weak were the defenses? Cao Baming felt that if he personally went on as a forward at this moment, he could score twenty goals in ten minutes, and that was a conservative estimate.
Amateur teams were, after all, amateur teams. It was unrealistic to expect them to have excellent defensive capabilities!
Soon, Hu Tao began his performance again, showcasing his footwork on the field.
He knew that his family and friends were watching from the sidelines, along with some fans who liked and supported him, numbering no more than twenty-odd people.
He would never have imagined that one of the people silently watching him at this moment was his idol, Cao Baming!
Although they played different positions, like every Tangguo citizen who loved football, he deeply admired Cao Baming and longed to see him in person one day.
Unfortunately, he didn't have the financial means to attend matches in person, which was the reality for most people.
Soon, thanks to his outstanding performance, he finally scored a goal of his own! At this point, Cao Baming, watching from the sidelines, began to clap.