The entire stadium erupted in fervent cheers after the goal, as if the climax of the match had only just begun!
However, Cao Baiming sensed something amiss. Observing the expression and gestures of the head coach, Arteta, by the sideline, he inwardly calculated that he would soon be substituted.
The situation in his palm was changing endlessly by the second. After the restart, Wolves launched a swift attack, one of the few in the second half.
Yet, Cao Baiming appeared in a crucial defensive zone just in time. As if anticipating this, the ball indeed came to his feet.
To the Wolves players, the one who made the pass was undoubtedly about to shoulder a massive burden. They saw Cao Baiming lurking in that position beforehand yet still chose to pass.
But to be fair, it couldn't be entirely blamed on him. Strangely, he completely failed to realize Cao Baiming would be there.
In his understanding, this player had been behind him only a moment before.
Even more chilling was the fact that he had perfectly anticipated the ball would arrive at that exact spot.
Cao Baiming's eyes flickered, his lips curving into a slight smile. Even with just a fraction of a second's prediction time, coupled with the rich on-field experience and judgment provided by his divine perspective, predicting a pass was an effortless task.
At this very moment, Cao Baiming's flashing gaze inadvertently swept across the edge of the field again. Seeing the expression on the head coach's face, he knew then that he didn't have much time left to "play around" on the field!
At this moment, two substitute players, under the coach's arrangement, had come to the sideline to perform their routine warm-up exercises, stretching and running.
It seemed they were about to get their chance to play, and these weren't just any two players. They were among those specifically assigned as forwards in the training match a few days prior.
Although they were newcomers to the team, their abilities were not lacking. Most importantly, Cao Baiming knew that these two players occupied positions that overlapped with his own.
He didn't care about anything else at this point. He launched the ball towards the goal with a powerful kick!
The fans in the stadium were utterly dumbfounded. While it was Cao Baiming on the field, he was still near his own half. Was he shooting or passing from this position?
However, the lightning speed of the ball quickly dispelled their doubts. This was clearly a shot!
There was no Henry or Messi on the field. Looking at the forwards, while their abilities were indeed insufficient, it was entirely unrealistic to expect them to receive a short pass.
Not everyone possessed the top-tier ball sense of Henry or Messi!
The ball traveled at tremendous speed. Although it was an immense distance away, it reached the goalmouth in the blink of an eye!
Though it was an unexpected shot, the goalkeeper had ample time to prepare due to the extreme distance. He was determined not to miss this save. The goalkeeper was extremely nervous, his palms sweating.
Just as the goalkeeper tensed his entire body, preparing to make a save, there was a loud bang!
"The ball hit the post! It hit the woodwork again! Has Henry's hitting the post so many times now been passed on to Cao Baiming?"
"My goodness, hitting the post from this position is already incredibly difficult!"
"The power, the accuracy – it's simply terrifying, to an extreme degree!"
In the close-up shots from the television broadcast, the entire goal frame was visibly shaking. It vibrated noticeably, almost as if the very foundations beneath it had loosened. Had the force increased even slightly, the entire goal would have been overturned!
This wasn't a powerful shot; it was a literal cannonball!
Seeing the goal frame spare him, the goalkeeper finally reacted. Unbeknownst to him, his beloved goal, which had accompanied him for many years, had truly saved his life today.
Ultimately, he had to rely on this true warrior to withstand everything for him!
He wished he could turn around and kiss the goal. However, the match was being watched by thousands of fans, and he couldn't possibly act that way.
A few seconds later, the goalframe was still shaking but remained standing firm, gradually returning to stillness. Its resilient spirit was awe-inspiring. If goals truly had lives, it would be a truly respectable life!
At this moment, a system prompt echoed in Cao Baiming's mind. Another hidden mission had been completed, or perhaps, more accurately, a hidden achievement had been activated.
Hitting the post from such a distance was likely a first. Cao Baiming had already anticipated this outcome before taking the shot, so it wasn't entirely unexpected.
This time, the reward was nothing flashy, just points. His points were currently all spent. The remaining 400-plus points were practically non-existent. Now, this achievement had added another 500,000 points to his reward, truly adding substance to the dust in his inventory.
After all, having money in one's pocket brought a sense of security. And in this world, having points was even more useful than money.
Then, as Cao Baiming had predicted, regardless of whether the ball went in or not, the head coach was determined to substitute him.
As the match reached the 70th minute, the three star forwards, these talented youngsters, had all been substituted off. The field was now occupied only by some rookie youngsters and key players who served as the core of the team.
Compared to the lineup before Cao Baiming's arrival at Arsenal, the current squad had injected a considerable amount of fresh blood. Furthermore, Arteta had introduced a new tactical system, breathing soul into the entire formation.
The goalkeeper received the ball and placed it firmly at his feet.
As Cao Baiming walked off the field, he waved his hands towards the spectators in the stands, acknowledging his fans.