For the players of this English League One team, they had never seen anyone play football like Cao Baming.
If such a defender in their own team didn't defend properly and ran all over the field, they would likely be severely reprimanded upon returning!
However, the final score spoke for itself.
Even with all their effort, they were utterly incapable of harming the enemy even by the slightest bit. Instead, their seemingly flawless defense was easily penetrated by these few top geniuses.
Was this the gap in skill?
After the halftime break, both teams switched sides. This time, with encouragement from his teammates, Cao Baming directly moved to an attacking midfield position to partner Messi in organizing the offensive.
The chemistry between these two was evident to all. Moreover, this was not a formal match, and there was no opposing striker so powerful that the defense couldn't contain them. Playing like this was perfectly acceptable.
Cao Baming and Messi adopted a diamond formation. From the start, they instinctively paid attention to each other's positions. When one moved forward, the other retreated, as if their chemistry was innate and required no communication.
When opportunities arose, they could both move forward simultaneously, their coordination so seamless that no defense could stop them, as if the goal was simply placed in front of them.
Soon, Messi took a shot, a masterfully curved ball that served as a lesson to the opposing youngsters.
After returning, they would likely spend an entire night replaying the video footage.
Shortly thereafter, Cao Baming received a pass from Messi.
During their runs, Cao Baming suddenly made a sprinting gesture, and Messi, noticing the large gap between two defenders, seized the opportunity in an instant.
With the ball arriving as he arrived, Cao Baming directly extended the lead with a shot!
The situation had become somewhat ridiculous. The score had already reached seven to zero, and if this continued, the friendly match would no longer be friendly!
But the players were helpless. A single mistake would lead to a goal.
Especially those in the forward line, their seemingly half-hearted attempts or casual dribbles almost never failed.
In the 80th minute, the referee was prepared to blow the whistle early, as it was only a friendly match.
Just then, Cao Baming and Messi connected again. This time, Cao Baming was deeper and Messi was further forward. After receiving Messi's backward pass, Cao Baming decided against a quick one-two and intended to go it alone.
A glow flickered in his eyes, and a surge of power instantly gathered in his feet.
There were still three or four players ahead; he wouldn't try to dribble past them!
Without any hesitation, he unleashed a precise ground shot!
This shot was incredibly subtle, and its speed was akin to a bullet being fired, instantly transforming into a sharp sword that pierced the entire defense and shot directly towards the goal!
The spectators at the sidelines counted: one, two...
A total of three players extended their legs but were unable to stop it! Finally, the ball, like a slippery loach, bypassed the goalkeeper's grasp once more and entered the net!
Cao Baming's confident smile played on his lips as he high-fived Messi.
Although the spectators were stunned, he was not surprised at all, because before taking the shot, he had already seen the number displayed on the shooting line, which was as high as 97!
It was difficult to miss a shot with such a number!
However, the fact that he could achieve such a high number with three or four players in front of him was somewhat unexpected even to himself.
Just then, the system's voice suddenly chimed in.
"Ding! Congratulations to the host for completing the season's hidden mission: completing a shot after nutmegging at least three opponents!"
"Mission reward: 800,000 points have been deposited into your balance. Please check!"
Cao Baming's eyes lit up.
"Holy crap?"
An unexpected reward! It truly came out of nowhere!
So, he had nutmegged three players just now? That was truly not easy!
Soon, the match ended. The referee, increasingly unable to bear the score and seeing that the opposing team had no way to retaliate, blew the final whistle.
The time was only a little past eighty-five minutes.
Despite this, players from both sides still wore smiles, shook hands, and left the field.
One player had pre-ordered Cao Baming's jersey. His own number was the same as Cao Baming's, so it wasn't surprising that he managed to secure it amidst the clamor of many players.
As he took off his jersey, he spoke words of admiration, as if losing the match had had no impact on him.
Messi, Henry, and others also received requests for jersey swaps.
After the match, the goalkeeper voluntarily returned the protective jersey he had been given, which was actually a bulletproof vest.
However, Arteta simply waved his hand with a smile.
"Keep it. A souvenir. You can use it again in the future!"
The goalkeeper's expression seemed overwhelmed with gratitude, but inwardly he was speechless.
If you're going to give a gift, give something practical! A bulletproof vest would be of no use in future matches!
In the English League One, where would he encounter a striker like Cao Baming who could shoot like that?
This protection was completely unnecessary!
Despite his feelings, he expressed his thanks and walked away.
The atmosphere in the locker room was jubilant.
Time flew by, and the next major match was fast approaching: Arsenal away against Liverpool!
The media had already begun to focus on this match, as there was a huge source of interest – Salah's video that he most wanted to erase!
At Liverpool, everyone was fired up, except for the Egyptian Pharaoh, who couldn't find any joy.
Although he was still treating every training session with utmost seriousness and taking every pass from his teammates carefully, he was starting to feel anxious.
The thought of Cao Baming's terrifying defense in their last encounter made his head ache.
Was there no way to counter it?
He wished that Arsenal's head coach would deploy Cao Baming in midfield or even further up the field to participate more in the attack. That way, even if they conceded goals, he wouldn't be the scapegoat.
He dearly wished that the coach would assign him two shadow strikers to distract Cao Baming, allowing him to seek opportunities from another flank, much like Neymar's unexpected appearance on the right wing for PSG.
However, neither of these wishes was likely to come true.
He was on the verge of tears.
The external voices grew louder, becoming the most intense topic of discussion among fans for this match.
Let's see how Salah will fare against Cao Baming again.