Did the team itself underperform, or was the opponent simply too strong? Regardless of the reason, they found it hard to accept.
This was nothing like what they had anticipated!
At the thirtieth minute of the match, after Rodrigo's dribble and a chip over his marker, Cao Baming was tracking Neymar, but Antony on the other side was left wide open!
Following a superb cross, Vinícius Jr. met the ball with a driven shot, leveling the score for the Samba squad!
The situation immediately shifted.
The Samba squad's players embraced each other enthusiastically. Ronaldo, who scored, even joined his teammates in a Samba dance on the sidelines.
Even with less than thirty percent of the stadium's fans supporting them, these players were determined to put on this long-planned celebration!
Cao Baming's face was etched with seriousness, and even his teammates felt a sense of foreboding.
Normally, Cao Baming never wore such an expression. They had never seen him like this before!
At this moment, he sensed something was amiss, though his mind hadn't quite caught up with his intuition. He had a vague feeling that this Samba squad was holding something back, something they hadn't yet revealed!
Before he could react, Thiago in midfield successfully dispossessed a Tang Guo player once more, cleanly stealing the ball!
Cao Baming's eyes flickered. Observing his footwork and gaze, it was as if his vision had suddenly intensified a hundredfold, allowing him to anticipate the play.
He predicted that the pass was most likely heading towards the empty space on his left!
Looking in that direction, as expected, Neymar and Vinícius Jr. were already poised to receive the ball. If they could execute a quick combination on the wing, the consequences would be fatal!
Although he had predicted the passing lane, it seemed impossible to intercept the ball before it reached Neymar. Fang Xu, his teammate who was marking Neymar, was already moving. Cao Baming quickly followed.
Indeed, the ball arrived at Neymar's feet. He didn't rush to dribble. At this critical moment, under Cao Baming's direction, Fang Xu had also moved forward to provide defensive cover for Vinícius Jr. Facing Neymar, however, was the person he least wanted to encounter: Cao Baming.
Against Cao Baming, the Samba dancer's powerful dribbling skills might prove ineffective. One was the king of dribbling, the other a bastion of solid defense. The two were finally locked in a one-on-one showdown!
This scene instantly ignited a fervent reaction from the fans. They had eagerly awaited this moment for so long!
After receiving the ball, a flicker of uncertainty crossed Neymar's eyes – something that would never have appeared if he were facing anyone else.
He stopped, raised his right arm at a thirty-degree angle, his body poised to shift in a certain direction, but the ball remained stationary.
After a second passed, Neymar began to perform step-overs in place, incorporating feints. Every part of him, from the tips of his hair to his heels, was engaged in different deceptive movements.
His arms swung left and right intermittently, his body twisting in directions that didn't quite align with his feet or knees. His gaze, however, was fixed intently on Cao Baming's eyes, using only his peripheral vision to scan for opportunities, never revealing his intentions.
Cao Baming knew he was facing a formidable opponent. Even with his ability to read minds, he couldn't decipher the direction of Neymar's feints.
Yet, as Neymar's body swayed, the ball remained firmly controlled, never truly touched. Both players stood still, while their teammates weaved and moved around them, creating and disrupting passing lanes.
The entire stadium held its breath. Everyone yearned to see if Neymar's one-on-one attempt to dribble past Cao Baming would be an easy feat.
Cao Baming, however, was astute. He remained unfooled by Neymar's elaborate feints. As long as the ball wasn't moved, Cao Baming stayed put, refusing to rush his tackle. He knew that if he committed or carelessly abandoned his defensive position, he would inevitably be outmaneuvered.
Unbeknownst to them, they had been locked in a stalemate for a full five seconds. Then, Neymar made a sudden move that sent a collective gasp through the crowd.
He flicked his right hand towards his right side, and with his feet behind him, he chipped the ball over his head!
"Rainbow flick!"
Neymar's signature move, not only practical on the field but also incredibly humiliating!
But today, he wasn't facing an ordinary defender. Today, he was facing Cao Baming!
The moment Neymar extended his hand, his intentions were revealed. While nearly everyone else couldn't see it, Cao Baming, using his mind-reading ability, had already perceived his next move. As Neymar flicked the ball up, to the utter astonishment of all the fans, Cao Baming's first action was to turn!
Both players' eyes were fixed on the ball suspended above Neymar's head. But at this moment, Neymar clearly understood that his move had been completely anticipated. With his premature turn, Cao Baming successfully cushioned the ball with the instep of his foot, as if receiving a perfectly weighted lob pass.
The ball seemed to stick to Cao Baming's foot like a magnet to iron. Simultaneously, Neymar attempted to dart around Cao Baming, only to find himself facing an insurmountable obstacle. No matter how he pushed or charged, Cao Baming remained unyielding!
Instantly, the Tang Guo fans erupted, chanting Cao Baming's name.
He was likely the first to have stopped Neymar's rainbow flick without resorting to a foul. He had perfectly predicted the opponent's move, and their physical strength was on entirely different levels.
One-on-one duels were the ultimate test of skill disparity, and in this moment, the victor was finally decided, witnessed by hundreds of thousands of spectators.
Seeing that there was no hope of catching up, Neymar reluctantly slowed his pace. Vinícius Jr. and his teammates making runs through the middle also turned back in disappointment.
What had promised to be a golden opportunity was nipped in the bud by Cao Baming alone.
However, after this interception, the Tang Guo team failed to mount a significant attack. On the other hand, the Samba squad's relentless pressure did not cease.