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Chapter 38: Ball stop training
The next day, major media outlets all reported on the game, focusing on that foul and Genk's poor performance in the second half.
"Sports News" claimed that the foul violated the spirit of sportsmanship, stating, "Our football association cannot tolerate such behavior."
"The Latest News Report" argued that Sibo clearly targeted the player, saying, "According to the latest news from the hospital, aside from a bit of superficial injury, Wang is fine. Genk's fans should breathe a sigh of relief. But is Wang made of steel? If it were any other player receiving such a blow, it wouldn't be so simple."
"The Standard Report" couldn't deny that Wang Feng was subjected to a malicious foul, as the cameras clearly captured it. However, they shifted focus, criticizing Genk's performance, stating, "Without Wang Feng on the field, they were like a group of headless flies. Such performance cannot support a championship bid. Bill Albert's summer transfer strategy was a complete blunder."
The Belgian Football Association imposed additional penalties on Sibo, suspending him for three games. This was considered justice for Wang Feng, sending a message to those who want to maliciously target him, making them understand the consequences of their actions.
In the third round of the Jupiler Pro League, Genk faced Westerlo at home. Despite the team doctor confirming Wang Feng's injury wasn't serious, head coach Aimee Antonis still placed him on the bench, with the rest of the lineup identical to the previous game.
Just eleven minutes into the game, Westerlo scored through a quick attack, taking the lead. For a while after that, Genk's offense struggled, and the situation on the field became increasingly dangerous.
Antonis couldn't bear it any longer. Shortly after the start of the second half, he substituted Wang Feng. The anxious home fans erupted in excitement, finally having the chance to release their pent-up emotions. They stood up and cheered for Wang Feng.
Less than two minutes after Wang Feng came on, he created a great opportunity. Carl Bess sent a curved ball to the wing from the front court, and Wang Feng, using his speed, got to the ball before the defender, who was near the goal line.
He then used his right foot to pull the ball back, completing a quick stop-and-turn. The defender couldn't maintain his balance, appearing quite embarrassed and leaving a significant gap. Wang Feng seized the opportunity, using his left foot to pass to Gareth Barry in front of the penalty area, who easily shot and scored.
Genk equalized! fr(e)ewebn(o)vel
Just nine minutes later, Genk struck again, producing a clever combination in the front court. Bess passed the ball to Wang Feng, who received it from behind. With no good position, Wang Feng immediately passed it back and moved forward to evade the defense. Bess received the ball again and passed it to Wang Feng once more, forming a two-on-one situation.
Wang Feng had already reached the edge of the small penalty area after several passes. Facing the defense, he calmly shot with his left foot into the left corner of the net, making it difficult for the goalkeeper to save.
2-1, Genk turned the score around! Ultimately, thanks to Wang Feng's assist and goal, Genk secured a valuable 3 points at home.
At the same time, Anderlecht and Club Brugge also won their respective matches, while Standard Liege unexpectedly lost to Lierse. As a result, Genk climbed to 3rd place in the league, closely trailing the leaders.
After the match against Westerlo, many media outlets finally believed that Wang Feng's injury was not a problem. They couldn't help but marvel at Wang Feng's resilience, even in the face of the malicious foul recognized by the Football Association.
Next, Genk will face Anderlecht away, a crucial battle between two teams competing for the championship.
Anderlecht coach Edgar Weiss was extremely troubled. When facing Anderlecht, Wang Feng was like a man possessed, scoring five goals in the last two encounters of the previous season. No matter how they defended, they couldn't stop him.
Despite their perfect record so far this season, Weiss knew that compared to last season, Anderlecht's overall strength had declined. During the summer transfer window, they sold several key players. This was a common problem in the second-tier league: relying on player sales to increase revenue. If not for Weiss's strong opposition and efforts to retain players like Jan Koller, he would have been sold as well.
Wang Feng naturally had no idea about Weiss's concerns. He was currently undergoing special training with Bess and Civu. Since Civu joined the team, Wang Feng had happily discovered that his passing was very precise and often had surprising effects.
Wang Feng felt that his ball control skills limited his performance. While he was good at stopping the ball with his feet, he struggled with body control. Even his best chest trap only reached the state of stopping the ball without errors. So, he wanted Civu to pass the ball while he practiced controlling it during movement, benefiting both of them.
Bess had been Wang Feng's training partner for a long time. Since Blanc left, it had only been Bess accompanying Wang Feng in training. Later, Wang Feng persuaded Civu to join, and since Civu was young and eager to improve, he couldn't refuse.
The three trained until late at night before going to eat together. The night in Genk seemed very quiet. They found a small restaurant and chatted while eating.
Civu said, "I wasn't planning to come to Genk. My dream was to join a Serie A team. Several clubs were already scouting me."
"But Genk manager Bill Albert personally approached me and said that Genk would make history under your leadership, and this season, I would highlight my own value." Civu looked at Wang Feng and said, "I didn't really believe it at first, but after playing a few games with you, I no longer doubt it."
"Wang, your ability definitely exceeds the level of the Jupiler Pro League. Even in my former club Ajax, I couldn't find a striker better than you. The Jupiler Pro League has too little exposure in Europe, even inferior to the Eredivisie. After this season, seek a higher platform. Paris would be a great choice, right? Their sincerity is very high." Wang Feng thought to himself, "In any case, this season, I must help Genk deliver good results and not let down the trust of the club's management and fans."
The match between Anderlecht and Genk garnered the attention of all Belgian media, with Wang Feng vs. Jan Koller being a topic of much discussion. This season, Wang Feng had already scored 4 goals, demonstrating terrifying efficiency, and currently led the scoring charts, while last season's Golden Boot winner, Jan Koller, had also scored 3 goals.