With the "Guaranteed Long-Range Goal Card" in hand, Ye Chen knew he could attempt extraordinary plays!
He realized that as long as the ball was on the opponent's half, even a free kick could be classified as a long shot. That's how he managed to pull off a jaw-dropping 35-meter free kick.
To be honest, such a goal would be difficult to replicate even for him.
Now, he wonderedâdoes a corner kick count as a long shot?
Shinji Kagawa looked puzzled. "But if you take the corner, we won't have a striker for the header!"
"You've seen my headers, right?" Ye Chen laughed. "It's better to let me try something else instead!"
Kagawa hesitated. After all, it was the final stages of the match, and chances like this were rare.
On the sidelines, Klopp furrowed his brow. "Ye, what are you up to now?"
Meanwhile, the Weser Stadium resounded with Werder Bremen's team anthem, "Wir sind Werder Bremen!" Fans sang at the top of their lungs, cheering their team on: "Was für ein Jahr, wir waren immer voll da...!"
They knew if their team could hold on for just a few more minutes, victory would be theirs.
This match was the highlight of the round. Both Werder Bremen and Borussia Dortmund were forces to be reckoned with in the Bundesliga.
Ye Chen surveyed the crowded penalty area and raised four fingers high in the air.
The Dortmund players were baffled.
There were only three standard corner tactics: to the center, near post, or far post. What on earth did "four" mean?
The referee, unbothered by the gestures, blew the whistle.
Ye Chen took a deep breath.
Scoring directly from a corner required extreme precision.
Although he hadn't yet earned the system's "Beckham Curve" reward, his training according to the system's guidance had improved his curve-shot stat from 59 to 63.
Ye Chen began his run-up.
"Boom..."
Using the inner side of his foot, he struck the lower-middle part of the ball, which launched into the air with a spin, curving dramatically mid-flight.
On China's CCTV Sports Channel 5, commentator Jian Jun exclaimed, "Huh? Ye Chen specifically asked Kagawa for the corner kickâKagawa didn't seem too willing at first, but he relented. They must have a good relationship!"
"Dortmund's Hummels and SubotiÄ have moved up for this corner. With stoppage time approaching, Dortmund must capitalize on every opportunity to equalize!"
"Wait, Ye Chen's signaling with four fingers! He's taken the cornerâlet's see where he's aiming!"
"No, hold on..." Jian Jun suddenly caught on. "This isn't a passâit's a shot! My goodness, is this curveball even possible from a Chinese player?!"
Gasps erupted from viewers across the country.
Huang Jianxiang's voice followed immediately, shouting, "It's in! It's in! It's in!!!"
"Our Chinese youngster has pulled off an incredible direct goal from a corner to equalize! And he did it with a perfect 'banana shot!'"
Jian Jun, still in shock, said, "So the 'four' he signaled before the kickâcould it mean he's now fourth on the scoring chart?"
Fans watching at home went absolutely wild.
Moments earlier, they had marveled at Kagawa's perfect curveball. But Ye Chen's strike? It was nothing short of spectacular.
The vast Weser Stadium fell into a stunned silence.
The next moment, Dortmund fans erupted in cheers, turning the venue into their paradise.
Werder Bremen supporters, in contrast, clutched their heads in disbelief.
Goalkeeper Mielitz stood frozen, staring at the ball nestled in the net.
He had anticipated Ye Chen's powerful shots, assuming the ball would land in the center or far post. He had even considered a potential cross.
But the ball had curved visibly and impossibly...
By the time he reacted, it was already too late.
It wasn't a lack of focus or underestimation. Knowing Ye Chen was taking the corner, Mielitz had been fully alert.
But who could have imagined Ye Chen would dare to shoot directly?
Dortmund players swarmed Ye Chen in celebration.
Raising his hands, Ye Chen mimicked a "4" and "8" gesture as part of his celebration.
However, this was the same celebration Werder Bremen's Marin had done earlier.
Ye Chen repeating it? That was a brazen slap in the face.
Eight goals in three matches, placing him fourth on the scoring chart!
The leader, Huntelaar, had 10 goals, while Mario Gomez and Podolski followed with 9 each. But Ye Chen? He had surged to fourth place, all by himself.
The fifth and sixth spots were held by Bremen playersâMarin with 7 goals and Pizarro with 6.
But they had achieved these numbers over seven, eight, or even nine games. Ye Chen had only played three.
Noâhis third match wasn't even over yet!
Marin's face darkened as he watched Ye Chen's celebration from a distance.
With less than ten minutes of stoppage time remaining, Bremen had to score again.
Rallying his teammates, Marin shouted, "Are we really going to let this youth academy kid run wild in the Bundesliga?"
"I'm not okay with this! And our fans won't stand for it either!"
"Come on, let's grab another goal!"
"Yeah, one more!" his teammates responded, clenching their fists with renewed determination.
As Bremen launched into their final offensive, Ye Chen and Kagawa discussed tactics at midfield.
Ye Chen grabbed Kagawa. "Listen, the next ten minutes are going to be tough, but I can't drop back to defend. If I do, they'll attack us even harder."
Kagawa nodded. "Just keep pressing them from the front!"
"If you get the ball, look upfield and pass to wherever there's space," Ye Chen instructed. "Leave the rest to me."
"Do you still have the stamina for this?"
"Of course! I only came on in the second half!" Ye Chen replied confidently.
His stamina stat was nearly 90 nowâhe could run tirelessly.
Kagawa nodded. "Got it. I know what to do."
The match resumed.
Bremen launched an all-out assault.
At 89:24, Marin cut inside and passed back to Rosenberg, whose shot veered wide.
At 91:53, Pizarro took a long shot, desperate to score before time ran out.
But the shot was too central, and Weidenfeller caught it easily.
Weidenfeller's first instinct was to waste time. After all, a draw on the road against second-placed Bremen was already a good result for Dortmund.
But Kagawa gestured urgently for a quick release.
Weidenfeller spotted him and immediately threw the ball to the retreating Kagawa.
Kagawa turned and, without hesitation, launched a long ball to the left side of the pitch.
The ball soared swiftly through the air.
The moment Kagawa turned, Ye Chen had already started sprinting.
Brazilian international Naldo began chasing too.
Run, run, run!