Chapter 282: Catching Up to Ronaldo?

Chapter 282: Chapter 275: Catching Up to Ronaldo?

「April 2nd. Heerenveen, Abelungstra Stadium.」

In the twenty-seventh round of the Eredivisie, Ajax played away against Heerenveen.

In the thirty-seventh minute of the match, Maicon sent a cross from the right flank to Sneijder in the midfield. Sneijder then played a diagonal pass back to the right wing for Yang Yang, who promptly drove deep down the flank with the ball.

From the right side of the penalty area, he chipped a cross into the box.

Niklas Bendtner, the Danish center-forward starting in place of Charisteas for this match, scored with a close-range header, putting the ball into Heerenveen’s net and opening the scoring for Ajax.

Play resumed in the second half, and in the sixty-third minute, Ajax sent a long ball forward from the back. Bendtner failed to win the initial ball, but De Jong surged forward to claim the second ball and quickly passed it to Sneijder.

Sneijder quickly turned, attempting to shake off a Heerenveen midfielder, but a defender managed to poke the ball away.

The ball rolled toward the right edge of the penalty arc.

Yang Yang, who had been constantly looking for an opening, suddenly darted in from the right. He intercepted the ball ahead of everyone, carried it into the box, and fired a powerful shot with his right foot.

“GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!”

“It’s a goal!”

“Yang Yang has scored again!!!”

“This came from an error by a Heerenveen defender. Yang Yang capitalized, taking the ball into the penalty area and firing with his right foot to once again find the back of Heerenveen’s net.”

“Two-nil!”

“That’s a goal and an assist for Yang Yang, a brilliant performance. His form remains absolutely outstanding. It’s hard to believe he’s only eighteen years old.”

“That’s his twenty-second goal of the season.”

“Yang Yang looks thrilled, and he has every reason to be pleased with that goal.”

“His Ajax teammates are chasing after him to celebrate the goal.”

“Everyone is now focused on the race for this season’s Top Scorer title between Yang Yang and Kuyt. Ajax head coach Ronald Koeman has previously stated that even though Yang Yang is only eighteen, he’s more than qualified to contend for the league’s Top Scorer title.”

“In a media interview, Ajax captain Galasek said that Yang Yang is already one of the best players in the Eredivisie and that he has what it takes to compete with Kuyt.”

The live broadcast camera captured a close-up of Yang Yang celebrating by the sideline. He was drenched in sweat but looked absolutely ecstatic. He could clearly feel that his form had been steadily improving lately.

And, with the help of the coaching staff, he had been consciously working to maintain this excellent form.

“It’s worth noting that in another key match being played at the same time, Feyenoord is currently leading Alkmaar four-one at home. Kuyt has an assist but no goals, while his partner, Kalu, has scored a hat-trick.”

“This means that if there are no more goals in either match, Yang Yang will once again be tied with Kuyt. Both players will be on twenty-two goals, sharing the top spot on the goal-scoring chart.”

“Feyenoord’s striker, Kalu, will move into third place with seventeen goals, thanks to his hat-trick today.”

…

…

In the seventy-fifth minute, Ronald Koeman substituted Yang Yang.

This was fifteen minutes later than originally planned. In that time, Yang Yang had two shots on goal but failed to convert either.

He was well aware that his shooting technique still needed more refinement.

Furthermore, his first touch was still lacking. It needed to be honed until it became an instinctual reflex, just like it was for players like Bergkamp and Van der Vaart.

But that would take long-term, persistent, and grueling practice.

“How’s it going?” Yang Yang asked anxiously the moment he stepped off the pitch.

Ronald Koeman and Luther Carroll both knew exactly what he was asking about: the Feyenoord match.

When Yang Yang heard that Kuyt hadn’t scored and that Alkmaar were trailing four-one away from home, he couldn’t help but let out a laugh.

‘Twenty-two goals! I’ve finally caught up to Kuyt again!’

What’s more, with Alkmaar’s loss to Feyenoord this round, Van Gaal’s team had once again lost their top spot on the table. Eindhoven had surged into first place, pulling one point ahead of Ajax.

Ajax, Alkmaar, and Feyenoord followed close behind.

It was safe to say the race for this season’s Eredivisie title had become white-hot.

And the race for the Golden Boot Award was getting just as tense and thrilling.

…

…

Ajax ended up winning the away match against Heerenveen two-one. The home team scored their only goal in the eighty-first minute, with Victor Skora assisting Samaras.

The right-winger, on loan from Ajax to Heerenveen for the season, had managed to get playing time early on—even starting some matches—but his performances were mediocre. He gradually lost his place and eventually couldn’t even make the matchday squad.

It was quite a surprise that he came on as a substitute for just eleven minutes against Ajax and still managed to provide an assist.

After the match, Victor Skora went out of his way to speak with Ronald Koeman. As he was an Ajax player on loan to Heerenveen, it was only natural for him to take a moment to talk to his former coach.

But it was clear his situation at Heerenveen was not ideal. He looked dejected, and as he spoke to Ronald Koeman, his eyes kept drifting toward Yang Yang, creating a rather poignant scene.

Last season’s substitute had now become a cornerstone of the Ajax team, even competing against Eredivisie stars like Kuyt for the Top Scorer title. He, on the other hand, was languishing at Heerenveen, unable even to make the team sheet.

Only Victor Skora himself could truly understand the bitterness and the chasm between their fates.

Yang Yang felt some sympathy for him but no guilt. He knew this was just the nature of professional football.

Everything he had achieved to this day, he had earned through his own hard work and struggle.

If, one day, his own skills weren’t enough and someone else took his place, he knew he wouldn’t receive any pity either.

Victor Skora served as a cautionary tale for Yang Yang, a reminder of the cruel nature of professional football.

As for the other Ajax players, apart from one or two who had been friendly with Victor Skora, most were still busy celebrating with Yang Yang.

He had, after all, caught up to Kuyt again.

…

…

「Meanwhile. Rotterdam, Feyenoord Stadium.」

When referee Ruloff Langer blew the final whistle, Dirk Kuyt walked slowly off the pitch, head bowed.

He felt incredibly frustrated.

He had taken more than a dozen shots during the match, but every single one was either saved by the Goalkeeper or went off-target. He hadn’t scored a single goal.

Meanwhile, his strike partner, Kalu, had bagged a hat-trick.

‘What could I say?’

It wasn’t for a lack of support from his teammates. In the second half, everyone had been, intentionally or not, trying to set him up. But still, he couldn’t find the back of the net.

It was as if scoring was simply impossible for him today.

“Don’t be like that, Dick,” Kalu said, coming over to console him. “Next match, we’ll all help you score. You’ll definitely get one.”

Kuyt nodded, but he still looked dejected.

This was now his fourth consecutive match without a goal.

For a striker whose job is to score, going four matches without a goal was completely unacceptable.

And this wasn’t Kuyt’s first goal drought.

He had hit similar slumps last September and December. Even though he worked incredibly hard, running himself into the ground and fighting for every chance, the goals just wouldn’t come.

It was a strange feeling, like a thin pane of glass between him and the goal. It felt like one good poke would shatter it, but somehow, the barrier remained.

And now, it was happening again.

“How’d it go? Did he score?” Kuyt asked anxiously as he reached the sideline.

Head coach Gullit and his assistants exchanged glances before finally giving him the news.

“He got one. Caught up to you again.”

“What the hell!” Kalu exclaimed, shaking his head vigorously. “Is that kid from China on something? How did he get so good all of a sudden? He only scored one goal last season, and now he’s already at twenty-two.”

Gullit shook his head. “He’s not on drugs, that’s for sure. It’s just that he’s improved at an incredible rate. His performance in the second half of last season was already quite good. And with the experience he gained from the Champions League, his progress has accelerated, leading to this breakout season.”

“But still, this is insane, right?” Kalu said, aggrieved. “Eighteen years old, twenty-two goals… he’s almost on pace with Ronaldo.”

He wasn’t just indignant on his teammate Kuyt’s behalf; he was also speaking for himself.

He had scored seventeen goals so far, but that still put him behind Yang Yang. The real kicker was that Yang Yang was younger than him.

He had always believed that if it weren’t for Yang Yang, he would have been the most dazzling newcomer in the Eredivisie this season. But now, Yang Yang had completely stolen his spotlight. It felt like all the major clubs in the Netherlands, and even all of Europe, had their eyes on Yang Yang.

This left a bitter taste in Kalu’s mouth.

‘Catching up to Ronaldo?’

The possibility was slim, but it wasn’t zero.

“It’s not just about age,” Gullit offered a more measured assessment. “Ajax’s tactical system really suits his style of play, and Ronald Koeman is clearly building the strategy around him. Of course, it helps that Yang Yang himself is performing exceptionally well.”

After speaking, Gullit glanced at the resentful Kalu, then back at Kuyt. He clapped Kuyt firmly on the shoulder.

“Don’t put so much pressure on yourself. Just relax. The more you relax, the sooner the goals will come. And don’t resent your rival. He’s the one pushing you to improve, the motivation you need to unlock your full potential.”

Kuyt nodded. “I know. I don’t hate him. On the contrary, I’d love to meet him someday, have a real chat. But that’ll have to wait until after I’ve beaten him and won the Top Scorer title.”

“Now that’s the spirit!” Gullit said with a smile of approval. “Have some faith in yourself, light that fire again. We’re all here to help you.”

Feyenoord was already destined to end the season empty-handed. The only prize left to fight for was Kuyt’s Eredivisie Golden Boot Award. If they lost that too, it would be a complete and utter defeat.