Time flies, years fly by, time always slips away from our fingers unnoticed, and Leicester City is about to face their first battle.
As time goes by, the curtain of the Championship is about to open.
On August 3, 2013, the first round of the Championship is about to begin.
Leicester City's first Championship match will be an away game against Middlesbrough.
It's also a tough game for Leicester City.
After all, last season, Middlesbrough performed well against strong teams, and although they eventually failed to qualify for the promotion play-offs, their strength cannot be underestimated.
This season, Middlesbrough has increased its investment in team building, and it has a strong momentum to challenge for promotion.
Therefore, Leicester City's head coach Pearson dare not underestimate Middlesbrough.
Leicester City sent out their strongest lineup for this game. Pearson continued to use the familiar 4-4-2 formation.
Goalkeeper: Schmeichel.
Defenders: De Laet (left back), Konchesky, Wes Morgan, Liam Moore (right back).
Midfielders: Lloyd Dyer (left winger), Drinkwater, Wang Chu, Matthew James (right winger).
Forwards: Vardy, Chris Wood.
Andy King sat on the bench for this game, replaced by Wang Chu.
Before Wang Chu joined Leicester City, Andy King was the absolute main force of the team, but Wang Chu's performance in the friendly matches was really too brilliant, and naturally squeezed out Andy King's main force position.
Undoubtedly, Leicester City's tactics gave Wang Chu's ability a high degree of trust. He is now one of the core players of Leicester City.
At the beginning of the match, both teams wanted to create a good start for themselves at the beginning of the season, so both teams' offensive rhythm was very fast, the offensive and defensive transitions were frequent, and the fierce confrontation continued.
The fans who came from afar were also motivated by this intense rhythm, and they were all cheering excitedly.
"Wang Chu!! Dribble past those Middlesbrough trash!"
"Kill those Middlesbrough guys!"
"This is Middlesbrough's home ground! Who do you think you are..."
"..."
Middlesbrough is good at defending. Their iron gate Hoyte and 20-year-old Middlesbrough youth player Gibson performed exceptionally well on the defensive end.
It's hard for the football to break through Middlesbrough's defense. As soon as it gets close to the penalty area, it will be cleared.
Middlesbrough also has a 31-year-old left-back, Panabi, who has been firmly in Middlesbrough's left-back position with his steady defensive style.
Although Middlesbrough players performed well.
However, the most eye-catching star of this team is undoubtedly its captain Woodgate.
This 33-year-old player, although he has been playing in the Championship for many years, his strength is still not to be underestimated.
He was once a representative figure of Leeds United's golden generation, and even considered a future star by Real Madrid, once wearing the jersey of the Galacticos.
However, due to injuries, his talent has not been fully realized.
He has played for Middlesbrough, Tottenham Hotspur, Stoke City, and other teams, eventually returning to his old club Middlesbrough.
The young Woodgate was a real bad boy, his top defensive talent was fully displayed in the Championship, it can be said that it was a crushing existence.
Although he is no longer as fierce as before, his playing style is much tougher than other defensive players.
Full of aggression.
Soon after the start of the match, he made a vicious tackle that made Wang Chu remember him clearly. As long as he was in the center, Leicester City's attack would be difficult to pass through.
Woodgate tackled Wang Chu directly to the ground with a vicious tackle.
"This is a foul!" Leicester City fans roared in the stands.
However, the referee did not respond.
Woodgate just snorted, looking disdainfully at the away team's stands: "You guys, is this your first time watching the Championship? Such a tackle is considered a foul?"
He spoke with disdain, as if it were supposed to be this way.
The Championship, England's second-tier league, may not be as well-known as the Premier League, but its fan base is no less than the Premier League.
In the eyes of fans in other countries, the Premier League may be the most physically intense of the top five leagues.
However, only the English know that the Premier League's physical intensity is only a little brother in front of the Championship.
Moreover, the Championship encourages physical confrontation, so the referee's scale is also very loose. Woodgate's action would not be called a foul at all.
Next, the fans' shouts were even higher and deafening, with the melee-like confrontations on the field.
In the 15th minute of the match, Middlesbrough got a corner kick.
After Middlesbrough took the corner kick, the forward Ukivitz at the back post was actually unmarked. Ukivitz also headed the ball directly!.
Fortunately, Leicester City's goalkeeper performed heroically. Schmeichel raised his fists and forcefully punched the ball out.
However, before Leicester City players could breathe a sigh of relief.
The ball flew quickly toward Middlesbrough's No. 10, Karayol, who shot without stopping the ball on the edge of the penalty area, causing the ball to deflect twice in the penalty area, eventually rolling into the net.
"GOAL！！！！！!"
Just 15 minutes into the game, Middlesbrough gave Leicester City a rude awakening with a long shot at home.
At this moment, Schmeichel was helpless and could only raise his hand as he watched the ball roll into the net. The score became 1:0, Middlesbrough took the lead!
The fans at the Riverside Stadium erupted, making a deafening roar.
For a counter-attacking team, scoring first is like winning half the battle!
Wang Chu looked at Middlesbrough, which was celebrating wildly, with some helplessness.
The intensity of the Championship matches was indeed beyond his expectations.
Several times, he made mistakes in dealing with the ball because of the opponent's strong pressure.
But as the game progressed, his strong strength began to play a role.
He gradually adapted to the intensity of the Championship and began to play with ease.
The improvement of the defensive intensity means that the opponent's midfield pressure is stronger.
It means that the defensive personnel are more likely to lose their position, which also gives Wang Chu more space.
In the 31st minute of the match, he received a pass from Drinkwater, pulled the ball, and immediately shook off the opponent's midfielder.
Vardy in the distance saw this and quickly ran towards the goal, raising his hand for the ball at the same time.
Wang Chu did not hesitate, a through ball like a scalpel, accurately sent to Vardy's feet.
After several months of running-in, Vardy and Wang Chu had already developed a tacit understanding, just one look and they knew what the other wanted to do.
Vardy seized the opportunity, successfully broke the offside trap, rushed into the penalty area with a one-on-one opportunity, and shot towards the far corner!
"GOAL！！！!"
This goal made the score 1:1, and the score was equalized!
Leicester City and Middlesbrough were once again on the same starting line.
However, Leicester City's goal did not end there.
In the stoppage time of the first half, Leicester City got a corner kick opportunity.
Wang Chu naturally became the corner taker.
He raised his hand and observed the direction of the penalty area.
At this time, Chris Wood in the penalty area was not at the near post, but had quietly moved to the position in front of the back post.
Wang Chu's eyes lit up. At this moment, Chris Wood was unmarked.
Their attention was completely on Vardy who had just scored.
Wang Chu didn't hesitate, his full value passing ability activated instantly, the ball accurately found the tall striker Chris Wood like a cruise missile!
Wood overpowered the defenders, jumped high, and headed the ball into the net!
The score became 2:1, Leicester City overtook the score before the end of the first half!
Nothing unexpected happened in the rest of the match. Leicester City went into half-time with a one-goal lead.
Pearson was very satisfied with the team's performance in the locker room. Although the team conceded a goal in the first half, it wasn't the team's fault.
It was just bad luck.
The second half of the match was just as intense, with both sides going back and forth, sparks flying in the offensive and defensive transitions.
Lin Dong, sitting in the away fans' stand, was among the Leicester City fans who had traveled from afar, cheering for Wang Chu.
At this moment, Lin Dong truly experienced the charm of the Championship.
People who haven't been to a live game may not be able to imagine the passion that the collision brings.
That sense of power, like a fascinating magic, is irresistible.
This is the league known as the most physically intense, the Championship, it simply opened Lin Dong's eyes.
In the melee, the collision between opponents is not only physical, it's as if souls are colliding.
Every collision seems to announce the intensity and wildness of the match.
In the just-concluded tackle, Konchesky was unfortunately hit hard by the opponent's forward, his nose was broken on the spot, blood gushing out like a spring, his face became extremely hideous in an instant.
However, after two minutes, with his strong willpower, he temporarily stopped the bleeding and returned to the field to join the battle.
Wang Chu was also brought down several times in the entanglement with the opponent's midfield.