This game was of great significance to Wei Shi Hao. Not only was it his first time starting in a Championship match, but it was also a major test in his professional career.
Transitioning from youth team player to professional player is a huge hurdle for every player.
Many incredibly talented players are unable to cross this threshold throughout their lives.
Therefore, Wei Shi Hao cherished this opportunity and threw himself into the match to showcase his skills and worth.
Compared to the past, today's match revealed a completely different Wei Shi Hao.
He abandoned his past independent playing style and sought more cooperation and synergy with his teammates on the pitch.
This change undoubtedly brought the team more attacking options and tactical variations.
Especially when De Laet behind him showed strong offensive desires, he didn't choose to compete for the spotlight or go it alone.
Instead, he willingly gave up the left flank and assisted with tasks like passing.
However, unexpectedly, in a moment of impulsiveness, he received a direct red card from the referee and was sent off the field!
This made the already tense and exciting atmosphere on the field even more heated.
Lin Dong, as his agent, was also feeling a bit of a headache.
While everyone usually considered Wei Shi Hao an honest, decent, and gentle boy in daily life.
But for some reason, once he stepped onto the football field, he was like a completely different person.
He was "meek and mild" off the field, but during games he became easily agitated and would "throw punches"!
Despite Leicester City being down to ten players after Wei Shi Hao's red card.
Wigan Athletic was also playing with one man down, so both sides maintained their high-intensity, fast-paced offensive strategies!
Currently, Leicester City is leading the opponent 1-0.
As time passed, both teams had gradually entered the crucial midfield scramble phase.
Unfortunately, the good times didn't last long and problems soon arose.
Due to prolonged high-speed running and frequent participation in defensive counter-attacks, De Laet's physical endurance was greatly depleted and he was clearly unable to keep up with the pace of the game.
Wigan Athletic midfielder Maloney, after receiving the ball, executed a quick wall pass with teammate Watson, easily bypassing De Laet.
Maloney continued to advance with the ball, De Laet tried to close in, but the off-the-ball runner was unable to catch up with the ball-carrying Maloney.
De Laet was completely out of steam.
However, although Maloney had gotten past De Laet, leaving him unhindered, allowing him to cross with ease.
But at that moment, Leicester City's penalty area was packed with Leicester City players, and Wigan Athletic forward Fortine failed to get to the ball.
Morgan cleared the ball away, and it landed at Wang Chu's feet.
At that moment, Wang Chu keenly seized a fleeting opportunity: the midfield was open!!
This was an once-in-a-lifetime scoring chance that absolutely couldn't be missed!!!
So, he didn't hesitate to lay the ball down and prepared to accelerate forward, breaking through the defense.
However, just as Wang Chu was fully focused on the front, searching for a breakthrough, a dark figure suddenly darted out from the side, directly towards him!!!!
It was Wigan Athletic midfielder Watson, who had just executed a wall pass with Maloney, roaming around in Leicester City's half.
Drawing on years of accumulated experience and the psychological shadow of past injuries, Wang Chu instinctively wanted to dodge the opponent's collision!!!!!
But doing so would inevitably lead to loss of control, giving the opponent an opportunity to exploit and causing serious consequences!!!!!!
Thinking about how his physical condition now was no longer what it used to be.
After brief consideration, his brain quickly made a decision!!!!!!!!
Screw it!!!!
Thus, the next awe-inspiring scene unfolded.
There was a loud bang!!!
The two players collided violently!!!!
"Underestimating Wang Chu will make you regret it!"
The Leicester City players almost couldn't help but burst out laughing, because they knew Wang Chu's strength very well.
Although Wang Chu's strength wasn't as strong as a defender, in the entire Championship league, especially among midfielders, there was no one to match him.
And now, Wigan Athletic midfielder Watson was actually trying to rely on his physique, on strength, to decide the outcome with Wang Chu; this was clearly a miscalculation.
Fans in the stands widened their eyes, gazing at Wang Chu with worry.
While the Leicester City teammates were already prepared for Wang Chu to win the physical confrontation and launch a counterattack.
As everyone stared intently at the field, they saw Watson, who was not weak in physique, directly flown four to five meters away by Wang Chu, a soaring motion, rolling to the ground.
And Wang Chu, although he took two steps back, was still standing firm.
The outcome was clear in an instant!
Wang Chu's strength was truly astonishing, even the nearby Drinkwater was amazed.
He originally thought his strength was already powerful enough, but he hadn't expected that Wang Chu could actually prevail in this collision.
Just as the entire stadium erupted in shock, Wang Chu quickly sprang into action.
Colliding with Watson wasn't the goal, he needed to score, to solidify the victory.
Wang Chu dribbled forward, Watson's fall causing chaos in the Wigan Athletic midfield.
Taking advantage of this opportunity, Wang Chu dribbled past the midfield line.
The last defender, Rogna, charged forward to intercept, Wang Chu shifted direction slightly, effortlessly passed him, and charged into the penalty area.
Facing the charging goalkeeper, Wang Chu directly unleashed a side-footed pass.
The ball was incredibly fast, directly passing through Rogna's legs, rolling quickly towards Vardy.
Open goal!!! At this moment, Vardy was completely alone in front of the goal.
Faced with an open goal, Vardy naturally wouldn't waste this opportunity, a simple push with his foot sent the ball into the net.
Goal!
"Goal!!!"
"2-0!!!"
"Leicester City's victory is in hand!!!"
"Just now, a seemingly thin young player broke through Wigan Athletic's entire defense line with his own strength!"
"He knocked down Wigan Athletic's strongest midfielder Watson, shook off defender Rogna, faced goalkeeper Carson, and cleverly passed the ball to Vardy, who easily pushed it into the net!"
"Throughout the game, goalkeeper Carson performed exceptionally, aside from the opening goal, he was a wall for 70 minutes."
"However, this young player's outstanding performance still caused Carson to concede, unable to help his team hold onto their last hope!"
"This young player is Wang Chu, his performance was flawless! Vardy's condition is also improving, their cooperation is seamless!"
"Leicester City's future is bright!"
The commentator generously praised them, while the applause at King Power Stadium rose and fell.
Wang Chu had a beaming smile, enjoying the cheers and applause of the home fans.
His teammates also praised him:
- Drinkwater: "Dude! You were amazing! You're a complete midfielder!"
- Vardy: "Brother! Your passing skills are fantastic! Now, scoring is easy for me, haha!"
- Konchesky: "No wonder I was knocked over in training the other day, you little rascal really have gotten stronger! Amazing!"
On the sidelines, head coach Pearson also breathed a sigh of relief, extremely satisfied with Wang Chu's performance.
The game reached the 80th minute, Leicester City was already leading by two goals.
To secure the victory, Leicester City began to retreat their defense.
Pearson used up all three substitutions in one go, adjusting the formation to a 5-3-1.
Despite the two-goal lead, Pearson still didn't dare to be careless.
However, in the 89th minute of the game, there was a minor incident.
Leicester City controlled the ball in the midfield, looking to run down the clock.
Substitute Hammond sent a diagonal pass to the flank, trying to find right back Liam Moore.
However, Moore's physical strength was exhausted, he was just a step slow, and the ball was intercepted.
The one who intercepted the ball was Wigan Athletic's new core - Powell! Even though the game was about to end, Powell didn't give up.
Moore tried to chase back, but his speed couldn't keep up.
Powell sprinted forward with all his might, for a time, Leicester City's defense was on high alert.