Volume One: Our Own League 143: Xu He is Finally Ready for His Evaluation

The entire stadium fell into a deathly silence! Everyone was stunned by Yang Hao’s astonishing performance. This guy had effortlessly dribbled past four players, launched a long-range raid, and scored a goal—it was truly breathtaking.

Yangtong Mingxiong’s eyes widened, his heart filled with shock. He could clearly see that the boy’s ability to combine ball control with his movement was exceptional; his footwork was formidable, his dribbling was razor-sharp, and he was undeniably powerful. He was a talent! Yangtong Mingxiong was somewhat stunned. How could Jingguancheng No. 17 High School have so many geniuses? Why had their club scouts never discovered them before? He suddenly felt the need to re-evaluate his view on school football. He looked at Yang Hao, then at Xu Donglai; these were true prodigies.

The players on the United Team were naturally rattled by Yang Hao; he was indeed formidable. However, they refused to concede. They convinced themselves that Yang Hao’s performance was mainly due to their own complacency, which had given him the opportunity to show off. They immediately tightened their resolve, declaring that they would not give the Grade 7 Team A players any more chances.

As the match resumed, the United Team played with much more caution, especially regarding their defense against Yang Hao, leaving him almost no space at all. Naturally, they also launched aggressive attacks to showcase their offensive talent to the coaching staff.

The defensive capability of Grade 7 Team A in the second half was indeed not as strong as in the first, which gave the United Team many opportunities. The United Team seized control of the game, and their victory seemed all but certain. Furthermore, under their tight marking, Yang Hao found no further openings. They pushed forward, besieging Team A’s goal.

The United Team’s number 9 striker was highly active and committed; he had one goal in mind: to break through the net guarded by Xu Donglai. Qi Dan and Beckham created many chances for him, but when facing Xu Donglai, he was truly helpless. The number 9 striker performed excellently, his shots were clinical and threatening, yet they were consistently parried by Xu Donglai. He could not breach the keeper’s defenses even once.

Seeing this, Xu He turned to Zhuo Jun and said, "This striker is finally experiencing the fear of being dominated by Xu Donglai!"

Xu Dongsheng immediately pricked up his ears to listen to their conversation. Zhuo Jun laughed, "Do you all call it the 'fear of being dominated by Xu Donglai'?"

Xu He replied with a wry smile, "As much as I hate to admit it, that is what we call it in private. Xu Donglai is truly strong; he is worthy of being the MVP of the Grade 7 Football League, the ultimate guardian of the goal!"

Indeed, in everyone’s mind, the best player in the Grade 7 Football League was Xu Donglai. Xu Dongsheng had a realization: so that was it—this kid was the strongest goalkeeper at Jingguancheng No. 17 High School.

Zhuo Jun looked at Xu He and said, "No matter how strong Donglai is, didn't you manage to score against him? You’re quite something yourself, kid!"

Xu He shook his head. "Scoring against him involved some luck; he really is that strong!"

Zhuo Jun suddenly said, "If you don’t want to face such a terrifying goalkeeper in the new season, then join our team. That way, you won’t have to face Donglai, and you can fight alongside him instead."

Xu He could only offer a bitter smile; even at a time like this, Zhuo Jun was still trying to poach him. The latter part of the conversation carried a lot of weight. Xu Dongsheng suddenly developed a deeper interest in Xu He; he wanted to see what kind of skill it took for Xu He to score against a goal guarded by Xu Donglai. Of course, that would have to wait until the afternoon match.

The morning matches were not yet over, though they were nearing the end. Even though Grade 7 Team A’s performance in the second half was impressive and eye-catching, Xu Dongsheng still felt they couldn't win; the victory would still belong to the United Team.

At that moment, the United Team was still attacking. Zinedine Qi Dan successfully dribbled through the midfield, carving out a path, and spotting the number 9 striker, he delivered a precise through-ball. The striker turned and shot, attacking the goal guarded by Xu Donglai. Unfortunately, his composure wavered, and the ball sailed over the crossbar. The striker shook his head in frustration; he had been rattled by Xu Donglai all match, and his second-half performance was subpar.

With the United Team’s attack stalled, Team A’s offense began to rise as they slowly pushed forward, seeking an opening. Just then, Yuan Fang and Song Xiang executed a perfect combination on the wing, and Yuan Fang sent in a cross. In the center, Yang Xin jumped high and headed the ball. His height advantage was perfectly utilized, crushing the United Team’s defense to drive the ball into the net. Grade 7 Team A had scored again, narrowing the score to 3-4.

To be honest, Yang Xin’s height gave him a massive advantage even against the third-year seniors; this goal was a perfect demonstration of his physical edge. Indeed, people like Yang Xin had a natural advantage—no matter where they went, they would always have a place.

Seeing this, Xu He sighed. The world is so unfair; some are born ahead of you. There is no other way—you have to work hard to catch up. Xu He was just such a striver, convinced that as long as he kept working hard, one day he would surpass everyone.

At this point, the United Team felt immense pressure. The situation seemed to turn precarious in an instant. They were struggling to hold on as the Grade 7 Team A players became increasingly active, their morale soaring. They launched a frenzied assault, trying to equalize and then take the lead.

However, their offense hit a snag. The problem, naturally, lay with Yang Hao. Yang Hao was far too selfish; once he had the ball, he rarely passed, choosing to attack entirely on his own. At first, this showcased his technical prowess, but the United Team soon realized he was a lone wolf and tightened their double-teaming, significantly reducing his threat. Although Yang Hao occasionally produced stunning dribbles, he would often get past one defender only to be stopped by the second. He seemed to have no eyes for his teammates, choosing to go it alone rather than distribute the ball. He created many opportunities, but wasted just as many.

Seeing this, Yangtong Mingxiong and Luo Dongqing looked grim. They hadn’t expected Yang Hao to be this kind of player, and it infuriated them. While Yang Hao had talent and strength, his individualistic style of play was unacceptable to them. Luo Dongqing, in particular, had emphasized teamwork repeatedly before the match, but it was clear Yang Hao hadn’t listened. Coaches never favor players who ignore tactics, and they felt Yang Hao was squandering his immense talent.

The two men’s faces were ashen. In the stands, Xu Dongsheng’s expression was no better. He had initially admired Yang Hao, but seeing this, his mood soured.

Xu He chuckled, "As expected, Yang Hao is still Yang Hao. No matter where he goes, he’s like this!"

Zhuo Jun nodded slightly. "Indeed."

Xu He suddenly asked, "Do you think the coaching staff will keep Yang Hao?"

Zhuo Jun was taken aback; he hadn’t considered that question and didn’t know how to answer. Xu Dongsheng, hearing their conversation, was shocked—so they knew about Yang Hao too.

On the pitch, the match continued. At this point, the two sides seemed evenly matched; neither could get the better of the other, and it seemed the game would end this way. Yang Xin, Qin Tailong, and Yuan Fang performed well, showing impressive skill. They had good opportunities, but Qin Tailong’s shot was too straight, and the ball was gathered by the United Team’s goalkeeper. On the other end, Xu Donglai continued to hold the fort, leaving his opponents helpless. He was truly strong, imposing his will on the United Team’s players. The United Team failed to score a single goal in the second half, completely shut out by Xu Donglai.

The United Team’s players were full of admiration for him. Yangtong Mingxiong and the others looked at Xu Donglai with glowing eyes—he was truly a great prospect.

Just then, the referee blew the final whistle. It was clear that the most eye-catching player in this match was the Grade 7 Team A goalkeeper, Xu Donglai. He had captured everyone’s attention and earned everyone’s praise; he was simply brilliant.

The final result was 3-4, with the United Team winning. Xu Dongsheng stood up and said to Xu He and the others, "Let’s go eat and get some rest. Gather here at 2:00 PM to prepare for our match against the United Team!"

Xu He stood up excitedly and said, "Understood!" He was looking forward to the afternoon match; he hoped it would arrive immediately so he could showcase his skills before everyone and make them remember his name. Zhuo Jun felt the same; he hoped for the match to start soon so he could prove his potential and strength to the coaching staff and earn a spot on the school team.

Of course, Xu He and Zhuo Jun continued to discuss the morning’s results. They had learned a lot—the United Team was no pushover; they had real quality. Xu He reminded Zhuo Jun to be serious; they could not let the United Team win again. Xu He was full of drive, determined to win the match and defeat the United Team together with his teammates.

Time passed quickly, and soon it was afternoon. The match between Grade 7 Team B and the United Team was about to begin. Xu Dongsheng looked at his teammates and emphasized, "You all saw the morning match; our opponents are very strong. I hope you can unite, prioritize the team’s interests, and strive to win this match! I’ll say it one last time: only if the team performs well will your individual excellence have any meaning."