Bang!
Just as expected!
After three stepovers, Su Hang nudged the ball to the right with his right foot and began cutting inside.
If the defender wanted to stay with him the whole way, he'd need to rotate close to 220 degrees.
Not only would that take time, but such a large turn would also overload his visual reflexes for a moment.
Of course, he could choose to turn the other way, which would only require about 140 degrees.
But that meant showing his back to Su Hang for a stretch, losing sight of him and breaking defensive continuity.
During that window, Su Hang wouldn't be disturbed at all—and if he suddenly changed his mind and went down the line instead, the defender would never react in time.
The defender chose the first option.
And unsurprisingly, after one or two tugs, he was shaken off completely.
Su Hang cut inside successfully!
Near the left edge of the penalty area, a Dynamo Kyiv Center Back stepped out.
A quick right-foot touch sent the ball rolling toward the byline.
One simple feint, and Su Hang slipped past him.
The defender had been focused on stopping Su Hang from continuing his cut inside, worried about him drifting laterally along the edge of the box or curling a shot to the far post.
Who would've thought Su Hang would deliberately narrow his path and run tight along the left side of the penalty area instead?
That choice left him with an extremely tight shooting angle.
Unless he curved it with his right foot.
But if Su Hang took time to adjust, the Dynamo Kyiv Center Back would inevitably recover and get into position.
So this clean take-on was both Su Hang's design—and the opponent's calculation.
Bang!
The Dynamo Kyiv Center Back turned to face Su Hang, not even having time to step forward.
Su Hang chased down the ball and, from that razor-thin angle, forced a shot with his left foot.
Abrupt.
Far too abrupt!
From an opportunity-value perspective, this shot was, at best, a third-tier chance.
Considering it was taken with Su Hang's weaker foot, it barely qualified as a trash-tier second-tier chance.
As an attacking decision, it was awful—completely awful.
Just moments earlier, Modrić had been analyzing Su Hang's move with Juan Mata:
"What a shame! Captain Su's cut inside was clumsy, but his explosiveness and the defender's level meant it worked brilliantly—easily a nine out of ten!"
"But the decision to beat the Center Back afterward was wrong."
"It looked like he got past him, but in reality he fell straight into the opponent's trap. That dribble only deserves a seven."
"Still, it wasn't beyond saving… If he'd swept it across goal with his left foot before the defender closed in, that would've created danger—a five-tier option."
"Or he could've controlled it, adjusted, and chipped it into the box. With Su Hang's physicality and sense for space in the area, that's still a four-, five-, maybe six-tier choice."
"But the worst option of all is forcing a shot from a tight angle with his weaker foot."
"From that angle, you'd score once in a hundred tries—at best!"
There was more than a hint of disdain in his tone.
Mata, a reserve-team player who was lucky to make the matchday squad, clearly didn't have the same standing as a bona fide first-team figure like Modrić.
He didn't dare say much—just nodded along.
Then, the next instant.
The ball slipped through the tiny gap between the goalkeeper's right foot and the post and rolled into the net.
Not too much. Not too little. Just right.
An absurdly extreme finish.
"GOAL! Su Hang gets his name on the scoresheet too!"
"Four–nil! Poor Dynamo Kyiv—this European campaign might end with no survivors!"
"Real Madrid are absolutely ruthless!"
"With Su Hang, Real Madrid are unquestionably the most terrifying team in European competition—no exceptions!"
Boom!
The stadium exploded.
Su Hang sprinted toward the corner flag and leapt high into the air.
Juan Mata stared in disbelief as Luka Modrić—who had just been criticizing Su Hang's decision-making—shot off the bench like an arrow, charging straight toward the corner.
As the cheer erupted.
As Su Hang descended from the sky.
The first one to greet him was none other than Modrić!
"Incredible! Perfect dribble, perfect finish! Watching you play is pure enjoyment!" Modrić hugged Su Hang like a crazed fan. "Your finishing—Van Nistelrooy himself would be embarrassed watching that!"
Mata was completely stunned.
How the hell did he switch faces so effortlessly?
Did Modrić study acting in Croatia instead of football?
"Oh! Modrić is celebrating wildly with Su Hang, as if he were one of the players on the pitch!"
"This young man clearly holds Su Hang in the highest regard. Rumor has it he was able to join Real Madrid thanks entirely to Su Hang's full support."
"And the facts prove it—Su Hang's efforts weren't wasted. Modrić isn't an ungrateful type."
Ramos: Damn it! Since when did Modrić stop being on my side?
Van Nistelrooy: Why am I the one who's embarrassed?
After the emotional celebration, play resumed.
By halftime, Real Madrid led 4–0.
Both teams returned to the locker rooms.
From the Dynamo Kyiv side, the shouting was deafening. Their head coach was doing everything he could to fire up his players.
He even used Zelensky, a hugely popular comedian in Ukraine, to motivate them.
It gave the Dynamo Kyiv players a noticeable boost.
...
After the break, both teams came back out.
In the 51st minute, Zidane deliberately fed more balls to Su Hang on the wing, encouraging him to take on defenders down the flank. At the same time, it drew defenders toward him and opened space for others.
But this time, Dynamo Kyiv were so worried about Su Hang cutting inside that they anticipated it too early, turning fully sideways to the touchline.
Bang!
Su Hang knocked the ball straight down the line and breezed past his marker.
Bang!
He delivered a cross.
It wasn't particularly high and was cleared at the near post.
The ball dropped near Zidane. Zidane controlled it, then lofted a pass toward the far post, where he was immediately taken down by a defender.
At the far post, Raúl met it with a volley and struck on goal.
The ball ripped into the net.
"GOAL! Five goals now—Real Madrid are in unbelievable form today!"
"It feels like anyone who shoots will score!"
"Raúl's volley was decisive and clean—El Capitán still has it!"
"Oh! The referee shows a yellow card. That foul on Zidane was completely unnecessary; the defender could've pulled out."
"With this, Real Madrid are certain to take all three points. Over in the other match, Lyon are also leading Steaua Bucharest, sitting comfortably atop the group with six points."
"Real Madrid and Steaua Bucharest are tied on points, separated by goal difference in second and third. Dynamo Kyiv are bottom after two straight losses."
Even though the match wasn't over, Group E was effectively settled.
In the 60th minute, Capello began making substitutions.
Robinho replaced Raúl, who received warm applause from the crowd.
Guti came on for Emerson.
Compared to the energy of the others, Emerson had been largely anonymous today.
In the 64th minute, Zidane played the ball out to Robinho on the right flank.