August 26th, 20:45 – Stade Louis II, Monaco.
In the UEFA Super Cup, Ajax faced Liverpool.
The game had been underway for nearly half an hour, and Ajax had yet to register a single shot.
Yang Yang was constantly moving across the front line, trying to find space. On several occasions, he dropped deep into midfield to collect the ball, attempting to spark Ajax's build-up. But each time, he was quickly forced back forward to maintain his tactical position.
Under Ronald Koeman's plan, Yang Yang was Ajax's most dangerous player and needed to stay high to stretch the opposition's defense.
Liverpool, however, had started the match with remarkable intensity. Although Benítez's formation was officially a 4-4-2, in practice it resembled more of a 4-5-1. Morientes operated as the lone striker, with Luis García roaming just behind him, providing support along with the wide players. Riise and Finnan pushed up on the flanks, while Hamann and Xabi Alonso controlled the midfield.
From the very beginning, Liverpool disrupted Ajax's rhythm.
Just two minutes into the match, Hamann tested Ajax with a powerful long-range shot that rattled the crossbar. Steckelenburg managed to collect the rebound before Morientes could reach it. Ajax narrowly avoided an early goal.
This opening attempt set the tone for Liverpool's approach. It not only displayed their attacking intent but also shook the confidence of Ajax's younger players.
Ajax struggled to establish any control. Liverpool's experience and cohesion showed, particularly in the way they applied consistent pressure in the final third. Hamann and Xabi Alonso, though forming a midfield duo, operated with perfect balance and coordination. Their efforts allowed Liverpool to dictate the tempo and flow of the match.
In the 10th minute, Hamann's long pass found Riise on the left. Riise's cross reached Luis García, but the Spaniard mishandled it, allowing Steckelenburg to intervene again.
Three minutes later, Riise delivered another cross. This time, Luis García struck the ball cleanly with his left foot, sending it just over the crossbar.
Liverpool continued to probe. In the 16th minute, Xabi Alonso sent a diagonal pass to Morientes. The striker, under pressure from Vermaelen, managed to shoot, narrowly missing the far post.
Four minutes later, Morientes received the ball in the final third and flicked it with his heel to Luis García, who struck a low shot that missed to the left.
Then, in the 24th minute, Hamann played the ball forward to Luis García, who again combined with Morientes. This time, Morientes tried a low effort from outside the box, but the shot was too central and Steckelenburg made the save.
In the opening 25 minutes, Liverpool had taken eight shots.
Although none resulted in a goal, it was rare to see Ajax so overwhelmed.
Yang Yang, largely isolated in the final third, could only watch as his teammates struggled to cope. Even against Juventus in last season's Champions League, Ajax hadn't been pressured like this. That encounter had been defensively rigid—but not nearly as aggressive.
Yang Yang realized that, had Liverpool possessed a sharper attacking line, the score might already be heavily in their favor.
What stood out to him most was Liverpool's midfield. Hamann and Xabi Alonso were controlling both phases of play, initiating attacks and cutting off counters. Their dominance reminded Yang Yang of Valencia's Baraja and Albelda in last year's Super Cup. Benítez appeared to be replicating that setup with Liverpool.
Ajax had looked similarly outmatched in that game too, the key difference being that Valencia had more clinical finishers.
Liverpool lacked that edge. Luis García had flair and technique but wasn't efficient. Morientes needed better service and hadn't yet adapted to the team's style.
Still, Yang Yang knew Ajax wouldn't survive much longer if things continued like this.
Liverpool's quality was evident. They had shown their mettle in last season's Champions League final, overturning a three-goal deficit against AC Milan. Their strength wasn't in star names—it was in cohesion, discipline, and belief.
By comparison, Ajax still looked like a young side. Promising, but raw.
In terms of both individual and collective quality, they still had ground to make up.
Yang Yang was beginning to wonder if this was going to end like last year—another European Super Cup lost to a Benítez team.
...
...
Under the lights of Stade Louis II, Ronald Koeman stood motionless on the sideline, his fingers pressed hard against his brow as he tried to calm his frustration.
Liverpool's dominance in the opening half-hour had been suffocating.
"They're too strong," he muttered under his breath, eyes fixed on the pitch.
It wasn't just individual brilliance. Liverpool's strength came from their cohesion, their synchronicity. Every line of their formation moved in rhythm: the midfield pair dictated the pace, the wide players pressed and recovered relentlessly, and their transitions were clean and efficient.
Even without Steven Gerrard, they looked formidable.
"If Gerrard were fit…" murmured Ruud Krol beside him, unable to hide the admiration in his voice. "They'd be even stronger."
It wasn't praise so much as honest assessment. Koeman didn't like giving ground in analysis, but there was no denying it—Benítez had forged a compact, intelligent, and physically sharp unit out of a squad that, on paper, lacked true world-beaters in several positions.
"It's the midfield," Koeman said. "That's where the match is being won."
He wasn't wrong. Hamann and Xabi Alonso had taken control early and never let go. Their distribution, positioning, and pressing had thrown Ajax's midfield into disarray.
"And that opening shot…" Krol added, thinking back to Hamann's thunderous strike off the bar in the second minute. "It set the tone for the whole half."
Koeman nodded slowly. "He knew our back line wasn't settled. That's why he pushed hard right away. It's not just pressure—it's tactical pressure, targeting weakness."
And it worked.
Ajax's rhythm had been disrupted from the outset. Their build-up was shaky, the midfield unable to find space. With Maxwell pinned deep and Yaya Touré constantly dragged into defensive cover, their usual progression down the flanks had disappeared.
"They still can't finish," Krol said, watching another Liverpool move break down at the edge of the box. "Morientes is off, and Luis García wastes too much. Their finishing is soft. And their back line isn't clean either. Traoré and Josemi... they're not reliable. And Hyypiä's clearly carrying fatigue."
That much was true. Despite the siege, Liverpool's flaws still flickered through. The problem was Ajax couldn't get close enough to exploit them.
Koeman rubbed his temples, then lowered his hands and crossed his arms. "If we can just find one good counter…"
"Yang Yang," Krol said at once.
Koeman nodded. "He's the only one who can change this."
Yang Yang's game was built on patience, timing, and lethal precision. He didn't need five chances. One was often enough.
"But we can't even get him the ball right now," Koeman growled. "And if we can't get him the ball…"
He trailed off and glanced across the pitch toward Benítez, who stood calmly with arms folded, unmoved and unreadable. It was the same look the Spaniard had on his face when Liverpool were three goals down in Istanbul—unflinching, composed, sure of his plan.
Koeman felt a flash of irritation. He didn't like feeling helpless.
He turned back toward the pitch, eyes scanning for any shift in movement, any trigger of change.
"Come on," he muttered, almost to himself. "Someone has to step up."
Especially Yang Yang.
...
...
"Twenty-five minutes have passed."
"Ajax has yet to register a single shot, which is certainly surprising given their attacking form this season."
"From the start, Liverpool imposed a high tempo, pressing relentlessly and dictating the rhythm, while Ajax looked disjointed and uneasy under pressure."
"The midfield and backline seem unable to link up with the attack. The ball rarely crosses into Liverpool's half with intent, let alone with danger."
"Even Pienaar dropping deep to help build from the back hasn't resolved the issue."
"We now see Yang Yang dropping back as well, trying to get on the ball and initiate something. He's been forced out of his usual zone because the ball simply hasn't reached him."
...
Yang Yang finally decided to take matters into his own hands.
Seeing Maicon holding the ball near the touchline on the right, pinned down by Riise and unable to advance or turn, Yang Yang dropped deeper, raising his hand for the pass.
Maicon spotted him and quickly slid the ball into his feet.
The moment Yang Yang brought the ball under control, Harmann was already pressing hard from behind.
But Sneijder had anticipated the situation, darting in from midfield. Yang Yang shifted the ball to him with a short pass, then spun and accelerated forward.
Sneijder didn't hesitate. He touched the ball once, then returned it with a direct first-time pass into space, letting Yang Yang run onto it in full stride.
...
"Excellent combination play between Yang Yang and Sneijder."
"By dropping deep, Yang Yang helped Ajax create a numerical advantage in midfield. For the first time, they seem to have found some rhythm."
"Riise is tracking back quickly on the left, but Yang Yang carries the ball forward at pace. He's already at the edge of Liverpool's penalty area."
"Now it's a one-on-one situation against Djimi Traoré."
...
Yang Yang slowed down slightly as he approached Traoré on the right side of the penalty area. Then, with a sharp burst of acceleration, he cut inwards, dragging the ball across his body as if preparing to move centrally. Traoré bit on the feint and shifted his weight inside, but Yang Yang suddenly changed direction again, driving toward the byline instead. He burst past the defender and slipped into the edge of the box from a tight angle.
Charisteas had already read the play and was sprinting forward to position himself for a possible cut-back.
But as Yang Yang surged ahead, Traoré managed to stretch an arm across him, just enough to momentarily delay his run. That slight disruption was all Riise needed. The Norwegian left-back, recovering rapidly from the initial push forward, sprinted back and used his body well to slide in between Yang Yang and the ball. Using his strength, he shielded the ball and forced Yang Yang off his line of approach.
Riise's timing and recovery speed were impressive. He blocked Yang Yang off cleanly and managed to poke the ball away.
However, in the scramble that followed, Riise and Traoré nearly collided. The loose ball slipped between the two defenders. Yang Yang, refusing to give up, quickly stopped and reversed direction, darting toward the ball with a sharp change of pace.
Traoré had barely regained his balance. Reacting instinctively, he turned and swung a clearance without looking. But Yang Yang arrived at the same moment. The ball struck him flush in the chest and rebounded directly into the six-yard box.
Pepe Reina immediately sensed the danger and rushed off his line.
The crowd gasped.
Everyone had assumed the danger was over after Riise's challenge. Even if Traoré mishit his clearance, a back-pass or a standard clearance would have sufficed.
No one expected Yang Yang to be in the path of that ball.
Reina reacted quickly, but Yang Yang was already sprinting after the rebound. He had timed his movement perfectly and was now a half-step ahead, with the ball bouncing just in front of the penalty spot.
...
"Liverpool made a critical error in their clearance."
"Traoré's attempted clearance struck Yang Yang and bounced straight back into the danger zone."
"Yang Yang was the quickest to react—he's on it!"
"Reina's off his line—he's rushing out!"
"But it's too late—Yang Yang gets there first!"
"Goal!"
"Ajax take the lead!"
"In the 27th minute, against the run of play, Ajax break the deadlock at Stade Louis II!"
"It's their very first shot of the match—and it finds the back of the net!"
"And who else? Yang Yang! The 18-year-old continues to stun Europe!"
...
Yang Yang sprinted across the turf and slid to his knees beneath the section where Ajax fans had gathered. His face lifted in joy, he kissed the multicolored hand rope tied around his left wrist and raised both arms to the crowd. The roar behind him was deafening—Ajax had broken the deadlock, and it was Yang Yang once again delivering on the biggest stage.
He hadn't expected Liverpool's defence to hand him such an opportunity.
Perhaps Riise, charging back at full pace, had collided just slightly with Traoré, who in that split second panicked and tried to clear the ball instead of controlling it or laying it off. Under pressure, Traoré had misread the situation and struck Yang Yang square in the chest, turning what should have been a routine clearance into a rebound that gave Ajax their first real chance—and a goal.
In hindsight, the smarter option would've been to shield the ball and roll it calmly back to Reina. But hindsight has no value in the heat of elite football, where decisions are made in fractions of a second and punished without mercy.
Yang Yang didn't waste time analysing the error. That wasn't his job.
His job was to react, to chase, to strike—and he had done just that.
In professional football, sympathy is a luxury few can afford. The game moves on. And for Yang Yang, the only duty was to keep pushing, to keep scoring, to keep leading. In this moment, he had done exactly what was expected of him. Nothing more. Nothing less.
And Ajax now led 1–0.
...
...
Early morning in Beijing. National Television.
"Yang Yang played a decisive role in this Ajax goal."
"He was the one who dropped deep to initiate the move and created the entire opportunity from scratch."
"Under the combined pressure of Traoré and Riise—both capable defenders—he didn't give up, even after losing possession. That persistence directly forced Traoré into a rushed clearance, leading to the fatal mistake."
"I also noticed during the celebration, Yang Yang kissed the colored hand rope on his left arm. Does it hold some special significance? Or could it be, as some foreign media are speculating, a subtle hint at a possible relationship?"
"Haha, I imagine this gesture will dominate headlines across domestic media tomorrow."
In the living room, Su Ye—who had been watching the match with a glowing expression—suddenly flushed with embarrassment at the commentator's speculation. She tried to act indifferent, but her fingers subconsciously brushed the matching hand rope on her own wrist.
She knew exactly who that gesture was meant for.
That guy... really.
Her heart felt as if it had melted. She was completely overwhelmed with emotion, a sensation like being drunk, and for a moment, she wished she could sprout wings and fly to the Netherlands to meet him right then and there.
"Su," her father Su Wenhong asked, surprised, "Yang Yang has a girlfriend?"
"Ah?" Su Ye blinked, caught off guard.
Had he noticed something?
She started to worry. Parents were always observant. And just recently, her mother had grilled her pretty hard—what if…
"You talk to him on QQ, right? Did he ever mention this to you?" her father pressed casually.
Relieved, Su Ye shook her head quickly. "No, I don't know anything about it."
But deep down, her heart was dancing.
"He hides it well then," her father chuckled. "I wonder if she's Chinese or a foreign girl."
"She's Chinese," Su Ye blurted.
"Oh? How do you know?"
"Um…" She paused, thinking quickly. "He said once that he only likes Chinese girls."
"Well, that's good," Su Wenhong nodded, satisfied. "Next time he comes back, he'll have to introduce her to us properly."
He smiled, genuinely happy for the young man he had grown to respect. Meanwhile, he remained blissfully unaware of his daughter's flushed cheeks and quietly delighted expression beside him.
If his wife had been in the room, she would've rolled her eyes, tapped him on the head, and scolded him for being completely clueless.
...
...
Quanzhou.
Yang Yang's parents were seated together in the living room, eyes glued to the television as they watched the live broadcast. When the camera caught Yang Yang kissing the colored hand rope on his arm, they exchanged a surprised glance.
"Is this kid… dating?" his mother murmured.
"Seriously? And we're the last to know?" his father, Yang Yongqiang, frowned, a mix of surprise and curiosity in his voice.
They immediately turned their questioning eyes toward Wei Zheng and Shen Yuzhu, who had been watching the game alongside them. But both looked just as clueless.
"We don't know anything either," Wei Zheng said quickly, hands raised as if to defend himself. "You know what he's like. If he doesn't say anything, how are we supposed to guess?"
"Exactly," Shen Yuzhu chimed in, nodding. "He's always kept things to himself. That hasn't changed."
Yang Yongqiang and his wife both nodded. It was true. Their son had always been independent, even as a child. But hearing a commentator speculate on live television that their son might be in a relationship? It stirred something parental in them—curiosity, protectiveness, even a hint of worry.
He's only eighteen, they thought. Old enough, sure. But who is she? Chinese or foreign? What kind of person is she? What's her temperament, her background?
Even if it's just young love, it's still their son's first relationship. How could they not be concerned?
Meanwhile, Wei Zheng sat there, a frown slowly forming. A vague memory nagged at him—he had seen that hand rope before. Or maybe Yang Yang had mentioned it. But life had been too hectic lately. He'd overlooked what might have been a subtle clue.
Beside him, Shen Yuzhu looked equally contemplative. She, too, seemed to realize that some things had slipped past unnoticed.
...
...
Yang Yang had no idea that his spontaneous gesture—kissing the colored hand rope on his arm—would spark such widespread speculation.
He hadn't meant to create a scene. It was just a quiet, personal expression—one he thought would be overlooked in the moment's intensity.
In fact, most people in the stadium hadn't noticed it. The focus was on the goal, the lead, and what it meant in such a high-profile European match.
Back on the pitch, Liverpool regrouped.
With Gerrard unavailable, vice-captain Jamie Carragher took charge. As the most experienced figure on the field for the Reds, he was quick to rally his teammates after the setback. His voice rang out, calling for focus, for tighter marking, and—above all—for Traoré to keep his head up.
The goal may have come from a defensive blunder, but there was no time to dwell on it.
Carragher's leadership worked. Liverpool quickly reasserted themselves and returned to the aggressive, high-press rhythm they'd established from the start.
Ajax, meanwhile, adjusted.
The early goal gave them a crucial psychological edge. Now playing with the lead, they began to show a bit more composure. Ronald Koeman's side didn't overreact—they knew better.
They had endured tough matches before. This was no longer the same naïve team that had been overwhelmed by Juventus or outclassed by Valencia.
There was a certain maturity about them now.
The ball remained difficult to control. Liverpool's midfield, led by the disciplined pairing of Hamann and Xabi Alonso, continued to close down space with relentless efficiency. Ajax couldn't afford to launch into reckless attacks and lose shape. Instead, they slowed the tempo, tried to stretch the field, and waited for an opening.
The game had resumed the tone of the first twenty minutes—Liverpool in control, Ajax holding firm.
But the scoreboard had changed.
And that made all the difference.
...
...
Ronald Koeman was stunned.
Yang Yang's goal had come completely against the run of play—unexpected, perhaps, but not unreasonable. In football, mistakes are part of the game. What defines a great player is whether they can seize those rare opportunities and turn them into decisive moments.
Yang Yang did exactly that. He capitalized on Traoré's mistake with determination, tenacity, and technical execution. In doing so, he displayed the mark of a true star—one who can tilt the balance in a game simply by refusing to give up.
Koeman had been urging his team to stay composed after the goal. Now, he reminded them again from the sidelines: stay compact, stay organized, and let Liverpool take the initiative.
"If we force them to come out, we'll get our chances on the counter," he told his staff with visible excitement.
The goal had changed everything. With a lead in hand, Ajax had no reason to take risks. Let Liverpool come forward. Let them commit numbers.
"Liverpool's structure is excellent," said Ruud Krol with a nod. "Their organization and defensive awareness—definitely stronger than last season."
"They've matured," Koeman replied. "That comeback in the Champions League final against Milan… a game like that can harden a team. It gives them belief."
Indeed, Liverpool's road to Istanbul had been forged through solid defensive play. They kept Juventus scoreless over two legs in the quarter-finals, then edged Chelsea with a single goal in the semi-finals by giving up possession and defending with discipline.
But their final had been shaped by risk and regret. Benítez had tried to attack early, hoping to punish Milan's aging legs. That approach backfired. Kaka split their lines. Pirlo's free-kick assisted Maldini. Milan punished them ruthlessly on the counter, scoring three times in the first half.
And then, when Liverpool had nothing to lose, they played freely. They surged forward with momentum and managed the unthinkable—leveling the match 3-3 and winning on penalties.
It was legendary. But it also exposed their vulnerability.
"They're dangerous when pressed," Koeman explained, "but they still lack a natural finisher. The problem is—if you give them control, they can smother you. But if you bait them, if you force them to leave gaps..."
"That's the key," Krol agreed. "Pull them out."
Yang Yang's goal was Ajax's version of Pirlo's early assist in the Champions League final—a moment that forced the opponent into a different mindset.
Now, the challenge was to avoid Milan's mistake: don't relax, don't let them grow into the game.
"Without Gerrard," Koeman added, "they're missing a psychological anchor. Someone who rallies the team and pushes them from midfield. That gives us some margin."
He was genuinely impressed—and thankful—for the moment of brilliance from his young star.
"As long as we hold our structure, and Yang Yang stays switched on, we can win this."
Krol nodded, his eyes still fixed on the touchline. "That goal alone just raised his value tenfold."
It wasn't just a goal—it was a complete sequence. Yang Yang had tracked back, initiated the play, chased down a loose ball, and forced a panicked clearance. He didn't wait for a mistake; he made the mistake happen.
Just as Koeman began to imagine the headlines the next morning—how the media across Europe would celebrate the teenage sensation—the match took another turn.
Liverpool attempted to restart play from deep, but Xabi Alonso's long pass upfield missed its mark. Vermaelen had read the movement well, intercepted it, and immediately headed the ball down into the midfield.
Yaya Touré picked it up and surged forward across the halfway line before releasing Sneijder.
With space opening up and Liverpool momentarily disorganized, Sneijder hit a perfect diagonal switch to the opposite flank.
Yang Yang, who had been stationed on the right all evening, had quietly shifted to the left.
Now, out of nowhere, he was bearing down on goal—one-on-one again, created by Ajax's most lethal weapon: the counterattack.