In the locker room, Chema Rico tapped the whiteboard with his tactical pen, his voice echoing in the quiet room.
"Getafe will definitely push forward with all their might in the second half. We must be more aggressive in defending Hugo Duro," he said, drawing several lines to block passing routes.
"Javi, you and Juanjo need to watch his retreats, stick to him, and don't let him easily receive the ball and turn.
Luis, you need to be a bit further forward, like a lock, and cut off their midfield passing lanes."
The coach's gaze turned to Lu Chuan in the corner.
"Lu, continue to cause trouble for them on the left wing, but you must pay attention to defending. Their right wing will definitely be very aggressive in the second half." Chema Rico patted Lu Chuan's shoulder.
"Remember, stay patient, opportunities are created through effort."
Lu Chuan nodded. The first-half lead had made his teammates a bit excited, but he knew very well that the match was only halfway through, and the real test was just beginning.
The second half began with a switch of ends, and Getafe indeed played more aggressively.
They were no longer content with midfield skirmishes but shifted their attacking focus forward.
Midfielder Javi Robles played as if he had taken a stimulant, frequently pushing forward, attempting to use numerical superiority to breach Leganés' defense.
The Leganés B Team, however, compressed their defense, dedicating more energy to the midfield battle, trying to cut off Getafe's passing routes.
The pace of the match was faster than in the first half, and physical confrontations were more intense.
In the 52nd minute, Getafe's offensive paid off.
Right winger Iván Martín broke through forcefully near the byline. He used a feint to get past the defender and then delivered a high-quality cross.
The ball bypassed the defense and accurately found Hugo Duro in the penalty area.
Duro leaped high, and just as he was about to head the ball, a figure emerged from behind and to the side. Javi Hernández made a clean slide tackle, clearing the ball out of bounds.
The ball flew past the post, giving Leganés fans a scare.
Pellegrino in the stands leaned forward slightly, unconsciously applauding.
This defense, both in timing and execution, was perfect, saving Leganés.
Just six minutes later, it was another crucial interception by Javi.
Getafe's central midfielder Rubén García received the ball at the top of the box. He looked up, observing the gaps in Leganés' defense.
Just as he was about to make his next move, Javi had already anticipated his passing intention, stepped up, and cleanly dispossessed him.
The ball was firmly stopped by Javi with the instep of his foot, and he quickly passed it to a teammate on the wing, defusing a potential threat.
Pellegrino made a mark in his notebook, a satisfied smile playing on his lips.
Javi's composure and anticipation in defense had left a deep impression on him.
The match gradually became a stalemate, with both teams' stamina declining.
Getafe's players started making passing errors, and Leganés was also unable to organize fluent attacks.
Lu Chuan, however, maintained a high intensity of running. He frequently pulled wide and cut inside on the left wing, unsettling the opposing defense.
At times, he would break through along the touchline like a flash of lightning, using his speed to shake off defenders; at other times, he would suddenly move towards the center, combining with midfield teammates in short passes, looking for shooting opportunities.
Getafe's center-back Miguel Romero was constantly annoyed by him, resorting to fierce body challenges several times, trying to use strength and experience to limit his performance.
Lu Chuan felt the opponent's rough actions, but relying on his strengthened core strength and agile footwork,
He could always slip through gaps like an eel, or firmly shield the ball, making the opponent's fouls ineffective and instead drawing warnings from the referee.
In the 75th minute, Lu Chuan received the ball on the left wing and suddenly cut inside. Consecutive feints allowed him to bypass right-back Julio Sánchez and the backtracking midfielder Ramón Fernández,
He took a shot directly from the edge of the penalty area. The ball, with strong spin, flew past the far post and out of bounds.
His roommate Miguel, on the bench, slammed his fist on the adjacent seat in frustration, muttering, "Just a little bit more!"
In the 80th minute, Getafe launched their final all-out attack, attempting to equalize.
Almost all their players pushed forward, leaving their defense exposed. Striker Hugo Duro received the ball with his back to goal at the edge of the penalty area. Just as he was about to turn and shoot forcefully,
Javi Hernández once again appeared behind him like a ghost, sticking close, and poked the ball away with his foot just as the opponent turned.
The ball rolled to Javi's feet. He didn't clear it with a long kick but instead sharply looked up and scanned the attacking third, immediately spotting Lu Chuan initiating a run near the halfway line. Lu Chuan raised his hand, signaling for a pass.
Without the slightest hesitation, Javi put all his strength into a low, long pass.
The ball, like a sharp blade, tore through Getafe's empty defense, rolling precisely into Lu Chuan's running path. The spray of water on the turf was kicked up by the fast-rolling ball, like a white trajectory.
Lu Chuan understood instantly, and the muscles in his legs exploded. His speed advantage was fully displayed at this moment; Getafe's two center-backs chased desperately, but could only watch helplessly as the distance between them and Lu Chuan grew wider and wider.
All eyes in the stadium were focused on that running figure; the air seemed to solidify.
At the edge of the penalty area, Lu Chuan caught up with the ball, with only the onrushing goalkeeper David Soria in front of him. Soria spread his arms, attempting to block all angles, and shouted loudly, trying to put pressure on Lu Chuan.
Facing this once-in-a-lifetime one-on-one opportunity, Lu Chuan's mind was perfectly clear. No powerful shot, no fancy dribbling; he simply calmly used the instep of his right foot to gently push the ball towards the far corner of the goal.
The ball skimmed the turf, rolled past the goalkeeper's fingertips, slowly yet surely into the net.
Two to zero!
The entire training ground erupted, with fans letting out deafening cheers.
Lu Chuan excitedly ran towards the corner flag, performing a knee-slide celebration, feeling the pleasure of the turf against his skin.
Teammates swarmed from all directions, piling on top of him, excitedly patting his head.
Getafe's defender Miguel Romero angrily kicked the turf, while Julio Sánchez stood with his hands on his hips, breathing heavily, his eyes filled with despair.
"A perfect one-on-one!" Javi Hernández ran over and vigorously ruffled Lu Chuan's hair.
"Your pass was even better!" Lu Chuan responded with a smile, and the two exchanged a knowing look.
In the stands, Pellegrino had already stood up, his expression completely changing from surprise to excitement.
This young Chinese man's performance had completely exceeded his expectations. What was important was not just the goal, but the absolute calmness and the most rational way of handling the opportunity.
This kind of Big Heart was exactly what his first team needed.
In the final ten minutes of the match, Chema Rico substituted Lu Chuan with Joaquín, allowing him to receive the applause of the entire stadium.
As he walked towards the dugout, Pellegrino in the stands tilted his head towards his assistant coach, who, understanding the unspoken message, drew a heavy circle next to Lu Chuan's name in his notebook.
At the final whistle, the Leganés B Team defeated the Getafe B Team two-nil.
Lu Chuan scored twice in his professional debut, a truly perfect performance.