Chapter 331: Oliveira's Serie A Debut
"Kaká is once again charging forward with the ball. Throughout this match, he's been a constant threat to Lazio's defense, and Suker is making deep runs in the center, pinning the backline in place."
"Kaká sends a cut-back pass—oh~~~ Suker! How is he already there?!"
Suker meets Kaká's pass and fires a first-time shot without stopping the ball.
The ball skims the turf, flying toward the right post of the goal.
It has a slight curve to it, adding a deceptive touch.
But Lazio's goalkeeper makes a desperate dive and barely tips the ball out for a corner.
"Hey! Someone mark him! Mark Suker! Don't let him shoot again!"
Lazio goalkeeper Peruzzi is furious.
Suker's repeated shots are giving him an immense sense of threat.
The most frustrating part is that Suker's shooting is exceptionally precise. Aside from a few early attempts, every shot has been on target.
Peruzzi feels mentally and physically exhausted.
He's at his limit.
At this rate, it's only a matter of time before they concede again.
"Suker is getting better and better—he's putting massive pressure on the defense. It's as if Shevchenko never left!"
By the 25th minute, Lazio starts pressing hard on AC Milan's backline.
Their entire formation pushes forward.
As the center forward, Suker has no need to drop back.
He patiently waits for his teammates to deliver the ball.
Sure enough, Maldini wins an aerial duel and nods the ball to Pirlo, who spins halfway and immediately threads a through ball to Suker.
As Suker receives it, Lazio's defender presses tightly.
But Suker, with his back to goal, nudges the ball to the right, then does a sudden drag-back turn.
Lazio center-back Siviglia fails to keep up and tugs at Suker's jersey as he turns.
Suker stumbles from the pull.
At the same time, full-back Zauri moves in to help.
Suker seizes the moment, knocks the ball forward, plants both hands on the ground, and surges ahead like an arrow.
Zauri is startled as Suker barrels past him.
Knowing he can't keep up, Zauri lunges in to body-check Suker, trying to disrupt him.
But he underestimates Suker's second burst of speed—he pulls ahead by half a body length.
Zauri clips Suker's back, then falls over dramatically, crashing into Siviglia and blocking him too.
Now Suker has a clear view ahead.
"Suker!!! He's past them!!! One-on-one!!!!——"
Aldo Serena suddenly yells and stands up.
His eyes go wide.
That burst of speed!That explosiveness!This guy really can play as a striker!
Watching him tear through the field like lightning, with no one able to stop him—
Aldo Serena can't help but shout repeatedly:
"Vento (Wind)!"
"Vento (Wind)!"
"Vento (Wind)!"
The San Siro erupts in thunderous cheers.
Suker chases down the ball, enters the penalty area, and slows down to adjust.
Lazio's goalkeeper Peruzzi cautiously creeps forward.
Suker suddenly lifts his right foot.
Peruzzi immediately dives.
But Suker hops slightly—a chip shot!
The ball arcs over the goalkeeper's head and dips toward the goal.
31st minute!
AC Milan extends their lead.
Suker scores his second of the match!
"Second goal!!! Suker!!!"
"He's completely destroyed Lazio's backline on his own!"
"In this match, Suker's explosiveness is breathtaking!"
"His two goals in the first half give Milan a huge advantage in their season opener!"
"Now I understand why Ancelotti is playing Suker at center forward!"
"Yes, Milan may have lost Shevchenko—but they've found Suker."
"With this kind of power and impact, this is where he belongs—up front!"
But Suker isn't done yet.
Two goals already!
How far can a third be?
He wants that hat trick!
Suker begins pushing even harder.
In the 40th minute, Kaká dribbles diagonally toward the middle. Suker makes a crisscross run with him.
Kaká immediately threads the ball ahead for Suker.
Before receiving it, Suker spots that Lazio's goalkeeper is leaning toward the near post.
Su Ke curves his run and unleashes a powerful shot with his right foot.
Boom!
The ball rockets toward the far post like a cannonball.
But the Lazio keeper reacts by stepping back—just in time. The ball grazes his ankle, changing direction slightly, and bangs off the post and bounces out.
On the left side, Seedorf surges forward, beats the defender, and calmly slots the ball in.
"Hey! That's an assist, right? That's gotta count as an assist!"
Suker runs to Seedorf.
Seedorf laughs and spreads his arms—Suker leaps into a big hug.
"Another shot from Suker!"
"What a high-quality strike! From that tight angle, he still aimed at the far post! If Peruzzi's ankle hadn't deflected it, that ball was in!"
"But this shot reminds everyone of Suker's incredible accuracy and technique!"
41st minute—AC Milan go up 3-0 against Lazio!
"Lazio's collapsing!"
During halftime, Suker shouts excitedly in the locker room:
"Feed me in the second half—I'll treat everyone to a feast!"
Whoa!!!!
The whole squad laughs and cheers.
Leading by three goals, the mood is joyful.
Especially because the striker issue seems to be resolved.
After Shevchenko's departure, many in the team thought Milan's attack had lost its punch.
But today, Suker showed everyone what a Croatian "nuclear warhead" really means.
Suker is pumped.
He feels like he could score more.
But someone disagrees.
"Suker will play 10 more minutes. Sub him off at 55."
Ancelotti says calmly.
Suker's eyes widen: "But I haven't gotten my hat trick yet!"
"There will be plenty of chances later," Ancelotti replies, waving his hand, clearly helpless.
This guy seems to have forgotten he just played a European qualifier.
The season is long.
With a packed schedule and national team duties, Ancelotti is determined to manage Suker's fitness carefully.
Milan doesn't have many players of Suker's caliber right now.
They can't afford to risk him.
With this performance, Suker has already solidified his role as Milan's attacking core.
Suker is frustrated.
But there's nothing he can do.
Inzaghi and Ricardo Oliveira are subbed on.
Especially Oliveira—after just joining Milan, he gets to debut in a match like this thanks to Suker and the others.
Ricardo Oliveira is full of confidence.
Lazio looks tough, but Suker made them look ordinary.
Now Oliveira's ambition is rising too.
He wants to score on debut—a perfect start!
In the 55th minute, Suker is subbed off.
He leaves the field having scored twice and winning the fans' approval with a spectacular performance.
The stadium gives him a rousing ovation.
Seedorf, the other goal scorer, also leaves the field.
"Let's go!"
"Go for it!"
Suker high-fives Inzaghi on the way out.
As he turns to leave, Suker glances at Oliveira.
He's wearing Milan's #7 jersey.
Suker's expression turns strange.
Is this too much pressure for him?The #7 jersey once belonged to Shevchenko. Ricardo Oliveira is a good player—but can he really live up to that legacy?
Turns out—he can't.
Oliveira pairs with Inzaghi up front.
He gets the ball often—but is constantly shut down.
In Serie A, defenders let the ball through—not the man.
Unless you have elite skill or physicality.
Oliveira clearly has neither.
Suker watches as Oliveira tries a flashy lift-and-drop feint on the wing—only to lose his footing and fall flat.
Oh~~~~~~~~
Suker and Seedorf cover their faces simultaneously.
They can't watch.
It's too embarrassing.
The whole move reminds Suker of a future "Brazilian compass." (My GOAT)
Five minutes later, Oliveira crashes into Zauri. As he's about to lose the ball, he literally clings to the defender.
Tweet!
The ref blows the whistle.
Straight yellow card for Oliveira.
"Are you wrestling out there? Can't you dodge or something?"Even the usually mild-mannered Kaká is starting to lose patience.
This Brazilian compatriot is a bit too much.
Ancelotti stands on the sideline, head tilted, watching Oliveira.
His mouth slightly agape, eyes full of confusion, disbelief—and pain.
14 million euros!
What did we even buy?
Oliveira himself is panicking.
This can't be right!Why was it so easy for Suker, but so hard for me?
These Lazio defenders—weren't they the ones Suker toyed with earlier?
Why are they defending me perfectly now?
"This guy's a rookie,"Zauri mutters, eyeing Oliveira.
Siviglia, nearby, thinks Oliveira's okay.
But then he remembers the pressure Suker brought in those first 55 minutes.
"Trash!"