Chapter 353: An Imaginative First Touch

Oliveira stood on the sideline as AC Milan made a substitution.

Boooooooooooooooooo!!The stadium erupted in a chorus of boos.

Roma fans were using this to put pressure on Oliveira.

Mixed in were curses and jeers:

"Milan's biggest flop!"

"Oliveira who can't dribble!"

"You'll fail in Serie A!"

"Flop! Flop!"

Hearing the insults from the Roma fans, Oliveira's chest rose and fell violently.

He was furious, but he couldn't lash out.

Ever since joining Milan, everything had changed.

His performance and abilities were constantly questioned.

Of course, this was part of the price of joining a big club—many players had faced this challenge.

But how to solve the problem was the key.

Oliveira didn't come to Milan to just coast. He wanted to make a mark.

And that required adjustment.

Suker's recent words had been an epiphany for Oliveira.

Suker was right—Oliveira was a role player, a piece in the tactical puzzle.

He wasn't Suker, and certainly not Kaká.

Ancelotti wasn't going to give him a big tactical role—or even much support.

To be blunt, Ancelotti brought him in to fix the team's current crisis.

He needed to be "useful."

And any player who wasn't useful would be discarded immediately by Ancelotti.

Oliveira knew his performances in recent matches had already left Ancelotti dissatisfied.

So, he needed to make changes quickly.

"When you get on the field, move more, drop back to receive the ball, and look to pass as soon as you get it. Don't even think about dribbling."—Ancelotti's tactical instruction

Oliveira listened intently. He knew this might be his last chance.

Ancelotti didn't have much patience for newcomers, especially ones not hyped as big stars.

"Go!"

As Brocchi walked off the pitch, Oliveira stretched out his hand. The two exchanged a quick high-five, and Oliveira sprinted onto the field.

On the pitch, Suker looked over at Oliveira.

"Let's play more combination football," Oliveira approached Suker and said. "I'll stretch wide to create chances for you to shoot."

Suker was surprised.

This guy finally got it.

Suker nodded.

"Help me score, and I'll look out for you from now on!"

Oliveira smiled. He liked that deal.

The Brazilian contingent didn't have much say in the Milan dressing room, and they weren't even united.

Aside from Maldini, Suker probably held the most sway in the Milan dressing room now.

In the Serie A commentary booth, Aldo Serena looked toward Oliveira and explained:

"So far this season, the Brazilian Oliveira hasn't performed well. He's been heavily criticized by both the media and fans. This match is key—can he adjust and find his place in the team?"

That was Serena being polite.

In the past, commentators would've outright called him a flop.

The match quickly resumed.

AC Milan's throw-in.

Simic tossed the ball to Kaká, who returned it to Seedorf. Once Seedorf was sure it was safe, he looked up.

Suker and Kaká were tightly marked—passing to them was risky and could easily result in a turnover and counterattack.

Just then, he saw Oliveira dropping back on the left into space.

Seedorf immediately passed to him.

Oliveira received the ball, turned, and faced the direction of attack.

Roma's fullback charged at him.

In the past, Oliveira might have tried to take him on.

But this time, he glanced to his right.

Suker had dropped into space.

"Suker!"

Oliveira passed the ball and immediately made a forward run.

He cut in from the inside-left channel, dragging both the fullback and center-back with him—taking away their ability to press Suker.

"Great movement!" Suker praised in his head.

Still, he had no intention of returning the ball to Oliveira.

Oliveira's job was to pull defenders away—Suker had a better option.

He received the ball, spun halfway, and played it into the right inside channel.

Kaká immediately darted forward and drove toward the byline.

Once Suker entered the penalty box, Kaká whipped in a cross.

The ball soared into the box.

"Watch Suker!"

But before the words were out, Suker had already leapt.

Despite being closely marked, Suker rose high and got a header on goal.

He made contact, but it was slightly too low—the ball flew over the crossbar.

"This guy…" Chivu muttered as he landed.

From the moment Suker jumped, even with defensive pressure, he still reached the ball.

That's where his core strength came into play.

This season, Suker had been outstanding as a center-forward, giving defenders like Chivu a massive headache.

Even though Chivu was taller, he was losing most of the aerial duels.

A bad sign for any defender.

Suker could miss multiple chances, but all he needed was one moment to score.

Chivu, on the other hand, couldn't afford a single mistake.

"Counterattack!!!——"

Roma's goalkeeper took the ball from the ball boy and quickly threw it to Totti in midfield.

Totti controlled it and turned to pass to De Rossi.

De Rossi began to dribble forward, while Totti sprinted into space.

Just as De Rossi looked to play the through ball, Gattuso came flying in from the side.

De Rossi halted sharply.

Gattuso slid by and missed.

Just as De Rossi relaxed, Seedorf came from behind and poked the ball away.

He passed to Cafu.

Cafu looked up briefly and launched a diagonal long ball—from right back to left forward.

Oliveira, still fresh and energetic, put pressure on Tonetto down the wing.

He controlled the ball beautifully.

"Ricardo Oliveira is having a very solid performance tonight!"—Aldo Serena

For a young player, stability was high praise.

Oliveira looked up—no good crossing angle.

"Back to me!"A voice called from behind.

Ambrosini had popped up in the inside-left channel.

Oliveira passed back immediately.

Ambrosini received it and looked toward the box.

Suker had dropped back again.

Ambrosini played it in.

"Suker drops back—Ambrosini passes—is this a hold-up play?"

Before Serena could finish, he saw Suker leaning sideways as he received the ball, then tapping it backward with his right foot.

The ball rolled to the penalty spot.

At the same time, Suker spun and exploded forward, leaving Chivu behind.

With a single first touch, Suker had completely shaken off the defender and created a golden scoring chance.

"SUKER!!!!——"

Serena couldn't hold back.

He saw Suker blast the ball toward the near post. The Roma goalkeeper reacted, but the sudden move caught him off guard.

The ball hit the net.

78th minute, AC Milan extended their lead, thanks to Suker.

"Oh! What a shot from Suker to put Milan back in front!"

"That first touch was just magnificent—completely turned the game in an instant. No one expected it, but Suker pulled it off and scored."

"When judging a striker, besides finishing, the first touch is everything!"

"That imaginative touch gave Suker and Milan the edge."

"Totti scored two tonight, and we thought he could carry Roma to victory—but the young Suker said, 'No.' This goal tells everyone that victory belongs to Milan."

"Victory belongs to Suker!"Serena shouted passionately.

Meanwhile, in Milan's fan zones back in the city, people erupted with joy.

Suker's goal had come suddenly—

But what a wonderful surprise it was.

Roma strong?

Roma has Totti?

So what?

They have Suker!

Milan has Suker!

Six matches. Six goals.A goal per game.

At the start of the season, Suker's form was on fire.

Even the red-hot Totti couldn't keep up with him.