Giroud was tall, physically strong, and a center forward. Naturally, Distin focused on preventing him from turning and shooting. But he hadn't anticipated that kind of pass from David Silva.
Distin reacted quickly, rushing in to block Giroud, only to be caught off guard as the French striker executed a left-footed lob in mid-air.
Whether intentional or not, Giroud's cross landed precisely at chest height, right between him and Distin.
Everyone knew that inside the penalty area, this was a dangerous height. Even the slightest miscalculation could lead to a handball.
Distin had no time to think. Instinctively, he judged that the ball wouldn't pose a direct threat to the goal, so he shrunk his body to avoid making contact.
After all, Kaboul was behind him, and if all else failed, Portsmouth still had their goalkeeper.
Giroud's cross carried almost no power.
But just as the defenders relaxed, Suárez ghosted into the box, making a diagonal run toward the back post. Before Kaboul could react, the Uruguayan lashed out with his right foot and slotted the ball into the bottom right corner of the net.
For a brief second, the stadium fell silent.
Then—
"GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!"
"MANCHESTER CITY SCORES AGAIN!!!"
"IT'S SUÁREZ AGAIN—A BRACE!!!"
"That's his seventh goal in the first four league games!"
"Unbelievable! Olivier Giroud, making his first appearance for Manchester City, delivers a delicate lobbed pass from the left side of the penalty area, perfectly finding Suárez, who calmly puts it away!"
"Manchester City leads 2-1!"
Suárez exploded with excitement, sprinting toward the touchline while shouting Giroud's name.
His teammates weren't far behind, swarming the French striker and Suárez in celebration.
There was no doubt about it, Giroud deserved a lot of credit for the goal.
His pass had been exquisite.
Of course, Suárez's clinical finishing and David Silva's well-timed assist had also been crucial.
"Olivier Giroud, the 22-year-old French forward, making his Manchester City debut, just set up a vital goal in a crucial match!"
"Let's look at the slow-motion replay."
"Silva's pass was clever, Giroud's turn and lob were pure quality, and Suárez's finish showed his killer instinct."
"This was an outstanding goal from Manchester City!"
"Now, the momentum is shifting back in City's favor. With more than ten minutes left, will Portsmouth push forward?"
…
"Beautiful!"
Gao Shen leaped from his seat, clapping and cheering.
The key to the goal? Giroud.
He had pinned down Distin, creating space in the penalty area.
If that had been Suárez in Giroud's position, he wouldn't have been able to hold off Distin.
This was the value of a proper center forward.
A strong, physical presence who could create chances simply by using his body.
"This kid still needs more training," Gao Shen mused. "He hasn't fully grasped it yet."
If Giroud were being judged by the standards of a starting center forward, he still had flaws.
His footwork was decent but not outstanding. He lacked pace and explosiveness. His reactions inside the penalty area weren't quick enough. And under the high-pressure, fast-paced environment of the Premier League, his finishing needed serious improvement.
This was why so many players who shined in Ligue 1, Portugal, or the Eredivisie struggled in top leagues.
In those leagues, defenders weren't as aggressive, and attackers had more space to operate.
Take the last play, for example, if Giroud had tried to shoot instead of passing, Distin would have blocked it.
His shot would have lacked power, and even Gao Shen himself might have been able to save it, let alone a professional goalkeeper.
Why was his shot weak?
Because to shoot quickly, Giroud sacrificed power for speed.
If he wanted to strike with full force, he would've needed to adjust his body, swing his leg fully, and generate power. But by then, the shooting opportunity would be gone, Distin would have intercepted it.
At this level, split-second decisions made the difference.
"When it comes to work ethic and impact, he's actually a valuable player," Sarri admitted.
He then turned to Gao Shen with admiration.
Where did Gao Shen even hear about Giroud?
Did he have scouting connections in Ligue 2?
Why had Sarri never heard about this before?
But Gao Shen wasn't paying attention to Sarri's curiosity, his focus was locked on the game.
He quickly noticed movement on Portsmouth's bench.
Paul Hart wasn't willing to let this match slip away.
He was preparing a counterattack.
Gao Shen glanced at the touchline and spotted two players warming up.
Utaka and Kanu.
Utaka was versatile—able to play as a right winger or a striker.
Kanu was a target man.
It was obvious.
Portsmouth was about to go all in on the attack.
This was something Gao Shen truly admired about Premier League teams.
Whether it was the dominant wins over Blackburn and Everton earlier in the season, or Wolves and now Portsmouth, English teams never backed down.
Even when facing stronger opponents, they refused to park the bus, they always fought until the end.
People often said La Liga was all about attacking football, but that wasn't entirely true. Many northern Spanish teams played very pragmatic football.
But in the Premier League?
Even teams like Wolves and Portsmouth had the guts to go for it.
Maybe it was just the English football culture.
Everyone knew the Premier League emphasized physicality and relentless pace.
Even when teams parked the bus, they didn't sit deep like Serie A teams.
Especially at home.
As Brian Kidd always said:
"You can offend anyone, but never offend your own fans."
…
Portsmouth made their substitutions.
Utaka replaced Tommy Smith.
Kanu replaced Piquionne.
Two attacking changes.
A clear message to the team, Portsmouth was going all-out.
Manchester City, under careful tactical adjustments, stabilized their midfield and waited for Portsmouth to push forward.
The game once again entered a high-paced battle of attack and defense.
At this stage, Manchester City's superior physical condition and control of possession became increasingly evident. After over an hour of intense play, Portsmouth's stamina had been significantly drained.
As for Kanu, though experienced and well-known, he was no longer in his prime.
Whether it was Kompany, David Luiz, or Javi Martínez, none were easy opponents.
The veteran striker found himself struggling to make an impact against Manchester City's midfield and defense.
In the 86th minute, Portsmouth attempted a long ball to Kanu, but Javi Martínez positioned himself well and headed it clear.
Giroud, retreating from the front, used his body to shield Distin and, after the ball dropped, calmly laid it off to Rakitic in space.
The Croatian midfielder took a touch before delivering a diagonal pass to the open left flank, finding Robinho.
The Brazilian winger controlled the ball and immediately dribbled inside at pace. Facing Van den Borre one-on-one, he executed a series of stepovers before suddenly poking the ball past the Belgian defender and sprinting around him into the box.
"Brilliant move!"
"Robinho forces his way past Van den Borre on the left and charges into the penalty area, one-on-one with the keeper!"
"He shoots... and it's in!!!"
"GOALLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!"
"ROBINHO STRIKES AGAIN FOR MANCHESTER CITY!"
"3-1!"
"In the 86th minute, Robinho extends Manchester City's lead over Portsmouth!"
"That was pure individual brilliance! His stepovers may not have completely fooled Van den Borre, but the sudden separation of ball and body caught the defender completely off guard."
"This is what makes Brazilian players so exciting, they can produce magic out of nowhere!"
"Three to one! And once again, Gao Shen's substitutions work wonders!"
"Olivier Giroud, the 22-year-old French striker who was playing in the lower leagues of France not long ago, somehow caught the attention of Manchester City and made his way here."
"Before tonight, he was practically invisible, having only made the squad twice without playing a minute."
"But tonight, he was directly involved in two of Manchester City's goals, each time using his strong physique to create space and opportunities for the team. He's certainly made an impression!"
The live broadcast cut to the touchline, where Gao Shen, after celebrating with his assistants, quickly refocused on directing his players, signaling them to maintain their shape. The game wasn't over yet.
"Back at Real Madrid, Gao Shen was known for his ability to identify young talent. Then, in Naples, he spent three years developing over a dozen players who became European stars—even top-tier stars."
"Now, at Manchester City, he's continuing that trend. He's brought in stars like Robben, Rakitic, and David Silva, but also rising talents like Giroud, Sturridge, and Hazard—who have all shown great promise."
"With this victory over Portsmouth, Manchester City will maintain their perfect start with four wins from four, remaining top of the Premier League table."
"And with such a strong performance, it's clear that Manchester City is a serious contender for the Premier League title this season."
"If they do go on to win it, Gao Shen will set a new record—winning La Liga, Serie A, and the Premier League in his first season managing each league."
Andy Gray shifted into post-match analysis mode.
The game had resumed, but it was clear to everyone, Portsmouth had been dealt a crushing blow.
They lacked Manchester City's quality and depth. Their energy was depleted, and they were now trailing by two goals. The chances of a comeback were virtually nonexistent.
And soon, the final whistle confirmed it, Manchester City had secured a 3-1 victory away at Portsmouth.
(To be continued.)
***
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