Forced to Play Center, I Blast My Way Through Europe

[Soccer + System + A Catastrophic Start + Comeback and Face-Slapping + European Giants + Passionate Competition]

At the U20 Intercontinental Cup, Xia's youth team scores zero goals in three matches and is eliminated at the bottom of its group.

Abuse floods the internet. Players are flamed until they shut down their social media accounts, while the head coach's hands tremble at the post-match press conference.

Xu Ran, a reserve center back, had planned to quietly take the blame and go home. But in the dying moments of the final match, the coach shoves him into the striker position.

Everyone thinks the team is just throwing in the towel.

Only Xu Ran sees a line of icy text appear before his eyes:

[Penalty Area Weakness Scanner System activated]

[Goalkeeper's center of gravity is 0.3 meters to the left. Right back's turning speed is 0.4 seconds too slow. A 3.2-square-meter vacuum has opened in the central channel.]

[Recommendation: curl a shot with the inside of your right foot. Ball speed must be ≥105 km/h. Goal probability: 97.3%]

First touch: a thunderous strike and a goal. The stadium falls silent.

Second touch: an overhead kick to equalize. The commentator is speechless.

Third touch: a stoppage-time winner. The whole country erupts.

After the match, scouts from three European giants change their flights in the middle of the night.

“That Chinese defender... no, that Chinese striker. We have to sign him.”

From a reserve defender forced to play up front to a weakness hunter who makes penalty areas across Europe tremble.

Xu Ran needs just ninety minutes to tell everyone: the era of Xia's scoreless soccer is over.