Genius - Chapter 559: Six Goals Deserve a Special Kind of Praise! (Patreon)

Gullit hadn't been exaggerating. If Scholes and Rivaldo had been there, they would have known exactly how much he was enjoying himself right now.

He wasn't even sitting in his commentary chair anymore. He was standing as he called the match, as though sitting down would somehow hold him back.

The Liverpool fans were standing too.

"I don't know why, but I just really want to stand up right now. I don't know why, but after watching Lin score his fifth goal, I just want to roar!"

"Football will never see another player like Lin. Never!"

"Has anyone ever scored five goals in a Champions League semifinal before? I don't think so. Lin is the first!"

"One player scoring five goals in a Champions League semifinal. I honestly don't even know how to praise that! I can't do it! My ability to hype him up hasn't caught up with how well Lin is playing!"

"I've decided that starting tomorrow, I'm going into seclusion to work on my praise. That way, the next time Lin produces a performance like this, I'll actually know how to do it justice and enjoy myself properly!"

Leo was still putting on a show.

And he was still scoring.

That was something Villarreal's supporters hadn't expected at all.

The match resumed, and whatever confidence Villarreal had regained from scoring their goal disappeared again after Leo's fifth.

If they wanted to build that confidence back up, Villarreal had no choice but to score again.

But Rodri and Mac Allister had already figured out Coquelin's approach, and Robertson wasn't going to let Foyth find another opening.

So Villarreal went back to using Lo Celso as the submarine's refueling station. Whenever they attacked, the ball had to pass through him first.

He no longer had to deal with Robertson, but Joe Gomez alone was enough to force Lo Celso to give everything he had.

With both teams having scored in the second half, the match settled down again.

Villarreal didn't dare throw everyone forward anymore, limiting themselves to smaller attacking combinations, while Liverpool grew more and more composed.

They already had such a huge lead that there was no need to keep pouring everything into the attack.

Klopp wanted Liverpool's younger players to gain experience in a Champions League semifinal. That way, over time, the club could continue producing first-team players with plenty of Champions League experience.

Leo appeared to be staying in midfield, but he still wanted another goal.

So he kept watching Villarreal's back line, waiting for the occasional opening to appear.

The second half passed quickly.

By the 80th minute, there still hadn't been another goal.

For Villarreal's supporters, that was perfectly fine.

They didn't need another goal.

They just didn't want to concede again.

84th minute!

Trigueros suddenly accelerated through midfield, looking to launch another Villarreal attack.

Facing Mac Allister, Trigueros lowered his center of gravity and burst past him.

He managed to beat Mac Allister, but the challenge forced him toward the right side of the pitch.

Robertson was already closing in.

With Rodri blocking off his path, Robertson took advantage and won the ball cleanly.

Then he immediately launched a long pass upfield.

The ball flew straight forward.

It was looking for Díaz!

Díaz ran onto it while watching the middle.

Sure enough, Leo was already surging forward.

The moment Díaz brought the ball under control, he didn't hesitate.

He quickly cut it back into Leo's path.

Parejo had anticipated the pass.

But Leo was simply too fast.

Parejo couldn't catch him.

Leo shot.

Gullit roared for what felt like the hundredth time.

"HE'S DONE IT AGAIN!"

"SIX GOALS!"

"Scoring six goals deserves a special kind of commentary, but I honestly don't know what I'm supposed to say!"

"Because no one has ever scored six goals in a Champions League semifinal!!!"