Going on with the Europa League campaign, PES 2020, 2nd season, now on Spring of 2021.
Europa League Quarter-Final stage, a "friendly-fire" match against Bayer Leverkusen. Usually i do not like those matches with teams from the same league in European Big Cups, cause i find them anti-climatic, and not helping to iron-out the "champion"
mentalité.
1st match: HSV 5 - 0 Leverkusen
This match was an one-side show. LEverkusen was 2-0 behind, from first hald, and in the second they just collapsed. So i can safely say we secure our presence in the semi-finals, in an average at leastr 90%. But as i previously said, i do not like this matches, especially from first leg, cause they can mesmerize the team. I prefer the tention and the pressure, that keeps our reflexes in check.
2nd match: LEverkusen 1 - 1 HSV
Just a typical match. Did squad rotation to 100%. Leverkusen did not seem, to threat or fight for anything at any point.
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Next stage, the EL Semifinals, against RB Leipzig, another Civil War.
(The other semifinal pair, are also from the same country: Real Sociedad VS FC Barcelona.)
1st leg: HSV 2 - 1 RB Leipzig
The score timeline went: 1-0 , 1-1, 2-1. When i am usually in such stage, whether i loose 2-1 away, i call it "sweet defeat" cause of the 1 goal aggregate and the 1 goal away. Whenever i win 2-1 in my home game in double knock-out matches, i call it "bitter victory", cause the away goal of the opponent, techincally forces me to aim for a 2-goals in the rematch, in order to feel safe.
2nd leg: RB Leipzig 2 - 2 HSV
Things went from worst possible scenario to the best one. 0-0 in half time, they started pressing us beyond our power, 1-0 in 77' (we are out), 1-1 in 79' (we are in again), 2-1 in 81' (extra time, but they seem to have more stamina than us, so it seems harder to survive the ET), and then Giuliano again, our captain makes the 2-2 in 85' with a Penalty Kick.
Just a special mention here, regarding the winning goal, and how much KONAMI has achieved to regress some things over the years.
ON MINUTE
16:30 of the above video , i am attacking the left flank with Pussetto, going for the 1vs1 with the GK. On
16:32, i decide to pass to my free CF, J. Sargent who is wide open and free for the Goal. My LWF Pussetto is being knocked down by the opponent Goalie, due to a late-collision. In that moment, i could just press
to shoot, but given the moment and the crucial of the situation, i decided to not "risk" (LOL
, but you know...superstar AI...) keep running with my Stiker and go straight inside the empty Goalpost of Leipzig, to enter the nets with the ball
I am not 1000% sure about this, but i strongly believe the referee should leave the game to be played as an advantage for me and let me score, by entering the nets, i repeat!
The Ref on the other hand, decided to stop the play!!! and give a PK!!!! preventing me from 99,99999% scoring a goal!!!!
Making me angry and anxious, cause you know sometimes how the CPU messes with Goalkeeping on PKs and shitting on human player.
Thankfully , i used every superstision possible, the PK went in, and we avoided an Extra Time that could hurt us.
But what i wanted to mention with this special here. The advantange started in a very infant status , back in the PS2/PES early days, they imporved it, they got it in a very close, almost similiar to real life application, and then suddenly, i forgot the specific PES, it was much earlier than the PS4 era, they regressed it again and again over the years, resulting in being broken 50% of the time, especially when it is about the Human Player and i favour of the CPU.
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All in all, we are in the Final. Next update, the Europa League final, where we are facing FC Barcelona.
but Jamaica lost also their match, it was pointless either way, so we just finished 3rd, Costa Rica and Mexico did also win their matches.
Good run nonetheless bro.. Congratulations also on qualifying to the World Cup with the USNMT, what a nice run of games to culminate the comeback and finish the qualifying stage in a very strong manner. So many consecutive wins!!
You did it, you reached the final of a European competition, and even though you didn't win, it is more than good enough credentials to manage a BIG South American or Asian team, something like Flamengo, Corinthians, River, Al-Hilal, Pohang Steelers, Urawa Reds, something like that!!
Will be posting the continuation of my