I love how the author remarks the physical monster that is Noa. He is in almost every frame of the play. Pressing the CB and 1 step behind Sakuraba before his shot.
And that's the best way to kick a ball, straight to the keepers face. What a start.
That's what i expected, an awakened Ryu is going to make Sakuraba shine like he never has. They really are looking more and more like Goku and Vegeta in the sense that they began as fierce rival, and will in my opinion, end up as friend.