[PREVIOUSLY]
After the two team warmed up, they went back and took to the pitch again to commence the match.
The referee, seeing the two teams were ready, set his watch and blew his whistle. "PHEEEEEEWWWWW!!!" The match for qualification...commencing.
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SEIRAN kicked off with the ball, with Neron passing to Baro, who quickly fed it back to the midfield.
Like a trigger, NAGOYA immediately pounced on SEIRAN, applying pressure immediately to the players; forcing them backwards.
Standing on the sidelines, Tomura nodded at his team in contempt. The plan already in motion. The plan itself was a simple one; force SEIRAN back and make them uncomfortable. But Tomura was no fool, he knew that SEIRAN were a good passing and build up team and if they got even a sliver of momentum, they would be quite dangerous. So he looked to exploit their weak backline, noting that except for the short child, the rest of them were nothing special.
He looked towards SEIRAN'S coach, seeing her casual smile brought about momentary confusion in Tomura. 'What is she planning?' He narrowed his eyes in contemplation. After a few minutes he dismissed his thoughts, focusing back on the play. Whatever she planned, he would be ready for.
SEIRAN found themselves on the backdoor, unable to even pass their halfway line. NAGOYA wasn't giving them space to breathe.
Even the commentators could feel any slight mistake from SEIRAN would lead to a goal.
"NAGOYA ARE REALLY PRESSURING SEIRAN, NOT GIVING THEM ANY SPACE TO EVEN BREATHE." AKIRA COMMENTED
Taro nodded in agreement, "IF SEIRAN KEEP THIS UP, JUDT ONE MISTAKE WOULD PROVE COSTLY FOR THEM." Taro added.
The ball found it's way back Daichi, who was immediately pressured by the striker. Daichi calmly took a touch, evading the tackle, then accelerated past the striker with a burst of speed. But before he could make ground, he was pressured by Oliver. The ace of NAGOYA smiled as he stood in Daichi's way. "Oi, I expected more fight you know. This is quite a boring approach." He said. He was expecting more excitement, but this was like a snooze fest here if they kept going backwards.
Daichi stopped his advance, his pearly-blue eyes blinking at Oliver. "Uhm, well sorry if it's boring." He said, then his eyes sharpened with a determined gaze, "But it's about to get interesting."
Oliver blinked at the statement, then his eyes widened slightly as the figure of Takeshi appeared besides Daichi. Daichi immediately layed it of to Takeshi who then back heeled it forward. The two passing Oliver with a quick one-two.
Oliver looked up, then sent a quick pass towards Shinji. Shinji received the ball with effortless grace, his footwork as smooth as his personality. Running a hand through his hair, he turned to Daichi with a dazzling smile "Ah, Daichi, your pass is simply impeccable." Shinji said, then his gaze rested on Oliver, "Not interesting you say? Oh, how insulting, well I, as the lead actor, shall show you lack the taste to appreciate true theatre art" he quipped, his voice dripping with theatrical flair
Then, with a dramatic flourish, he launched a stunning long pass down the field, the ball arcing perfectly over the defenders. "Now how's that for brilliant," he added, striking a pose as if the moment was his personal runway.
The ball soared over the highline of NAGOYA. Hayato, quickly spun around his marker, unto the long ball, an excited grin on his face.
"OH, IT SEEMS SEIRAN HAVE BEATEN NAGOYA'S PRESS, THANKS TO A LONG BALL FROM SHINJI TO THE RUNNING HAYATO."
"NAGOYA LOOK TO RUN BACK TO TRY AND DEFEND, BUT HAYATO SEEMS TO QUICK FOR THEM. HAYATO CUTS IN, THE GOALIE RUSHES HIS LINE, OOH A PASS TO BARO.... GOOOOOOAAAAALLLL!!!"
"SEIRAN LEAD 1-0, IT LOOKED LIKE SEIRAN WERE UNDER PRESSURE, BUT A LONG BALL OVER THE TOP OF THEIR HIGHLINE, OPENS OF THE DEFENSE. CAN SEIRAN KEEP THE LEAD."
Baro celebrated with a roar, side-hugging Hayato. The team joined in, jumping in joy around them.
After a few minutes, they went back to their half. The play resuming with NAGOYA. The ball found its way to Oliver, who was immediately pressured by Neron. The plan was evident, get another goal.
Tomura focused on the current play, his eyes unmoving and unimpressed look on his face. He knew his highline could be exploited, this wasn't an unknown fact, though he commended SEIRAN for doing so, that's were the compliments end.
With one of those monsters on his team, his team loosing...a good joke. Unless he faced a team with another monster, he highly doubted that, this game the same way.
Oliver chuckled a bit, "Hmm, it seems I may have underrated you lot. You're quite good. But..." He said, a serious look on his face, "...it ain't going to be cut and cheese with me on the pitch."
Oliver took a touch to the left, Neron sensing something was wrong immediately lunged to try and stop it, but was to late as Oliver's leg blurred, striking the ball with inside of his foot.
The ball never left the ground, it curved past Neron's foot, then past four of SEIRAN'S players, to a running winger; catching SEIRAN off guard.
The winger immediately played a through pass, noting not to play it in the air with the presence of Daichi there.
The striker immediately powered the ball with a thunderous shot. The ball sailed past the keeper, rattling into the net.
"GOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAALLLLLLL!!! NAGOYA HAVE EQUALIZED AND WHAT AN EQUALIZER IT WAS. WITH A BEAUTIFUL THREADED BALL THAT BYPASSED ALMOST ALL OF SEIRAN, CREATING A DANGEROUS OPPORTUNITY AND FINISHING IT. THIS GAME IS TURNING OUT TO BE WONDERFUL GAME."
Oliver gave a cheeky small smile to Neron. Neron gave a nervous grin, sweat trickling down his face. 'Damn, how did he make that pass.'
He thought flabbergasted, and in awe at such a pass. He wasn't alone, as the pass had caught everyone off guard, it was just so sudden and before they knew it, NAGOYA had scored.
Sophia sat in the coach's bench, sweat trickled down her face as she sat with a grim look on her face. 'Monster, what an absolute monster. He surveyed the state of the pitch, noting his gravity would attract the attention of the players, so he angled himself to make it look he was making a diagonal pass, only to perfectly tread the ball through a space that was momentarily opened.' Sophia analyzed. She looked towards her players who were as stunned as her, wanting to snap them out, she stood up, but a voice broke out.
"C'mon guys, let's snap out of it. Let's play on!!!" Takeshi's voice rang out, snapping the team out of the trance. Sophia smiled at this, sitting back down.
On the pitch, Neron shook his head to rid his thoughts. 'No use thinking how he did that, let's just win the game.' Neron concluded, a determined and excited look on his face. He would not loose this game when it's just starting to get fun.
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A/N: Okay, that's this chapter concluded. SEIRAN lead, but only for NAGOYA to immediately equalize and damn what a pass from Oliver though, sheesh 😅. As always, do tell me your thoughts on the chapter people, it is much appreciated 👍
And don't forget to throwe some stones while you're reading.
Stay blessed people 🙏