[PREVIOUSLY]
SEIRAN won the freekick. Shin shouted out at his tackle like he had just scored a goal, his teammates surrounded him, shouting in vigor at the crucial interception.
Sophia smiled from the bench, happy and relieved at the interception. Looking at the scoreboard, it a few minutes left for the first half. She clenched her fists, a goal before half-time would be good momentum for the second half. She looked at her team, trusting her players to find a way.
Oliver looked at this, a silent anger starting to brew. 'That wasn't supposed to happen. A fluke, he ain't doing that again.' he scowled, his eyes starting to burn with annoynace.
____________________
__________
SEIRAN took their free kick. Quickly moving the ball up the pitch. Oliver immediately marked Shinji, his expression expressing mild annoyance. Shinji, picking it up, smirked. "Huh, what's wrong. Annoyed your lead role was stolen by a mere supporter." Shinji quipped.
Oliver scowled at the statement. He lunged for the ball, looking to quickly gain it back. But the tackle was not made with a sound state, so Shinji immediately passed him by and sent a pass towards Hayato.
"OLIVER'S BEEN PASSED BY, AND SEIRAN ARE NOW IN A DANGEROUS OPPORTUNITY."
Hayato trapped the ball. He touched it past the outstretched leg of his marker and ran past him.
Looking up, with NAGOYA's high line, only two of their defenders were left back. Neron drooped back, the defender freezing for his next move.
Hayato passed it to Neron, who immediately sent a through ball behind the last defender towards the running baro.
"OHH, SEIRAN ARE IN ON GOAL, WHAT A BEAUTIFUL PASSING MOVE BETWEEN THE FRONT PLAYERS. BARO IS IN ON GOAL, HE CHOPS PAST THE PLAYER AND BLASTS IT INTO THE NET...GOOOOOOOOAALLLLL. GOAL FOR SEIRAN, THEY LEAD NOW. "
The crowd jumped in jubilation, Baro slid in celebration, the rest of the team jumping around him at the goal.
The score was now 2:1 to SEIRAN.
Oliver's annoyed gaze lingered on the jubilation of the SEIRAN players and supporters. He saw their happiness, their excitement, and most prominent one - their hope.
Oliver ran a hand through his hair, trying to calm himself downa short chuckle escaped his lips, 'Hah, it seems I've underestimated this lot!' He thought, a wry smile tugging at his lips. Then his expression turned... indifferent, but his eyes glinting with a sharp focus
"No more games now." He muttered under his breath, his tone low and resolute, as he picked up the ball to the center circle, determined to retain control of the match.
It was almost unnoticeable by the fans in the crowd, but on the pitch, it was different. The players, both friend and foe, felt it. Like a tsunami, dread filled them all, and at the center of that was Oliver as he took the ball to the centre of the pitch.
Sophia stood on the touchline, a worried expression on her face. For some reason, a sudden sense of dread passed through her, like something inevitable was about to happen. "The game plan has worked so far, except for that one pass from Oliver, he's been kept quiet..." She analyzed, but then her brows furrowed in worry, "...but then why do i have a bad feeling all of a sudden?" She asked herself. Not expecting any answer, she returned her gaze back to the game.
Tomura sitting calmly on the other touchline, watched the pitch, his eyes locked unto Oliver. "Seems he's starting to get serious. Well, that's victory guaranteed, any plan made before is obsolete now." He spoke, glancing at Sophia before focusing back on the play.
The ref blew the whistle for the restart. Oliver passed it backwards. His teammate immediately passed it back towards him.
Neron immediately looked to press him. But then Oliver gracefully turned on a dime, bypassing Neron like he wasn't even there. Nerons eyes widened at the speed and ease he was evaded.
Oliver dribbled forward, his eyes taking note of the players in front of him. Takeshi ran forward, looking to stop him. But a quick la croceta, left the captain in the dust.
Takeshi, not willing to let him pass through, shot his hands out to try and drag him down. Oliver's hands shot out, deflecting the grab as he accelerated forward.
Neron soon appeared, thanks to Takeshi, he was able to run back. Shinji, ran towards the two, offering support for Neron. "Now, unfortunately your role from the show has been cut, so kindly leave the stage." Shinji quipped.
Oliver merely glanced at the two, not even slowing down. He accelerated forward.
Neron's eyes concentrated on Oliver. 'Charging forward like that, how fun. So he believes in himself this much, but I'm not gonna lose.' Neron smirked, meeting Oliver's charge.
Oliver stepped over the ball with his left foot, then touched it with his right foot. Neron quickly lunged, as he didn't fall for the step over. But with a show of smoothness, with the same right foot, Oliver rolled the ball around Neron; pirouetting around him.
Shinji appeared in front of the ball, "End of this scene, it was getting boring." Shinji smirked, thinking he had stolen the ball. Oliver's expression never changed, his face calm and still. Stepping over the ball with his left leg, he calmly poked the ball with his right foot through Shinji's legs.
Oliver was now in free space. Seeing this, Daichi immediately rushed him to stop a potential shot.
Oliver rolled the ball past Daichi's outstretched leg, toe poking it through his legs.
But Daichi wouldn't give up. Gritting his teeth, Daichi with a show of amazing recovery and agility, he twisted his body and lunges for the ball.
And in support was shin, who anticipated the danger. Gritting his teeth, he lunged for the ball, his eyes desperate to stop this shot.
Oliver's eyes glowed a deep brown, not even bothered as he was marked by two defenders, "I told you lot, no more messing around. Time to end this farce." He casually said, and with a show of amazing awareness, lifted the ball off the ground with his left foot; evading the tackle. Then simultaneously, with his right foot, volleying it towards goal.
The ball sailed towards goal. The goalie was left flat-footed as he watched the ball hit the bar and enter the net.
"GOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAALLLLLLL!!!"
"NAGOYA EQUALIZE. WHAT A GAME WE HAVE HERE TODAY FOLKS." Taro commented.
"THATS RIGHT, AND OF COURSE IT HAD TO BE OLIVER CARTER, THAT'S A GOAL AND AN ASSIST FOR HIM IN THIS GAME, AND WHAT A GOAL IT WAS. NOW HOW WILL SEIRAN RESPOND, CAUSE I HAVE A FEELING THIS MATCH WON'T END AT THIS SCORE LINE." Akira added.
The score was now tied, 2:2.
Sophia stared at the play, a troubled expression on her face. 'Monster, absolute monster. Should we send two to mark him?' She questioned, before shaking her head, 'No, he's vision will find a free man. We can't afford that.' She analyzed.
She bit her lip as she tried to think of something. She blinked as a thought entered her head. She immediately bolted up from her seat. "Daichi, move into midfield. Back three!!! back three!!!" She shouted
Daichi, turned his head, immediately nodding and followed the instructions.
Tomura glanced at Sophia. His brows furrowed, as he analyzed what she was trying to do. 'Why a back three? Giving us the flanks.' he thought, but then realized her game plan, 'So she wants to pack the midfield, huh.' He analyzed, 'ballzy move, but with Oliver now serious, it won't be so simple.' He concluded, turning back to the play.
Sophia gritted her teeth, she knew this was a gamble. But she had to risk it, she had faith her team would adapt.
Neron stood frozen. Sweat dripped down his face, he wiped his face with his forearm, His mind replaying that play in his head. 'Damn, that was awesome. He passed all of us with ease.' He thought.
Baro came up to him, "Hey Neron, snap out..." He shouted, but paused, noticing the state of his friend.
Neron turned slowly to Baro, his grin plastered on his face. His eyes burning with challenge. "Baro, they're all many awesome players in this tournament. We're playing one of them right now, doesn't that make you excited?" He asked, a hearty laugh bellowing from the boy.
Baro looked at Neron, a confused expression on his face. "Yeah, so what? We just beat all of them and win the damn cup" he spoke simply.
Neron chuckled at the statement, "Yeah.." then his smirk widened, his body filling with excitement and a desire to win, "Let's have some fun." His eyes momentarily flashing purple.
Baro grinned in response, "Now you're speaking my language." Red lightning briefly flashing.
SEIRAN restarted the play, but immediately found themselves under pressure even more than before-with the press being led by Oliver.
Oliver immediately stole the ball from Takeshi in the midfield. The boy gritted his teeth, running back to defend his mistake.
Oliver made his way to the edge of the box. He cut in on his left foot, looking to shoot, but the figures of Neron and Baro appeared. Sweat dripping down their faces, their expressions, one defiant, the other excited as he grinned.
Oliver stared at the two indifferently, his brown eyes flickering with a brown hue. Baro glared at him, red crackling in his eyes. Neron smirked, one that wasn't wealing to surrender, one that was excited for the challenge. "Bring it on!!!" He bellowed, his eyes burning with a purple hue.
___________________
_________
A/N: Was that hype or what? Three people entering semi-flow as I like to call it, not full flow, not yet as least. Though it is interesting, quite interesting. Of course as always, do tell me your thoughts and opinions on the chapter as always.
As always, do throw me some stones if you enjoyed the chapter.
God bless you all 🙏