The match continues with a pass from Austin to Girard Roux, who quickly returns the ball.
It connects with Samuel Taylor, who makes a light sprint forward before delivering a perfectly timed pass to Matheus Reis, slipping past Sergey Zhilin.
Reis sends it back to Taylor, who swings a deep cross into the box towards Vincent Maes.
Maes is immediately challenged by Ritter Lothar, forcing him into a quick forward-right pass that finds Girard Roux once more.
Hernández Cruz and Nkrumah Kusi rush toward Roux, but he lifts the ball across to Austin, who has made a sharp run into position.
With LaCroix Wilfried charging toward him, Austin slips a short forward pass to Lake Cory, who makes contact beautifully.
Cory tips the ball over Mat Akersson, but the Maraford keeper reacts fast his glove barely flicks the ball upward.
The loose ball drops toward Austin, who fires a low shot at goal!
Akersson dives crashing down with the ball pinned underneath him right at the goal line.
The referee blows the whistle, halting play to check if the ball had crossed the line.
Players from both teams stand still in suspense as the referee jogs to the sidelines to review the footage.
Maraford fans clasp their hands, praying it wasn't a goal, while Nixon Pool supporters erupt in chants across the stadium.
Moments later, the referee runs back to the field and signals,no goal!
The replay flashes across the giant screen: Akersson managed to trap the ball just inches before it crossed the line.
Play resumes. Akersson rolls the ball to Kristoffer Håkan, Maraford's left-back, who finds Lothar.
Lothar surges forward and sends a short pass to Esteban Vega, but Austin intercepts with a precise tackle, sweeping the ball away.
Austin races ahead and passes to the right, aiming for Roux but Alejandro Ramírez intercepts brilliantly, poking the ball forward with the tip of his boot.
It reaches Gray, who scans the post and breaks into a sprint, Reis chasing closely behind.
Then, without warning, Gray stops,launching a powerful strike toward goal!
Stefan Björk reacts fast, tipping the shot away,but the rebound falls to Marcel, who unleashes a stunning volley straight into the net!
The Nixon Pool defense had no time to react. Marcel's creativity was unstoppable.
Scoreboard: Nixon Pool 1 – Maraford 2 (40th minute)
Marcel runs to the sideline, sits cross-legged, arms folded,a calm statement of dominance.
Ramírez and Gray join him, mirroring his pose, as the crowd roars.
Online reactions flood in:
> Oblegog: Marcel has become the Unpredictable Playmaker overnight.
>Pretti: What did Devertary United do to him? His playstyle changed completely after that match!
Getting: Loving Maraford's new energy right now!
Back on the pitch, Austin looks to Lake Cory, who nods.
"Let's do this," Cory says, taking the ball and sprinting forward with Austin and Maes beside him.
The trio slice through Maraford's formation. Austin slips a pass to Maes, who curls a cross toward goal, Akersson punches it away.
The ball rolls toward the right touchline; Cory keeps it in play with a flick and sends it back toward the center.
Austin meets it mid-air, launching another strike at goal, but Akersson clutches it safely and hurls it downfield to restart play.
The game continues with Maraford maintaining steady control of possession. Gray threads a smooth, low pass through midfield, finding Vega just outside the center circle.
Vega keeps his composure under pressure, turning swiftly before sliding the ball toward Ramírez on the left flank.
Sensing an opening, Ramírez lifts his head and curls a precise cross into the attacking zone where Beyer Marcel makes a sharp run between two defenders.
The crowd rises as Marcel bursts forward, closing in on goal with blistering pace.
He takes one touch to steady himself, the goal just a few meters away,his foot meets the ball,as the ball skyrocket into the Nixon pool post.
The scoreboard lit up Nixon pool 1, Maraford 3(45minute)
The referee's whistle cuts through the tension, signaling the end of the first half. The fans groan in mixed relief and anticipation as both teams begin their slow walk toward the tunnel.