As the teams regrouped for the second half, Leon and Alex switched teams, with Leon joining Alex's team and Alex joining Leon's team. Leon took off his reflector vest and handed it to Alex, who put it on as he joined the team with the reflectors. The people in around were full with excitement as the teams took to the field, eager to see how the switch would affect the game's dynamics. John and Ricky watched with keen interest, both of them curious to see how Leon and Alex would adapt to their new teams.
As the whistle blew, the second half began, and the game intensified. Leon quickly settled into his new team, working seamlessly with his new teammates to create scoring opportunities. Alex, on the other hand, faced a different challenge as he tried to gel with his new team, wearing the reflector vest that Leon had worn earlier.
50:00 MIN
Leon's new team began to dominate the game, with Leon playing a crucial role in their attack. As a CAM, Leon was running circles around his opponents, using his speed, agility, and vision to create scoring opportunities.
One of the defenders on Alex's team, who had been tasked with marking Leon earlier in the game, shook his head in frustration as Leon beat him again. "Honestly, I miss when he was with us," he said to his teammate, throwing up his hands in exasperation.
Meanwhile, Alex, now playing as a LW on Leon's former team, could only watch in amazement as Leon quickly scored another goal, taking the score to 2-2 within five minutes after the second half started. Alex's eyes widened in surprise as he realized just how much Leon's presence had impacted the game. Leon's new team was on fire, and it seemed like nothing could stop them. Would Alex's team be able to regroup and mount a comeback, or would Leon's team continue to dominate the game? The outcome was still far from certain, and the tension was palpable as the players battled it out on the pitch.
As the game reached the 65th minute, Alex's team was struggling to find their footing. However, Alex was determined to make an impact. He collected the ball on the left wing and began to dribble towards the goal, his eyes fixed on the target. As he approached the penalty area, Alex noticed Leon marking him closely. With a quick move, Alex dribbled past Leon and created some space for himself. He then unleashed a powerful knuckle ball shot, which flew towards the top corner of the goal.
The goalkeeper, caught off guard by the speed and trajectory of the ball, was unable to make the save. The ball hit the back of the net, and the crowd erupted in cheers as Alex celebrated his goal. The scoreboard now read 3-2 in favor of Alex's team, and the momentum had shifted in their favor. Leon's team, who had been dominating the game earlier, was now on the back foot, trying to equalize.
As Alex celebrated his goal, Ricky turned to John and said with a grin, "Alex is a beast when he wants to be."
John nodded in agreement, but his expression was more nuanced. "Yes, he is," John said, "but his not getting the purpose of the switch."
Jake, Leon's father, looked at John curiously. "What's that?" he asked.
John explained, "I switched them so that Alex can learn to be a team player. What Spurs need now isn't just a strong goal machine, but they also need someone who can link up the plays together." His eyes narrowed slightly as he continued, "While he did that in the first half, it was only after he saw Leon's skill that he played his role. But now, with a team less skilled, he's focusing more on soloing the opposition instead of being grounded and assessing the situation first."
Ricky nodded thoughtfully, understanding John's point. "He's still learning to balance his individual brilliance with team play," Ricky said. John nodded in agreement, his eyes fixed on the game as it continued to unfold. The question was, would Alex learn from this experience and adapt his game to fit the team's needs?
John's gaze remained fixed on the game as he continued to analyze the two players. "You know, Ricky, Leon plays for the fan of the game, while Alex plays like he wants to prove something," he said thoughtfully. "They both have their own soccer that they play."
Ricky nodded, intrigued by John's observation. "That's a great point, John," he said. "They do have different approaches to the game."
John's eyes sparkled with excitement as he continued, "It's almost like watching Messi and Ronaldo in one team. Both are incredible players, but they bring different strengths and styles to the game. Leon's creativity and vision are reminiscent of Messi's playing style, while Alex's determination and goal-scoring ability are similar to Ronaldo's."
Ricky chuckled, impressed by John's analogy. "I see what you mean, John. They do have different personalities on the pitch." John nodded, his mind already racing with possibilities for how to utilize both players' strengths in the team's favor. The challenge would be to find a way to make their different styles complement each other, rather than clash.
As the game entered its final stages, Leon's team was pushing hard to equalize. On the 79th minute, Leon found himself facing off against a determined defender. But Leon was quick-thinking and resourceful. He executed a clever move, kicking the ball ahead of himself and then sprinting around the defender to utilize his exceptional speed and acceleration.
The tactic paid off, as Leon was able to outpace his opponents and gain a significant advantage. With the goalkeeper off his line, Leon saw his chance and unleashed a powerful trivela shot that curled its way past the goalkeeper and into the net.
The scoreboard now read 3-3. The game was anyone's for the taking, and both teams were giving it their all in the final minutes. Alex's team, who had been leading just moments before, was now facing a tough challenge to hold on to their advantage.
The intensity of the game had reached a boiling point, and the players were battling it out on the pitch with every ounce of energy they had left.
90:00 Full time
Coach John blew his whistle, signaling the end of the game. The players stopped in their tracks, confused, as John walked onto the pitch.
"Alright, that's enough," John said, his voice carrying across the field. "I've seen enough. Thank you all for coming to the tryouts. The players who have been chosen will be notified through their agents."
As he spoke, John's gaze shifted to Leon and Alex, and he beckoned them to follow him. "Leon, Alex, can I have a word with you both?" he asked, already walking towards the sidelines.
Leon and Alex exchanged a curious glance, then followed John off the pitch. As they walked into the dressing room, John turned to Leon and Alex with a thoughtful expression. "Listen, guys, I want to talk to you about the tryouts. While these tryouts were for the under 21 youth team, I honestly don't see a need for you two there."
Alex's face darkened, and he took a step forward, his voice rising in defensiveness. "Are you kidding me? I was the highlight of this whole thing. Even this guy did good," he jerked a thumb at Leon, "and you won't take us?"
Leon, however, remained calm, his eyes fixed intently on John. He placed a hand on Alex's arm, as if to caution him, and said, "You gotta learn to listen better, Alex. He said this was a tryout for the under 21 team, and he doesn't see a need to take us. Meaning he doesn't see a need to take us to the under 21, but maybe he has a need to take us to the first team instead."
Alex's expression changed from anger to surprise as he processed Leon's words. John's eyes sparkled with amusement, and he nodded in approval. "You're a perceptive one, Leon. Let's discuss the possibilities."
Leon nodded and said, "You should talk with my father for more details. He's my agent." Jake smiled and nodded in agreement.
Alex spoke up, "I be talking about mine my self, I don't have an agent as of yet." Jake's eyes lit up with interest, and he turned to Alex. "Well, I'd be happy to act as your agent for these talks, or at least help facilitate the discussion."
Alex raised an eyebrow, "How much would you want for simply negotiating my deal?" Jake chuckled and shook his head. "Nothing. You might be playing a different style from Leon, but I saw the emotion on your face when you played, and as a father, I want to help you out."
Alex looked hesitant, unsure of what to make of Jake's offer. But after a moment, he nodded. "Alright, thanks. I appreciate it." Jake smiled and clapped Alex on the back. "Don't worry about it, kid. Let's go talk to John and see what we can work out."