---
CHAPTER 47— The Second Half Battle
Halftime ended with a sharp blast of the referee's whistle, and both teams returned to the pitch with steam rising from their bodies in the winter air. The thin January sunlight had faded behind thick grey clouds, and the academy floodlights were now fully responsible for illuminating the frozen turf.
The scoreboard still read:
Marseille U19 — 1
Stade Rennais U19 — 1
The equaliser from Maurice late in the first half had lifted spirits, and Coach Renault's voice still echoed in their helmets.
"Play fast. Play bravely. And trust yourselves if you want to dictate the rhythm."
Kweku jogged back into position, adjusting his gloves. His heart hammered with anticipation. He felt lighter now, more confident, the early nerves gone. The boys gathered quickly around Louis for a brief huddle.
"Keep the ball moving," Louis said. "And if you're unsure, pass it."
All eyes turned to Kweku.
He nodded. "Let's finish this."
The whistle shrilled.
The second half began.
---
46' — Finding the Pulse
Marseille took the kickoff and immediately spread out wide, pushing forward with a calm intention they hadn't shown earlier. Louis passed to Kweku, who turned sharply, instantly dragging a Rennes midfielder out of position.
"Good, Kweku!" Coach Renault shouted from the touchline.
The commentator murmured with clear admiration:
"Essel again… such composure for a player so young. Marseille look more organised already."
Kweku fed Antoine down the right; Tidiane crossed early, but the Rennes keeper collected with ease.
Small steps. Building rhythm.
---
50' — A Warning Shot
Rennes countered viciously. Their left winger danced past Marseille's right-back and curled a shot toward the far post.
Martin leapt —
palmed it over.
A gasp rippled through the crowd.
"Rennes threatening again! Marseille have to tighten up defensively!"
Martin shouted instructions at his defenders, face red with frustration.
That was a warning. A loud one.
---
53' —
On the restart, the ball went to Kweku.
He pushed forward with a burst of energy, gliding through midfield, skipping past a challenge with a roll of his foot.
Louis sprinted alongside him. "Yes! Go!"
Kweku slipped a through-ball between Rennes' centre-backs. Maurice chased, but the goalkeeper rushed out and smothered the ball.
Still — the stadium applauded the move, and Coach Renault clapped sharply.
"You see? Tempo! Keep doing that!"
Kweku allowed himself a small smile. He felt the game opening for him.
---
56' — Inches Wide
Marseille were now on the front foot.
Louis pressed high, won the ball, and fed Kweku at the top of the box.
"Hit it!" someone yelled from the bench.
He did.
The strike curled beautifully —
and skimmed just past the upright.
"AHHHH!" the spectators groaned in unison.
The commentator's voice spiked with excitement:
"LOU—IS SO CLOSE!! Marseille inches from taking the lead!"
Kweku exhaled, hands on his hips. He wanted that goal.
---
60' — The Game Shifts Again
But Rennes were too good to disappear.
Their midfield began pressing higher. A dangerous pass split Marseille's backline, and the Rennes striker burst into the box.
Martin charged out—
And smothered the shot brilliantly.
"Bravo, Martin!" Jean-Luc shouted, slapping his keeper's gloves.
The stadium applauded loudly.
The commentator agreed:
"Wonderful save! Marseille owe their keeper a thank-you there."
It was becoming a real battle again.
---
63' — Midfield War
The next ten minutes were fierce and messy.
Crunching tackles. Quick one-twos.
Tempers rising. The referee was constantly blowing his whistle.
Kweku got tripped hard near the centre circle, his knee scraping the cold grass.
Louis rushed over. "You alright?"
Kweku winced but stood. "Yeah. Let's keep going."
---
69' — The Chance of the Match
Marseille finally carved Rennes open.
Louis and Jean Luc combined down the right, then fed the ball inside to Kweku. He danced past a defender, shaped to shoot — but instead, slid a disguised pass to Maurice.
Maurice hit it the first time.
The keeper parried —
The rebound split to Louis —
Louis struck—
Blocked on the line by a Rennes defender.
Another roar of anguish from the crowd.
The commentator nearly shouted:
"HOW HAS THAT STAYED OUT? Marseille inches away again!"
Coach Renault turned away, hands on his head. "We need clinical finishing!"
---
73' — Rennes Push Back
Stung, Rennes surged forward with a dangerous spell of possession.
A shot from outside the box forced Martin into another excellent diving save.
Rennes players appealed for handball earlier in the build-up, but the referee waved them off.
The match had become a storm.
And both teams were drowning in it.
78' —
Something shifted.
Kweku began demanding the ball more urgently, more confidently, shaping the pace of play like a conductor. Every Marseille attack passed through him — diagonal switches, quick layoffs, through-balls between tight spaces.
The Rennes coach could be seen shouting furiously, pointing at Kweku.
"Don't let 10 turn!"
Too late.
He was already turning.
---
Another chance presented itself in the 82nd minute
Kweku dribbled centrally, slipped through two defenders, and whipped a low shot toward the corner.
The keeper stretched—
and tipped it wide.
"OOHHHH!!"
The Marseille supporters stamped their feet against the cold.
Coach Renault shouted instructions frantically:
"More bodies in the box! Follow the rebounds!"
The boys believed they could win this.
---
86' — Last Push
Rennes now retreated into a compact shape.
Marseille pinned them back, wave after wave.
Louis crossed.
Jean Luc crossed.
Maurice cut inside and shot twice.
Blocked. Blocked. Blocked.
Kweku could feel time melting away.
"Come on…" he whispered.
---
90' — One Last Chance
The fourth official lifted the board:
+3 minutes
The stadium erupted.
Louis won a corner.
Everyone surged forward.
"Show me something!" Coach Renault yelled.
The corner curled toward the near post—
Flicked on—
Chaos.
The ball bounced loose at the top of the box.
Kweku ran onto it —
struck it cleanly —
a rocket rising—
It clipped a defender's head and flew over the bar.
"NOOOO!" some players shouted in frustration.
Another corner.
Last one.
The referee blew his whistle before it was taken, warning players to stop pushing.
Then:
The corner swung in—
headed clear—
And the whistle sounded.
Full-time.
Marseille 1 — Rennes 1
The points were shared.
---
Aftermath
Kweku put his hands on his hips, breathing heavily. He felt both pride and bitterness. They could have won that match. He could have decided it.
Louis bumped shoulders with him. "Good shift, maestro."
Maurice added, "You were everywhere. Next time, we bury those chances."
Coach Renault approached them, expression calm.
"Strong half," he said. "We didn't win, but we grew. A match like this teaches courage."
He patted Kweku on the back.
"And — more of that, please."
Kweku nodded, chest still rising and falling.
He wasn't satisfied.
But he wasn't discouraged.
He was hungry.
---