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CHAPTER 48 — Marseille U18 vs. Monaco U18 (First Half)
The winter sun hung low over the academy stadium, turning the white breath from the players' mouths into drifting mist. The stands were fuller than usual — word had spread that Marseille's midfield trio was finally clicking. And at the centre of it?
Kweku.
Coach Devereux walked past the boys during warm-ups, hands in pockets, the usual calm expression stretched thin by tension.
"Monaco press high, win early duels, and punish sloppy touches," he said. "So keep the ball moving. Kweku — dictate. Don't hide today."
Kweku nodded. His heart thudded, but his mind felt clear. Louis bumped his shoulder.
"Bro… today we show them," his friend grinned.
The whistle blew.
Kickoff. Marseille ball.
Monaco immediately pressed — two attackers swarming Sissoko, forcing a hurried pass to Fofana.
> "Monaco not wasting time! Look at that press!"
Fofana reversed the ball to Louis.
Louis scanned, saw trouble, and rolled it inside.
"Kweku! Turn! Turn!"
He did.
A smooth half-pivot, using his body to shield the ball before sliding a short pass to Ndiaye.
> "Nice escape by Kweku Mensah — good awareness from the young Ghanaian!"
The stadium hummed.
Marseille settled into their rhythm: quick touches, triangles, patient possession. But Monaco were sharp — lines compact, defenders stepping aggressively.
And soon…
Monaco struck first.
A careless throw-in from Marseille gave their winger space. One feint. One burst. A cut-back.
Shot.
0–1.
The stands groaned; Coach Devereux rubbed his forehead.
> "Marseille punished! Poor recovery there — Monaco lead!"
Kweku exhaled slowly.
No panic.
Just focus.
He jogged back to midfield, locking eyes with Louis.
"We keep playing," he said.
Louis nodded.
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Restart. Marseille respond.
They shifted shape, letting Kweku drop even deeper. Suddenly, he had more space. And when Kweku has space…
The rhythm changed.
A one-two with Ndiaye.
A disguised pass between two midfielders.
A body feint that sent the Monaco captain off in the wrong direction.
The crowd responded, rising with each touch.
> "Mensah… growing into the game now. Lovely balance on the ball."
Then came the moment of the half.
Kweku intercepted a pass near midfield — clean, calm — and drove forward.
Monaco backed off.
He kept coming.
Thirty meters out, he spotted Ndiaye making a diagonal run.
The stadium rose, sensing something.
Kweku shaped to pass right.
Sold the defenders.
Then slipped the ball left, threading it perfectly into Ndiaye's stride.
> "WHAT A PASS! Mensah splits the entire Monaco midfield!"
Ndiaye cut inside, took one touch…
Shot—
Saved.
Gasps everywhere.
But the rebound fell loose — and Fofana arrived like a hammer.
GOAL. 1–1.
Stadium erupts.
Kweku didn't celebrate wildly — just raised a fist, then pointed calmly to his teammates.
We're not done.
Coach Devereux shouted from the sideline,
"That's it! Tempo! Keep the tempo!"
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Monaco's pushback
The equaliser rattled them, but only for a minute. Their winger began isolating Marseille's right-back, winning duels, whipping crosses.
> "Danger again! Monaco is exploiting that flank!"
A curling effort forced Marseille's keeper, Reynaud, into a full-stretch dive.
SAVED.
The fans chanted his name, drums thumping behind the goal.
Kweku clapped for him.
But Monaco increased pressure — corners, crosses, second balls.
The tension grew.
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Kweku's moment of calm
Under pressure, he dropped deeper, almost next to the centre-backs.
Louis passed him the ball with two Monaco players closing fast.
"Kweku, man on!"
But instead of panicking, he…
Feinted left.
Rolled right.
Accelerated into space.
> "Mensah again! Such composure — he's controlling Marseille's rhythm."
Now the crowd was humming every time he touched the ball.
He picked out Ndiaye on the wing.
He switched play to Louis.
He recycled pressure, kept them breathing.
He was becoming the metronome.
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Last five minutes of the half — chaos
Monaco nearly scored on a counter.
Marseille nearly scored from a corner.
Both teams played with fire.
Then, right before halftime—
Kweku stole the ball again.
He burst forward.
Three defenders converged.
He slipped a pass into space for Ndiaye…
But the referee's whistle blew.
HALFTIME — 1:1.
The stadium applauded hard.
On the walk to the tunnel, Louis threw his arm around Kweku.
"Guy, you're cooking today."
Kweku just breathed out, eyes already thinking ahead.
The second half would demand more.
More bravery.
More risk.
More leadership.
Coach Devereux met him at the tunnel entrance.
"You've been excellent," he said quietly. "But don't play safe now.
Go win the game."
Kweku nodded, chest rising with cold winter air, boots crunching lightly against the frosted turf.
The second half was waiting.
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