Chapter 2: Marbles vs Krystal Fc
How have you been? Soma asked with a smile.
Neo couldn't help but ignore the question. What are you doing here? clothed in that jersey?
As these words left his mouth, he remembered Eric's words the previous day.
Soma didn't mind that his question was completely ignored. he was happy that he at least, wasn't sensing the awkward feeling that always pervaded the air whenever they were with each other in the recent years. I came here for a match....Against you. We've always played together, I want to see us play against each other.
I'm not playing. Neo said awkwardly. Now, the dreaded awkward presence had started to locate the both of them.
Soma couldn't believe it. You're not playing? Why? Are you ill or something?
Neo shook his head. You are saying a completely different thing. I...I've quit soccer.
this sounded very much like a joke, even in Neo's very ears.
Soma laughed dryly. But seeing that Neo wasn't amused in the slightest, his dry laughter suffered instant termination.
What went wrong? why would you quit soccer? Even though that they now felt awkward around each other, their friendship didn't end on a bad note like betrayal or stuff like that. So to some extent, they still deeply cared for each other.
The accident soma.... The accident is what went wrong. I'm afraid. Neo whispered slowly, Soma barely hearing it.
Afraid of? Soma now had an idea of the situation but he was still going to ask anyway.
My injuries. You heard the doctor that day, you got off lucky but i didn't. Am on thin ice, anymore uncanny damage and my legs would be useless forever. I dont want to risk it.
Soma sighed on the realization that his premonition was correct. That was then....many years has passed without any type of damage going to the leg, besides we were kids then, and kids always heal from injuries like that. there is almost nothing to worry about. You would have definitely healed by now. Soma was as calm as they come.
It doesn't matter anymore. I've quit it already. Once again, this sounded like a bluff to Neo.
Soma took a few steps back and smiled, displaying a set of healthy white teeth. You know that's not true, You haven't given up on soccer just yet. see you later. I have to meet up with my team before the match. Bye...The Floater. Soma turned his 182cm frame around and walked away as he waved.
Neo sighed with mixed feelings as he watched Soma walk away. His former best friend was probably disappointed. Bye. Neo muttered.
Tch!
Eric looked around with a worried expression as Krystal fc walked into the pitch. He didn't come afterall. He sighed, disappointed by the absence of Neo.
Eric wasn't the only one feeling that way. Soma also smiled wryly when he didn't see Neo around. Knelling down, as was the normal routine before any match kicked off, he thought to himself: Maybe he gave it up after all?
Pii!
Krystal fc started the kick off. It was Eric with the first touch. Just as Eric passed the ball to his teammate, he caught the figure of Neo walking in with the side of his eyes.
His excitement instantly soared as he was filled with a new urge to destroy marbles immediately.
Krystal fc was playing a 4-5-1 formation, their main strategy was to try and get the ball to their wingers. then with the support of the midfielders, their winger would dribble and run along the flanks. if this was successful, the wingers would send a long aerial pass to their number 9 who was a perfect target man.
Marbles used to be a very powerful team, containing and unifying the famed Soccer Bloodline. The Soccer Bloodline had dispersed didn't mean that marbles was no longer a powerful team. in reality, they were even slightly more formidable now. and this is because the new members of trophy guide were less arrogant, and much easier to coach than the Soccer Bloodline. and as a result, they were still a menace in the world of soccer.
Immediately the match started, marbles charged into their opponents halve, trying to pressure them into making a mistake and losing possession of the ball.
Krystal fc took the pressure calmly as they passed the ball lightly. everyone had relaxed their tense state of mind while watching their opponents running at whoever possesed the ball. None of them wasting any time on the ball before passing it to the next person.
Adrienne man on you! Krystal's number six, Bice shouted as he noticed that a Marbles player was closing in very fast on Adrienne whom he had just passed the ball to. on a second thought, he should have never made that pass.
Adrienne reacted quickly. He flicked the ball in Eric's direction.
Fanni (marble's number 9) who had just been chasing Eric, on seeing that the ball had changed it's course to meet Eric instead, equally changed his focus to Eric immediately.
Regardless of the pressure on him, Eric sighted Cai (Krystal fc's number 7) making a fantastic run towards Marbles goal. Eric immediately gave a long aerial pass that was the trademark of Midfielders.
The ball spun very fast as it came to rest on Cai. Cai controlled the ball beautifully and easily. But before he could move into the penalty area, he was blocked by Marbles number 3, Zoe.
Not stopping for even a moment, Cai performed a feint and dribbled Zoe stylishly. Zoe couldn't help but stagger as he was beaten by Cai.
Aesop, the target man raised his long arms, calling out for a pass. Cai curled the ball high and it descended while swerving towards Aesop. that was a beautiful play indeed.
Aesop jumped up. the jump was extraordinarily high as everyone looked upto him like some desending god. or maybe....he was just too tall.
Aesop headed the ball past the goal line in a clinical finish. he was a clinical finisher indeed.
Pii!
The referre blew his whiste loudly, indicating his acceptance of the goal.
Crystal college exploded with joy. They scored on the 29th minute. Their team was reshuffled and a new coach was appointed. The third years had left and the team was a totally new one.
This new team had grabbed the first goal against the best club in the city, which soccer fan wasn't going to be overjoyed?
Aesop ran in the direction of Nico and engaged him in a very tight embrace, that was just how happy he was.
Eric grinned widely as he looked in the direction of Neo. He had a smug expression as he stared at Neo proudly.
Nico, Krystal FC's coach was unsettled about the goal just now, so his celebration was at it's minimum.
Even though Nico was new in the world of coaching, he was still able to sense that that goal just now came a little too easy.
You noticed too, huh?
Nico turned to see Marble's coach, walking towards him with an odd smile plastered across his face.
You are new so you might not be familiar with the teams around here, but...
Marbles coach motioned to the marbles side of the pitch.
...This is our team made up of new recruits and this is our first game. They are still getting to know each other.
Nico's mouth was agape. He actually noticed it too. The players were not showing any synergy or chemistry, rather they were overwhelming his team with their individual abilities.
This was almost as good as the previous marbles, the marbles that held the soccer's bloodline together.
Marbles coach was still smiling. Your team is weak, they might not even get to grab another goal in this game. You still have a lot to do, your team is worse than a minnow.
Nico was first surprised, then he was overwhelmed by fury.
This dude had the guts to say this nonsense to his face. Of course he knew that Krystal Fc was not in their best form, but Marbles coach was certainly exaggerating their weakness.
They were certainly not that weak, afterall, they always had a fair spot in the annual soccer wars.
What the hell are you saying, Old man...
Before Nico could complete his statement, Marbles coach pointed towards the pitch.
Nico turned in the directionof the pitch only to receive a very big shock.
Marbles No10, Soma was dribbling through the defence as if he was playing a video game. In the end, he left every single Krystal Fc defender that came to mark him on the floor.
He chipped the ball into the goal very easily.
The entire field went silent. This was a play beyond the world of high school soccer.
No one celebated this goal, everyone was in shock. The goal was created out of nothing. A random pass was given to Soma in the midfield and he single handedly burrowed his way through the defence to execute such a spectacular play.
Nico was in shock as his gaze slowly landed on marbles coach who was still smiling insincerely.
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