The goalkeeper spots Leon wide open on the right wing and launches a long goal kick toward him. The ball arcs beautifully, but it sails just over Leon's head, bouncing as he sprints into a foot race with their LCB. The ball hops along the grass, teasing them both. Leon uses his speed to reach it first, but the LCB closes off his angle toward goal, cutting off his forward path.
It's a tense one-on-one. Leon halts his sprint, slowing the pace as he rolls the ball under his foot, performing two deliberate step overs while carefully watching the LCB. The defender remains focused, delaying Leon's attack to give his teammates enough time to drop back into defensive positions.
Out of the corner of his eye, Leon sees Che approaching with the opposition's DM shadowing him. Che points to his feet as he accelerates toward the play. Leon shifts his weight and delivers a sharp, driven pass directly to Che.
Che charges toward the ball at full speed, with the DM trailing closely behind. With a burst of pace, Che adjusts his body to absorb the pass, opening himself up to delay the touch. The DM lunges, trying to poke the ball away, but Che's finesse allows him to change direction at the last second, leaving his marker off balance.
Now Che has the ball and is faced with the RCB and the returning LCB, both closing the gap rapidly. He notices their LB has fallen back into position but spots a gap between the center-backs. Wasting no time, Che executes a driven trivela pass, curling the ball through the space and into the path of the LW, who is unmarked momentarily.
The LW collects the ball at his feet but is quickly challenged by the RCB, whose recovery pace closes the gap. Inside the penalty box, it becomes a battle of wits and speed. The LW shifts the ball to his left, pushing toward the byline before attempting a cross aimed at the striker. The cross, however, is blocked by the LCB, ricocheting out for a throw-in. Both teams reset their positions.
Matthias jogs to the sideline to take the throw-in. He finds the LW, who immediately feels the RB on his back. The LW passes it back to Matthias, who scans the field for options. Che moves into open space, waving for the ball, and Matthias delivers it straight to his feet.
Che takes control as the striker moves out of his central position, signaling for a pass. On the edge of the box, the striker begins tussling with the RCB, both players jostling fiercely. Meanwhile, the DM closes in on Che, forcing him to think quickly. Che threads a pass to the striker, who uses his strength to hold off the RCB. With impressive composure, the striker lays the ball off to Che, who has run around the DM into an open pocket of space.
Che spots Leon darting into the box on the right, unmarked and ready. Before the second DM can close him down, Che swings his right foot, sending a curling cross into the air. The ball arcs gracefully toward Leon, who leaps to meet it. With the LB breathing down his neck, Leon manages a header, but the awkward angle sends the ball bouncing toward the penalty spot.
The LCB reacts quickly, clearing the ball out of the box with a decisive boot, sending it toward the reserves' backline. The red team's RCB collects it and immediately shifts it out wide to the RB, who finds himself in acres of space thanks to the opposition's compact defensive shape.
Che sprints up the right wing, timing his run behind the RB. The RB feints a pass forward to Che before pulling the ball back and resetting. Che darts back onside and signals for the ball again. This time, the RB obliges.
With the ball at his feet and the LB charging toward him, Che doesn't hesitate. He drives forward, squaring up against the LB in a one-on-one duel. A sharp feint to the right followed by a burst of acceleration to the left leaves the LB scrambling. Che zips past him, reaching the byline.
As he approaches the edge of the box, Che cuts the ball back with precision, sending it toward Leon. Leon, with incredible awareness, dummies the ball, letting it roll between his legs and into the path of the striker. The ST immediately attempts a first-time chip into the box, aiming for Che, who's now sprinting into the mix.
The ball, however, sails too high, just out of Che's reach. He leaps for the header but misses, the ball drifting out for a goal kick. Che brushes his hands through his hair and smiles to himself, his competitive spirit ignited.
"They're pretty good. I need to get better. Better,"
Che mutters to himself, admiring the skill level of every player on the pitch. Even the reserves play with a sharpness and quality he hasn't seen before. Goosebumps trail down his arms as a realization settles in.
"This is it. This is what I want."
The opposition's goalkeeper takes the goal kick, targeting their AM. The ball hangs in the air before coming down between the AM and Johannes. Both leap for it, but the second DM surges forward, stealing the ball with a decisive header. It bounces directly to Che.
As Che lines up to receive it, the white team's DM barrels into him, throwing his weight around in an attempt to unbalance him. Che stands his ground, holding off the challenge with his low center of gravity. With the ball securely at his feet, he spins away from the DM and surges forward through the midfield.
The second DM rushes to block his path, but Che accelerates, slipping past him with ease, his smaller frame proving to be an advantage in tight spaces. Now charging at the defensive line, Che takes in the field—Leon slows his run on the right, finding an open lane.
Che flicks the ball to Leon, who cuts inside with precision. Spotting an opening, Leon fires a low shot toward the bottom-left corner. The ball skims the ground, heading straight for the goal, only to graze the outside of the post and ricochet out for another goal kick.
"Shit, that kid. He's dangerous," the RCB mutters, jogging over to one of the DMs.
"Man-mark him," the DM replies, nodding with determination.
Che, still smiling to himself, keeps his focus on the game. His expression catches the DM off guard.
"Is he… smiling?" the DM asks, confused.
"I don't know about you," the RCB smirks, "but personally, I'd take that as a challenge."
The DM locks eyes with Che, determination flickering in his gaze as he jogs closer to his mark.