Second Chances: Indonesian Football Player

Chapter 42's

One week has passed after the match against the second team Anderlecht, on Friday this week, we have another match against the Senior Anderlecht Team. On this sunny day, warm sunlight shines on Lotto Park in a warm light.

Now on the pitch it looks like our RSCA Youth Academy team is facing Anderlecht Senior. This match was almost no tension. Whether it's teamwork or the quality and experience of the players, there's no way the RSCA Youth Academy can win over Anderlecht's senior team. Even the majority of academy players do not harbor the illusion of winning the game.

RSCA Anderlecht are giants among the clubs in Belgium. This team is the most title holders of the Belgian league which is 32 titles. Anderlecht even very often participate in the European Champions League and compete with European giant teams. There is no way a first-team player from a club with a very rich history could or would suffer defeat at the hands of a rookie squad from his academy.

The story of David beating Goliath is rare in a team game like football. The match went as expected, with Anderlecht's senior team really putting pressure on me and my teammates.

Anderlecht adhere to an attacking philosophy similar to what their second team had done against the RSCA Youth Academy earlier on Friday. Anderlecht's game play is encouraged by teamwork rather than individual brilliance. They controlled the ball around the field with accurate passing – passes and formed a perfect 4-2-2 formation in the text book. Their team chemistry is amazing, with every player seemingly aware of the position of their teammates without even looking in their direction.

I lost in midfield only because the Anderlecht midfielders could easily pass the ball around me without having to go head-to-head with me. Lucas Biglia and Cheikouh Kouyate passed the ball quickly to the wing before I even got a chance to close it. They are very disciplined and are tactically aware, always making sure that their defence is not open. I could hardly find any space to take advantage of during the course of the match. After all this result is very much expected by almost everyone with a Line-up that I know a lot of players who are quite great in the future, Anderlecht team is almost impossible to beat by us.

The Starting Line Up

The RSCA Youth Academy

Coach: Marcel

3-4-1-2

Goalkeeper (GK): Damon Kvennson

Centre-back (CB): Larsen Maguel

Central Defender (CB): Miguel Alaron

Central Defender (CB): Van Rochefort

Right Midfielder (RCM): Kierst Donovan

Midfielder (LCM): Antonio Mitchell

Midfielder (CM): Nero Juniar

Midfielder (CM): Isaac Newton

Right Wing (RM): Ryandi Ferdianur

Left Wing (RM): Andres Kim

Striker (ST): Stefan Kvensson

Anderlecht RSC

Coach: Ariel Jacobs

4-4-2

Goalkeeper (GK): Silvio Proto

Centre-back (CB): Olivier Deschacht

Central defender (CB): Marcin Wasilewski

Right Back (RB): Denis Odoi

Left Back (LB): Jordan Lukaku

Midfielder (CM): Lucas Biglia

Midfielder (CM): Cheikhou Kouyate

Left-Hander (LM): Denis Praet

Striker (ST): Romelu Lukaku

Striker (ST): Matias Suarez

With – players such as Denis Odoi, Biglia, Kouyate, Praet, Jovanovic, and Lukaku. Of course quality is compared very far with our team. Anderlecht attack with a maximum of four winger players. Their winger is always moving forward to support their two strikers. They worked together with the full-backs and created a 2-on-1 situation when attacking into our defensive area.

On several occasions, they released very good crossing passes into our box and created problems for our team. The inexperienced defenders of the academy cannot stop the rapid movement of the wingers and wing-backs. Romelu Lukaku and Matias Suarez are the two strikers leading Anderlecht's attack. They weighed heavily on the defenders of the Academy team, they coordinated their movements with each other to make our defence unbalanced.

Both are deadly with very good positioning, always jumping and winning aerial duels with our team defenders in welcoming crossings. From wing. In the end in the first half, we were completely destroyed. Romelu Lukaku scored twice with a header after taking advantage of the cross they released in the 21st and 32nd minutes. Meanwhile Lucas Biglia added their goal to 3-0 after releasing a long-range kick in the 44th minute. The kick was so loud that even Damon did not have time to react to try to pull him off.

In the end in the first half, we were slaughtered 3-0. And Anderlecht's team has about 70% ball possession according to my passing.

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"You guys played a bad game" Coach Marcel complained to the players in the dressing room. I and my teammates were on the break part-time, listening to the coach's instructions.

"Especially the wing-back. I'm not happy with your appearance. How can you let a winger release all the crosses into our box?" The coach frowned at Kierst Donovan and Antonio Mitchell.

"They're wings don't make a good run or dribble. Just try blocking their cross, and everything will be fine." The coach told the two wingers.

All players remained silent as they waited for their Coach to continue. Some chugged water from their bottles while others sat listlessly, with grim eyes, on a bench in the dressing room. They fanned themselves with their drenched shirts. The RSCA Youth Academy players look very exhausted despite only playing one half against the Anderlecht first team.

"The game is not over yet" continued Coach Marcel. "I'd like to remind you that you'll get the chance to join Anderlecht's squad if you perform well in this game. You should have noticed Ariel Jacobs, assistant coach of Anderlecht, on the sidelines. He's here to look for potential seeds for the club to nurture. So, you have to perform well or prepare to join a third-tier club." The coach stopped, letting his gaze explore the players.

"One more thing" the coach said. “We will use your performance in this game to determine which players the academy will issue in this year's review. And, we also chose the main squad for the Riga Cup. If you do well, you'll get the chance to go to Latvia and test your skills against academies from all over Europe.." WEB..."

Coaches continue to use promises and threats to motivate the players during the half-time break. I sat on the floor in the corner, chewing on the fried beans. I want to compete with senior Anderlecht players. However, my teammates lacked the physical ability and technical skills to challenge experienced top-flight league players.

I have to find a way to score, or I will fail the system mission and lose 160 exp points as a penalty from the system.

Before the game, I received a mission to score during the game. The reward included 80 exp points, enough to buy me some elixirs at the system store. I wanted to buy a few doses of physical conditioning potions to help train my agility to the next level in the next few months.

I had realized that I could become a formidable player if I could raise one of my physical stats to S level. Agility stat is my focus for now.

If I could further increase my speed, I would have the weaponry needed to destroy the defenders even at the professional level. Being pressured by Anderlecht's players in the first half only strengthened my resolve.

Andres Iniesta's vision relied heavily on my team-mates to do wonders in a match. With strong teammates, I can stand out with my passes and my vision will greatly affect the game. However, if my teammates perform underperform, I will also be affected. I need skills that can allow me to perform even though my teammates are underperforming. Dribbling and speed are my best choices right now.

"Nero," Coach Marcel called me, breaking my daydream. "Are you with us?" The coach nodded.

"Yes, coach," I answered, correcting my posture by sitting upright. I didn't want to give the coach the impression that I had given up on that game.

Coach Marcel looked at me sharply. "Change positions with Andres and play on the left wing during the second half. Leave the defense and concentrate only on attacking. You will get several chances to attack defenders. Use it wisely and try to test the ability of their goalkeepers before the game ends." Coach instructed.

"Coach, what about midfield?" Isaac asked, hearing the coach's instructions. He is a defensive midfielder and it is right to worry about my positional exchange with Andres. Removing me from midfield will increase his workload for the game.

"Andres will play with you in midfield" replied Coach Narcel. "Your only role is to defend and prevent the Anderlecht players threatening our goal through the middle. If you win the ball, release it towards Nero on the wing. We have to score at least one goal before the game ends."

Isaac frowned but remained silent. The words of the coach in the dressing room are legal.

"Remote." The coach looked at the man. "I want you to keep retreating and help the defense against their wings. You can swap wings with Nero if there is an opportunity he needs to take advantage of through the right wing. Understood?"

"Yes, coach," Ryandi replied.

“Alright guys, then let's play the second half. Remember your goal is not to win. But your target is to perform well. If you lose and play well, it doesn't matter. Stay upbeat and play loose in the second half. Understand.” Coach Marcel said

“YA COACH.” Shouts the players.

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