Second Chances: Indonesian Football Player

Chapter 58's

The atmosphere in the dressing room is not at all bleak. It was not like a break during a competitive game. Gone is already the tension and anxiety felt by the players before the game.

There was chatter among Nero's teammates, like old friends chatting. Everyone spoke casually and made jokes as if they had won the match.

Nero was surprised because he knew someone would never be able to declare the outcome of the match as a win until the final whistle. An alarming thought swirled in his mind until there was no room for anything else.

There have been many games in history where teams made a comeback from a lack of three or more goals and won. Liverpool won the 2005 UEFA Champions League final after overcoming a three-goal deficit in the second half.

Nero did not want to give Riga's team the chance to do the same. He hopes the coach will speak with common sense to his team-mates before they make a mistake in the second half.

Stefan seemed to come to him and interrupt his way of thinking. "Why do you look worried even when we are three goals ahead? Come and join us. Why are you sitting in that corner?" He asked while fanning himself with his shirt.

Nero sighed, shaking his head. He gulped down a sip of water before replying: "I don't like the atmosphere here in the dressing room."

Stefan grinning. “Quiet. The players know what to do when they get back on the pitch. We might even be able to achieve this one with more than five goals. And here I think Riga will be a tough opponent because they have the advantage as hosts. it has been disappointing." He breathed out sounding. Nero saw that his Norwegian team-mate was in a good mood after scoring in the first half. He decided to keep quiet and keep his worries to himself.

He realized that many players he had not known in his previous life performed well in the match. For example, team captain Riga looks like a phenomenal player. He dribbles, passes and defends like a first-class midfielder.

Nero is worried that the confidence of his team-mates will reduce the team's chances against Riga's men with such good players.

The coaches are coming to the dressing room. Coach Marcel was in a somber mood. His assistant Sebastian Rijkard was all smiling, greeting the players and congratulating them on their performances.

"Shut up" cried Coach Marcel.

All the players stopped their murmurs and focused on the coach standing in front of the board.

"I need you all to stay focused on the game until the final whistle. We will maintain the same game strategy for the second half. Make sure you don't concede ..."

The coach approaches the second half while assigning individual roles to all players. He explained the weaknesses he observed that could be exploited in the Riga team formation. As soon as he finished delivering his speech, he sent the players back onto the pitch.

However, Nero still felt worried about the mood of his team-mates. They still act as if they have won the match—even after listening to Coach Marcel's speech.

As they exited the dressing room, Zachary approached Isaac, who also served as assistant captain, to discuss the matter.

"I think the players are overconfident" he started. "I'm afraid we'll concede unnecessarily at the start of the second half."

Isaac looked around at the other players before replying. "I will keep reminding the defenders when we get back on the pitch" he said. "Don't worry. I'm backing you in defensive midfield. We only needed one more goal to kill off their momentum in the second half." He smiled before running into his position.

Nero sighed and shook his head. He pushed his uneasiness to the back of his mind as he dashed to his position.

He decides to work harder than ever for another goal and closes off Riga's last chance to bounce back. He could receive nothing but victory in the opening match.2000 exp points and Elixir Class B Agility Improvement were at stake. If he managed to complete all the achievements of the system, he would increase his stats significantly.

"RIGA, RIGA..."

A chant from the Riga players, with their black jerseys, broke his reverie. He looked forward towards the other half, and saw Riga players in a circle chanting slogans to pump themselves up. They don't look like a team that's three goals behind. The home fans joined in the chanting and began clapping, shouting, and singing. They ended up with one last sudden clap that echoed from the walls of the indoor stadium like thunder.

Nero turned around and looked at his teammates, standing listlessly watching their opponents. Players such as Stefan Kvennson, Miguel Alaron, and Ryandi folded their hands in front of their chests with grins adorning their faces. They don't seem like athletes preparing for the game, but spectators, unresponsive to their opponents.

Nero sighed as he made a last-minute adjustment to his shin guards. He made sure to tighten his shoelaces as well.

A familiar routine calms his mind and helps him focus entirely on the game. He had a feeling that the second half would not be as easy as the first.

The match restarted after the referee blew his whistle.

The Riga players did not give Nero time to think. They ran towards him with a hunger that matched their spirit to snatch the ball back. Nero passed the ball further back, to Isaac in defensive midfield.

"To the right wing," he shouted, pointing to the right wing.

Isaac Newton followed his instructions and lured to Kierst Donovan without pause. The number 2 RSCA Youth Academy received the ball and returned it to Isaac who kicked it towards Miguel Alaron, the left centre-back.

However, one of Riga's strikers attacked the centre-back as quickly as possible. He's as tireless as a hungry dog chasing a bone.

Miguel played a one-two with Antonio Mitchell, the left-back of RSCA Youth Academy, at a leisurely pace without waiting for Riga number 9 to close it.

Anderlecht's academy players continued to enjoy the possession they had early in the second half. Over the next ten minutes, they passed the ball slowly but surely, among their defenders, without the urgency to make the transition and attack the Riga team section.

They had a few yards of space to work with as one of Riga's attackers was tied up, protecting the passing route to Nero. Riga number 10 keeps himself positioned between Nero and anyone with the ball on defense or wing.

Meanwhile, two other Riga players, including their captain, overshadowed Nero's every move. They followed him all over the field without giving him an inch of space to receive the ball.

Nero could see that the strategy of Riga's team in the second half was to excommunicate him. Isolation tactics are aimed at closing all passing routes to players to reduce their impact on the game. Riga's players want him out of the game. They intended to stop the quick transition of the defense through him. That way, they would bite the Anderlecht academy counter from the start.

"Use a wide area and play wing," Nero heard Coach Johansen's shout from the sidelines. It seems like he realized Nero's predicament and tried to take advantage of it.

Isolation also comes with some real drawbacks as a result of assigning three players to keep an eye on one opponent. There will be a gap left in the form of the Riga team's defence.

Nero's tactical awareness made him aware of the coach's intention to exploit the gap left by one of Riga's winger watching him. He just needs to tie up the players and keep them busy, creating space for his team-mates. Maintaining his mark will make Riga's formation tattered, with many loopholes for his teammates to take advantage of.

Nero is confident in his speed, stamina, and endurance. He could easily bring his opponent around the field.

For the next few minutes, he ran around midfield without stopping to rest. However, all three of his guards survived. They kept shadowing his every move as he chased the ball around the field. On the one hand, Riga's team managed to isolate him.

The game continued to support Anderlecht's youth academy until a slight drop in the concentration of teammate Nero began to show in their style of play. They still dominated possession, passing the ball from wing to wing without letting Riga's team players touch it. However, they did not have the hunger to attack the situation caused by the belief they had won the game. Such complacency led to some mistakes in the latter part of the second half.

In the 72nd minute, full-back Riga received the wrong pass from Isaac near the touchline. The short-bodied number 2 darted like the wind past Nero's two team-mates, advancing on the right wing and piercing into the half of Anderlecht's youth academy. He then sent a tempting cross into the penalty area. The handling of the ball was quick and effective, leaving no chance for the defenders to close it.

Unfortunately for Riga's team, Van Rochefort (number 5) Anderlecht's youth academy skipped over all his opponents and comfortably handled a cross. He swept the ball with the top of his head, directing it a metre past the crossbar. The referee blew the whistle and pointed to the corner flag.

Nero returned to his team's penalty area to defend against a corner. Team captain Riga obediently shadowed him back. The other players who had tagged him remained standing on the edge of the box. However, their attention was still on him rather than his teammates taking corner kicks. It looks like they were still traumatised by the counter-attack in the first half.

"Ryandi and Stefan" he shouted. "Tag two players out of the box."

Although both players showed no intention to attack the ball, he did not want to risk giving them a chance to score.

However, the referee blew the whistle before his colleagues had time to close in. The ball was struck from a corner by right-wing defender Riga.

More than fourteen players in the box push and push, trying to outscore their opponents and win the incoming ball. Isaac, the defensive midfielder of Anderlecht's high youth academy, managed to outperform the other players. He then headed a dangerous-looking corner ball out of the box.

To Nero's dismay, the ball flew towards two unmarked Riga players outside the box.

"Close them" Nero shouted as he chased after her. However, he felt a tug on his shirt slowing him down. Both players remain unmarked with all time in the world to jeopardise Anderlecht's youth academy goal.

One of the players confidently dribbled to his side as Nero tried to close it off. Before Anderlecht's youth academy players could react to danger, he fired a volley into the goal. The ball slid past Nero like a bullet and curled into the top right corner.

3 - 1. Riga's team managed to reply one goal in the 75th minute.