Second Chances: Indonesian Football Player

Chapter 59's

Cheers rose into the air like the biggest celebratory fireworks explosion. The sound of the crowd flooded Nero, increasing his annoyance.

"Fuck," he couldn't help but swear when he saw Riga's players celebrating. His fear during the half-time break was coming to fruition. Riga's team have gained all the momentum they need for a comeback after scoring their first goal.

"Focus, focus" shouted Coach Marcel from the sidelines. "Your defender must remain sharp and close all space," he shouted, waving his hands like a madman.

The game starts again. Over the next eight minutes, the Riga players took the initiative. They made use of the entire width of the field to break through half of Anderlecht's youth academy. Their full-back did several dribbles and released several crosses that made the defenders difficult.

In the 83rd minute, captain Riga sent a breakthrough pass into the eighteen-yard box of Anderlecht's youth academy. One of Riga's strikers ran behind the defenders, locked the carpet ball, and immediately lifted his foot to make a shot towards the goal.

However, Larsen Maguel, one of Anderlecht's youth academy centre-backs, made an aggressive sliding challenge, sending the striker tumbling to the ground. The referee blows the whistle for the foul.

Nero frowned when he saw the referee make a quick call and pointed to the penalty spot. It was a great opportunity for JFC Riga. Cheers and jeers from the home fans exploded and filled the air as the referee approached Larsen Maguel and gave him a straight red card.

The centre-back has denied a clear goal-scoring opportunity for Riga number 9, a foul punishable by a penalty kick. He was immediately sent off and banned for the rest of the game leaving Anderlecht's youth academy with only ten men.

As Nero saw Larsen off the field, he wondered how the game, which should have been a definite victory after half-time, had reached the brink of defeat. He prayed that team captain Riga missed a penalty, allowing the NF academy to maintain their two-goal lead. Otherwise, Nero and his team-mates will face an unusually difficult end to the game.

However, the goddess fortuna did not seem to side with them. Davis Indrans, captain and attacking midfielder of Riga, won the battle of will. He sent an unstoppable penalty past Damon Kvennson to the right side of the net.

3:2.

Riga's team was only one goal behind. The cheers of the fans peaked, drowning out every other sound from the field.

Nero sighed and immediately turned his head towards the technical area to get instructions. He saw Coach Marcel shouting and gesturing for him to come to the sidelines.

He's not lingering. He ran past the Riga players celebrating and reached the coach after a few seconds.

"Nero," Coach Marcel started. "I want you to play as a lone striker for the remaining few minutes."

"Eeehh" cried Nero. He was confused by the coach's instructions because they had just lost a defender. However, the coach wants him to leave midfield and play as a striker— rather than maintaining Anderlecht's one-goal youth academy lead. They risk conceding more goals if they don't focus their efforts on defending.

The coach smiled as he realized Nero's confusion. "Don't worry about defense. I brought Jonathan Lodi and Harvey Fornals. Both will handle midfield and defence. Ahhh! The game turned into a disaster." He stopped, pulling his thin beard in frustration.

Nero remained silent, waiting for the coach to continue. He was already used to the antics and mood swings of the coach. Meanwhile, he stepped into the half of Riga's pitch so the game wouldn't restart without him. The referee will not allow kick-off when a player is in an offside position in the opposing half of the field.

“You need to put pressure on their half of the pitch,” continued Coach Marcel. "We can take the pressure off our defense if the three players who are guarding you follow you to their defense. If they stay in midfield, try your best to take advantage of that opportunity." He added, his tone was convincing.

"One more thing" said the coach, holding onto Nero's shoulder. "Tell Damon to release a long ball at you every time he takes our goal kick. It will be your responsibility to keep their defenses tense. That's the only way to reduce the pressure on our other players. Understood?"

Nero nodded while chugging the water. He also noticed that Assistant coach Sebastian was standing next to the fourth official to register a substitute. Both Anderlecht youth academy players have been wearing their jerseys and are waiting to enter the field. Nero wondered if they had time to warm up.

"Go and do your best" Coach Marcel patted his back as he sent him back onto the pitch.

Nero frowned feeling that contact. The coach has a strong swing.

He ran to Damon first and whispered the coach's instructions in his ear. He then slapped the backs of Anderlecht's youth academy players, prompting them to stay focused at the last minute. He is trying to fulfill his role as captain.

Meanwhile, Bjorn Smirksson and Andres Kim ran off the pitch, making way for more defensive substitutes. Nero ran towards the center circle to start the game. For a moment he was nervous and lost his position because he often played behind some of his teammates. But he took a deep breath and forcefully calmed down while waiting for the referee's whistle.

*PRIIIIIIIITTTTT!*

The game starts again. Nero kicked the ball towards Isaac in defensive midfield before running towards Riga's box without looking back. He positioned himself between two Riga centre-backs who were in the process of improving their defensive line.

The three players who had marked him for a moment were confused by his actions. They tried to follow him back into their defense. However, the shouts of their coach from the sidelines immediately blew them away. Nero was left alone accompanied by two centre-backs standing to his left and right. Meanwhile, defensive midfielder Riga retreated slightly— took on the role of intercepting a pass to Nero.

What followed was a long wait. Nero watched Riga's attacking team use high pressing tactics against his team-mates, forcing them to lose possession on several occasions.

Davis Indrans, the captain of the Riga team, is everywhere around the 18-yard box of Anderlecht's youth academy. He became more active after being relieved of his responsibility to mark Nero. He intercepted the ball in midfield and sent a tempting pass into the box on several occasions.

However, Anderlecht's youth academy defenders appear to have woken up from their slumber after conceding two goals. They managed to clear the dangerous ball every time they entered the box. Riga's chances of scoring often ended with a desperate sweep from teammate Nero.

In the 88th minute, captain Riga came close to scoring. He creates space for himself and tries his efforts from outside the box. However, Damon was in a good position and stretched to push the ball away from his goal with his fingertips. The ball hit the right post and flew back into the air heading outside the box.

One of Riga's strikers got a rebound just outside the box. But his efforts are blocked by Isaac, taking the sting and the force of the shot.

Damon managed to make a comfortable save before quickly kicking the ball high towards the halfway line where Nero waited with his bodyguard.

Nero immediately ran towards the ball as it descended to the ground. He could feel Riga's two team centre-backs shadowing him en route to Anderlecht's youth academy half to collect the ball.

He was desperate to relieve his team-mates of the pressure they had been under for the previous few minutes. The only way to do that is to hold the ball for as long as possible.