Beep!!
The game then continued with Sagan Tosu's kickoff.
Now that Hiro had showed them what he can do, opposing players were now even more vigilant towards Hiro.
Subconsciously without knowing, some opposing players had even started to fear Hiro.
'Have I become their main target?' questioned Hiro to himself as he felt the sharp gazes of the opposing players around him.
After scoring that goal, he was finding it a bit more difficult than before to move freely.
Not only from the players who were marking him but he could feel the gazes from almost every single opposing players.
A cold sweat ran down his spine as he realised the situation he had gotten himself into.
Although it was the situation he was hoping for, experiencing such situation was still somewhat bone chilling even to him.
Then again, he heaved a deep sigh as he thought to himself, 'Good, keep your gazes fixated on me.'
Having all gazes fixated on him meant freedom to his other teammates. So Hiro wasn't much worried about the gazes of the opposing team.
Infact he was quite thankful that every opposing players were paying attention to him.
However while thinking about the benefits his team could reap because of the predicament, he was forgetting that he still had a quest to fulfill.
Having more gazes on him meant, lesser freedom to him. Coupled with the fact that he had to score two more goals in two different ways, currently he was digging his own grave by shining brilliantly in the field right now.
As there's a saying, "The nail that sticks out the most get's hammered first"
For next 10 minutes nothing happened. Although the opposing team tried to return the goal, they still couldn't get past the defense of Kawasaki.
With the presence of players like Minato, Akimasa Nakahara, Kawasaki's defence was as good as Sagan Tosu's even though Kawasaki specialised in offense.
Also there was "Shun the wall" in the goal-post. The best U-17 goalkeeper.
Just like that 45 minutes passed and referee added 2 minutes extra.
At the extra time of the first half, Sagan Tosu made one last attempt to move the ball forward.
Their two fullbacks simultaneously moved up the field at the same time, leaving their position to support the attacker of their team.
Ryotaro Imamura kicked the ball hard towards one of the two top forward of his team.
The forward inturn made a one touch through pass towards the right full back who was currently at the right flank of middle third.
To block him, immediately Minato and Akihiro rushed towards him.
While Akihiro closed his gap, Minato maintained his distance from the opposing right fullback who was currently moving the ball forward from the right flank.
While the opposing right fullback was moving the ball, their left fullback was sprinting as fast as he can in the left flank.
At the same time their forwards were also rushing forward towards the penalty box.
lightsΝοvεl ƈοm It was evident from their play that Sagan Tosu was initiating their attack using their fullbacks.
Because the opposing team had initiated their attack all the way from their defensive third, offensive players of Kawasaki were taking time to fall back.
Hiro's condition was no better than his other teammates. With his movements restricted, he too was finding it difficult to fall back.
And he wasn't even being able to sprint at his full speed because of the three player marking, who were limiting his movement.
Even so he was trying to fall back as fast as he can.
While falling back, Hiro was constantly rolling his eyes here and there to analyse the positions of the opposing players.
During his observation, he noticed that the left back who was running alongside the left flank was totally unmarked.
Everybody from his team were focused at the right flank and the opposing forwards who were trying to break through the centre.
Although the left back was quite far away from the player with the ball and wasn't even moving towards the penalty box, he could deduce that in this attack that left back was the key player.
"Ehara return to your position" yelled Hiro as he ordered Ehara the right back to return to his position.
However just as Hiro gave that order, the opposing right back lofted the ball towards the opposing left back who had been sprinting upfield all alone.
Even while sprinting upfield, that left back was quite careful about the position of the players of Kawasaki. And because of that carefulness, he avoided being in an offside position.
As that left back received the pass from the right back, he began to cut in like an inverted left winger.
Sure enough, he was right footed too.
And just before Ehara could catch up to him, he released the ball as he shot the ball towards the post.
Step!! Step!
Shun strode few big steps before leaping towards the direction of the ball. Stretching his hand and body to his utmost limit, he desperately tried to save that ball.
That shot made by the opposing left back was aimed at the bottom left corner of the post.
Swoosh!!
Grazing tip of Shun's fingers, the ball crossed the goal-line as it found itself in the back of the net.
"Gooooaaaaallllllll!!!!"
Erupted the fans as they witnessed the ball touching the net of the goal-post.
"A magnificent goal from Kosuke Shinzawa has equalised the game" commented the commentator.
His voice sounding energetic, he rose from his seat as he made those comments.
Witnessing the ball landing inside the net, Hiro stopped his movement as he lowered his head. Frowning his brows, he raised his left hand as he pinched the area between his eyes.
He was quite disappointed and frustrated by the outcome. Disappointed because he still couldn't prevent the goal despite predicting the outcome.
Frustrated because he was only few seconds late to predict the play.
Sure enough even though, he had the talent and skills which allowed him to perform really well, he was still lacking.
And that play from the opposing team made him realise how self-conceited he was at the moment.
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