The ball went out, and Coach Sato stepped forward to give new instructions.
"Alright, for the second half of the opposition, I'm going to make a few changes."
"Rikuo, switch with Bao. Minato, go back to your role as the lone attacking midfielder. Raizo, you switch too, you're joining the yellow team."
( Bao is a Chinese player and a great substitute for Tokyo Cf)
«What? I got switched…
The yellow team… that's the substitutes' team…
That's not a good sign. Maybe what I did wasn't enough. » Tought rikuo.
Rikuo looked down for a second.
Then Sato stepped closer.
"Rikuo, lift your head. You're in the yellow team because I want to see what you're worth in a direct matchup against Minato. I'm expecting something from you. Show me," Sato said in a low voice, serious.
Rikuo nodded.
« Something to show him?
I don't really know what that is… but whatever.
Minato is in front of me again.
It's been a long time since I faced him, since the trial match.
Maybe it's not such a bad thing. » He thought .A small smile appeared on his face.
He felt his confidence coming back as the play was about to restart.
"Haha, perfect. I'm still with you, little genius," Raizo whispered.
"Feel like taking over the starters right now, partner?"
"You're already calling me partner?" Rikuo replied.
"Alright then. Just be ready to follow my passes. Let's mess with the blue team and win this. We're only one goal down."
Raizo nodded and tapped Rikuo on the shoulder before moving to his position.
Rikuo took a deep breath.
The coach's whistle blew.
The game restarted.
From the very first seconds, Rikuo felt the difference.
Minato had the ball.
Calm.
Straight posture.
Confident.
He controlled without even looking, opened his body, and with one simple touch, he broke the first press.
Rikuo stepped up, trying to close the space.
Too late.
Minato slid a sharp pass between the lines.
Rivelinho appeared.
Control.
A quick double touch to beat his man.
Instant shot.
Goal.
« Damn… Two goals down now… this won't be easy. » Rikuo thought, clenching his teeth.
Minato didn't run too much.
But every movement was perfect.
Every touch hurt.
The yellow team lost the ball again.
You could feel they didn't control possession.
On the next action, Minato received the ball once more between the lines.
Rikuo went for a tackle.
Minato feinted him with his body, touched the ball with the tip of his foot, and went past him smoothly.
« He plays with time… » Rikuo thought.
« He's not just a player… he's a magician. »
He controls his whole team's game.
Minato lifted his head even before receiving the ball.
He already knew where his teammates were.
With Rivelinho, everything was smooth.
His passes out wide to the wingers were beautiful to watch, the control of a top player.
Almost instinctive.
One touch.
Two touches.
Pass wide.
Run.
Through ball behind the defense.
The blue team controlled the tempo.
Rikuo ran.
Pressed.
But every time, Minato found a solution.
On one play, Rikuo ended up one-on-one with him.
He stepped forward, well positioned.
Minato smiled slightly.
A small inside feint.
Then outside.
Rikuo was left standing still.
« Seriously… He's too good. » He thought.
Minato walked away like nothing happened.
Rikuo let out a deep breath.
Frustration was building.
Then a voice pulled him out of his thoughts.
"Hey! Little genius!"
Raizo had just won the ball on the wing.
He was fast and explosive.
"Play with me! You didn't forget me, partner, right?" he shouted.
Rikuo repositioned immediately.
He called for the ball.
Raizo passed it to him.
Rikuo controlled as pressure came.
He played it simple.
One touch to Raizo.
Raizo gave it back in one touch.
The ball started to move, little by little.
Rikuo moved after every pass.
Always an option.
Always available.
That's it, Rikuo. That's what I want to see from you, Coach Sato thought.
Raizo loved it.
He made a run in behind.
Rikuo saw it.
A pass into the gap.
Raizo controlled at full speed.
A strong cross in front of goal.
"Oooh!" several players reacted.
It didn't end in a goal, but the yellow team was starting to breathe.
Rikuo lifted his head.
He felt in sync with his team.
He wasn't forcing anymore.
He was dictating the game
On the left side of the field.
Or on the right side. He was always around the ball.
Minato was now watching Rikuo more closely.
On another action, Raizo drifted inside.
Rikuo anticipated it and slipped a pass between two players.
Raizo controlled the ball, beat his defender with an outside feint.
Shot.
But it was saved by the giant goalkeeper, Kaito.
"Great pass, partner!" Raizo shouted while running back.
"Keep it up!"
Rikuo nodded.
He understood now.
Minato dominated because he controlled the tempo.
Not because he dribbled everyone.
So Rikuo did the same.
He slowed down when needed.
Sped up at the right moments.
The yellow team was now surprising the blue team.
Rivelinho dropped back to defend.
Minato too.
The balance was shifting.
Then, on a quick transition, Rikuo found himself face to face with Minato again.
The ball stuck to his foot.
It felt like time stopped for a second.
The previous times, he had failed.
Minato had stopped him.
Or dribbled past him when the roles were reversed.
Rikuo lifted his eyes.
One thought crossed his mind:
« There you are again… the magician, Minato.
But now… I know how to dribble past you. »
On the sideline, Coach Sato narrowed his eyes.
A discreet smile appeared on his face.
"Oh…" he murmured to himself.
"It looks like the little king just realized something…
something that might allow him to beat Minato."
The little king against the magician. What will happen now ?