Chapter 8
Chapter 8
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: An Especially Bright Day - 2
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The opponent for today's match was a team called US Sassuolo Calcio.
Sassuolo was a team in the lower tier of our group. I'd heard they were a step below us in terms of power, as we were a top-tier team.
Because of that, the match was being dominated by our team from the very beginning.
"Good, good!"
"Let's go up!"
To what extent, you ask? The opponent could barely even get a hold of the ball.
If you were to judge by possession... it was probably around 70-30?
Based on that solid control, we pushed forward aggressively, looking to score quickly.
It was the kind of momentum where it felt like a goal could explode at any moment.
‘...They're good.’
After watching the first ten minutes or so, the thought that occurred to me was that our team's kids were even better than I'd expected.
To be honest, I was a little surprised.
Of course, I knew.
That our team's kids are good with the ball.
Since I was the one who couldn't escape the bench group, it was a fact I knew better than anyone.
However, seeing them play against other team's kids in a real match made it feel even more real.
Because I'd never seen a game like this up close before.
These kids... they really are good players.
For a moment, I even wondered if I was even supposed to be sitting on the bench.
How did I even end up here?
"..."
The match was going so smoothly that even the manager and coaches were just sitting on the bench, watching the game with relaxed expressions.
The only noisy ones were the kids engrossed in cheering.
In the midst of it all, having slowly adapted to the atmosphere, I started to look at the match more closely.
I don't know if I'll ever get the chance to set foot on the ground, but I still need to be prepared just in case.
I watched the game while picturing in my head how I should run if I were to go in.
‘If I go in, I'd be replacing Gino...’
I couldn't yet dare to call him a positional rival, but anyway, the only spot I could possibly take was Gino's spot, so I carefully observed Gino's play.
Gino had been standing out since the beginning of the match.
‘...The gap is wide. Between the defense and the third line.’
It's not strange for Gino to stand out since he's good, but according to my own analysis, the opponent was also providing the cause.
The problem was that their defensive spacing was wide and loose.
The gap between their last defensive line and their third-line midfielders, that is.
"Go! Gino!"
"Nice-!"
Thanks to that, a comfortable space was continuously being created for Gino, who was somewhere between the frontline and the second line.
Gino in that wide space was like a fish in water.
Up until the 15th minute of the first half, most of the chances were focused on Gino, and he'd already taken four shots.
"Ah, what a shame!"
"Shoot more, more!"
When Gino's fourth shot narrowly went over the goalpost, the kids lamented.
Clearly, in the sport of soccer, a shot is the second-best thing for building momentum.
Every time Gino took a shot, not only the players on the ground but the bench as well raised their voices, and our momentum grew.
Then, around the 13th minute of the first half.
Thwack-!
"That's it!"
"Forza!"
The best thing for building momentum, a goal from Gino, exploded, and the atmosphere became completely feverish.
"Nice...!"
I also clenched my fist and quietly celebrated.
I thought it was a goal that came at a pretty good time.
Actually... my joy wasn't just the pure happiness of our team scoring a goal.
Of course, that was part of it.
To be honest, the bigger feeling was that a chance might be coming for me.
Looking at it coldly, there was only one scenario in which I could be put into the match.
And what would that be?
Obviously, our team seizing the win early. Getting a big lead early on, creating a comfortable situation where even a benchwarmer like me could get a chance.
To be honest, even I would think that if the situation was tight, they wouldn't take Gino out and put me in.
If such a substitution were to happen, these kids might even suspect me. Wondering if I'd caught the manager's weakness or something.
Anyway, that's why Gino's early goal was a welcome sight for me.
Even if it's selfish, what can I do?
Ji-woo is watching...
"One more goal..."
I tried to send a cheer towards the field, but felt too awkward and gave up.
Let's just keep going like this, just like this...
*
When the first half ended and the second half began.
My heart was pounding.
A pounding of half-expectation and half-anxiety.
Our team had finished the first half with a score of 3-0.
We had completely dominated the midfield battle against Sassuolo, didn't give them any significant chances, and showed an overwhelming performance.
As this happened, my expectations grew.
At the same time, as the remaining time decreased, I also became more anxious.
No, to be honest, Manager.
At this point, shouldn't you use me?
It doesn't look like we're going to lose, and Gino looks pretty tired too.
Since Gino is our team's ace, shouldn't we save him? Right?
"Uh... Coach?"
"Yeah?"
"C-Can I go to the bathroom for a moment?"
"Go ahead."
By around the 10th minute of the second half, I was getting impatient and did something a bit pathetic. Thinking that the manager might have forgotten about my existence, I made sure to get on his radar by saying I was going to the bathroom for a bit.
...I can't believe I'm doing this kind of thing.
I let out a sigh as I stood in front of the toilet even though I didn't need to go.
But, it was fine.
It didn't matter at all.
I don't know if it was because of that, but my expectation became a reality.
It was around the 15th minute of the second half.
"Andrea, Fabian, and Ji-an. Get warmed up."
My name... had been called.
It was an instruction to get warmed up.
I doubted my ears for a moment, then jumped up and started warming up.
I made sure to run back and forth in front of the manager on purpose.
I wanted to make him want to put me in, even if it was just to get me out of his sight.
*
Actually, the situation wasn't that optimistic.
Because Andrea was also warming up next to me.
The 15-year-old Andrea was Gino's backup, but I'd heard he wasn't just a simple backup member.
He was the player who would inherit Gino's spot once the 17-year-old Gino moved up to a higher-tier team soon.
Thanks to that, I'd heard he was consistently guaranteed playing time.
In contrast to me, who was practically abandoned by the team, they were raising Andrea with great care.
With a player like Andrea warming up, I wondered if a chance would really come to me too.
If I just warmed up for nothing and went back in, the picture would look even stranger. Even if Ji-woo doesn't know much about soccer, she'd definitely find it strange.
"Hoo, hoo!"
The more my anxiety grew, the harder I warmed up.
Anyway, since he told me to warm up... maybe he has something in mind for me.
Maybe he's putting me in just to spite me.
Since I was the one who did nothing for the past few months and just collected my weekly wage.
Right now, if the manager told me, "Get to work, Lee Ji-an!" I was ready to work like a slave.
It was around the 30th minute of the second half when that happened.
"..." "..."
A movement was detected on the bench far away.
The manager and coach were looking our way and whispering about something, as if sharing a secret.
It must be about who to send in, but whose name would come up?
Was it going to be Andrea after all?
Or would they put in the defender, Fabian?
The longer the discussion went on, the more anxious I became.
That short moment felt incredibly long to me, and all sorts of thoughts flashed through my mind.
And finally, the coach stood up from the bench.
Whose name would be called?
Please call my name.
Please call my name... please call my name...
"Ji-an!"
...Huh?
Wait a minute.
Did I hear that wrong...?
"Ji-an, take off the vest and get ready."
"Ah... yes!"
I didn't hear it wrong.
It really was... me.
Without even having time to feel happy, I took off my vest.
*
"...You know what this means, right?"
"..."
"Ji-an?"
"Ah... yes."
When I came to my senses, I was already standing in front of the touchline.
For a moment, I felt so dazed I wondered why I was standing here.
Why am I here...?
Ah.
I'm being substituted in, right. Right.
"Don't feel any pressure. Just run how you want to run. Just run. Understood?"
"Understood."
I nodded at the coach's words.
Is it because we already have a huge lead?
Today's instruction, as always, was just to do what I wanted.
That phrase sounded particularly comforting right now.
"Hoo-"
I let out a deep breath while waiting for the substitution signal.
This is the real thing.
Not a practice match, but a real match for the first time in forever.
Furthermore, this could be the moment where my lie gets exposed if I'm not careful.
Of course, I should be shaking like crazy in this situation...
But it's better than I thought.
I even feel like I want to go in quickly.
Probably because of the promise I made with Ji-woo.
The promise that I would score a goal.
I want to keep that promise at all costs.
...If I can't keep it, everything will be exposed.
That I'm not a soccer genius.
Peeep-!
The ball went out of bounds.
At the same time, the referee pointed this way and gave a signal.
And the game stopped for a moment.
Gino, with a tired face, began to walk out.
Gino, who had walked right up to me, held out his hand, and I lightly touched it.
Tatatat-!
And then I ran towards the center of the field.
The 'Second Forward' spot that was Gino's domain just moments ago is now my domain.
From now on, I'll be the one running here.
Peeep-!
There was no consideration for the substitute player.
The game immediately resumed, and I couldn't afford to be lost in thoughts about my comeback match; I had to focus.
From now on, I had to pour all my senses and nerves only onto the field.
If I were a real genius, I wouldn't know, but I'm just a fool acting like a soccer genius.
I can't play a good game while thinking about other things.
I'm not a genius.
I need to focus.
"Left!"
"Going behind!"
At the 35th minute of the second half, the score was 3-0.
All the goals came in the first half, and there hadn't been any decisive moments in the second half.
From the outside, the game must look very dull, but the feeling from the inside is completely different.
The field is still a battlefield.
Simply exchanging passes feels like playing hot potato, and the opponents rushing to steal the ball feel like wild animals.
It's been a while, but the field is still a scary place.
But right now... I'm also hungry.
Tatatat-!
We were circulating the ball from the back.
I went down along the left half-space.
Our team's central midfielder, Domenico, saw my movement and moved towards me.
A feeling of both of us moving towards each other.
We each had a marker on us.
At first glance, it looks like a strange movement where our paths cross.
But it's a play we'd already agreed upon in training.
The moment我和 Domenico overlap, our team's attack build-up begins.
"Hey!"
Paaaaang-!
The pass comes.
A pass in an ambiguous direction, as if it's aimed at Domenico or at me.
However, Domenico runs forward without hesitation, and I'm the one moving towards the pass.
That movement causes confusion for the markers guarding us.
Whether to keep chasing the person they were originally following, or to switch markers and hold their positions.
I can feel the two guys hesitating and wavering.
I don't miss that brief gap and penetrate it.
Paaang-
As if flicking it, I touch the ball with the outside of my foot and slightly change its direction.
And then,
Tatatat-!
Immediately turning around, I start dribbling.
Along the left half-space that Domenico created, I charge forward.
The opponent was a team that was already easily exposed to the gap between their defensive line and their third line.
Especially now, it was a situation where two of their midfielders had been momentarily wiped out.
The space is visible.
From the left to the center, I pull the ball up diagonally and begin to adjust the tempo slightly.
Slowing my speed slightly and glancing left and right, but to the opponent's eyes, it looked as if I intended to pass the ball.
I can see the defenders stepping back.
That's a blessing for me.
The moment I reach near the penalty arc.
I push the ball far out with the outside of my right foot, take a deep breath, and take a big stride, rushing towards the ball.
Bwooooooooooong-!
A heavy yet crisp sensation travels up my right foot. I put all my weight into it and took the shot.
That shot,
Shwoooooooong-
Flew as if splitting the penalty box...
Thwack-!!
Shook the net.
It was the moment the simulation I'd been running through my head for the past 80 minutes became a reality.
To be honest, it was so exactly as I'd calculated that I was taken aback.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇