Chapter 28
Translator 8uhl
Chapter 28
Chapter Title TyneWear Derby HatTrick
Id mocked Sunderlands finances to rile up the opposition, but in truth, their youth setup was nothing to scoff at.
Sure, they paled next to Newcastle, but theyd held onto their Category 1 youth academy status all this time.
Financial woes had shrunk their scouting network to just the UK, leaving their squad depth thin, but their starting XIespecially the attackerswas on a level no other team could ignore.
And they proved it by sitting pretty in the upper ranks of every agegroup league.
Their U18s especially were unbeaten and clinging to first place.
U16s were third right now.
The key point? My team was on a winning streak with me in the lineup, holding fourth in the league.
Beat these guys, and wed snatch back thirdmaybe even climb to second, depending.
Thats why we pushed our line high and hammered them with relentless attacks. But it backfired, handing Sunderland their chance.
One player snatched the ball.
Of course, it had to be the guy with the teams best shot, and his kick targeted the space behind our advanced line.
Sunderlands frontman was the fastest on their rosterfaster than anyone.
Boooooo!
Jeers erupted from the stands.
The Toon Army didnt care about age.
To them, that little black cat Sunderlands mascot was just another black cat.
Anyway, score was 11.
Dont get downhearteddont drop back! Squeeze em more!
Amid the chaos, Coach Aidan bellowed.
His voice, brimming with fire, was the Toon Army incarnate.
Preach, Coach!
Yeah! Hold the line, lads!
Bang in morewin big!
Toon never yields!
Rooooar!
Under the monstrous roar, the boys spirits soared.
Thats the home edge.
Sunderlands kids, even after scoring, looked hesitant.
At their age, they couldnt help flinching under the crowds pressure.
Wed conceded, but it lit a fire under uswe went even more aggressive.
Shallet and our wingers stretched the line, narrowed it, desperate to carve out space.
But Sunderland, burned once, wasnt giving an inch.
They spread wide to block me and the wingers from cutting inside, locking it down tight.
Even if we whipped in crosses from the flanks all day, they figured I couldnt win headers.
I was young, short, scrawnynot exactly postplay material.
Not entirely wrong.
Physically, I couldnt dominate in the air.
But they were missing one thing.
Post play isnt all about physique.
The ball went to the right winger, who hugged the touchline instead of cutting central, then slung in a cross.
Shallet and our midfielder sprinted toward the drop zone.
As those two pulled aggro and drew tight marking, just one defender shadowed me.
I positioned close, let him shove me back like I was yielding, pretending to give up the front.
The ball sailed past me and the defender.
While he turned to look...
I ditched my marker and chased it down.
It was dropping toward Shallet.
Of the two on him, the tall centerback won the aerial duel, heading it clear toward the opposite post.
As it veered away, I swung my leg.
Instep flicked it back my way as I spun.
Lifted my foot again.
And unleashed.
The ball, lofted high, arced like a bender straight into the top corner.
Rooooar!
Newcastles Local Hero chant exploded once more.
Unbelievable.
Sunderlands coach was floored.
Hed figured my post play was weakused it against them to roam free, win the ball, and score.
Turning a weakness into a weapon. Smart football.
Playing with kids way older like its nothing. No experience eitherhows he doing it?
At his staffers question, the Sunderland coach eyed the boy strutting off all haughty, like it was no big deal.
We call guys like that geniuses.
Theyd splashed cash worldwide for prospects, but whod have thought theyd snag this one from Asia.
Regaining the lead fired us up we pinned Sunderland, but halftime hit without more goals.
Sunderlands coach mulled it over, then spoke.
Looking closer, that kids their coretheir heart. Isolate him, and weve got a shot.
He wasnt wrong.
Unlike our U18s, bloated with investment, the U16s minus Shallet and me were a step below Sunderland.
Hell, factions had formed and theyd been scrappingbefore I arrived, theyd languished way under Sunderland.
As the Sunderland coach schemed to shut me down, our locker room was cool as could be for a team ahead.
Just a onegoal lead. Get cocky now, and youre done. No complacency till the end.
Aidan kept us grounded.
Keep doing what weve been doing. Dont fear concedinggo score. Its derby day. Make the fans who came for you young guns happy. Got it?
Yes!!
After firing up the squad, Aidan pulled me aside.
Sunny.
Yes, Coach.
He eyed my sour face, concerned.
Whats wrong? You look off.
Nothing. Im good.
Alright. Anyway, second half, Sunderlandll try isolating you.
Figured.
It wont be easy. Their youth teams better than you think.
Ill manage.
No, noI mean dont push too hard. If it turns sour, youre off. We dont want you hurtme, the club, none of us.
I shook my head.
No need. I dont plan on getting hurt.
Easier said than done.
Fine, then sub me if it goes bad. But give me a fair shot first.
Course.
I nodded at Aidans words.
Then added,
But we wont need to sub.
Hope so.
I flashed a grin.
Normally, Aidan wouldve ripped into a player here.
No arrogancelay down the law.
Hubris brings ruin.
But with me, it didnt stick. That smile made you believe.
It wasnt arrogance it was backed confidence.
Out you go!
Second half kicked off.
As expected, Sunderland swarmed me, cutting me off.
No ball to me. And if it did, every pass lane blocked.
Our passing grew ragged.
Wish we had a midfielder who could ping it to Sunny like he does.
Aidans coaches nodded.
Our U16 mids had stamina for daysgreat buildup, pressing, defendingbut no playmaker.
Thats why I often dropped into the second line from up top.
Move! Keep moving!
Aidan urged the lads to give me breathing room.
But I started moving even more.
Friedel Mayer had called me Newcastles Messi, but unlike him, my work rate was insane.
Kid had stamina from somewhereroaming everywhere.
It wore on them.
Trying to isolate me, but constant motion wrecked their shape.
Sunderlands positioning drills held firm, but the pressure built.
Finally, I took the ball and turned.
Their players, smug at boxing me in, closed tight.
They had reason to gloat.
Four closing in, solid line beyond.
How to break it?
I grinned wider.
A sunbeam smile, and I bolted.
Ooooooh!
Cheers and roars chased the fearless boy.
Light on my feet, I nutmegged the first with pure dribbling.
Another lungedtimed perfectly.
I ghosted past.
Eerie movementtextbook Phantom Dribble.
A hidden marker blocked nextI Marseille Turned him.
Woooooah!!
Three in a flashstands went wild.
As Sunderland piled back to stop me, I faced the centerback.
He backpedaled, blocking lanesI feinted wide.
He shuffled to coverI wheeled inside, charging.
Unbelievable burst for a kidI was on him in a blink.
Free Flap.
He stayed uprightleft foot, Free Flap again.
Still balancedright foot third time, through the legs.
He lunged to blockI Free Flapped once more, shoving it right.
Legs clamped, then stretchedtoo late, he tumbled assfirst.
Took longer to describe than it playedsplitsecond triple Free Flap, penalty area dead ahead.
Last centerback clung sideways, arm out, fouling almost to hold me.
Goalkeeper read it, stepped up, closing space.
I can stop this.
Their keepergreat feet, defendersolidknew it.
Wrong.
I saw him come, lifted my leg.
Onelegged against the pusher, body tilting.
Still, calm scoop under the ball.
It lobbed up I rolled with the shove.
But I laughed.
The pusher, clueless, popped up and checked the net.
His trusted keeper stared blankly at goal.
My chip had floated over, kissed the bar.
Six fools madehattrick magic.
Rooooar!
Sunny!!
Sunnneeee!
Chants everywhere.
I rose, brushed grass off, strode haughty to halfway.
Sunderland stared, shellshocked.
Were done.
Their coach shook his head.
Time left, but youth teams dont flip it once momentum dies.
Pray no blowout.
Toon fans sensed it, belting anthems. Aidan subbed me for injury cautionand Sunderland leaked two more.
Perfect TyneWear derby win for the kids.