Chapter 92
Translator 8uhl
Chapter 92
Chapter Title The Fiercest Draw of the Season
Veteran players often say it.
They describe how the entire pitch lays out before them like theyre looking down from above, with every possible way to break through a defender and score flashing through their mindsyet their bodies just wont cooperate.
Silva was the same.
Plays he couldnt even imagine in his youth now flooded his head.
Even setting everything else aside, if only his knees were still good, he could dodge a defender with a quick snap snap, then whoosh straight into the net.
But there were still two things he could pull off even now.
Slotted passes into deadly spots from anywhere on the field.
And targetman runs to finish them off.
The second one required one specific person, though.
Someone with the same instincts as himno, someone who saw and envisioned even more Yoon Taeyang.
With that kid always one step ahead, reading his mind and threading the perfect pass, he could score.
Taeyang drew defenders in by holding the ball, then tried a onetwo with Omar while feinting like he was going for goal himself.
As the defense naturally shifted right.
Silvas eyes gleamed, and he casually strolled into the open left flank.
In that instant, Taeyang lofted a perfect through ball toward Silvas run.
Silva charged into the empty space alone.
It was a slow run, but too fast for Uniteds defensive line to recover.
This is it.
Silva grinned and eyed the goal.
This spot should do it.
He gauged the distance and chipped it gently.
Truth be told, this was Silvas deadliest weapon these days.
A shot hed taken thousands, tens of thousandsmaybe even hundreds of thousandsof times.
He could probably score with his eyes closed.
And they were wide open now, so the goal was his.
With that confidence, his shot curled dramatically toward the net.
Go in...
Thwack!
Oh, it hits the post and bounces out! Is this the curse of the woodwork?
It didnt go in, damn it!
As Silva grimaced in embarrassment.
Someone came charging in furiously.
It was Taeyang, right on cue.
Taeyang spotted the trailing centerback and the onrushing keeper by a hairs breadth, spun in front of the ball.
Then launched into the air.
Bicycle kick!!!
Goal! The curse of the post means nothing to the blazing sun, Taeyang!
Hattrick! Yoon Taeyangs hattrick!
Havent we had something like this before?
Silva scratched his head furiously and ran over to Taeyang.
He ruffled the hair of Taeyang, who was trudging back to midfield with the ball, pokerfaced.
You goal thief!!
What goal thief? That was never going in anyway.
Hmph, you punk.
Meanwhile, Feliciano watched from afar, grinding his teeth.
A hattrick...
Hed only managed two goals...
And now the hattrick had reset the game to square one.
Feliciano kicked at the turf in frustration and returned to position.
The opponents werent thrilled with the game ending like this either, hustling the ball back to midfield.
How much time had passed?
He glanced at the clock 33 minutes into the second half.
Factoring in injury time, maybe 15 minutes left?
Feliciano bared his teeth and attacked relentlessly.
Newcastle did the same.
But perhaps knowing a goal conceded here could end it all?
Both teams defended with terrifying focus, giving everything to keep the sheet clean.
As time dragged on mercilessly, Manchester mounted what looked like their final attack.
Egerton passed to Montinu, who fed Brian.
Brian eyed the halfspace, feinted in, then switched to Feliciano.
Feliciano took it and bolted forward.
Hed spotted Jenus early and dragged him out with a dummy run.
Jenus hesitated, then fell for Felicianos body feint and let him go.
Feliciano! Beats Jenus and into the box... no! Arnolds charging in! Arnold! Arnold!
Arnold barreled in shouldertoshoulder with Feliciano.
Feliciano hesitated again.
Shoot now? It might go in.
In that split second, a thousand thoughts raced through his minduntil he heard footsteps closing in from the side.
No, forcing a shot under pressure and missing would hurt worse than no hattrick.
Goals were for winning, after all.
Feliciano nudged it left with his weaker foot.
Egerton, arriving at speed, lashed at the pass.
Splash!
Arrrgh!
Egerton let out a primal roar and tackled Feliciano in a hug.
Nice one, Eggy!
This means we win, right? We win, yeah?
Newcastles players stared in stunned silence.
Then
Waaaaaaaaah!
The Toon Army in the stands erupted.
Everyone looked around, baffled.
The linesman had his flag up.
The refs whistle signaled no goal, and United players swarmed him in protest.
VAR checked Uniteds appeals, but the ref confirmed offside.
As United players stared in dismay, Richella booted the ball far for a goal kick.
Full time...!
The match ends with Richellas goal kick! It finishes a draw!
Thrilling from a neutrals view, but the players were drained.
Theyd given everything for a draw.
Feliciano was the most gutted.
Hands on hips, he sighed deeply and looked skyward.
His eyes were already red.
What if hed shot greedily back then? Would things be better now?
Not your fault, man. Dont cry.
Brian ran over from afar and patted his back.
Watching from a distance, Yoon Taeyang shook out his sweatsoaked haireven in winterand said.
Anyoned think they won. Whys he crying?
Silva sidled up with a smirk.
Draw on the board, but he thinks he lost.
Huh? Why?
You got three, he got two.
Taeyang scowled.
No way...
Told you, the guys obsessed with goals. One short in a draw? He sees it as a decision loss to you.
Taeyang shook his head.
It made no sense to him.
The seasons most brutal draw!
Feliciano Next time, we win. On our home turf.
Artelli A disappointing draw, but a game that showcased the players passion.
Golden Boot clash Yoon Taeyangs hattrick decision win.
As a neutral, this was fucking insanely fun
Feliciano bawling like a little girl again
Crybaby lol wonder whats up lololol
Personalitys perfect otherwise, but these moments remind me of that hothead
Fr tho, subtle similarities
Yoon Taeyang scores again, hattrick too wtf
Already 4 games this season with hattrick or better including CL wtfwtf
What the hells national team doing, not using him? No ones better
Too young, gotta preserve him. Overplay him on away and injury hits? Gutted like a fish
Still wanna see him in Amatches tho
We dropped back to second.
But only one point off, so no real damage.
Team morale was fine.
The manager gave the players whod gone allout a day off.
Most probably chilling at home.
Me too.
Lying in bed, scrolling soccer forums for Taeyang buzz, I finally checked the youth national team group chat.
Too lazy to read beforehundreds of messages piled up.
These guys play no soccer, just chat all day?
Me You all not playing soccer or what? Why so chatty?
Kim Hyojun Who cares if I sleep or not
Me Lmao you up?
Kim Hyojun Just finished training
Me Oh right youre in Germany, keep forgetting. Settling in ok?
Kim Hyojun Gonna die
Hyojun, who transferred to Leverkusen youth, was struggling.
Unlike my past life, hed gone to Europe earlierbut still tough.
Makes sense.
Hyojuns a speedy forward. Quick feet, but physicals not quite European level yet.
Cant force bulk at his age, so hes hitting a wall now.
Lee Sangho Im in the second team.
Lee Sangho had even skipped grades.
His physicals hold up against Euros, so fair enough.
Bae Sanghyun Yo whos this? Newcastles kid prince gracing the chat lololol
Me Long time
Bae Sanghyun Youre killing it lately, blowing up in Germany too lol our club asked if it was you lolol
Me For real? Lol wanna sign me?
Bae Sanghyun As if lololol theyd claim you
Sad story.
Bae Sanghyun Saw you in games too? Lolol 16yo in there aint easy lolol
Me What games?
Bae Sanghyun FIFA and FM
Me Oh
Me in games?
Sure, Id been in the big two before.
FIFAs highest was 74 overall, I think.
Solid for sure.
FM gave me 145 able151 pot in Primera days.
Generous for a Korean.
Wonder now?
I hunted communities for my stats.
FIFA 2035.
Its 34 now, but titles tag next year.
Oh, there I am.
Stats...
70? What the, so stingy.
After all Ive done, chintzy much.
Huh?
Special cards exist.
POTM, MOM, TOTWboosted cards based on performances.
Folks whale for these?
Mine had multiples.
CL Best cards vs. BarcaMilan 89, 92 overall.
Damn, thats huge.
VS City card too.
Double hattrick vs. City 94 overall.
Impressive, but paytowin card, right? Meh.
Dunno, barely played.
FMs different.
My goto when body broke, even postretirement.
Prospects get fixed pot vs. random pot.
Fixed known ability.
Random estimated, randomized exact.
I was random.
Random pot 10.
Whoa...!
FM maxed my potential. 10 means 180200 pot.
Insane.
Few actives over 180.
Me at least 180? Super generous.
Especially since they lowball Koreans...
Devs are British, right?
A Toon in the dev team?
Suspicious.
Anyway, feels good.
Gotta grind for that 200 fixed pot.
Unexpected morale boost.