'I've failed the quest, it's supposed to reactivate, but why is it still not activated?'
<Ugh...about that>
'What?'
<Remember when I said that the system was going to disappoint you in some matches and you should be prepared for those days?>
'Yeah.'
<Well, this has turned out to be one of those days but since you have already failed the quest at the sixth minute of the match, you'll have to scale through it with no reward guaranteed at the end>
'Oh, I see, but did it really have to be in this match?'
<You know it is said most footballers crumble under pressure, and with your system, you've been dealing with that pressure quite well, but now that it's gone temporarily, let's see how well you do under the biggest pressure you've felt so far in your career, this is the biggest stage that you've played in so far in your career after all>
'Crumble under pressure.' The goalkeeper muttered in his mind.
<I've already started seeing signs>
'No, I will not crumble and neither will teammates, it's all square once again now, but we can get back into it, we can take the lead once again, they came prepared, but this is our home turf.'
<Well said, now let's see you put that into action>
"The game is leveled once again, Unique FC are going to try and take the lead once again and FC Basel are going to try and take the lead for the first time." Jim expressed.
"That goal came as quite a shock to the hosts, Dave did well to stop that shot from Hans but Roland just wasn't fast enough to get to the ball and clear it, that goal was the defense's fault," Steve said.
"Yeah, but let's see if they'll be able to make up for it," Jim said. "After seven games without conceding a single goal, Henrique has managed to put the ball past Dave Richards, he still hasn't conceded any goal in the Bilbeth Premier League."
"Yeah, at least he still has that going for him with Ronino FC being their next opponent."
After conceding that early goal, Unique FC were being careful now.
Instead of going for a direct attack which they tried and it backfired on them, they decided to start with a slow build-up and work their way into FC Basel's goalpost.
Roland received the ball back from Ferran and raced down the middle a little with it trying to find any of his teammates moving forward, but seeing that his teammates were occupied, he had to send the ball to Minino who moved back to receive the ball from him.
"Minino."
The midfielder feigned moving the ball back to Norman with his back heel before he quickly pushed the ball forward and zoomed past him to get his foot on the ball once again and continue moving forward with it.
"Nicely done by Minino."
Minino moved further down the wing with the ball before laying it off to Ferran in the middle.
Ferran moved down the middle before pushing the ball to Fredinho.
The striker had someone quickly approaching him from behind, but before the person could get to him, he drifted to the right a little before passing the ball to Merino.
All Merino needed was a single touch to send the ball rolling toward Mateo who had gotten into the box now.
"It's Mateo!"
All the winger needed was a single touch to slot the ball toward the right side which Filip couldn't get to as he watched the ball roll into the goalpost.
"It's in! Unique FC's wonder kid strikes again!" Jim exclaimed as the winger took off to the sidelines with his teammates rushing after him. "They have the lead back."
Unfortunately, their celebration was cut short as the referee blew his whistle and pointed to the spot where the winger was standing when he received the ball before pointing back at their goalpost.
"What's this? The linesman had his flag and it looks like the referee agrees with him, he's calling off the goal." Jim said.
Unique FC players quickly made their way to the referee with their complaints but it didn't look like he was going to listen to them.
"Yeah, his right foot was offside by millimeters, most fans wouldn't notice it if they took a look at it but the difference is still there so that was a right call by the referee." Steve articulated.
"Oh, that's a bummer, Unique FC thought they had taken the lead once again but the game's still leveled to FC Basel's relief."
Since Mateo was caught offside, FC Basel had to take a free kick on the spot, and right now, Filip was standing over the ball waiting for the referee's whistle and as soon as he heard it, he sent the ball flying into the pitch.
Ferran contested for the ball in the air with Henrique but the right winger ended up winning it, leaving the midfielder on the floor.
"Henrique doesn't want to give Ferran a break in this match today."
Henrique moved down the wing with the ball, and just before he could run into Roland, he quickly pushed the ball to Hans.
"Hans," Jim said. "FC Basel are trying to cook up something here."
Hans feigned shooting at the goalpost before he quickly pushed the ball back to the midfielder behind him.
All the midfielder needed was a single touch to float the ball over toward Reto on the left wing.
The winger brought the ball down with Norman hot on his trail, and when he found an opening through the defender's legs, he put the ball through there before pushing it back to their attacking midfielder who was heading toward the edge of the box now.
"It's Felix!"
All he needed was a single touch to fire the ball toward the right side of the goalpost.
Dave dived toward the ball at the right time, but he was only able to get to it with the tip of his gloves as the ball ended up hitting the post before rolling into the goalpost.
"Felix hits it! Felix scores! Oh, what a magnificent strike from the midfielder, it was just too much for Dave to handle!"
The attacking midfielder burst off toward the guest fans area as his teammates caught up to him and pulled him down to the floor.
"They're now leading, but I don't understand what is wrong with Unique FC in this match, it's like their defensive capabilities have dropped," Jim said.
"No, that's not it, Dave used to save them from shots like that, but this one was just too much for him to handle," Steve explained.
"FC Basel are the ones running the show here today, two goals in ten minutes to put Unique FC behind."
Unique FC players all had devastated looks on their faces and that included Dave who was still lying on the floor after failing to stop that ball.
'I was so close.'
<Ball magnet could have made that easier>
'Yeah, but I don't have ball magnet right now, do I?'
<Yeah, and things aren't looking so good>
***
Mass release goals.
A magic castle= one extra chapter.
Two magic castles= two extra chapters.
New novel 𝓬hapters are published on fre ew𝒆bnovel.com