Chapter 71 Showoff
Beep!!
The second half continued with the kickoff from the opposing team.
After conceding a goal at the end of the first half, they started to play even more aggressively.
Right from the kickoff, the opposing team started to press the ball forward.
After receiving the pass from the centre forward of his team, Hirato released a powerful through ball towards the middle of the left flank of the pitch.
Since they were playing in a 4-2-1-3 formation, the left and right side of their midfield had to be covered by the two central midfielders who stood at the border of centre and side.
However the two centre midfielders of his team were extremely sloppy. Let alone cover the flanks, they wouldn't even leave their positions at all. As if they were a box to box midfielder whose field coverage was only upto the middle third of the pitch, they would rarely drop behind or run towards the sides.
The pass flew right beside the right central midfielder of his team and yet he couldn't do anything about the pass.
"Tch- Are they somekind of mannequin?" Hiro clicked his tongue upon witnessing the lackluster behaviour of his teammates.
Their left wing who was quick with his feet began to charge the ball forward without trapping the ball.
Shunta faced with the opposing left winger once again was forced to defend against the winger.
Sensing an attacking threat, Hiro who played as an offensive midfielder dropped towards the defensive third to support Shunta.
While the defender was approaching Shunta, Hiro gestured him to block his pass course and lead him outwards.
As suggested by Hiro, Shunta blocked his course and prevented him from cutting inside. After getting his route blocked by Shunta, the opposing winger was forced to dribble the ball outside the post.
While the opposing winger dribbled the ball towards the corner, Shunta followed him while maintaining his pressure on him.
Finally as he was about to reach the right corner, the opposing winger gently tapped the ball between the legs of Shunta and nutmegged him.
However the one who got the ball at that time wasn't the opposing winger, instead it was Hiro who was tailing behind Shunta covering the spaces left behind by Shunta.
Upon getting the ball in his own defensive third, Hiro began to dribble the ball forward.
The opposing forward who was waiting for the ball inside the penalty box began to chase after him for the ball.
After intercepting the ball at his own defensive third, he dribbled the ball forward without stopping.
Occasionally turning his head around in search of his teammates, he continued to dribble the ball forward.
However all of his teammates were being tightly marked by the opposing players. And even more, only 3 of the opposing attacking players were inside their half of the pitch.
Aside from the three forwards, Hirato was standing just at the cicrle of the pitch.
Faced with Hirato infront and the opposing centre forward who was tailing behind him, he quickly found himself in a precarious situation as he approached the middle third of the pitch.
The only players who were unmarked were the defenders and keeper. Aside from them almost every player of his team were being tightly marked by the opposing players.
"Bring it on. You luckily stopped me back then. But your luck won't help you again to get past me." Hirato mumbled under his breath while preparing himself to defend against Hiro.
He then quickly turned around his head to scan the field to see if anybody was left unmarked. Finding every opposing player marked, Hirato revealed a playful grin and approached Hiro while taking huge steps.
'Where would it be?? Left or Right?' Hirato thought while keeping his gaze fixated at Hiro's feet.
Hirato then took a quick look at Hiro's face. Beads of sweats forming at his temple. Calm and composed, he showed no signs of worry.
Just then he noticed Hiro was about to hit the ball with the inside of his right leg.
'So it's left afterall.' He smiled inwardly as he predicted the direction of the ball.
However contrary to his expectation, Hiro made use of his both feet and loated the ball above Hirato's head while performing a 360 rainbow flick.
"What are you doing Hirato? Why are you giving him the opportunity to showoff?" Kota Yui who was sitting in the reserve seat clenched his fist and whispered under his breath.
He couldn't let his emotion out because of the presence of manager Nozomi beside him. Thus, he cussed Hiro without uttering a single word loudly from his mouth.
Hirato on the other hand was left dumbfounded by Hiro's actions. Just when he had thought that he had outsmarted Hiro, Hiro proved him wrong.
The opposing centre midfielders who were right behind Hirato came forward to clear the ball as well.
However just as they approached him, Hiro performed a beautiful body feint and got past them easily. They were no match to him.
After that it was the turn for the defenders to come up to defend against him. And as the defender left their mark to defend against him, Hiro noticed Yuya making the run inside the box.
Making use of the space left behind by the opposing defenders, he loafted the ball with acute precision towards Yuya.
Shun Yabuzoe sensing trouble, left his post and dashed outside to clear the ball. Due to his timely made decision and his advantage of being a keeper, his hands reached the ball before Yuya's head.
He punched the ball away from the goalpost.
Beep!!
However during his process of clearing the ball away, he clashed with Yuya.
Getting hit by Shun's body, Yuya fell down. And as Yuya fell down, the referee blew the whistle.
"What?? I didn't hit him." Shun tried to justify his actions.
But the referee was against his justification. He gave away a penalty to Hiro's team for Shun's foul against Yuya.
While the opposing team was arguing about referee's decision, Hiro walked towards Yuya who was lying on the ground with his face covered by his hands.
Just as he got closer to him, Yuya removed his hands a little and winked his eyes at Hiro.
It was very clear that Shun hadn't committed any foul. And it was only Yuya's act.
"Haha.." Watching his oscar winning acting, Hiro covered his mouth and revealed a playful smile.
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