First VS Second Part 2

The game took place at the Emirates pitch utilizing the full length of the pitch just like a real game. Tension was in the air. This game was especially important for the second team, a chance to get selected for the first team. For the first team it was all about maintaining their status and getting stronger for the games ahead.

Jorge Resurrección, grinning like a mischievous general, patted Sverre and Arsenic on the back.
"Alright, guys, we’re the underdogs here, but let’s make them sweat. I want the two of you to link up with the rest of the team."

He turned to the other second team players. "You want a chance to play in the Champions League? You can't wait for permission, seize your moment."

Sverre rolled his shoulders, still feeling the burn from the morning session. Across from him, Jason Nwosu gave him a small nod—acknowledging the challenge ahead. This was his opportunity to get noticed just like Sverre was.

Kells blew the whistle. "Alright, I want a clean match. No need to get injured unnecessarily. Let’s go!”

The First Team started strong, their chemistry evident in their crisp passing. Mendes and Pryce controlled the midfield, dictating the tempo with swift ball movement. Sverre, positioned deep in the Second Team’s midfield, quickly realized he and Miguel Diaz had their work cut out for them. The ball zipped between Mendes and Pryce before reaching Jason Nwosu, who turned sharply and fired a pass to Hugo Laurent.

Laurent wasted no time. With a single touch, he shifted the ball past Nakamura and took off toward the goal.

"Step up!" Sverre barked at the defense, sprinting alongside him.

But Laurent was too fast. He cut inside and rifled a shot toward the bottom left corner.

Jake Turner dived— fingertips to the ball! It ricocheted off the post and spun across the goal line before Rafael Costa booted it out for a corner.

"Close one," Arsenic muttered.

"Come on! Get the ball forward guys." Resurrección, despite coaching, was very much a vocal presence on the pitch. "Move the ball fast, don’t give them time to press!" he shouted.

Miguel Diaz received a pass from Sverre and threaded a ball through the midfield. It found Temidayo Saka in stride.

Saka, known for his quick feet, twisted past Callum Waters and squared the ball toward Arsenic, who was waiting at the edge of the box.

Arsenic didn’t hesitate—he took a touch to steady himself, then unleashed a powerful shot toward the top right corner.

Alex Reyes dived, fingertips grazing the ball, but the shot was too venomous.

GOAL!

The Second Team erupted in cheers, huddling around Arsenic, who simply smirked and jogged back to position.

"That’s 1-0," Resurreccion reminded the First Team with a grin. "What’s up, guys?"

Rivera remained composed on the sideline, arms crossed. "I hope you're not celebrating too early," he muttered.

Mendes and Pryce locked eyes, each understanding the other's thoughts. It was time to get serious.

If the First Team had been playing cautiously before, now they were relentless.

Pryce and Mendes shifted into full gear, pressing aggressively and regaining possession high up the pitch. Their movement was sharper, more fluid.

A slick passing sequence unfolded—Linhart to Mendes, Mendes to Nwosu, Nwosu to Laurent.

Laurent feinted left, cutting between Ndongo and Nakamura before curling a shot toward the far post.

GOAL!

1-1.

Sverre clenched his fists. The First Team was responding just as expected.

"Focus!" Resurreccion called out. "We’re still in this!"

Halftime

As both teams took a short break, Rivera gathered the First Team in the corner of the flag post. His voice was calm but sharp.

"You saw what happened when you got sloppy," he said, looking at them individually. "You responded well, but I need more. The real game will be harder than this, so act like it."

Meanwhile, Jorge had his own talk with the Second Team.

"That was nice save from Turner. I love the combination Saka, Diaz and Sverre. We’re showing some fight, but they’re gonna come at us harder now," he warned. "Stay sharp, play with confidence. Mendes and Pryce are a problem but predictble. Without Arsenic they can't combine with anyone else. Sverre, I need you dictating the tempo. Arsenic, when you get a chance, you end it."

"Yes Captain." They all shouted.

Both teams returned to the field, fire in their eyes.

Just as expected Mendes and Pryce were unplayable. They kept the ball moving, looking for a breakthrough. It was a crime what these two were doing to the youngsters. Mikel Wright pressed Mendes but was humiliated with a rabona nutmeg before he sent a precise pass outside the box. Pryce eyeballed it and volleyed the ball towards the goal. Turner tried his best to reach but it was futile.

2-1 to the First Team.

Resurreccion rubbed his chin. “Those two are dangerous," he admitted. He called Arsenic to the touchline.

“I need you to assist the fullbacks in tracking those two. Leave Cillian as the front man. And during counters you come back in midfield to help Miguel and Sverre carry the ball.”

Per instruction Arsenic stepped into the midfield, acting as a CAM behind Cillian. Rafael Costa blocked a pass from Oscar Linhart and passed the ball toward Hakim Malik. Malik drifted past toward the right wing passing the ball to Arsenic near midfield. Arsenic sprinted forward dribbling past Nwosu and Linhart together, he then sent a pass to Sverre who chipped the ball towards Saka.

Saka hesitated, then pulled the trigger—but Reyes saved it!

"Rebound!" Sverre yelled.

Cillian rushed in, smashing the loose ball past the keeper.

2-2.

With time winding down, both teams pushed for the winner. Arsenic tackled Pryce from behind and took it out for a corner kick. Kai Hevartz had a one-on-one chance against Turner but mishit the ball going above the goalpost.

The whistle blew.

Rivera called the teams together.

"This is what I wanted to see," he said. "Heart. Passion. Grit. The Premier League won’t wait for us to fix our problems. We have to fight every single match like this. Every single moment. That hunger you showed? Bring it to the real games."

"Hell of a shift, guys,” Resurreccion chimed in. “But we’re not done yet. Penalty shootout. Let’s go!"

The players lined up. The pressure was unbearable. This wasn't for a cup but for bragging rights.

Arsenic stepped up first. He placed the ball down, took three steps back, then lashed it low into the bottom corner. Reyes guessed right—but the shot was too fast.

Goal. 1-0.

Hugo Laurent for the First Team. He stutter-stepped, freezing Turner, then slotted it into the top left corner.

Goal. 1-1.

Sverre’s turn. Calm as ever, he sent Reyes the wrong way and buried it.

Goal. 2-1.

Mendes for the First Team. He struck it with power, smashing it into the roof of the net.

Goal. 2-2.

Cillian Dwyer stepped up. He went straight down the middle—Reyes dived, but the ball was already in.

Goal. 3-2.

Kai Hevartz for the First Team. Pryce was next but Kai insisted on going first. He glanced at Turner who was shifting on the line. He clenched his fists and aimed for the bottom left—but hit the post!

“FUUCK!” shouted Mendes.

Kai grabbed his face and walked back slowly passing Miguel on the way. Mendes grunted in disgust.

Still 3-2.

Now, it was all on Miguel Diaz.

If he scored, the Second Team would win.

He exhaled, rolled his shoulders, then stepped up. His eyes locked on the bottom left corner. He struck the ball cleanly—

Reyes stretched—fingertips grazing it—BUT IT SLIPPED THROUGH!

GOAL! 4-2!

The Second Team WON.

Resurrección laughed, punching the air. “Woooo!”

Rivera exhaled, nodding at his squad. "Learn from this," he said. “Final drills then we pack it up.”

NEXT: THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE MATCH