Chapter 3:

That Pass (2)

Link-Up-Play


It just hits the post, luckily for the Duncan 

''Holy shit that was so lucky'' Duncan was relieved 

As the ball rebounds off the post Aaron retrieves the ball... scoop turning past Austin with such grace, with enough space being created he took a glimpse onto who's open... 

Brad looked for the pass... swerving in multiple directions trying to get away from the midfielders, Brad called for the pass from Aaron... which was a direct pass towards his legs but made a gap between his legs for Taylor to be able to react to the ball in time. 

Brad distracted all the midfielders into thinking that he was receiving the ball from Aaron... by the time they reacted Taylor was already accelerated to his max speed running towards the defence and through on goal.

But...

Going as fast as he can to catch up to Taylor, John was pressuring Taylor for that ball... Taylor loses control of the ball and Jacob retrieves the ball at ease. 

Jacob Kicks the ball straight into the middle of the park to Michael first touches it with ease the playmaker for Auriel Academy, The Conductor they called him... flicks the ball up for a angelic volley direct pass straight to Ruben. 

Ruben first touch was orgasmic controlling it with the left side of his right foot with ease... running straight at the defence, but sees that he's being surrounded by three Daimon High players... decides to pass it back to Jimmy

With that pass to Jimmy... he was now also surrounded by the three star players for Daimon High, Taylor, Aaron and Brad were all targeting Jimmy... attempting to escape the pressure from all three deciding to go on a solo run... Jimmy gets tackled from the back by a enraged Taylor... Taylor was given a Yellow card from the referee.

However... 

A couple of seconds past... Jimmy wasn't getting up after that tackle from Taylor, holding his leg in immense amount of pain, coach rushed onto the pitch.

''My leg is fucked, I can't go on'' Jimmy cried out

''Quick go get the stretcher and carry him to the medical team immediately'' Coach demanded

''We are going to make a substitution'' Coach stated to the Referee    

With the right back going down with a injury, Coach looked towards the bench for options to place that spot which he would normally pick Joe as he's a all round play who could play anywhere, but he went home early that day due to breaking up with Eily...

But without his presence, coach look towards to the new exchange student Eric who arrived from Spain just a few days ago, as he'd joined the team out of curiosity... he was the only option left as Eric put down his position as a right back on his form. 

''Eric you are gonna get subbed in and play, go warm up'' Coach declared

Eric doubtful about getting subbed on at first, but did the usual warm up of a light jog, dynamic and static stretches on the side-line... ready to come onto the pitch, his whole body tensed up when he came on.

''What's wrong Eric everything alright, you ready'' John spoke in a soft manner to make Eric not get nervous 

''Yeah it's cold, how you play in this weather'' Eric responded to John

The whole team went into silence...

''Oh so that's why you were shaking'' John sighed

''I want to play hard today'' Eric spoke with enthusiasm 

''Yes we are gonna go hard and win'' John yelled 

Eric went straight into the right back position as coach instructed him to, as he got onto the pitch he thought back to when he played in Spain, the days when he use to play football with his amigos (friends)  that made him happy. 

Kevin starts off the freekick by passing it to Michael who was facing Kevin with a lighten up look. L turning with putting his foot on top of the ball, with the sole of his foot to drag it back using the inside of his foot to hook it back... pushing up into the space with acceleration.

Michael dancing away through Daimon Highs midfield absolutely turning Aaron and Brad inside out with that L turn... putting the ball through to for the link up play. Austin facing at Michael, inside turning Daimon Highs defence, right through on goal Austin strikes...

But...

Striking the ball straight into Duncan's arms and hands, who catches the ball without any troubles. Duncan drops the ball so he can inspect out the field for someone open out... but there was no one, everyone was man marked by Auriel Academy's players....

''I don't have any options so fuck it'' Duncan thought 

Duncan decides to go on a reckless solo run from goal, which got Austin, George and Rubens attention... making the full backs open now for Duncan to pass, chip pass... flicking the ball up to one of the full backs.

The left back runs straight forward, catching all of Auriel Academys attention... Kevin goes for the pressure, but this leaves Brad open... the left back short passes through to Brad, only controlling it slightly with the upper side part of his right foot.

''That was a bad pass'' Daimon High left back thought 

With a kind of uncertainty, Brad didn't know what to do as Aaron and Taylor both were out of stamina... all he had left was Matt who was being man marked by John.

''That pain in the ass'' Brad irritated thoughts about John 

Brad tried his best to run through James and Michael who were targeting him... managing with enough swerve from his body using his technical skills, which was to have the ball close to his feet so that he wouldn't loose it.

This pulled John in as Dean was targeting Taylor instead of focusing on Brad and Matt... they played the ball to each other, connecting together like pen and paper, with Matt through on goal now, he was ready to smash the ball into the back of the net, dragging his entire right foot to create the most amount of power

In spite of that...

Eric rushes in for the tackle getting majority of the ball, as John gets control of the ball after the tackle, Eric gets back up quickly to get back into position... John passes the ball to Eric, ball controlled by Eric.

With all the thoughts going through his head right now his friends and coaches back in Spain, field size calculations and the movements of all the players on the pitch, his eyes light up with a blue glow...

 Facing James at first... it looked like that pass was going to James at first, Eric used the right upper part of his foot instead of the usual left side part to pass the ball instead... striking the ball with back swing on the ground... it was immaculate uncomprehend able to put that much spin and swerve on the ball, swerving it all the way to Ruben... 

''That was a trivela (a technique used by Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric) , he's one crazy fucker'' Ruben thoughts about that pass from Eric

Connecting to Rubens left foot while running... Ruben cuts inside going for the finesse shot, but fake shots with his left foot and passes it off to Austin with his right foot...

As the ball comes through to Austin, dragging his leg back to create power to smash it into the back of the net... as it goes for top right the keeper had no chance of saving it, going at that speed and that power... as it goes into the back of the net.

Austin celebrates by running to the coach with all the players 

''YAHHHHHHHHHHHH'' all the players screamed 

2-1 to Auriel Academy in the 89th minute.

Daimon High was not coming back from this with only 1 minute of injury time... 

The final whistle blows, win goes to Auriel Academy 

...

 Back to present day 

''So Joe will you train with Eric or will you stay as a benchwarmer'' Coach phrased 

''I don't want to stay as a benchwarmer''  Joe thought

''But who the hell is this bastard he's talking about'' Joe was curious

''Alright I'll train with the kid, only under one condition... you have to put me as a starter now as the composer of the team straight into that central attacking midfielder position that Michael is in...''

''Who does he think he is, but he could become very special under this training'' Coach thought

''Right fine I'll put you into that role, only if can master the art of passing, you have all summer to train'' Coach offered

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Character List for That Pass

Auriel Academy 4-3-3

Main Characters

Joe (CAM/CM)

Ruben (RW/RF)

Eric (RB)

Side Characters

John (CB) Captain

Austin (ST)

George (LW/LF)

James (CM/CDM)

Kevin (CM)

Charlie (LB)

Dean (CB)

Jacob (GK)

Michael (CAM/CM)

Jimmy (RB)

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Daimon High 4-3-2-1

Aaron (CM)

Brad (CM)

Taylor (RW/LW)

Matt (ST)

Duncan (GK)

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