The eagles VS The giants (3)

If the story receives 30 power stones in the next 24 hours, I will share one additional chapter tomorrow.

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In the 44th minute, Ethan played a goal kick, he passed the ball to Aiden.

Aiden seized the ball with determination. Spotting Luiz ahead, he performed a swift feint to the left before cutting right, leaving Luiz wrong-footed. 

With a burst of speed, Aiden advanced, now faced with Alex who had fallen back to support the midfield. 

Aiden initiated a quick one-two pass with Alex. Alex, anticipating Aiden's move, returned the ball with a precise touch, allowing Aiden to continue his run uninterrupted from the pressing players. 

Aiden then executed a powerful pass toward Michael, who was positioned parallel to him. 

Silva, noticing Taylor's sprint toward their direction, felt a moment of confusion as the ball hadn't arrived to Michael yet, and Taylor was running without even glancing at it. 

In a fluid motion, Michael delivered a perfectly timed 90-degree pass into the space behind Silva, where Taylor had already begun his run. 

This time, the pass was impeccable. The ball landed perfectly in Taylor's path, close enough that the Giants' goalkeeper hesitated to charge out. 

Taylor, with Silva following but unable to close the gap, took control of the ball and accelerated toward the penalty area. 

As the goalkeeper finally committed to rushing out, Taylor remained calm. He waited for the precise moment as the goalkeeper approached. 

Then, with a deft flick of his foot, Taylor chipped the ball over the goalkeeper's head, sending it sailing gracefully into the net. 

Kay erupted with joy on the sidelines, shouting, "That is the L-shaped attack!" His ecstasy was shared by the team, who celebrated the brilliantly executed goal. 

After Taylor's goal, Leo quickly realized that the move was not just a flash of individual brilliance but a well-coordinated tactic. 

He decided to make a change, substituting Silva, who struggled to match Taylor's speed.

The new defender, fresh and energetic, received specific instructions: when Taylor started running toward them and Michael had the ball, they were to follow Taylor closely with two defenders. 

In the 46th minute, Michael attempted the same move. He received a pass from Aiden and, without looking, delivered a perfect 90-degree pass toward the space behind the defenders. 

However, this time Taylor was shadowed by two defenders, one of whom was fresh and quick.

Despite his best efforts, Taylor couldn't reach the ball as the defender cleared it out of play. 

Recognizing the need for a new approach, Kay decided to bring Liam on for Taylor. He called Liam over and explained the new tactic. 

Once on the field, Liam gathered Michael, Noah, and Alex and briefed them on the new strategy. 

In the 48th minute, the Giants launched a dangerous attack. Luiz, now marked closely, managed to dribble past Aiden with a series of quick feints and a burst of speed. 

He played a sharp one-two pass with Carlos, who sent the ball back to him just outside the penalty area. 

Luiz, with deft footwork, maneuvered past Noah and found himself with a clear sight of the goal. He unleashed a powerful shot aimed at the top corner. 

James, the Eagles' new defender, read the play perfectly. He anticipated Luiz's move and threw himself into a heroic dive, blocking the shot with his outstretched leg. 

The ball ricocheted off James and flew toward the touchline. Carlos, following up, tried to latch onto the rebound, but James was already on his feet, sprinting to clear the ball out of danger. 

The Giants' fans erupted in gasps of frustration, while the Eagles' supporters roared in relief and admiration for James' crucial save. 

As the clock ticked into the 49th minute, the Eagles orchestrated a carefully planned move. Aiden passed the ball to Michael, who controlled it smoothly. 

Liam, aware of the tactic, sprinted toward the space behind the defenders, drawing their attention. 

The two defenders, anticipating another L-shaped attack, followed Liam closely, effectively pulling the offside line with them.

However, the defenders were taken aback when Michael didn't pass the ball as expected. 

Instead, he deftly stopped it, turned sharply, and executed a precise long pass to the left wing, where Noah was waiting. 

The ball sailed through the air, and Noah, keeping his eyes on it, skillfully controlled it upon landing. 

Noah immediately noticed the space left on the left wing, now vacant due to the defenders' shift. He dribbled forward, pushing the ball ahead, and began to sprint. 

Luiz, recognizing the danger, moved to intercept. But Noah, anticipating this, pushed the ball into the open space beyond Luiz, initiating a footrace.

Despite his effort, Luiz, tired from playing the entire match, couldn't keep up. However, his presence was enough to delay Noah, buying time for the defenders to close in. 

Noah maintained his composure, scanning the field as he neared the penalty area. He spotted Alex making a run into the space between the two defenders, now left unguarded.

The nearest defender, realizing Alex was unmarked, had to abandon his pursuit of Noah to cover the threat. 

This movement created a crucial window of opportunity. Noah accelerated into the now-open path towards the goal. 

As he approached the penalty area, the two central defenders, recognizing the imminent danger, broke their marks and converged on him. 

With split-second precision, Noah struck the ball with his right foot, aiming for the bottom right corner of the goal. 

The Giants' goalkeeper, anticipating the shot, dove quickly, managing to get a hand on the ball. However, the deflection wasn't enough to clear it away. 

The ball rebounded and Alex, perfectly positioned, seized the moment. With a swift, powerful strike, he buried the ball into the net before the defenders could react. 

The Eagles' bench erupted in cheers, and the players on the field celebrated energetically. Kay, standing on the sideline, pumped his fist in the air. 

As Alex, Liam, Noah, Aiden, and Michael ran towards Kay, they were filled with exhilaration. 

The team huddled together in a jubilant celebration, then turned to face Kay, saluting him in unison. 

It was a gesture of respect and appreciation for the strategic brilliance that had led to their goal. 

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Six minutes before, Kay had been standing with Liam, going over the tactics in detail. Kay leaned in, making sure Liam understood every aspect of the plan. 

Kay: "Liam, when you enter, keep doing like Taylor did. Attack the space behind the defenders on the right wing when you see the ball coming to Michael. But this time, tell Michael not to make the pass immediately. Instead, he should change direction and make a long pass toward Noah. And make sure Alex knows to pull a defender with him to open up the space for Noah." 

Liam nodded, absorbing the instructions. Kay continued, emphasizing the importance of timing and coordination. 

Kay: "The key is to keep the defenders guessing. By the time they realize what's happening, Noah will already be in a position to take the shot. Trust in the plan and execute it with precision. I know you can do it." 

Liam: "Got it, manager. We'll make it work." 

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The score now stood at 3-2, marking a remarkable comeback for the Eagles. 

The stands were buzzing with excitement, and the energy on the field was electric. Kay watched the game intently, his mind racing with strategies and adjustments. 

Leo, on the other hand, was in disbelief. He couldn't believe that he was losing and that Kay had surpassed him tactically.

The pressure was mounting, and the clock was ticking down with only three minutes remaining.

Kay decided it was the perfect moment to help Mark regain some confidence. He called for a substitution, bringing Mark in for Alex. 

As Mark prepared to step onto the field, Kay pulled him aside for a quick pep talk. 

Kay: "Mark, listen up. We're winning now, and your earlier mistakes didn't affect the team. I want you to be confident. Lock down the defense and play your best." 

Mark nodded, feeling determined from Kay's words. He stepped onto the field with renewed confidence, ready to give his all for the remaining minutes. 

The Giants, desperate to equalize, launched a series of aggressive attacks. The Eagles' defense, now forced by Mark, held firm.

Mark positioned himself strategically, intercepting passes and blocking shots with precision.

In one intense moment, the Giants made one last desperate push, but Ethan, the Eagles' goalkeeper, made a spectacular save, diving to his left and tipping the ball out of play.

The Eagles' fans erupted in cheers, their voices blending into a chorus of support. 

Meanwhile, Kay paced the sidelines, shouting instructions and encouragement to his team. 

As the clock inched closer to full time, the tension was palpable. 

Kay felt a wave of relief and pride. The Eagles had held their ground, and as the final whistle blew, the players celebrated their hard-fought victory. 

The comeback was complete, and Kay's tactical insight had led them to triumph. 

All this passed under Guardiola's sight which made him impressed by Kay's performance. 

See you in the next chapter ... 

- - -Author's note: - - -

Hey everyone!

We've just finished the first match, and it took three chapters! I think all the big matches will be about the same length, but I'd love to hear what you think in the comments.

And just so you know, even though Kay won this one, he won't win every match, there'll be some losses and draws too, keeping it real!

Also, I'd love to hear your suggestions for the name of the team that Kay will face next. Drop your ideas in the comments!

And lastly, for +20 advanced chapters, or support visit my p@treon:

https://www.p@treon.com/BestCoach85

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