Chapter 26: How Sad

That second goal from Axel was the comfortable lead his team needed to go in for the halftime break a bit more relaxed.

It was going to be hard for Everton to equalize now and it wasn't like they were planning to make things any easier for them in the second half.

The players were all in the locker room now with Gregory standing in front of them with an evident smile on his face.

'Well, it makes sense that he's happy.'

"Good job out there everyone." He sounded elated making the smile on his face more significant. "A two-goal lead in the second half is more than satisfactory, wonderful work, Axel."

His gaze quickly shifted to the youngster at that moment and he quickly responded with a nod. 

'To be honest, I wish I was the one at the end of those assists, but there's no need to complain about it now, winning the match is more important.' He said inwardly. 'Scoring another goal in the second half would mean that I have completed a hat trick. It took Erling Haaland four games to complete one for City so that would make me the fastest player to score a hat trick for this club, thinking about setting that record is sort of exciting.'

"They looked a bit threatening in this half but it's a good thing my tactics were able to keep them at bay. You guys handled the midfield well." He said as he glanced toward the midfielders who were on the pitch in the second half. "On the other hand, Peterson and Tacky haven't gotten involved in the game that much, it isn't that much of an issue for Tacky but Peter, you have to step up your game even if it means dropping deep just a little. 

"That said, we have a two-goal lead now, and blowing it in the second half will not sit well with me, I know it won't sit well with you guys either so defense takes priority."

________ ________

The halftime break was over now as the players from both sides could be seen making their way to the pitch to kick off the second half. 

The voices of the fans were going up in cheers as they marched to their pitch, some of them keeping their heads high and some of them with their gaze on the floor. 

"The first half was quite interesting, both teams fought valiantly but it was Manchester City who came out of it with a comfortable two-goal lead courtesy of Axel's brilliant finishing, just seventeen years old and he's already started engraving his name on the club's walls." Tony articulated.

"Yeah, he's quite the talent, and they didn't have to pay a dime for him."

"Well, that's the point of having an academy to raise young talent."

The players were all in their positions now and that meant that Peterson was standing over the ball in the kick-off spot at that moment.

The referee looked around to confirm that nothing was out of place, and after that, he blew his whistle to create that high-pitched sound. 

"There's the whistle and we are back into it."

Peterson quickly sent the ball rolling to Axel who didn't hesitate in pushing it to Andrea a little toward the right.

Nothing that eventful happened in the first fifteen minutes of the second half, it was just both sides struggling to keep hold of the ball and create something.

Manchester City succeeded in having more ball possession and unlike Everton who failed to create anything during those fifteen minutes, they succeeded in creating two chances but they lacked the people to get in front of those chances and do something with the ball. 

They were in the sixtieth minute of the game now and City were still holding on to the ball after Axel succeeded in taking it off Leo's feet when he tried to dribble past him, he should have just passed the ball.

They expected Everton to step up their game even by a little bit in this half but so far they had been lackluster, their midfield and attack mostly.

Axel sent the ball rolling back to Pierre after receiving it from Novich, and just before Ezra could get to the center back, he quickly sent the ball rolling to Norman who was already moving up front.

The full back took off with the ball but he wasn't planning to go far with it as he spotted Axel quickly moving ahead of Gomes to get to the halfway line. 

He curled the ball toward the midfielder forcing Gomes to quickly go after him but before he could get to him, the youngster had already figured out what he wanted to do with the ball. 

"It's time to try this."

He spotted Peterson making a run down the left wing, and without hesitation, he pulled back his right foot and sent it flying over to the winger.

"He launches it forward, trying to find Peterson!"

The winger brought the ball down with his left foot before quickly pulling it back with his right foot.

That sent the right back sliding forward and gave him the space to cut back and get into the box.

However, he had trouble coming from behind and from the space he was trying to get into inside the box. 

The winger turned quickly and launched the ball toward the goalpost before the center-back could get to him, that was the only option he had and he made sure to put it to good use.

He aimed toward the right side of the goalpost but maybe he should have stretched it a bit because the goalkeeper was able to get to it with both of his gloves and he knocked it out.

Tacky quickly rushed to the ball to see what he could salvage but there was already an opposing player there to quickly send it flying out for a throw-in.

"Oh, that was a well-taken strike from Peterson but the goalkeeper was equal to it."

After missing that chance, Peterson shook his head before raising his hand toward Axel to give him a thumbs up.

"Well, at least he tried this time." The youngster muttered before turning his gaze to the sidelines to see that the official with the board had his board up and his number was there.

The number twenty-eight was in red and on the other side was the number seventeen in green.

"Looks like it's time for Axel to call it a night," Tony commented as the youngster began to make his way to the area.

'I'm not even that tired yet, but I guess I can't fault him after what happened last time.'

The home fans got up their feet and gave the young midfielder a proper standing ovation, they just had to do it after his performance today. 

"He deserves it for being their main man today, now he has to leave the rest of the game in the hands of his teammates."

He exchanged a hug with Maxi as soon as he got to the sidelines and shook hands with Gregory before making his way to the bench.

'It's official now, three games, no assists.' He sighed inwardly. 'How sad.'