First-Derby 2
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"Welcome to the focus battle of the 31st round of the English Championship, where Nottingham Forest will host the top team, Leicester City!"
"In their previous league encounter, Nottingham Forest secured three points away from home with a decisive 2-0 victory. This match is particularly significant as Leicester City aims to break Reading's league-winning streak record."
"Now, let's dive into the tactical formations and starting lineups of both teams!"
"This marks the second clash between Leicester City and Nottingham Forest this season. Last time out, Nottingham Forest emerged victorious at the King Power Stadium. Today, however, Leicester City arrives at the City Ground riding high on the momentum of ten consecutive victories, all with one goal in mind: to win!"
"Looking at the starting lineup, there are two new faces compared to their last encounter: Mahrez, fresh from a recent transfer, and the young sensation Tristan, who was promoted to the first team in January."
"Tristan Hale has certainly captured the attention of the public and the media. Over the past month, his outstanding performances have made headlines across England, with many fans and analysts recognizing him as a key player for Leicester City."
"In the Championship, it's clear that this 18-year-old midfielder has quickly become a central figure in the team, leading them through a remarkable series of victories. Today, all eyes are on him—curiosity and excitement filTristan the stands as supporters look to see what this rising star will accomplish next."
There was curiosity, confusion, and contempt in the eyes of the opposing team. To them, Tristan was merely a pretty boy hyped up by the media, despite his impressive performances. Nottingham Forest's starting lineup felt too unfamiliar to him. Aside from Jamal Lascelles, the central defender who would soon become Newcastle's captain, he didn't recognize any of the other players.
Both squads lined up to enter the pitch. The moment they stepped out of the player tunnel, the home crowd erupted into a chorus of loud boos. Amidst the jeers, Tristan could clearly hear the Forest fans in red jerseys near the stands, constantly giving them the middle finger and shouting insults.
Despite the hostile reception, Tristan maintained a calm demeanor. His expression remained composed, and his heart felt as tranquil as a calm lake, without a single ripple. After about a month as a professional player, he was ready to swallow his pride. He knew there was no chance of winning over the away fans today.
Realizing that not everyone would support him, he chose to focus on the game and the journey ahead, knowing that living for himself and his parents was what truly mattered.
With the referee's long whistle, the much-anticipated East Midlands derby officially kicked off! Leicester City, who kicked off first, quickly took control of the ball.
Nottingham Forest, playing at home, adopted a high-pressure approach right from the start. "This is going to be an intense match, folks!" the commentator exclaimed. "Nottingham Forest's formation mirrors Leicester City's 4-2-3-1 setup, showing they're not going to sit back and let the 'Blue Foxes' dictate the game, especially not with their ten-match winning streak!"
As the players surged forward, the commentator noted, "Look at that! Nottingham's forwards are pressing high, trying to disrupt Leicester's build-up. Coach Billy Davies clearly wants his team to take the fight to Leicester!"
Tristan retreated to midfield, ready to receive the ball with his back to the goal, when an opposing player lunged at him. "And here's the young star, Tristan Hale! All eyes are on him today as he tries to prove himself against a tough opponent," the commentator remarked.
But as Tristan knocked the ball back to Drinkwater, the commentator added, "Ah, he needs to be careful! This is a derby, and the physicality will be intense!"
Moments later, as Tristan felt a push from behind and fell to the ground, the commentator noted, "No whistle! What a controversial no-call! It seems the referee is letting them play!"
Tristan protested, "Hey, that's not a foul?!" as he looked towards the referee, who merely gestured for him to get up. The commentator chimed in, "That's tough for the young player! He's going to have to adjust to the physicality of the game. Players often don't get the calls they expect in a derby!"
Frustrated, Tristan muttered under his breath in Mandarin so the ref wouldn't understand him. He doesn't get that many chances to talk in Manarin besides with his dad, who taught him, and his mom, who only knew the basic words.
The commentator continued, "As the most fouled player in Leicester City, Tristan is used to being targeted, but today the Nottingham Forest players are really coming for him!"
In the next few minutes, Tristan found himself pushed and knocked down multiple times without a whistle being blown. The commentator observed, "It's clear that Nottingham Forest is trying to unsettle him. They see him as a threat, and this pressure could really test his resolve!"
As the most fouled player in Leicester City, Tristan was accustomed to being knocked down by opponents in every match.
To protect himself, he had learned to avoid physical confrontations and rough fouls as much as possible. But today, despite his efforts, the Nottingham Forest players were relentless.
Once! Twice! Three times!! In the next five minutes, Tristan found himself pushed or knocked down by Forest players several times whenever he got the ball, yet the referee continued to keep his whistle silent.
It was not until a hard foul that Tristan and his teammates realized the special nature of this game. "This is definitely a heated derby!" the commentator noted. "The atmosphere is electric, and you can feel the tension in the air!"
Perhaps it was the home advantage or the influence of the English Football Association, but it was clear that the referee had come with a mission. "Look at that! The standards for fouls are incredibly lenient today, which has emboldened Nottingham Forest to ramp up their physical play," the commentator observed, pointing out how this affected the game dynamics.
As the Nottingham Forest players turned their attention to Tristan, he became the focal point of their defensive efforts. "They're clearly targeting the young star, trying to rattle him early on!" the commentator exclaimed.
Bang!
With a sharp cry, Tristan was once again knocked off the ball by Nottingham Forest midfielder Greening. "And there it is! A heavy challenge from Greening! That one seemed a bit too much!" the commentator remarked.
Finally, perhaps due to the severity of the challenge, the referee blew his whistle, prompting a wave of frustration from the Leicester players. Witnessing Tristan's treatment, Vardy's temper flared. "This is unacceptable!" the commentator said as Vardy rushed to confront the referee. "You can see how much this team is rallying around Tristan!"
Vardy pointed at Greening, his voice rising. "This is the fourth time! The fourth time!! Why don't you give red card?!"
"The referee looks rattled by Vardy's intensity," the commentator added. "He better be careful not to let this get out of hand!"
Despite the warning, Vardy continued his tirade. "What are you trying to say? Are you going to wait until someone gets injured before you pull out the cards?!"
Mahrez and Drinkwater quickly joined Vardy, surrounding the referee and demanding answers. "Is this kicking the ball or kicking someone?!" Mahrez shouted, clearly agitated.
Drinkwater chimed in, "He hit him from the side and back while Tristan was passing the ball! How is that not a foul worthy of a card?"
As tensions rose, captain Morgan stepped in to separate his angry teammates and calmly communicate with the referee. "Morgan needs to keep his composure here," the commentator said. "This is a pivotal moment in the match. Leicester City cannot afford to lose their heads!"
At the same time, Pearson, who usually preferred to remain seated in the coaching booth, finally couldn't contain himself. Seeing Tristan, the core of the team and his favorite disciple, lying on the grass, he sprang from his seat. "This is ridiculous!" the commentator exclaimed as Pearson strode to the sidelines, raising his voice to address the fourth official. "Damn it, he had already passed the ball, and he still rushed forward?! Is this a football game or a fighting match? This is 100 percent a foul!"
With the head coach and teammates rallying for justice, Mahrez approached Tristan, concern etched on his face. "Tristan, are you okay?" he asked, giving him a light pat on the back.
Lying on his side and rubbing the muscles on the back of his calves, Tristan managed a grin. "It should be fine, just a minor injury."
"Can you get up? Or should I call the team doctor for you?" Mahrez inquired, ready to assist.
"Need not." After sitting on the ground for a moment, waiting for the pain to ease, Tristan slowly rose with Mahrez's help. "He's toughing it out," the commentator noted. "But look at that — his blue jersey and white shorts are covered in grass clippings after that tumble."
The live broadcast camera captured the moment perfectly. "Today, Tristan has been the target of Nottingham Forest's physical play. This was his fifth foul without a card! The referee's standards are incredibly lenient," the commentator pointed out. "Leicester City manager Pearson is visibly frustrated, continually protesting to the fourth official."
"Faced with Nottingham's tough defense, how will Leicester City and Ling Feng respond next?" the commentator speculated, as the tension on the field escalated.
Finally, under the pressure from the Leicester players, the referee called Greening, who had committed the foul, to the front and issued him a verbal warning. "Can you believe it? Even after four fouls, no card!" the commentator exclaimed, echoing the sentiments of the traveling Foxes fans who expressed their disappointment with loud boos.
As Tristan dusted off the grass from his backside, he couldn't help but curse the referee in his mind. "Damn, the referee's bias is so obvious; it's like he's trying to stir up trouble!"
With the referee's leniency creating a perilous environment for a technical player like him, Tristan knew he had to alter his approach to avoid further fouls or, worse, injury. He couldn't retreat to receive the ball as frequently anymore.
Fortunately, Tristan was not the only one in Leicester City capable of holding the ball in the frontcourt. Seeing Greening shadow him closely, midfielder Matty James quickly passed the ball to Mahrez on the right. "Good decision! Mahrez can create some space here!" the commentator noted, as Mahrez skillfully faced Forest's left-back Fox and began to dribble forward, looking for an opening.
Noticing the situation, Tristan instinctively moved toward Mahrez to offer support. Mahrez, without hesitation, passed the ball to Tristan and immediately surged into the space behind Forest's left-back.
But just as Tristan was about to play a quick one-two with Mahrez, he sensed a gust of wind coming from behind. "Not again!" he thought, realizing the threat in an instant.
In a split second, Tristan lifted the ball lightly and leaped on the spot. Unfortunately, Greening, charging like a bulldozer out of control, slammed into him from the side, knocking him over with the ball. "Oh, that was dangerous!" the commentator exclaimed. "Tristan barely avoided a serious injury there!"
"Fortunately, he jumped just in time to evade the incoming spikes!" the commentator added, relieved. "If Greening had connected with his leg, we could be looking at a serious injury!"
Even with the narrow escape, Tristan was still knocked down hard by the force of the tackle. "You can see how intense this derby is getting!" the commentator noted. "The stakes are high, and both teams are leaving everything on the pitch!"
Such a dangerous tackle completely ignited the anger of Leicester City players and fans! "Shit! Do you want to destroy Tristan?!" one fan shouted, his voice barely rising above the collective uproar.
"Damn it, is the referee blind? This isn't a foul?!" another yelled, shaking his fist in frustration.
"Red card! Send that damn murderer off!" the crowd roared, their chants echoing through the stands as emotions ran high.
The atmosphere crackled with tension as Leicester City players rushed to the scene, fueled by a mix of protective instincts and righteous fury. Despite Tristan being newly promoted to the first team for just over a month, he had quickly endeared himself to his teammates. His outstanding abilities were matched by his humility and generosity, earning him respect in the locker room.
Even Nugent, who had been pushed to the left wing by Tristan's presence, charged over to support him. "Referee, his studs are red!" he shouted, pointing at Greening in disbelief.
"Come on, this is a football game, not a street fight!" another Leicester player added, echoing the growing outrage.
Faced with the mounting pressure from Leicester's players, the referee simply raised his whistle to his mouth, signaling for everyone to back off. "The ref is trying to regain control here, but the tension is palpable!" the commentator noted, capturing the heated exchange.
Nottingham Forest players, sensing the brewing storm, also rushed in to defend their teammate. They attempted to downplay the foul, insisting that the tackle had been an honest effort to win the ball. The instigator, Greening, insisted vehemently that he had tackled the ball first and that it was not an intentional foul. "He's trying to play the victim card, but that was reckless!" the commentator remarked.
Yet, it was clear that such a dangerous action, regardless of intent, could lead to serious harm. With so many eyes on the field, the referee weighed the implications of letting Greening go without punishment. Finally, after what felt like an eternity of deliberation, he reached into his chest pocket and pulled out a yellow card.
"This is it! A yellow card for Greening!" the commentator exclaimed. "But will that be enough to quell the Leicester City players' outrage?"
The yellow card was met with immediate discontent from the home fans. The shrill boos that erupted from the stands filled the entire stadium, a chorus of disappointment and disbelief. "What a controversial decision!" the commentator noted. "This match is heating up, and the stakes are only getting higher!"
"Watch your moves! Don't let it happen again!" the referee warned Greening, trying to reassert his authority as the chaos continued to unfold around him.
After warning Greening, the referee glanced at Tristan, who was still lying on the ground, and waved to the sidelines. The Leicester City team doctor was prepared and immediately rushed onto the field carrying a medical kit.
On the sidelines, Pearson observed intently, as did the Leicester fans in the stands and those watching on TV. A palpable tension filled the air as they all silently prayed, "Don't let anything happen to you. Don't let anything happen to you."
Among those watching closely were Ling and Julia, who were at home, their hearts in knots as they saw their son repeatedly targeted by the opposing players. Frustration boiled within them; they felt an overwhelming urge to storm the pitch and confront those who dared to hurt their boy.
Fortunately, after a thorough examination and treatment, including a quick-acting pain-relief spray, Tristan managed to stand up with the help of the team doctor. The moment his handsome face, still marred by a frown of discomfort, appeared on the big screen in the stadium, the Leicester City fans erupted into applause, their cheers echoing with relief and support.
After being helped to the sidelines, Pearson quickly approached the team doctor, his concern evident. "Is he all right?" he asked urgently.
"It's okay, just a contusion of muscle tissue—no damage to bones or ligaments," the doctor reassured him.
Hearing this, Pearson exhaled, relief washing over him. "Tristan, can you still hold on?" he inquired, locking eyes with Tristan.
Tristan, despite the lingering pain, nodded firmly. "No problem, coach, I can hold on!" he asserted, determination lighting up his features.
After saying that, Tristan turned his gaze back to the field, his eyes locking onto the man with the messy medium-length hair who had just delivered that reckless flying tackle. Greening, right? I'll remember you!
As play resumed after the dead ball, Tristan returned to the pitch with a renewed sense of purpose. With Greening already on a yellow card, Nottingham Forest opted to replace another midfielder, Guy Mossy, to press Tristan closely. Guy was taller than Greening, standing at 1.8 meters, but that height came at the cost of flexibility.
Tristan skillfully retreated to receive the ball, using his body to shield it as Guy Moshi advanced. When Guy attempted to close the gap, Tristan with a deft flick and a powerful knock, he left the tall, strong yet awkward Guy Moshi in his wake. Tristan turned gracefully, deftly evading the outstretched hand that tried to grasp him as he regained his footing.
As Tristan dribbled forward through the midfield, the team captain and center-back Collins' eyes widened in alarm. "Go ahead, don't let him pass the ball!" he yelled, urgency lacing his voice.
Greening, who was lagging behind in the midfield, had no choice but to close in on the ball.
But facing the approaching Greening, Tristan merely smiled—a knowing, almost playful grin.
Then, with a sudden pause, he stopped where he was. "Just after he passed the center circle with the ball, Tristan suddenly halted."
He looked up, appearing as if he was preparing to make a pass, and anticipation rippled through the stadium. But then something unexpected unfolded for everyone watching—Tristan glanced forward, and in an instant, he swung his right leg with all his might, straightening his instep as he struck the bottom of the ball!
With a resounding bang, the ball rocketed off like a cannonball, catching Greening completely off guard as it slammed into his face.
"He passed the ball. Huh?!" the commentator exclaimed, his voice trailing off in shock.
As Greening staggered backward, stunned and dazed, the commentator's passionate commentary came to an abrupt halt.
The stadium, which had been alive with cheers just moments before, fell into a hushed silence. Shock registered on the faces of the fans, players, and coaches alike; no one quite knew how to react to this sudden turn of events.
Even the referee, who witnessed the whole spectacle, was momentarily stunned before shaking off his surprise and reacting.
Beep! A sharp whistle sliced through the silence, stopping the game as the referee rushed over to check on the fallen Greening, concern etched on his face.
Seeing the distinct red mark forming on Greening's face and the dazed expression that followed, the referee quickly waved to the sidelines, signaling for the team doctor to come onto the pitch.
At that moment, Tristan feigned a look of surprise, shrugging as if the kick had been an accidental mishap.
With a confident smirk tugging at his lips, Tristan watched as the doctor tended to Greening, feeling pretty good despite his body hurting everywhere.