17 Unforeseen Resistance IV

Leroy had his hands clasped on his head as he saw his efforts fly past the crossbar. The goalkeeper was back to his feet as he heaved a sigh of relief and got a pat on the back from his defenders. Vlad was quiet on the sidelines but his eyes were kept open for a few moments then, enough to make his eyes dry and painful. But for Le Harve and its staff, they were doing anything but fretting about the possible goal, as Kai and Lanier realised what they must do to break Amiens down. To counter with pace.

The tactical coach had been biting his lips as if he was to eat something alive. "You saw what I saw? Kai?"

"Yes, yes. This must be a supreme revelation. We have to exploit this weakness." Kai replied whilst he had one arm supporting his head, with him leaning in from his seat in the dugout. "A game of transitions. To win the ball deep, drawing Amiens forward, before immediately counter the space behind the defenders."

But Lanier shook his head. "Once Amiens realise that we are relying on long balls we may end up in trouble. They will sit even deeper and not press us at all."

Kai did not reply, he shrugged his shoulders and pursed his lips, saying nothing as he tried to digest this piece of information. But then his head turned to Lanier and he sat up straight and ran his fingers through his hair. "Then we want Amiens to press us so we can have opportunities to score?"

Lanier nodded. "Yes, if we find ourselves in pockets of space behind the Amiens defensive line, there should be a slight space to allow us to attack."

Kai looked onto the pitch as he observed the Amiens players. "So, what we need to do is to bait Amiens forward, lure them into thinking they must press us because we are dangerous on the ball."

Lanier took a look at the Amiens players, they were still having a breather. "We can slow down our game so they are given false security, and let them feel inclined to press us. Draw their defensive line upwards. And then we'll execute a sudden attack to exploit this space in behind the defence."

"OK, this could work," Kai said as he nodded and stood up, looking around the pitch. Lanier also stood up as he hurriedly rushed to Marley on the sidelines, whispering about their tactical suggestions and changes to be made.

.

Once again it is Azad with the throw-in on the sideline. Le Harve already had a dangerous opportunity from a situation like this...." Sébastien commentated as he sat observing from the commentary box.

The player dedicated to the throw-in was once again in another world of trouble. Although he understands Vlad's intentions to clear the ball up the field, there is literally no one that can receive the ball. The 5-3-2 formation that Amiens are using is detrimental. The players are flat and are thus easily marked and predictable by a defending team.

Azad gritted his teeth as he attempts to find a man for the ball, but to his surprise, he finds that every single one of the players on the field are man-marked.

"Shet...."

Sebastien: "Azad with the ball… And he throws it into the Le Harve box."

The ball came into the Le Harve penalty box, with players all over the 20 yards as they frantically tried to get the better of their marker. Fighting for a better position to get the ball.

As the throw-in by Azad came looming over the area, it was surprising goalkeeper Luc Faira who has beaten everyone to the ball as he punched the ball out of his box.

Sébastien: "And the ball is cleared by Keeper Faira rushing off his line….."

The ball was flying through the sky, almost blending into the sky as the snow disguised the ball. But as it came rushing down, an opportunity has been smelled by those who are desperate to get on the scoresheet.

The Le Harve No.9 chased down the cleared ball like a wild animal as he dropped into the midfield to collect the ball frantically. With the ball coming onto the ground, the striker didn't hesitate as he quickly brushed the ball to his right side as he dribbled up the left flank. He had already missed his big chance earlier, and he wasn't going to miss another. As the striker took a glance around him, he had a smug expression as he finds the Amiens midfielders were once again caught too much up the pitch to stop him. As he looked on the right flank, he saw the Swahili Winger running down the wing just as energetic as ever. Slightly behind him, even though he didn't look, he instinctively know that Chevalier is also running up the flanks to support the counter. Leroy had a devious smile, blood boiling as only the presence of three defenders were once again blocking his path to the goal. Only this time it is different…that he has support and players to pass to.

Sébastien: "Leroy running with the ball down the left flank. Le Harve countering at pace..."

Leroy doesn't need to read the game. Just like many young players, he understands the game naturally. With his innate ability to understand the game, he can run in any situation he is in. He is fast, the fastest player in his team, but it is not just his pace that frightens the opposition. It is his remarkable ability to run the channel like a malevolent spirit. His ability to run against players and take them one on one is an ability all defenders and full-backs dread. In this particular situation, he only had to sprint to his opponent to the left before cutting inside and latching onto the ball in a one-on-one situation. The No.9 looked up and sees one of the defenders tracking back whilst keeping an eye on his feet, not losing an ounce of concentration as he is worried about Leroy dribbling past him.

Leroy charged faster, using his physical advantage against his opponent as he feinted to the left, flirting the defender to step away and make the tackle.

Just as Leroy was about to make his move, his opponent makes a fantastic play. Knowing that Amiens outnumbered the lone striker, the defender comes back towards Leroy quickly to deny any space. Leroy looks up to see the defender and sprints further to the sideline dragging the defender further away from the centre.

Just when the defender pinched Leroy to the edge of the pitch, with the striker pinched, he stops the ball, eyed the opposition and with one foot stuck on the ball, pivoted his entire body in such a flash that left the defender stunned.

"The centre-back restricts the No.9 ... Oh! What a beautiful Maradona Turn to beat his man!"

Leroy watched on as he was surrounded by his attacking teammates as he looked up to see the keeper coming up to play the ball. Leroy knew what he had to do to give his team a small glimmer of hope, he must deliver a goal. But as he draw central the two defenders placed themselves in front of the box. Leaving Leroy without a clear shot on goal.

"He dribbles to goal, two men blocking his way, no angle to be found. Le Harve wingers available...."

"BENNY!"

It was when Leroy was contemplating his actions when he was deciding if he was to shoot from distance, try and dribble past both players, or pass to someone else. But this voice that called out to him, had suddenly made him pause. The voice had said only one word that made Leroy grin, only one player in Le Harve calls him by this nickname.

"Leroy with the ball... he shoots... No, he fakes the shot and passes to the left wing to Mauger Chevalier!"

It was a different voice this time and a voice that could see the tactical play unfolding and was ready to inform the team of his decision. Leroy smiles at his teammate, knowing that the odds of the team winning were improved if the boy that calls Benny took the ball.

Chevalier with the ball to his feet, blissed at receiving the ball. He was in darting straight on the flanks. The winger looked at the goal, finding 2 more defenders in the box, both preoccupied with keeping Leroy back. He checked inwards to the midfield, but he finds that the Amiens midfielders tracked back with speed and none of the Le Harve midfielders were open to receive the ball.

He gritted his teeth as one player was in front of him, but the creative winger gambled on a chance, he gambled on Leroy being able to be at the receiving end of his pass, if the team's top assister can find some space to perform his miracle.

Chevalier glanced into the box, trying to find a pass to Leroy but barely paying attention to the defender that is marking him. He dribbled elegantly, sidestepping over the ball as a means of protecting it from being stolen by his defender.

"Chevalier on the wing. Lovely show of skills from the player. Toys with his marker.... and he cuts into the penalty box!"

In a sudden turn of paste, Chevalier found an opportunity, a direction a route of success as he found Leroy making a dangerous run on goal. He saw this moment, and take it as his queue to make his move, attacking into the box to beat his man and play the pass.

He used his strong right foot, using the outside to redirect the ball, cutting inside the pitch at a rapid pace that took the defender by surprise.

"Leroy with the ball.... Eze at the far post... Leroy in the box... Chevalier can shoot but...."

Just as Chevalier finds himself in a clear field of vision, identifying his teammates and the goal that is only meters away from himself. He arched his right foot back, taking care of his technique and judging how much power he should use to deliver the perfect pass that rows right in front of his target. But as he does this motion, he felt a disturbance, a pain, an interruption that cancelled his plan. Chevalier lost his balance, before crashing onto the pitch.

"OH, GOD! THE AMIENS NO.2 MADE A FATAL MISTAKE AT THE BACK!"

Everyone suddenly became frantic as a unified growling was directed at the Amiens defender. Everyone froze as they noticed the attacker. And then, the Amiens No.2 tried to run. He was shocked, he was frightened. He was in a panic. He wasn't sure of what to do as he just recalled what could possibly be one of the worst mistakes he has done as a player.

The referee blew his whistle, rushing to the Amiens box as his eyes were focused on the event that transpired before him.

Sébastien made a weird noise as he released a heavy exhalation that he had been holding onto for the attack. "The defender...that was a clumsy challenge in all aspects. But perhaps the snowy field had an impact on it as the Amiens player made a challenge far too clumsy that took Chevalier down."

The referee stood motionless near the box as he directed his glance at the linesman for a second opinion. But Leroy took the chance and immediately rushed to his side, talking frantically as he attempted to persuade the referee. "He took Chevalier down! That was in the box ref! It's a penalty! You have to give it!"