37 - Non-positional
Hasumi Seiya's tactics were evident from the first touches, and it soon became clear that this was no ordinary soccer match.
The defense, made up of defenders who looked more like midfielders, exchanged short, precise passes, always keeping possession of the ball.
Gramma High School seemed stunned by the speed and precision with which the passes were made. Their players ran from side to side, trying to keep up, but it soon became clear that they were being overpowered.
Hanrahan's style of play was a pure representation of the soccer ideas that Fernando Diniz, one of the most innovative coaches in world soccer, had popularized in Brazil. His concepts of fluid, dynamic positional soccer were applied to perfection by Hasumi Seiya.
The main objective was not just to win the match, but to control the game, control the ball, and dictate the rhythm of every movement on the pitch.
The non-positional system of play meant that the players were not locked into a fixed position. The defenders moved forward as midfielders, the full-backs cut into the middle of the field, the midfielders dropped back to help defend, and the forwards sometimes dropped back to pick up the ball. This mobility created an environment in which the opponent never knew where the next attack would come from, nor the defense.
Lucas, fascinated, watched as the Hanrahan players moved as a cohesive unit, their short, quick passes cutting across the field like sharp blades.
At the heart of this system was the midfield, the heart of the team. Hanrahan's captain, a short, blond-haired player called Kazuki Nakamura, was the conductor of this orchestra. Kazuki wasn't particularly imposing in stature, but his vision of the game was impressive. He would receive the ball from the defenders and, in the blink of an eye, distribute precise passes to the flanks or to the attack.
Gramma High School tried to press him, but Kazuki always found a solution, dribbling or passing with an elegance that baffled his opponents.
It wasn't long before the first goal was scored. After a sequence of quick passes that began in defense, the ball arrived at Kazuki's feet. He raised his head, analyzing the options and then, with a low, millimetre pass, found Hanrahan's main striker, Hiroshi Saito, who had retreated to receive the ball between the opposing defenders.
Hiroshi didn't have to think twice. With a subtle touch, he turned his body and launched the ball to the right, where winger Takumi Endo was running towards the back line.
Takumi, a quick and skillful player, received the pass and immediately crossed into the area. The cross, although unexpected for the Gramma defense, looked rehearsed. There, in the middle of the penalty area, was the second striker, Ryo Tanaka, who rose higher than the defenders and accurately headed the ball into the right corner of the goal.
Lucas felt a shiver run down his spine.
The precision, the coordination, the speed... it all reminded him of a true work of art in motion. He couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to be on the pitch against such a team, facing such beautiful and destructive soccer at the same time.
After conceding the first goal, Gramma High School tried to fight back. However, this only opened up more space for the opponents' lethal counter-attacks.
Every time Gramma attempted an attacking move, Hanrahan's defense quickly closed in, regaining possession of the ball and initiating another series of short, precise passes. The ball was passed from foot to foot, without haste, while the Gramma players ran desperately, trying to keep up.
The second goal came in a similar move to the first. Kazuki Nakamura, always the man, started the move with a short pass to left-back Ryota Maeda, who had cut into the middle. Ryota made a quick one-two with midfielder Makoto Shimizu, who then played the ball diagonally to Hiroshi Saito. Hiroshi, now positioned as a winger, dribbled past the defender marking him with a dry cut and crossed low to Ryo Tanaka, who deflected the ball into the back of the net with a simple touch.
When the referee blew for half-time, the score was already 3-0 to Hanrahan High School.
Gramma High School walked slowly off the pitch, visibly shaken. Meanwhile, the Hanrahan players were calm, as if it was just another day of training for them.
The young coach, Hasumi Seiya, showed no sign of exaggerated emotion. She just watched her players, like a general planning his troops' every move.
Lucas, still shocked by the performance he had just witnessed, looked at his friends. "Did you see that? They make it look so easy!"
Nishida, who was rarely impressed, gave a slight smile. "They're good, no doubt about it. But what impresses me most is their calmness. It's as if they know exactly what's going to happen."
"They don't have many individual stars, but each of them knows their role and trusts the others."
"That style of play... it's almost like a trap." Kuwabara commented. "They make you think you have a chance, but the moment you try anything, you're already surrounded."
'That girl, Hasumi Seiya... she knows what she's doing.' Lucas thought.
When the teams returned to the field for the second half, Hanrahan High School continued to dominate possession, passing the time with a mastery that only elite teams possess.
The ball passed through Kazuki Nakamura's feet on almost every play. He was the brains of the team, always controlling the pace of the game, dictating when to speed up and when to slow down. His vision allowed him to find the spaces that the Gramma players didn't even know existed.
The fourth goal came 15 minutes into the second half. Kazuki Nakamura received the ball in midfield and soon found Takumi Endo on the right wing. Takumi, using his speed, skipped past two defenders before cutting inside and firing a cross into the goalkeeper's left-hand corner. The ball flew into the net, and the Gramma goalkeeper didn't even have time to react.
With the score already 4-0, Hanrahan High School began to show their superiority even more. Not only were they in control of the game, but they were now starting to play with their opponents. The passing became even faster and more engaging, with heel touches and first-time passes that drew gasps from the crowd. It was as if they were playing a practice match, while Gramma were trapped in a nightmare.
Finally, the fifth goal came from a brilliant move. Kazuki Nakamura, again in command, found Ryota Maeda with a precise pass. Ryota advanced down the left and crossed into the area. But instead of trying to finish, Ryo Tanaka, who already had two goals to his name, slipped a pass to Hiroshi Saito, who, unmarked, just pushed the ball into the empty net.
When the final whistle blew, the score was 5-0 to Hanrahan High School. Gramma's team was devastated, but Hanrahan simply lined up in the center of the pitch, politely greeting their opponents before leaving.
There were no exaggerated celebrations, no gestures of provocation. They knew they had done a good job, but for them, this was just another step on their long journey to the league title. From the look on their faces, this victory was natural because for them it was only the first game of the championship and for them there was no way a good team could lose the first game.