Chapter 25: "Breaking Through the Storm"

Sebastián Lančela, the head coach of Boca Juniors' first team, rested his chin on his hand, reflecting on the players' performances in the first half.

Among the various talents, one stood out.

While the others seemed blurred, Yoo Jiwoo was crystal clear.

'He has the talent to be a playmaker on both the wing and in the center... valuable indeed.'

Yoo Jiwoo's performance proved that his skills were like a gemstone—shining no matter how they were used.

A player who combined dribbling and passing.

He was still young, lacking experience.

But even now, he had the potential to be a powerful asset if moved up to the first team.

"Interesting, huh?"

Sitting next to him, Rodrigo smiled warmly.

"You found an amazing player from Asia. Even Javier couldn't play like that at that age."

Sebastián Lančela and Rodrigo had become close when they first met during Lančela's coaching days.

"I did everything I could to bring him in."

"Everything?"

"I wore a suit and did a briefing."

Hearing this, Sebastián Lančela laughed, clearly amused.

"Pfft, I'd love to see you in a suit, Rodrigo."

"That's never happening again. I tore it up and threw it away that day."

"Too bad."

"But what do you think? Do you think we can promote him directly to the first team?"

"Yes. He needs some refinement, but there's no doubt he's got what it takes. If he's already performing like this at his age... it's exciting to think how good he'll be in ten years."

"Right? He's a gem!"

"Still, the club policy is to let him go through the second team first."

If they promoted him directly to the first team next season, there would surely be criticism.

"Who cares about those opinions? You're the one with the final say."

"That's true, but—"

"What's the issue?"

"I have something in mind for the second team."

"What is it?"

"I'll tell you later."

"You really love making me curious."

"Well, it's the only way I can tease you, Rodrigo."

As they spoke, Sebastián Lančela glanced back at the field, and once again saw the brilliant talent shining. He rubbed his face with both hands.

"Ugh, I can't wait."

"Huh?"

"I want to use him already. Hehehehe."

Then, he began laughing like a maniac.

Rodrigo smiled, feeling a sense of satisfaction.

'He really likes him, huh?'

Sebastián Lančela usually had a cold demeanor, but those close to him knew he had a strange habit: when something truly delighted him, he laughed like a madman.

---

"Who's that?"

Yoo Jiwoo's name had gradually spread among Boca Juniors fans after dominating the youth league, not just with control but with devastating skill.

However, not everyone knew him.

Even die-hard fans of the club rarely remember all the names of the youth players.

"Our little fairy."

"That kid is insane. How can he play like that? It's like watching Maradona!"

"Right? I've always thought he must be the reincarnation of Maradona!"

When fans sensed the spirit of Diego Maradona in this small boy from Asia, they were overwhelmed.

"…Wow."

The clean ball control.

The way he effortlessly dribbled past multiple defenders.

It was no surprise that he attracted attention every time the ball came his way.

"He broke through again! Americo can't do anything about him!"

"That traitor! Yoo! Break his legs!"

Americo Chero, a powerful fullback, had a reputation for his speed and defensive skill. He was a staple for Argentina's U-20 national team, known for his great kick abilities and ability to tear down the sideline.

But to Boca Juniors fans, he was simply 'the traitor'.

He left for money, and even worse, he left with a bizarre excuse:

"The uniform was prettier."

His departure had caused a media uproar, with social media posts referring to it as "Pig Slaughter Day," alongside photos of his face and knives.

And so, whenever Boca fans saw Americo Chero, they couldn't hold back their curses.

And yet, against him, Yoo Jiwoo's play was magical.

Whooooosh.

The crowd felt a strange catharsis watching the young fairy deal with the traitor.

Chiiiiiwoo! Chiiiiiwoo! Chiiiiiwoo!

The fans cheered in unison.

It was magic on the field.

And at the end of that magic...

Thud.

A goal was inevitable.

[It's in! Boca's future! Boca's hope! Boca's fairy scores once again just before halftime, opening up River Plate's goal once more!] [Americo Chero couldn't even keep up with the speed! A Marseilles turn splits the defenders as this monstrous player from Asia overpowers Argentina's young talents!]

2 – 0.

Right before halftime, in added time, Yoo Jiwoo's second goal sent Boca Juniors fans into a frenzy.

---

River Plate U-20, however, was not a team to simply lie down.

Referred to as the "Golden Generation," they had dominated every tournament for the past two years and were brimming with talent.

Passes, shots, and every move they made reflected their skill.

---

River Plate U-20 did not back down easily. The "Golden Generation" was not just a title—it was a reflection of their dominance over every tournament for the past two years. Every pass, shot, and move reflected their extraordinary skill. But now, they were facing a formidable challenge in the form of Boca Juniors' youthful talent.

Without hesitation, River Plate intensified their efforts in the second half. They needed to close the gap. Every player on the field felt the pressure, and the attack became more relentless.

"We can catch up soon! Let's keep going!" the River Plate players shouted as they pushed forward.

In a bid for change, River Plate made tactical substitutions, bringing in faster wing players for the second half. This shift aimed at a more counter-attacking style to catch Boca's defense off guard.

[River Plate is raising their line! The tempo of their attacks has increased, perhaps because they desperately need to score a goal and close the gap!]

Thud. Thud.

Through this aggressive push, Eduardo Guarín's exceptional talent began to shine.

As the captain and the future anchor of River Plate's midfield, his playmaking ability stood out. His talent, especially in passing, was unmistakable.

While building attacks was important, his long, lofted through balls—based on his expansive vision—were particularly dangerous, constantly threatening Boca Juniors' goal.

—Oooooooooh!

[Eduardo Guarín's delicately floated ball! It drops perfectly in front of Boca's goal as Sergio Gaitán races towards it!]

But despite the accuracy of the pass, Boca's goalkeeper reacted quickly, preventing the ball from turning into a goal.

[Boca's defense is proving tough. There are no signs of them cracking under pressure.]

Boca Juniors U-20 had once had defensive weaknesses, but coach Rodolfo Pinti had spent the second half refining their tactics, trying to fix those gaps.

The solution he had found was simple yet extreme:

'The defensive contribution of the deep-lying midfielder must be at 90%, with the remaining space filled by other midfielders.'

At first, there was resistance from other midfielders, who worried they would be overworked. However, this system was resolved when Yoo Jiwoo was assigned a more creative "playmaker" role, helping balance the workload.

Yoo Jiwoo's movement between the center and the wings allowed the other midfielders, like Lautaro Orban, to work deeper, creating a more compact defensive system.

[Boca's defense is solid! They've switched to a six-back formation, blocking River's dangerous attacks.] [But if they don't manage to stop Guarín's passes, the risk of conceding will remain. His passes are so deadly that they could lead directly to a goal.]

Guarín's passing was of a professional caliber.

Thud.

As the ball arrived at his feet and he pivoted, Lautaro Orban tried to apply pressure.

'No!'

Orban pressed, hoping to break up the pass, but Guarín held strong, maintaining his vision forward.

Whump!

Then, seeing an opening, Guarín sent a bold, long pass toward the front.

The ball sliced through the air with precision, dropping right in front of Sergio Gaitán, who surged forward.

It wasn't offside.

The timing and the pass were perfect.

"Shoot!"

Gaitán struck the ball with one touch, sending it through the goalkeeper's legs and into the net, shaking Boca Juniors' goal.

Though overshadowed by Yoo Jiwoo's brilliance, the players on the field were among Argentina's best young talents.

[Goal!!! It's now 2 – 1! River Plate scores in the 57th minute, pulling one back!] [Eduardo Guarín, the assist king of Argentina's youth league, shows his leadership qualities as River Plate's captain!]

Eduardo Guarín was often overshadowed by the remarkable Diego Rossi, but he was undoubtedly River Plate's prized future ace.

---

As time passed, only 20 minutes remained on the clock. River Plate U-20 began to rush their plays, their desperation showing in their frantic attempts to equalize.

It felt like the pace was too fast.

Or maybe their forwards were too slow.

River Plate's urgency led to many mistakes.

"Damn it."

Guarín cursed under his breath as his passes didn't go according to plan.

Whump!

Even when he attempted perfect timing, Boca's strong defensive pressure repeatedly stole the ball.

Swish.

Then, Guarín saw a player making a run from the sidelines.

[Americo Chero overlaps! Guarín sends a one-touch pass, and Chero races forward!]

The winger's run pulled a defender wide, creating a chance for Chero to advance.

[River Plate's wing play! Americo Chero charges forward!]

Known for his precise crosses, Chero was a threat. Boca could not afford to give him space to cross.

Swish.

As Rodolfo Pinti shouted for the defense to block the cross, he saw a player sprinting towards Chero.

"…How good is that kid's stamina?"

Number 10.

Yoo Jiwoo.

Despite already running non-stop throughout the game, Yoo Jiwoo was still involved in defense, tracking back to prevent the cross.

[Oh! Yoo is chasing from behind! Boca's fairy is chasing Americo Chero!] [The distance is closing!]

Yoo Jiwoo quickly closed the gap.

'Please!'

Tadadadad!

'Please!'

Americo Chero had been easily outrun in defense, but now, he had to make sure his attack counted.

It was the last defense of his pride.

Three steps.

Two steps.

One step.

Swish!

With a textbook sliding tackle, Yoo Jiwoo cleanly intercepted the ball from Chero.

[Yoo's precise tackle! Chero protests as he falls, but the referee signals no foul! Yoo clearly won the ball!] [Immediately transitioning to attack!]

The ball remained in play, and Yoo Jiwoo quickly pushed it forward, with Americo Chero scrambling to get up and follow.

[He passes to Lautaro Orban, and Yoo Jiwoo continues his run...! Oh! Guarín applies pressure, preventing a return pass to Yoo Jiwoo!]

Guarín's quick backup had disrupted River Plate's counterattack.

As Chero returned to his defensive position, Yoo Jiwoo slightly dropped deeper and reached out.

"This way!"

Without hesitation, Lautaro Orban passed the ball to Yoo Jiwoo.

Thud.

Yoo Jiwoo grabbed the ball, looking at River Plate's defense. The crowd could feel the tension, eager to see what would happen next.

'What will he do now?'

Just holding the ball caused a stir among the fans.

But Yoo Jiwoo wasn't fazed. He was calculating his next move.

'How do I bypass this guy to create a goal-scoring opportunity?'

'Stop him... stop him... I have to stop him!'

Americo Chero was clearly exhausted, his breath ragged as he tried to keep up. As Yoo Jiwoo closed the distance, he suddenly accelerated.

His thighs burned, but he pushed forward.

Whoosh.

He pulled the ball left, then quickly shifted to the right with a deft touch.

'Got him.'

It wasn't an inside-out move; it was an outside-in fake.

Caught off guard, Americo Chero stumbled backward.

[Oooh! Yoo's dazzling skill! Chero goes down as River Plate's wing opens up!] [Yoo moves further in! The central defender comes to cover, but Yoo easily bypasses him!]

Yoo Jiwoo's speed let him tear through the defense.

And now, he had the perfect opportunity to cross.

Whump!

As he assessed the positions of the players, he swung the ball in.

Swoosh.

The ball curled slightly, drawing toward Guillermo Darrin, who was making a run.

Guillermo Darrin was a forward who excelled at positioning himself in the right spot at the right time.

[Fantastic cross from Yoo! The ball looks a bit long, though!] [The defenders are blocking Guillermo Darrin from heading it! He'll have to fight for it!]

"Ughhh!"

Guillermo Darrin leaped, ignoring the defenders closing in on him.

He squeezed through the gap between two defenders and somehow managed to connect with the ball.

With his body off balance, but his eyes locked on the ball, his instincts took over.

Thud!

The ball slammed into Darrin's face, but it still went into the net.

[GOOOAL! Guillermo Darrin! Just before the game ends! He scores with his face, clinching Boca's third goal!] [Boca Juniors' young warriors plant the final knife into River Plate's heart!]

Yoo Jiwoo jogged over to the celebrating Darrin, who was clutching his face in pain, and asked, "...Are you okay?"

"..." Darrin raised his thumb with a smile, despite the blood streaming from his nose.

Yoo Jiwoo looked at him and grinned, pointing to his nose.

"Your nose is bleeding."