VS Barcelona de Ilhéus (2)

**HALFTIME**

In the locker room, the players were breathing heavily, still feeling the heat of the game and the weariness of the first half. Some sat down, hydrating, while others simply leaned against the walls, trying to catch their breath.

A tense silence filled the room until Coach Cerqueira, wearing a serious expression, entered and got everyone's attention.

"Alright, boys, heads up," Cerqueira said, pausing to look each player in the eye. "First of all, I want to commend your defensive stance. In the first half, we were solid. We didn't give them space, and we managed to neutralize most of their plays. That shows the defensive work is on point."

He paused again, letting the weight of his words settle.

"Now, I'll be straight with you. I wasn't happy with our attack. Even when Barcelona de Ilhéus made mistakes toward the end of the first half, we couldn't capitalize. Your counter-attacks were… nonexistent. We need to be quicker, more decisive. It can't just be defense, defense, defense. If we keep this up, we won't walk out of here with a win."

The players listened intently, some lowering their heads in acknowledgment.

Cerqueira wasn't done; he wanted them to feel the weight of his words but also the drive to improve.

"Now, what's going to change is your attitude. We need to be more decisive on the counter. I didn't see the midfielders pushing forward to link up with Nathan, and that's unacceptable.

Our striker can't stay isolated all the time. Rodrigo, Pedrinho, I need you to step up, seek the ball more, make the team move faster."

He turned to the bench, clearly already set on a substitution.

"So, to give us that extra push, I'm making a change. Kayque is out, and Claudio Sousa is in. Claudio, you'll take on a central role, our playmaker in midfield to drive those counter-attacks.

I need you forward players to keep moving, get the ball to Nathan, and above all, be aggressive when we attack. We need goals—that's the only way we win this."

Cerqueira took a deep breath, his tone steady.

"Alright then, we've got 45 minutes to turn this around. We'll keep that solid defense, but we need to be decisive on the attack. No more letting time slip by and missing chances."

The players, now more focused, began to rise, getting ready to return to the field. Cleiton, still carrying a hint of tension, felt a surge of motivation after the coach's words. He knew the second half would be crucial to everything the team wanted to achieve.

Halftime was nearly over, and the Vitória players were ready to re-enter the field, more aware of what needed improvement.

Coach Cerqueira gave them all one last approving nod, signaling it was time to get back out there.

---

**Second Half: Vitória vs. Barcelona de Ilhéus**

The second half kicked off with Vitória in possession. Nathan made the first touch, but a quick passing error handed the ball back to Barcelona de Ilhéus, who immediately regained control.

The tactical shift from Vitória—with Claudio Sousa on and a defensive player off—was already noticeable. The defense felt the strain, and as the minutes ticked by, Jorge, facing relentless pressure, made a critical mistake.

In the 22nd minute, Jorge, trying to stop Rogerinho's dangerous advance into the penalty arc, arrived late with a slide tackle, bringing down the attacker.

The referee had no doubts and whistled for a foul, flashing a yellow card at Jorge. On the sidelines, Cerqueira sighed heavily, fully aware of the risk in this situation.

Barcelona de Ilhéus's players celebrated what was practically a golden opportunity.

"Let's go, focus, everyone!" shouted Jaime Filho, the goalkeeper, as he organized the wall.

He glanced at Cleiton, already in position, and with a determined look, asked him to lay down behind the wall to block any low shot. Cleiton, feeling the pressure, nodded and quickly lay down, fully aware of the tension in the air.

Rogerinho adjusted the ball, eyeing the upper corner. The referee signaled, and Rogerinho took his shot with precision, sending the ball soaring into the top corner. Jaime Filho stretched out, but it was just out of reach. The Barcelona de Ilhéus crowd erupted as the scoreline changed to 1-0.

**Vitória 0 x 1 Barcelona de Ilhéus**

The Vitória players hung their heads briefly. Jorge looked visibly shaken by his mistake. Cleiton, noticing, walked over and gave him a reassuring pat on the shoulder.

"Hey, Jorge, head up. We still have time. Everyone makes mistakes, but we're going to show them we can turn this around. Let's stay focused and do this together."

Coach Cerqueira, pacing by the sideline, glanced at his watch, worried. He knew they needed a swift response, and with the other team's spirits lifted by the goal, he decided to make some strategic changes.

He called over Gabriel Costa and William. Marlon Kaio, already tired, was replaced by Gabriel Costa, who would take a more central role in midfield. Rodrigo, quiet on the field, made way for William, who brought energy and speed.

"William, let Pedrinho know!" Cerqueira instructed. "I want you two playing as wingers. We're switching to a 4-3-3. Let's go all out on the attack."

With the more offensive setup, Vitória began taking the initiative.

The shift had an immediate effect as they started challenging for possession more, organizing attacking plays with Claudio Sousa stepping up as the playmaker, distributing the ball with precision.

In the 35th minute, Claudio Sousa received the ball, and with a quick glance, spotted Nathan moving between the opposing defenders.

Without hesitation, he sent a long pass forward. Nathan received it, shielding with his body in a classic pivot play.

He held off the defenders, saw William breaking through, and delivered a sharp pass. William took one touch and struck it hard and low, beating the goalkeeper. GOAL! The Vitória fans went wild!

**Vitória 1 x 1 Barcelona de Ilhéus**

The equalizer energized Vitória, who continued pressing.

The next few minutes were intense, with both teams creating dangerous chances, but the defense and goalkeepers stood tall, intercepting and saving bravely.

In the 42nd minute, Pedrinho created a breathtaking play.

He surged down the wing, dribbling past two players, and just as he prepared to shoot, he was brought down by a sliding tackle from a Barcelona de Ilhéus defender.

The referee didn't hesitate and pointed to the penalty spot. Chaos erupted instantly.

The Barcelona de Ilhéus players surrounded the referee, protesting, while Vitória's players insisted on keeping the call.

In the heat of the moment, the referee handed out a few yellow cards to restore order and ultimately issued a red card to the player who committed the foul.

Pedrinho, still feeling the impact, got up with the help of his teammates. Smiling, he picked up the ball and handed it to Nathan.

"Go on, Nathan. This is your moment," Pedrinho said, encouraging him.

"But you earned the penalty, Pedrinho. It's your right to take it," Nathan insisted.

"Forget it, Nathan. You're the best we've got for this. Now's the time to shine, brother!" Pedrinho replied.

Nathan took a deep breath, walking up to the penalty spot, feeling the weight of everyone's expectations.

The opposing goalkeeper approached, trying to unnerve him.

"You're going to miss this, you know?" the keeper taunted, pointing to the left corner.

Nathan stayed calm, ignoring the remark and focusing on the goal.

When the referee blew the whistle, Nathan responded by aiming exactly for the corner the goalkeeper pointed to.

The shot was precise, high, and true. The keeper leaped but couldn't reach it. GOAL!

**Vitória 2 x 1 Barcelona de Ilhéus**

Vitória's players swarmed Nathan, celebrating wildly. They piled on top of him, a celebration that seemed endless.

The referee had to intervene, warning them with cards to keep the game going.

With the restart, a desperate Barcelona de Ilhéus made their remaining substitutions, putting more offensive players on to press in the final minutes.

The referee added four minutes of injury time, sparking protests from Vitória's side, but there was no changing it.

In the closing moments, Barcelona de Ilhéus threw everything forward, but Jaime Filho was inspired, making spectacular saves. Each one seemed to bring Vitória closer to victory.

Finally, the whistle blew, sealing a 2-1 win for Vitória. The players embraced in ecstasy as the substitutes rushed onto the field to join them in celebration.

The fans roared, and a sense of triumph filled the stadium. It took a while for the excitement to settle down so they could prepare for the awards ceremony.

---

The field was still buzzing with energy as the Vitória players were called to the center for the award ceremony. The local crowd, though smaller, stayed until the last minute to celebrate the win with the athletes.

The tournament organizer, a man in a dark suit and a calm smile, held a box of simple gold medals. He signaled for the players to line up.

One by one, each player stepped forward, and the organizer, with a respectful expression, placed a medal around their necks. "Congratulations," he said to each of them, with a firm and genuine handshake. When Cleiton received his, he felt the weight of the simple metal, but to him, it felt like much more than gold. It was confirmation that all his daily efforts were paying off.

At the end of the line, Nathan waited, and the organizer turned to him with an even bigger smile. "Nathan, you showed incredible dedication and leadership throughout the tournament. So, it's my pleasure to present you with the MVP award." He handed the forward a trophy that, while modest, symbolized his stellar performance.

Nathan accepted it with a humble look and a slight smile, as his teammates surrounded him, clapping and cheering.

After the ceremony, the team was led back to the locker room. There, the players finally relaxed, sharing laughs, reliving the game's best moments, and, of course, talking about the tension they felt during that decisive goal.

Cleiton, still a little breathless, stepped into the shower, letting the hot water wash away his fatigue. The shower was quick, but the feeling of relief and triumph was unmistakable.

Once everyone was ready, they gathered their belongings and, now dressed in casual clothes, headed to the parking lot where the bus was waiting.

The conversation remained lively, with some players whispering about which songs to play for the ride back.

When the last player boarded, the driver closed the doors, and the bus began to pull away slowly.

As the vehicle left the stadium, Cleiton looked out the window, catching a glimpse of the field in the distance.

He still felt the adrenaline, but now it was joined by an unusual sense of peace.

He knew that this victory, more than just points and a medal, was another step forward on his journey.