Chapter 54: We Didn't Lose, No Need to Change
The head referee's talk with the two team captains helped bring the tense situation under control. The football game has resumed, and Brazil has earned a free kick in their own half of the field. Baptista takes the free kick, sending the ball to Leo, who elegantly splits the Ghanaian defenders with a pass! Leo then passes to Macon, who does a quick one-two passing play with Adriano before finding Kaka with a pass. Kaka chips a through ball into the penalty box for Baptista, who cuts the ball back across the goal mouth for Roberta to shoot, but the goalkeeper makes the save. Brazil is playing some beautiful team football; that was an impressive attacking move down the field.
Watching from the sidelines, the Brazilian coach Costanio mutters to himself with his hands in his pockets, "Yes, yes, keep it up lads, pass and move, create chances... No worries, that was a good opportunity. You can score, my players. As long as we don't get overconfident, we are the best team. We'll bring that beautiful World Cup trophy home to Brazil."
Roberta is disappointed with his shot; he purposely struck it straight on for safety, but hit it a bit too centrally. Had he taken a risk and put some curve on the shot, it might have gone in the net.
"Well done, keep it up!" Kaka shouts encouragement and drops back into his position.
Brazil's attitude shift and increased effort has had a noticeable positive impact on their attacking play, but the furious Ghanaian players are no pushovers either. They are showing immense fighting spirit, playing tough defense and also looking dangerous going forward on the attack, especially with their very physical defensive challenges that are giving Brazil's skilled players a difficult time.
Fortunately, the Brazilian players have no fear either, meeting any overly aggressive physical play with equal force and toughness.
Surprisingly, it is Kaka's performance as captain that truly stands out in the first half.
Conventional wisdom would suggest a personality like Kaka's calm and studious demeanor would lead the team in a 'nice guy' approach as captain, exhibiting an old-school style. In any conflict situation, he would likely pull his own players away first, then calmly reason with the opposition players and appeal to the referee if needed, prioritizing a peaceful resolution where everyone gets along like he prefers, playing fairly and finishing the match without incident.
Such a captain would typically rely on leading by example through his likeable personality and at best some personal charisma on the field, but not much more vocal leadership than a stoic player like Lionel Messi.
Yet Kaka is displaying an unfamiliar, steely determination and iron will, not quite blind partisanship, but certainly the fierce comportment of a hardened, battle-tested captain willing to stick up for his team.
Just as he had said before the match: don't start any trouble unnecessarily, but also don't back down from it if the opponents initiate the physicality.
The match is showcasing a clash of styles between the two teams.
Forty minutes into the first half, seven yellow cards have already been shown by the referee, spanning seven different players – Leo, Kaka, and Baptista for Brazil, while Ghana has had players from their striker all the way to their defenders receive cautions.
Under such strict enforcement by the referee, the game has avoided devolving into an all-out brawl and red cards. Yet the match has still featured many beautiful, technically skilled moments of football, like Macon's mazy dribbling run down the wing, even if his final cross into the box was blocked by a defender. Or Adriano's audacious long-range rocket shot that cannoned off the crossbar, leaving the Ghanaian players shellshocked at how close it came. Or Kaka's trademark surging run from midfield and stinging shot that the goalkeeper could only parry away, reminding everyone why the Brazilian star is currently the top scorer and assist provider at the World Cup so far.
In contrast to Brazil's quality chances, Ghana's attacks have lacked the same cutting edge and final product, with only one dangerous counter attack and a headed chance from a corner kick truly testing Brazil's goalkeeper in the first half-hour.
Based on the balance of play and number of opportunities created, most fans and pundits expected a Brazilian lead and victory was inevitable and imminent before halftime.
But the unpredictability is exactly what makes the game of football so compelling to watch – no matter how much possession or shots on goal, only the actual goals count on the scoreboard. And surprisingly, Ghana struck first to take the lead right before halftime.
In the dying moments of the first half, just as the referee was about to blow his whistle for the halftime interval, Ghana earned an unlikely scoring opportunity.
Their number 15, Patsir, received the ball on the right side of Brazil's penalty box. Instead of shooting or sending a speculative cross into the crowded area, he dribbled infield towards the center of the box.
Brazil's center-back Angero came to close him down first, but before Angero could make a tackle, Patsir performed a couple of upper-body feints that wrongfooted and fooled the defender. As the next two Brazilian defenders rushed in to cover for their teammate, Patsir executed a subtle drag-back move, rolling the ball through the narrowest of gaps between them while spinning away himself, keeping possession.
He was now one-on-one with the Brazilian goalkeeper Rubinio and the recovering Macon. The previously nonchalant Rubinio suddenly adopted a low, alert posture in his goal, ready to pounce and defend, while Macon cautiously closed the distance, shuffling his feet to cut out any potential shooting angles while feigning as if he would lunge in to try to tackle the ball away.
Seemingly intimidated by Macon's approach, Patsir quickly knocked the ball to his right. Macon instinctively lunged in with his right foot to poke the ball away, but at the last possible second, Patsir delicately stopped the ball's momentum with his toe, dragging it back past the committed Macon who went sliding past helplessly.
Now clear on goal, Patsir looked up to see only the onrushing Rubinio left to beat. The goalkeeper came rushing out to smother the angle and block the shot, but Patsir held his nerve and simply tapped a square ball back to the penalty spot, where his unmarked teammate Purasim had followed the play to slam the pass into the wide open net.
Ghana's manager, momentarily stunned after preparing his halftime team talk notes, let out a roar of delight and embraced his celebrating coaching staff. The two goalscorers Patsir and Purasim sprinted towards the corner flag to be mobbed by their jubilant teammates.
The commentator remarks: "Unbelievable, Ghana have breached Brazil's defenses in the most Brazilian way possible. Patsir's mesmerizing dribble and skill reminded me of Diego Maradona; he produced a true Maradona-esque piece of genius in Maradona's homeland of Argentina. Brazil squandered too many chances and have paid the price, trailing 1-0 at the halftime break..."
The first half ended with Ghana leading Brazil 1-0. Broadcasters worldwide replayed the amazing solo goal by Patsir while Brazilian TV channels desperately analyzed Brazil's many missed scoring opportunities, blaming bad luck and lamenting their deficit at halftime.
The normally boisterous and loud Brazil dressing room was eerily silent after the halftime whistle, until their fiery coach Costanio barged through the door, making a surprisingly loud "bang" despite just using his hands to push it open.
Unexpectedly, rather than launching into an angry tirade at his players, Costanio remained calm: "You all played well out there; every single one of you gave great effort. We'll carry on with that same approach and intensity in the second half. We have not lost this match yet, so no need to change our tactics or game plan drastically."
The coach's measured words seemed to have a calming effect on the Brazilian stars...
(end of chapter)