Chapter 55: The Number 2 Routine  

"We didn't lose, so there's no need to change anything."

Brazil received no new tactical instructions in the locker room during halftime, but everyone's morale was boosted - their fighting spirit was high after going down 1-0 in the first half.

Taking a 1-0 lead didn't make Ghana overconfident. Their opponents were mighty Brazil, and there were still 45 minutes left to play - all reasons to stay cautious and perhaps even apprehensive.

The two sides clashed again after the break. 

In contrast to the intense first half, the second period was much calmer. Partly because some players had already received yellow cards, but also because the change in score altered each team's mindset and approach.

Brazil now wanted to equalize while avoiding any disciplinary issues, while Ghana aimed to protect their slim lead without causing any unnecessary troubles.

This made the game become far more pleasing to watch from a neutral perspective.

Brazil's first real scoring threat of the second half came from their orchestrator Kaka prompting the attack once more.

If his technical abilities had shown any marked improvement at this youth tournament, it was undoubtedly his playmaking and controlling the tempo from midfield.

Back home in Sao Paulo, everyone knew midfield orchestration was a weakness for the young Kaka, so little was expected of him in this area when the coach originally set up tactics, deliberately avoiding overloading him with such responsibilities. 

But with the youth national team, it was different.

Often the sole midfield pivot, the team's transitions and tempo changes relied heavily on Kaka's control. Fortunately, so far he had done well and continued improving game by game. After all, playmaking prioritizes experience, reading game situations, and spatial awareness over just individual skill.

Assimilating new information and learning had always been one of Kaka's strengths, a hallmark of most studious player types. Despite limited national team experience, each incremental advance compounded into considerable progress.

"Baptista wins the ball...Brazil have a chance! Kaka shows terrific close control and plays a pinpoint through ball! Adriano is onto it! Pity he took a heavy touch, couldn't shoot first time. Back to Kaka now as the focal point...Macon! Kaka switches play with a diagonal cross-field ball to the left byline, Macon crosses first-time, and Baptista heads at goal!"

Baptista's powerful, downward angled header looked destined for the net as the Brazilians celebrated prematurely. But Ghana's goalkeeper Banana displayed remarkable agility to claw it away with one hand in a sprawling save.

The dejected, prone Baptista angrily thumped the grass in frustration before headbutting the ground. Kaka amusingly prodded his backside with his boot studs before hauling him up, instructing: "Number 2 routine, get Adriano involved."

While Baptista nodded knowingly, their confused teammates looked baffled. 

Number 2 routine? What was that, something new? The others had never heard of it before.

Kaka didn't explain, instead taking up position for the upcoming corner kick as Baptista brushed himself down and ambled over to murmur some quick instructions in Adriano's ear. He then casually trotted outside the box to mark a Ghanaian midfielder, finally remembering his defensive duties.

Their so-called 'number routines' were essentially preset corner kick moves worked out between Kaka, Baptista and their striker Fabiano - fairly basic stuff, not complicated gameplans, but more reliable than pure improvisation.

With English the official language of Ghana and other local tongues like Ewe and Hausa, the Portuguese used meant the Ghanaians remained oblivious that Baptista, not Adriano, was the real set-piece threat to watch.

As everyone braced for Kaka's delivery into the crowded penalty area, he instead caught them off-guard by rolling the ball towards the edge of the box on Baptista's side.

Baptista had already started his run to meet it as Kaka struck the ball. With his renowned shooting power from distance, a clear sight of goal could have resulted in a thunderbolt strike. 

The nearby Ghanaian markers rushed out, just managing to block his angle as he controlled the ball.

But instead of turning to shoot, Baptista merely cushioned a short pass back towards the corner quadrant where Kaka continued his run.

Kaka took a sublime touch to lift a cross towards the far post as the previously tussling Adriano had peeled off unnoticed to meet it with a soaring header.

Adriano's glancing effort arced agonizingly goalward, but Banana reacted superbly, readjusting his feet to claw it away from the top corner at full stretch.

Everyone held their breath in those frantic seconds, including fans, as bodies scrambled amid the ensuing chaos before the ball finally emerged beyond the byline.

Macon suddenly came charging out of the melee, angrily booting the corner flag before sinking to his knees in anguished celebration. 

For it was the marauding full-back who had forced the ball over the line in the panicked goalmouth scramble to equalize for Brazil.

Kaka and Baptista raced over to join the pile-on before being swamped by their ecstatic teammates.

Among the over 10,000 crowd, with the exception of the Brazilian and Ghanaian fans fervently supporting their nations, most were Argentine locals who didn't feel compelled to cheer for Brazil's somewhat scrappy equalizer but still generously applauded out of respect.

"Congratulations to Brazil on leveling the score at 1-1 in the 53rd minute. Kaka and his club teammate Baptista combined from a rehearsed corner kick routine, with Adriano's powerful header forcing a remarkable goal-line clearance from Banana before Macon applied the decisive touch amid the chaos. Not only have Brazil found their new striker like Ronaldo, they've also unearthed their new attacking full-back like Cafu."

(end of chapter)