Chapter 23: Wonder Save
It had been ten minutes since the match began and Unique FC just like they did in most matches was dominating the match with a long spell of ball possession.
They were passing the ball around in their own half as breaking through Spree United's defense was proving quite difficult for them but despite that, they had been the better team so far.
"Unique FC have been with the ball for six minutes now," Jim said.
"They are doing everything possible to stop Spree United from touching the ball," Jim said.
"Let's just hope their possession and gameplay can grab them a win this time around," Jim said.
Ferran had received the ball from Mateo who had almost lost it to two Spree United players that had rushed toward him at once.
Ferran received the ball from Mateo and quickly rolled it to Harry who sent it back to Adolf.
Adolf pushed a little forward with the ball before passing it to John, Unique FC's right back.
John made a little run at the right wing with the ball before making a very nice cross to Mateo on the left wing.
Mateo used the momentum from the moving ball to get past the right back marking him with an overhead kick and now he was running straight into the eighteen-yard box.
"Uh oh, Spree United may be in trouble here as Mateo Smith has finally made a break into their defense," Jim said.
Mateo may have broken into the defense but it wasn't going to be easy making it past the center-backs.
He tried to dribble past one of the center-backs but it didn't exactly work out for him and he had almost lost the ball at the edge of the goal kick line.
He was muscled down by the defender but with a swift turn, while he had his leg on the ball, he turned it away from the line and quickly got up from the floor.
"That is one way to get away from a defender," Jim said.
Mateo passed the ball to Harry who quickly passed it back to him as soon as ran past the player coming to take the ball from him.
He received the ball at the other end and quickly sent a cross to Ferran who was just outside the eighteen-yard box.
Ferran brought the ball down with his chest and with a swift turn got away from both of the players who were marking him before drilling a shot down to the bottom right-hand corner.
Spree United's goalkeeper dived toward the ball but he wasn't able to get his hand to it as the ball rolled into the back of the post.
"What a goal!!" Jim screamed with an enthusiastic voice. "What a way to get away from the defense and what a way to drill a shot!"
Ferran quickly ran to the sideline to meet Mateo with a hug as the other players rushed to the area to celebrate the goal.
"You also have to talk about that cross from Mateo that was some beautiful play from him," Steve said.
"Yeah what a nineteen-year-old, that's his ninth assist in the league so far this season," Jim said. "That's a total of nineteen goals plus assists in the league."
You could see the look of devastation on the faces of Spree United players.
They were a team that loved to press with counter-attacks and through balls but Unique FC were one of the teams that made that really difficult for them.
"We're twenty-six minutes into the match so far and the hosts are already trailing on a one-goal deficit," Jim said.
The referee blew his whistle to signal the kick-off as the players passed the ball to begin the game after conceiving the goal.
Spree United weren't known for keeping the ball like Unique FC did and they were more comfortable with crosses as their gameplay mindset was to always get forward.
They passed the ball around in their own half of the pitch before sending a cross to the left winger, but he was quickly dispossessed of the ball by John who had beaten him to an aerial duel.
John got the ball and quickly rolled it to Adolf who had two players coming at him.
Adolf passed the ball to Aima, who tried to get away from a defender but he wasn't quick enough as he had gotten muscled off the ball by a Spree United Midfielder.
The midfielder had gotten clear sight of the goalpost and was about to take the shot when Adolf knocked the ball out of his foot with a neat tackle.
"That was a close call but the ball isn't cleared yet," Steve said.
He was right about that as Spree United's center forward had quickly gotten his foot on the ball and was about to take a shot from far out when he was brought down by Aima under a nasty challenge.
"Oh, that's bad," Jim said.
The referee blew his whistle for a foul as he quickly ran to Aima and showed him a yellow card.
"That's well deserved, that's a really nasty challenge and Othello doesn't seem to be getting up," Jim said.
"Yeah, you can even see some Spree United players around the referee now calling for a red card on Aima," Steve said.
"That's a nasty tackle but I don't think it's worth a red card," Jim said.
Othello got medical attention as soon as possible and after a few minutes, he was back on his feet.
"He's back up and it looks like he's the one who's going to take the freekick," Jim said.
"If he takes it right, this could be their equalizer," Steve said.
The ball was placed on the spot where the foul had taken place as Unique FC had set up their wall near the edge of the eighteen-yard box.
"Yeah but I don't think he's going to take it from that far out," Jim said.
"Why not? I mean he's already scored a free kick from that far out this season so why not?" Steve said.
"If this free kick comes anywhere near the goalpost, it's a goal," Jonas muttered to the players who were sitting close to him on the bench.
There was a bit of tension in the air as Othello stood over the ball waiting for the referee's whistle and it didn't take long before the whistle sound was heard.
"There's the signal," Jim said.
Othello ran towards the ball and paused for a while before taking the free kick with a power shot.
The ball flew over the players straight to the top right-hand corner.
Everyone, even Unique FC fans expected it to go in but Dave had dived toward the ball at the right time, and with the tip of his glove, he tipped it over the bar.
"Oh my God! Did Dave just save that!" Jim screamed.
"What a save!"
Everyone on and off the pitch were shocked by that save, they thought it was going to go in but Dave had just proved them wrong.
"How did Dave make that save?" Jim said as he still couldn't get over the save.
Dave let out a sigh as he looked around to hear the fans chanting his name, it was a really nice experience for making such a wonder save.
<Nice save but let's hope a ball like that one doesn't come in anytime soon>
[ 58% stamina remaining ]
[ 62/100 Energy ]
'Yeah.' Dave replied.
***
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