章節 14: Opportunity

The players kept looking at Izan with a bit of amazement at his stamina. As the players had said,Coach Moreno made Izan do more of whatever drills they did. But Izan never seemed to get tired. After he finished . The coach saw that there was still a bit of time so he decided to let them play a training match.

This time Izan was in the lineup of the regulars team. As usual the regulars team dominated the match. Izan although in the attacking midfield role was intercepting passes and was making clean tackles and retrieving the ball for the team when they lost it. Izan made two assists in the regular's team before he was transferred to the reserves team at the end of the half.

Izan in the second half played more of a free role in the reserve team with no fixed position. In one situation Izan took the ball off one of the regulars and started driving towards the other side of the pitch. With deft touches and clean Stepovers , Izan passed the player who tried to dispossess him.

Izan seeing that the keeper was off his line decided to try from distance. As if the goddess of luck was on his side, the ball moved all over on the way to the goal. With a whirring sound the ball zoomed past the keeper and went inside the net .

"Was he trying to kill someone " the keeper said as Izan and his team celebrated. After this, the reserve team got a corner to which Izan delivered. The ball from the corner was put inside the net by a player on the regulars team causing an own goal.

Unfortunately , one of the reserve team's defenders gave away a penalty in the final minutes. Andranik took the ball and placed it on the spot before smashing it into the ball.

He was a bit frustrated as Izan had tackled him and dispossessed him a couple of times during the match.

The match ended in a defeat for the reserves. After the match, Coach Moreno decided to wait a bit before announcing the lineups. After the players had rested a bit he started announcing the squad for tomorrow's match.

So we have :

...

Formation: 4-3-3

Goalkeeper: Raul jiminez[1]

Left back:David nuñez[3]

Right back:Lucas Tèna[5]

Centrebacks:Alejandro Pana[4]

Mark montes[2]

Midfield:Javier buèso[6], Jan martinez[12] Andranik chust[8]

Left wing:Marc Juardo[11], Right wing:Pablo neri[7]

Striker:Hugo de marc.[9]

Subs

.....

Juan solidado[12]

Gaia palo[17]

louis gurendal[22]

(Gk)Vic Abril[13]

Nico paz[19]

Enrique Sautin[15]

wissam andrich[18]

Sam Kalo[14]

Juan barsi[28]

After the coach was finished the names, Izan was a bit down. He was sure that with his performances he would make at least the bench but it wasn't it to be.

Afterwards, Coach Moreno told the players they would be meeting here early tomorrow for a brief training session before the match. So we will meet here and go to the stadium.

After Coach Moreno finished he walked towards Izan. "Hey Miura, which jersey number do you like". Izan thought for a while before answering " is the 21 jersey available."

Coach Moreno looked at the squad list and saw that it had no been taken."okay 21 it is".Izan was a bit perplexed as to why the coach was asking for the number he liked.

As Coach Moreno was about to leave he stopped and said "Oh miura by the way come tomorrow,you're on the bench" before he smiled and walked away. Izan stood there dumbfounded before it finally sunk in. "I'm on the bench, F**k yeah" Izan elated started cussing before controlling himself.

He went and showered. After showering in the locker room,he changed before packing his bags and leaving. Izan rode his bike home forgetting his tiredness. After he reached home, Izan told his mom about the news.

"Aww my baby is going to be a professional " Komi said. "Not yet maa" Izan said as he rolled his eyes to Komi's dancing. "So are you going to come and watch " Izan asked.

"Uh of course I'm coming,I'm not missing my son's first under-19s game " Komi said. "What about you. Will you come." Izan said as he looked at his sister. She looked at Izan before nodding. Izan told her mum that the match was happening at the Ciudad Deportiva Valencia - Campo 1 in Paterna.

Izan went to his room and remembering the 'ding' sound he heard during his freekick session with Coach Moreno, he opened the system.

[Host unlocked achievement 'Coach's pet]

Description: Get advice from your coach

Rewards: Select a trait from Available ones

"Huh". "Max what is a trait" Izan asked.

[Host has to update system to lv 4. Would host like to update to lv 4 for 10,000 legend points].

Yes/no

Izan with no choice pressed yes.

[System going offline in 3,2,1 ...]

Izan who still couldn't get used to the system going offline decided do something to distract himself. He went down for dinner and after he finished eating, he played some

Moba game before sleeping.

*******

Izan woke up the next day feeling refreshed. After he completed his daily task. His took his bath before heading down. After Izan finished with his breakfast, he waited a bit for his sister to finish before komi drove them to school. The day passed quickly in school. The students received their test scores and to no one's surprise,Izan topped the class and was first by a landslide.

**********

Krriiiiing

Izan who had already packed his stuff stepped out of the class only to see his mother waiting for him at the entrance.

Izan who was approaching the car saw that Hori and her friend were sitting in the backseat. "Are you sure you go to school " Izan asked hori as she always seemed to be in the car whenever he closes.

Izan got in the car with his football bag.

Komi started driving towards the the academy grounds. Izan who couldn't help but feel a sense of familiarity couldn't stop staring at the girl through the rear view mirror. As Izan was staring, his eyes met hers and they both stared at each other for a while. Komi who saw Izan staring smiled.

A bump on the road made them both retract their eyes. He decided to ask what was going on in the evening. Komi got to the academy and Izan got down before komi drove off to the stadium.

The players did a brief session with the coach before they boarded the bus and the headed to the team home grounds.

Izan who was looking at the jersey that had just been given to him,smiled before putting on his earbuds and listened to some music.

The players got to the stadium and headed to the locker room before changing into their warm up kits. They cam out and passed around a bit before they went in to change. After a brief tactical reminder the players came out. After a few pleasantries the players all went to their position. After the referee looked at his watch he blewthe whistle andthe match was underway.

*************

[COMMENTATOR]

Hello people welcome to the division de honor juvenil.A very exciting match up as the Valencia U19 vs Levante U19 . Its 2nd place vs 5th place. Valencia U19 have been very good this season as they have just lost 2 match,drawn 3 and won 20 after 25 matchdays. There was still 6 games left after today and first place Atletico madrileño U19 was just 2 point ahead. They've also played one more game than valencia U19 so if valencia U19 wins they will go ahead. The referee is about to start so let's go ahead with the commentary.

***********

Fweeeeeee

Valencia U19 started the match well controlling the pace of the game. They passed around well whiles making sure they hold on to the ball. The game was eerily quiet though as Valencia would tease a few shots but it was either blocked,saved, hit the pots or missed the goal by a few centimetres.

They game stayed the same until the 17th minute when levante got a corner. They corner taker delivered a very good ball into the sea of players but the ball was punched out by Raul jiminez,the valencia keeper. Luckily Valencia's winger Marc Juardo latched onto the ball before speeding towards the post.

Although Marc wasn't the fastest,his pace was way above the Levante defenders. Marc faked a pass which made the Levante defender shudder a bit. Seeing space,Marc knocked the ball ahead before speeding to catch up to the ball. It was now him and the keeper.

Out of the corner of his eye,Marc saw Hugo coming. With a cool pass,he sent the ball to Hugo who made no mistake and pushed the ball into the net.

**************

[COMMENTATOR Pov]

17'

'Levante with a beautiful corner but it is punched out by Raul. Who's there to hold onto the ball. Oh the ball falls to Marc juandro. Taking advantage he drives forward with the ball. Galloping like a horse with no intent of slowing down. He comes against Levante's last defender, is he gonna pass but no he knocks the ball forward. Its one on one with the keeper. Marc, is he gonna shoot,no he passed to Hugo who finishes it off. Gooooalllll'

Hugo went to hug Marc who set him up for the goal. The remaining players followed and hugged each other before returning to their own half.

'Its Valencia U19 one, levante U19 nil.'

The Valencia players after the restart focused on the match and prevented any attacks. Thwarting Levante's chances,the match went stale until the 39th minute.

39'

The levante players passed around the valencia players trying to find a way to score a goal but Valencia's team formation was compact not leaving any gaps in between. It was like this until levante midfielder Joan took the ball and tried to dribble through the Valencian midfield. Fortunately it worked as he succeeded in retaining the ball. When he was just about to reach the arc of the 18 yard box,the valencia players surrounded him.

Not knowing what to do,Joan pulled his left leg back and followed through with a shot. As luck would have it ,it took a deflection on the way and misdirected the keeper who went in the opposite direction of where the ball was going. The watched as the ball rustled the net .

The levante players felt ecstatic after all,this match was really tough for them as the opponent was seeing most of the ball.

After the goal the match went on for a while before the referee blew the whistle to signify the end of the first half. The players of both team headed toward the locker room.

"You guys played and tried not to concede a goal but I guess they've maxed out their luck stat" Coach Moreno said drawing a bit of laughs from the players who knew the Coach's love for games.

"We're just two points behind Atletico Madrileño U19 so let's put in an extra effort and win this game" he added.

The players feeling motivated stepped out of the dressing room after the break with momentum.

Unfortunately for them the match remained even as the Levante players also came out with new found spirit. Coach Moreno looked at his watch and saw that its been 17 minutes since the start of the 2nd half. He looked towards the bench and his eyes landed on Izan. He shook his head but then saw that his team wasn't gaining an edge. After contemplating for a while,he told Izan and a few other players to warm up.

Izan who heard it was elated at the thought of the opportunity. After about 5 minutes,they completed the warm up and went to change into their kits.

"When is Izan going to play"Olivia asked Hori. "Anytime now I guess"she said whiles shrugging but then saw Izan with a number 21 jersey standing on the touchline. She patted Olivia before pointing to Izan. Olivia who saw Izan couldn't help but smile."You haven't changed at all" she thought

In the 73rd minute the ball went out and Izan came in for his first match with the under-19s