Elland Road was heaving.
The stands rippled with noise, Leeds fans belting out chants that echoed across the pitch. Flags waved. Drums pounded in the home stands. Firdaus stood just outside the dugout, arms folded, his face calm despite the electric atmosphere. The scent of cut grass, the hum of the crowd, the tension—it all pressed down.
As the players lined up, Firdaus took in the setting. The away end packed with Cardiff supporters, the white and blue shirts, the distant sound of a child's first match chant—everything felt louder today. He stepped slightly closer to the pitch.
He turned slightly as the referee signaled the start.
Cardiff kicked off.
From the beginning, Firdaus' tactical blueprint was clear: a tight mid-block 4-1-4-1 with Ryan Wintle anchoring the midfield and Aaron Ramsey given the freedom to press selectively. Daniel James, Leeds' livewire, was shadowed by Perry Ng and supported by Ralls whenever he tried to cut inside.
The system interface flickered in Firdaus' peripheral vision.
[Live Match Mode: Active]
[Opponent Shape: 4-2-3-1 | Transition Trigger on Right Flank]
Firdaus didn't need to say much. The players followed his cues—compact, disciplined, focused.
Leeds had the ball. Ampadu distributed, Kamara scanned. Firdaus watched their lines form, break, reform. But his eyes were on the space—not the players. He saw where Leeds wanted to play, and where they wouldn't be allowed to.
By the 20th minute, Leeds had possession but little penetration. Their best chances came from half-spaces that Wintle cut off. Ampadu and Glen Kamara struggled to create width. Daniel James barely found space to run.
Cardiff waited.
The rhythm of the game began to shift. Wintle read a misstep in Leeds' midfield shape and subtly repositioned. The ball moved sluggishly between Ampadu and Kamara—one pass too many, too casual.
Firdaus's eyes narrowed.
He saw it before it happened.
Ampadu stepped forward and telegraphed a flat, central pass.
Ramsey pounced.
Then, in the 37th minute, it came.
A careless forward pass from Ampadu was intercepted by Ramsey near the halfway line. Without hesitation, he turned and released a precise through-ball down the left.
Karlan Grant was already moving.
He darted between Ayling and Cooper, beat them both for pace, and drove into the box. With Meslier rushing forward to narrow the angle, Grant opened his body and slotted it low into the far corner.
Silence from the Leeds end. The Cardiff bench leapt.
Firdaus remained still—just a single clenched fist at his side.
Cardiff City 1 – 0 Leeds United
The first real statement.
In the away dressing room at halftime, the mood was alert, not relaxed. Firdaus stood in front of the whiteboard while the players hydrated and caught their breath.
"They'll change shape," he said, voice calm but focused. "Expect a push from wide. They'll try a 4-4-2 or overload the left. Daniel James won't stay pinned."
He tapped the board twice. Arrows moved across the diagram.
"Colwill, drop five meters when they push. Robinson, track back and wait for the switch. We don't chase—we absorb. Then we strike."
Firdaus glanced around the room. Sweat glistened on foreheads. Boots tapped lightly. But no one looked afraid.
The system displayed a simulation overlay in his view.
[Predicted Shift: 4-2-2-2 | High Press Intensity: 83%]
"Stay calm," Firdaus added. "Let them press themselves into exhaustion. We'll get another chance."
Aaron Ramsey gave a subtle nod. Wintle leaned in, reviewing the adjustments. Firdaus turned and clicked off the board.
"Let's finish what we started."
The second half began with Leeds flying out of the blocks.
Firdaus knew it was coming. The noise inside Elland Road swelled as Leeds applied pressure. Bamford dropped deeper to link up, creating confusion in Cardiff's back line.
For fifteen minutes, Cardiff held.
But in the 62nd minute, Leeds found a way through.
A quick switch from Kamara to Shackleton broke the press. Shackleton threaded a diagonal ball behind Ng. James latched onto it, burned toward the byline, cut back inside.
He passed square to Piroe, who dinked a chipped ball into the six-yard box.
Bamford met it with a towering header.
GOAL.
Cardiff 1 – 1 Leeds
The crowd roared. Elland Road shook.
Firdaus didn't flinch. He opened the system interface.
[Match Intensity: 76% | Mental Fatigue Detected: A. Ramsey – 68%]
The system pinged.
[Recommended Change: Sub Ramsey → Rubin Colwill | Formation Shift: 4-2-3-1 to 4-3-3 Late Push]
Firdaus stood up. "Colwill. Warm up."
He glanced down the touchline as Colwill sprinted toward the technical area.
In the 85th minute, Firdaus made the change. As Ramsey jogged off, his movements a touch slower than earlier, Firdaus met his eyes with a firm but appreciative nod. The veteran midfielder gave a tired half-smile, understanding what the substitution meant—not a demotion, but a tactical pivot.
Colwill bounced on his toes near the sideline, heart pounding. This was his moment—one the system believed in, but more importantly, one Firdaus trusted him to own.
As he crossed paths with Ramsey, Colwill muttered, "Got this." The older man clapped him on the back.
Firdaus stepped closer, hand landing briefly on Colwill's shoulder.
"Trust your instinct," he said under the roar of the stadium. "Time it right."
Colwill nodded, eyes sharp. He inhaled deeply, then sprinted onto the pitch, adrenaline overriding nerves. The final minutes were his now.
As Colwill passed Ramsey at the sideline, he muttered, "Got this."
Firdaus placed a hand on his shoulder for a brief second.
"Trust your instinct. Time it right."
Colwill nodded and jogged into position.
The match crept into stoppage time. 90+2.
The crowd was on edge, both benches standing. Firdaus didn't blink.
A long ball from Perry Ng reached Karlan Grant, who held up play near the corner. Under pressure, he used his body well, shielded the ball, then rolled it back to Colwill.
The system flashed.
[Breakthrough Opportunity Detected – Left Flank Overlap – 6 Second Window]
Firdaus stepped forward, voice low: "Now."
Colwill looked up. The gap opened.
He accelerated forward. Ramsey's space had opened the half-space. Leeds was momentarily unbalanced.
Robinson drifted inside. Grant peeled off his marker.
Colwill played a quick one-two with Ralls. The return ball was perfect.
Colwill surged into the box. The crowd noise dipped.
He squared the ball.
Robinson arrived.
One final shot—
To be continued...
_________________________________________________________________________
🔥 Hey legends! Quick updates! 🔥
💥 Support me on my Patreon account!
👉 patreon.com/cyci07
✨ Power Stone Challenge! ✨
If we hit 100 power stones, I'll drop 2 bonus chapters! Let's see if you guys can make me suffer! 😂
💬 Enjoying the story? Leave a review and let me know your favorite moment so far! It helps the novel grow and reach more readers!
Thanks for all your support—you guys are awesome! ❤️