The ball rolled across the field, the opponents controlled it calmly, but Kira felt the pressure mounting. They were making them waste energy.
"If we just keep trying to take the ball, we'll lose," Kira thought, frowning.
He turned to his nearby teammates.
"Tanaka, Yuta, keep pressing them constantly. Don't give them a break."
"And you, Joker, stay in the box. If we manage to steal the ball, we'll try to pass it to you."
Kira looked at Min-jun, who was falling back into defense beside him.
"Min-jun, stay with me in defense. If the ball slips through, we need to be ready to block and quickly launch a counterattack."
The plan was set. It was all or nothing.
The opponents advanced, but Tanaka and Yuta's pressure began to take effect. With every touch, their passes grew tighter. Then, at the right moment, Kira stepped forward, stole the ball, and started a quick exchange with Min-jun.
In midfield, Kira passed to Tanaka and instinctively sprinted down the right side. He ran at full speed but then stopped abruptly.
Tanaka passed to Yuta, who controlled the ball and made a nutmeg — a pass through the defender's legs — straight to the Joker.
The Joker shot hard — the goalkeeper flew and deflected with his fingertips.
Min-jun arrived running and shot first-time, strong and low. But the goalkeeper, still on the ground, stretched his leg and blocked it. This time, the ball popped up.
Tanaka appeared and headed again, trying to surprise. The ball crashed against the post!
It fell at Kira's feet, who hadn't moved from his spot.
Without hesitation, he crossed the ball first-time into the box — the ball sailed perfectly.
The Joker, well positioned, shot first-time without letting the ball drop.
The net rippled.
GOAL!
Joker gave a slight smile. Tanaka jumped on his back. Kira arrived soon after, surrounded by his teammates.
"Perfect assist, Kira!" Yuta shouted, laughing.
"How did you know the ball would land there?" Min-jun asked.
"I don't know. It just felt like it would," Kira replied.