For first few minutes players of Maebashi Ikuei HS tried their best to attract the players of Kawasaki Frontale by playing the ball in their middle third and defensive third.
However Kawasaki Frontale’s players weren’t as stupid enough to fall for their obvious trap. They had been studying Maebashi’s gameplay for about a week.
Maebashi Ikuei HS often tried to lure their opponents into their defensive third for the first 15 minutes of the game.
And after luring their opponents towards their defensive third, they would often play long ball in the flanks towards their wingers who would later make use of their pace and dribble the ball towards the opponent teams defensive third.
Their wingers would then cross the ball towards their center forward who would then finish the job.
“Tch- they’re not coming for the ball.” One of the centre back of Maebashi Ikuei HS clicked his tongue after seeing Kawasaki Frontale players unwillingness to charge ahead for the ball.
‘What happened to Tatsuki? He’s not charging recklessly like before.’ While holding onto the ball, Maebashi’s defender with number 4 on his back thought.
Just like how they’ve studied about their opponents gameplay, their opponents too have studied about their gameplay.
But since manager Makoto had adjusted their gameplay while taking Hiro’s gameplay into consideration, they were playing totally different than what they used to play normally.
The defender then released the ball towards one of their defensive midfielder with number 6 on his back.
Noticing the pass Tatsuki who was at the middle third of the pitch quickly charged towards the player to whom the pass was designated.
Maebashi Ikuei HS were playing in 4-2-1-3 formation with two defensive midfielder, a sole centre midfielder and three forwards. Emphasizing more on defense, their right and left midfield was somewhat full of gaps because of absence of right midfielder and left midfielder.
Upon noticing Tatsuki charging towards him like a bull, their defensive midfielder with number 6 on his back started to panic. And thus, in state of panic, he left his position and rushed towards the ball, fearing Tatsuki would reach the ball before him.
The defensive midfielder then returned the ball back to the defender with number 4 on his back without trapping the ball.
[Great decision by Yato Tachiki of Maebashi Ikuei HS. If he was even a second late to react, Tatsuki Seko of Kawasaki Frontale would have stolen that ball before it even reached his feet.]
Without wasting any time, Maebashi’s defender with number 4 on his back, passed the ball to another defensive midfielder with number 8 on his back who seemed completely open.
[Great one-two passes from players of Maebashi Ikuei HS.] The commentator commented. [Their passes are quite accurate and fast.]
And just as the defender with number 4 on his back released the ball towards their defensive midfielder with number 8 on his back, Hiro who was preying on the ball while positioning himself at the center circle avoiding the gazes of opposing players, rushed towards the defensive midfielder.
[Good pass by Kumagai. But who’s that player dashing towards Saito like a wild horse?]
And just as Saito was about to turn around and look for his teammates to pass the ball, Hiro quickly snatched the ball away from his feet, leaving him completely baffled.
[Yota Saito has given the ball away. I guess he wasn’t expecting Takahashi Hiro to close up the gap between them so fast.]
Despite losing the ball, Saito quickly recovered his composure and began to chase after Hiro.
Hiro however didn’t stop and began to dribble the ball forward. He then released the ball towards Kenta who was making his run in the left flank.
Tatsuki too wasn’t sitting idle, even before Hiro released the ball towards Kenta, he had been running towards the opposing goalpost to position himself in a suitable spot.
“Fall back!! Mark the number 7” Shouted Kumagai, the centre defender with number 4 on his back as he began to chase after Tatsuki.
[It’s a chance for Kawasaki Frontale. Now what will Kenta do? He’s getting surrounded by Yamada and Yato.]
While kenta was moving the ball forward, he was getting pressed by opposing right back and defensive midfielder with number 6 on his back.
While everybody were focusing on Kenta and Tatsuki, Hiro was sneakily making his run towards the outer edge of the penalty box.
Unable to see any gap to cross the ball inside the box, Kenta tried to shake off his mark. He tried his best to dribble past Yamada.
But Yamada was as focused as a snake which was patiently waiting for making it’s move on it’s prey. Calm and composed, his gaze was fixated on the ball.
Unable to dribble past Yamada, Kenta began to dribble the ball further deep into the opposing defensive third. Not because he wanted to but because he was being pressured by Yamada.
Yamada was pressuring him towards the outline so that he would lose control of the ball and the ball would go out of bounds.
Closing in towards the outline, Kenta then released the ball above Yato’s head, towards the outer edge of the penalty box where Hiro was making his run.
Since Yato was guarding Kenta’s back, nobody expected him to loft the ball above Yato’s head instead of crossing the ball inside the box, towards Tatsuki. 𝑖𝓇𝘢𝒹.𝘤ℴ𝘮
[A magnificent pass from Kenta. I’m sure nobody in the pitch was expecting that kind of pass from Kenta. For a moment it seemed that Kenta would lose the ball. But at the last moment, he has lofted the ball above Yato’s head, towards Hiro who was completely unmarked.]
Hiro then without exerting much force, kicked the ball lightly and chipped the ball above the head of the opposing defenders present inside the box.
The ball then flew high and after attaining maximum height, it began to fall towards the top right corner.
Maebashi’s keeper who was at the left side of the post to block unexpected shot made by Kenta rushed towards the right side to defend the ball.
Realising that he’d not make it to the ball, he desperately dived towards the direction of the ball. However he still couldn’t reach the ball and the ball ended up inside the post.
[Goaaaaallllllll!!!!! Kawasaki Frontale has opened the scoresheet. And what a way to open the scoresheet. That chip which passed all the defenders and even evaded the touch of Maebashi’s goalkeeper. It was simply extraordinary. Magnificent!!! Magnificent!!! Magnificent!!!] His eyes open wide as if his pupils would pop out of it, the commentator couldn’t believe his eyes.