1 day ago…
Endrick faced his teammates. "Our game plan is simple, we'll be playing control football, that's the best way to bring out the best of our talents".
"WarriorThug is our warrior in the midfield".
"Maria202 is our anchor and creator".
"If she keeps on feeding Anthony and Drip-Lord with balls, I believe they both have the skills to make the most out of these opportunities".
Endrick turned to face the 2 wingers. "Anthony, Drip-Lord, remember our talk, beat the defenders at their own game and do either of 2 things".
"Dribble into the box or throw accurate crosses and passes".
"Anyone that you do, Paschal007 will be waiting to score a goal".
"As for me, I will have a free role in this game, we need it to adapt".
"Our opponents are strong; I need to be free to truly terrorize them".
Then he finally looked at the last of his teammates. "GravityMan, we need you at your best, we can't win without you".
Then he focused on the defenders. "You know, there's a book I once read. It said that good attackers win you games, but good defenders win you trophies".
"If we are to win, we need all 4 of you at your absolute best".
"I believe that we'll win this game".
…
Now…
{32:08}
"It's been 32 minutes already of this vintage football".
"The game is still tied 0-0 but it's undoubtedly been an exciting affair so far, I feel like I'm watching 2 behemoths have a go at it in a battle to the death".
"Team Yellow has lost their previous calm and collected football, they were previously in control of the game, having multiple shots on target but a single player has broken their momentum, Apeman has been the stand-out player so far".
"Singlehandedly, he has broken the game of Team Yellow through sheer power and force, what a display from the young midfielder".
"And Apeman wins the ball again!"
Breaths were held.
WarriorThug rushed in for the tackle but Apeman protected the ball, using his immense strength to firmly keep his opponent at bay.
The next moment, he executed a rapid turn and pushed the ball slightly, WarriorThug was stunned as the ball went underneath his legs the next moment, it was a clean nutmeg.
Bam!
Hitting the ball long, Apeman hit full stride as he charged forward like a bull.
After the long run, as the defenders and midfielders closed in on him, he kicked the ball back into the waiting legs of Lord-of-Support. This time, this player took the ball forward a bit before finally activating his Special Skill.
"Special Skill: 3D Vision!"
Having failed to unlock the defense multiple times due to Turtle909 already, this time, he took his time on the ball. Patiently carrying it forward, waiting until an opening finally came, his reaction was decisive.
He threw a short pass towards one of their center forwards.
It was another killer pass!
Legion was released as he soon faced the goalkeeper one-on-one.
This player faked a shot as GravityMan spread his hands and body despairingly, but he recovered quickly and closed Legion down, this was when he did it, Legion made the box 18 his showground.
"Holy…! What's this?!"
"Before the goal, Legion refuses to shoot, he's shifting the ball, he twists and turns, GravityMan is being taken on a rollercoaster ride".
"My man is being sent on a VIP ride to the shadow dimension, what the f…!"
"GravityMan is ditched!"
"Hell-Bulldozer charges in".
"Special Skill: Sturdy!" This defender's eyes gleamed with determination.
The defender was fast but Legion was as sharp as a knife at this moment, he dodged this player's charge, nutmegging him while leaving the goalkeeper in the dust as a free goal became open towards him.
Legion poked the ball into the open net.
It was an out of the world goal.
"GOOALLLL!!!" The commentators went wild.
1-0
The whole Estadio do Arruna went wild as the spectators celebrated.
"What a great piece of individual skill, perfection!"
Doused by his passion already, Legion charged wildly to the corner flag as he celebrated with his teammates. When the game restarted, Team Yellow became more aggressive as they pushed for the equalizer.
Due to his free role, Endrick ran all over the pitch, dribbling, throwing passes as he worried the opposition defense but the goal remained sealed tight.
Unable to do it alone, he went to the midfield, playing incredible one two combinations with Maria yet they were unable to open the opposition defense.
Literally all the players on this pitch at this moment were performing at 110% efficiency, they rarely made mistakes, only the best of them had the chance to shine but still getting a goal was an extremely difficult task.
It was in moments like these that the geniuses shone, despite the incredible performance of the others, Ice-in-mah-veins, Apeman, Endrick, and Enigma were standout performers as they ran the show.
During the next 10 minutes, Paschal007 had 3 shots on target.
1 of them was blocked, while God-between-the-posts caught the remaining 2, Team Black's teamwork and chemistry was crazy.
This was when it started dawning on them. 'We are not the only ones who trained, the same way that we trained, they did too'.
'Damn! Perhaps they even trained with more determination than we did'.
'They also developed chemistry'.
'Winning is not an easy task Afterall'.
They were drenched with a dose of reality.
'To win, we need to dig deep, we can't rely on any obvious advantages'.
These realizations made all the players of Team Yellow put in even more effort, more marauding runs were made, more shots were made but Ice-in-mah-veins proved to be a menace.
This player was the perfect example of what a defender should be.
Tall and powerful, he won all aerial duels and most ground duels.
His reaction speed was impressive, and his ball carrying ability was also impressive, Endrick for a moment felt like he was playing against prime Maldini.
His partner in crime, Prime-Defender was also crazy impressive but Ice-in-mah-veins was just a head above the others, he was the sole reason why Endrick was unable to get a goal yet.
"Special Skill: Ice Domain!"
Every time that this player activated this ability, blueish white icicles appeared behind him, forming a blockade that blocked shots with a crazy efficiency, he played a huge role in keeping Team Yellow attackers at bay.
The game continued like this, going back and forth with each team getting opportunities but being unable to score until the 45th +1 minute.
Team Yellow was having another go at goal.
Drip-Lord dribbled through the right flank like a force of nature, going through a midfielder and defender before throwing an accurate pass to Paschal007.
Before the center forward could get it, a defender slid in, the Iceman!
"F*ck!" Paschal007 cursed in frustration.
On getting the ball this time, like usual, Ice-in-mah-veins was about to carry it forward but he paused as his incredible vision enabled him to sight something.
Without hesitation, this player swung his right leg back before hitting the ball with incredible power.
BAM!
This was when the others realized, due to their fierce determination to score, the defenders in Team Yellow became a little bit enthusiastic and made the mistake of leaving just one defender to mark Enigma who lurked.
Turtle909 tried to win the aerial duel but he was outmuscled.
"Special Skill: Turtle Defense- 1st Leg".
Enigma anticipated it, with deft leg work, he dribbled the outstretched leg of the turtle before kicking the ball forward, he charged after it.
Wide space was open before him, his only opponent? The goalkeeper.
Enigma was on collision course towards goal.
As he charged in, GravityMan finally decided to charge out to meet him.
Enigma no longer hesitated. "Special Skill: Aggressive Attacker!"
The aura appeared again that made him seem like Kratos in Spartan Rage state, Enigma's eyes shone in a fiery manner as he eyed goal.
Swinging his leg back, he hit the ball with his right leg with immense power.
BOOM!
Having activated his Special Skill just recently, his stamina was yet to recharge to activate it again, GravityMan could only dive in a despairing manner.
The ball rushed past him with speed towards the top left corner.
Nothing could stop it; it was a goal.
"GOALLL!!!" Enigma celebrated wildly.
2-0
Running towards the corner flag, he slid across the field as he pumped his fists in ecstasy, his teammates ran to celebrate with him.
As the commentators went wild, total silence dominated Team Yellow.
They were baffled, confused, and bewildered.
When the game restarted, it only lasted a few seconds.
FWEEEE!
The 1st half of the final came to an end.