"Izan go and warm up. You're going in for Wissam" Coach Moreno said.
Wissam couldn't help but smile bitterly as he was being taken out of the match.
His performance in the first half was embarrassing as he couldn't even take on the defenders without losing the ball.
And the thing was,taking on players was the reason he was even brought to the first team in the first place.
Izan nodded before heading out. The person in charge of their kits handed Izan his jersey before he went out.
Izan got to the pitch and started practicing with some of the substitutes.
He juggled with the ball a bit before doing some passing and trapping drills to get a good feel for the ball.
"Finally,they brought him in. Seems the coach has come back to his sense" a spectator in the crowd said.
"Who is he. Do you know him" another asked.
"Oh yeah James,you haven't followed the Valencia u19s for long. That kid is Izan. In one word 'Genius'. In two words 'Fucking talented '.
He joined them about 8 Matches to the end of the season. Valencia u19 were 6th then but the came first at the end of the season and ever since then they haven't drawn or lost a match"
"Then he's very good "said James
"Yeah, I'm pretty sure the Senior team would have called him up if it wasn't for his age" Franco said as he reverted his gaze back to Izan.
"Hopefully he can pull off a miracle " Franco thought as he looked at Izan.
Izan wore his jersey and went to the tunnel and joined his teammates there.
The players came out of the tunnel once more and the Valencia u19 team came out with a burning desire to win.
Izan wasn't there when Coach Moreno spoke to them so he had no Idea what he said to them to make them so motivated.
But either way it was good for them.
[COMMENTATOR POV]
' Hello everyone and welcome back to the second half of this year's Copa de campeones juvenil.
From the onset it looks like Valencia u19s has made a change and seems that their little magician for the second half of the season has come on for Wissam.
Izan looks to be playing in the right wing position.
I haven't seen him play in that position before but let's wish him well.
Now the players are in position for the kickoff.
And we are off for the second half of this one-sided showdown but let's hope that the other team kicks in to gear '
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Valencia u19 kicked into first gear as they tried to pull one back in the first 5 minutes of the second half.
Pietro made a spectacular pass to Izan who took a deft touch of the ball before continuing forward without any intention to slow down.
48'
Izan on the right side held onto the ball as he made his way forward. One of the midfielders tried to challenge Izan for the ball but was only met with a nutmeg from Izan.
The Valencia u19 fans chuckled at what they had just seen. The match had been tough for them and this was a nice change of pace.
Izan continuing on his run kicked the ball round the Real Madrid left back who was approaching and went around him to take the ball.
Izan was a bit surprised to see the player gaining on him after his sudden burst of speed.
Although he was dribbling with the ball and that reduced his running speed,this was a first for him ever since he got the system.
"I think I should pay a bit of attention to my speed now that my other attributes are the same or better than my speed stat" Izan thought
Izan after the left back got near,slowed down and kicked the ball between his legs.
Izan then cut in with the ball. He was now infront of the arc of the 18 yard box. Izan sizing of the top left corner of the goal pretended to shoot.
The defenders who saw this, albeit knew it could be a fake, threw their bodies into the way.
Izan smirked before faking the shot. The defenders who commited to blocking the shot were now out of the way.
Izan now raised his left leg and curled the ball into the top left corner.
The Madrid keeper who also thought Izan was going to shoot the first time couldn't move and watched as the ball sailed into the back of the net.
Gooooooooooooooooooooooooooaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaallllllllllll
The Valencia u19 fans screamed into life.
[COMMENTATOR POV]
'Izan receives the ball from pietro who had just come out of injury. Izan takes a touch and moves forward.
Mierte,tries to take the ball off him but,beautifully done by Izan as he nutmegs him. Izan moving forward with pace drives forward on the right flank.
He nudges the ball around casteljon who chases Izan after he failed to retrieve the ball.
Izan once again kicks the ball between the legs of casteljon and cuts inside.
Izaaaan fakes it and Izaaaaaaaaannn,
Oooooooooooohhhhh.
Goaaaaaaaaaaaaaalll.
What a spectacular solo goal by Izan. If Messi was watching this match I'm sure he'd be impressed by the talent of this teenager '
The Valencia u19 team celebrated the goal like it was the winning goal. Izan escaped from the grasp of his teamates and went to grab the ball from the net of the opponent team.
The referee restarted the match and the Madrid u19 team attacked. They were trying to increase their lead but their plays would only prove futile as their attacks were being snuffed out even before they got to the final third of the opponent team. The Valencian players played like new life had been breathed into them.
Izan was defending really well for an attacking minded player as he was using his spatial awareness to detect and block any passing space or lanes.
The ball went out of play and a substitution was being made on the Real Madrid u19 team.
Izan taking advantage of this walked to Andranik.
"Hey, let's try to press and take the ball and counter from this throw". Andranik who heard this nodded.
Izan saw that Hugo was near and went past him before saying 2 words "Just run".
Hugo who knew Izan wanted him to make a run after the throwback nodded.
A Madrid u19 player walked towards the ball and picked it out before scouting for a free teamate.
He saw on and threw the ball but just then, Izan jumped and headed the ball to Andranik.
Andranik didn't control the ball but rather sent it forward with a low volley- Kind of pass.
Hugo had already started to run after the ball was thrown and this confused the opponent defence.
Izan ran to support Hugo but realised he was not needed when Hugo calmly slotted the ball into the back of the net.
Coach Moreno bumped his fists in the air as he saw the second goal. He smiled at the boy who had just saved his ass.
Hugo not wasting a second grabbed the ball and walked to the kickoff spot.
After kickoff, the Madrid players retreated to their half and decided to park the bus and keep their lead.
There was still 17 minutes left to stoppage time.
Izan and the Valencia u19 players tried to break through their defence but it proved fruitless.
Time was ticking and the Valencia u19 fans started praying for a miracle.
Izan got a ball in the middle of the field and as if controlled, most of the Valencian fans stood up.
Izan sent a pass to Marc juardo who had come on for Pablo neri. Pablo with his fine piece of dribbling ran with the ball before sending a low cross which was cleared out by the opponent's defense.
The Madrid keeper as if sensing something was wrong immediately got tense.
He didn't know what this foreboding feeling was but he would find out some second later as Izan chested the ball.
Izan let the ball bounce on the ground once before smacking the ball from about 35 metres out.
All the fans in the stadium were on the edge of their seats as in that particular moment in time, two types of prayers were being sounded in the stadium.
"Don't go in" was one and the other was the opposite.
Time seemed to slow down as Izan saw his ball move in a zigzag movement and finally it shook the back of the net.
A strong Silence!!! Rang across the stadium
Finally the Valencia players and fans who came out of their trance screamed on top of their lungs .
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
F**K YEAHHHHHHHH
Izan had levelled the score for his team.
His teammates started running around like headless chickens before they all jumped on him.
Izan under the pile of players began to laugh. He was feeling ecstatic and reeled in the feeling in that moment.
Coach Moreno was busy hugging his Coaching staff as he couldn't contain the bliss that he was feeling.
The Valencia players got up and walked to their own half after celebrating for a while.
Izan who looked at the clocked saw that is was still the 89th minute. Thoughts of ending the match in added time was the most prominent in his mind at that instant.
Going for extra time would be tough as his teammates were looking weary and
He didn't want to put his fate on penalties but unfortunately for him,the Real Madrid u19 team came out of their shells after their goal and began attacking profusely.
They were relentless and hardly gave the Valencia u19 team little time to breath.
The 4th official had only indicated 4 minutes of added time but it seemed like 30 minutes had passed to Izan.
The Real Madrid u19 team got a chance to score when their striker Marc bartra who had been silent the whole of the second half,got a chance infront of the penalty box.
He shot the ball with dip and curl as the ball that seemed out of trajectory started turning towards the goal.
In the heat of the moment Raul, remembered the talk with Coach Moreno in the locker room.
*******************************************
[Locker room during half-time]
Coach Moreno looked as Izan went out to Warm-Up. After he was sure Izan was out of sight and earshot he spoke.
"I'm sure you were all wondering why I didn't play Izan for the first half. It's because I saw him looking a bit nervous at the start.
It seems we've been relying on him too much. Although he looks grown for his age, we have to remember that he's just 14. He shouldn't have to shoulder the teams pressure.
So step up as men not boys and rise like phoenices. (Huh, so cringe but it is what it is)"
[Present]
Raul with every fiber in his body stretched to his fullest and got a minuscle touch which didn't seem much to him but was enough to redirect the ball which hit the post and went out for a corner.
The Madrid u19 keeper wanting to redeem himself for the 3 goals conceded came out of his goal to join the cornerkick to try and see if he could win it for his team. (Bruh. At this point we know where this is going)
The player behind the ball took the corner perfectly.
Izan who was supposed to defend,in a gamble started running towards the opponents goal.
He didn't know why he was doing that but as he had a feeling that the ball would be coming.(Damn. Bro Is scaring isagi yoichi)
Raul came out of his goal and met the corner. Bartra had also jumped but the keeper had an edge because of his raised hands.
Raul punched the ball which went directly to the path of Izan.
The Madrid keeper had already started running back when he saw Raul jump and to be honest,his speed was very fast for a keeper.
Izan who had gotten to the centerline raised his head and suddenly a thought came to his mind.
"You know,why not try from here"
The fans and players watched on as Izan raised his leg and shot the ball from the half-way line.
The ball soared in the skies and seemed like it would not go in but suddenly it started dropping after it reached its maximum height.
The keeper sped up and tried to catch up to the ball but could only watch as the ball hit the ground once and bounce into the goal just as he reached the goal.
Izan like a maniac took off his shirt and ran towards the cornerflag.
The scenes were fantastic as the stadium which was silent after his goal erupted into cheers and shouts.
His teammates joined him and even Coach Moreno joined in on the fun as he ran onto the pitch with his bench.
The added time had already passed.
Izan looked at the crowd and for a split second he thought he was going crazy when he saw his Mum, sister and Olivia cheering in the stands.
He looked closely and realised that they were really there.
The celebrations continued as Valencia u19 had just won the copa de campeones juvenil for the second time in their history.
Izan who felt a sharp pain in his ankle scrunched his face for a split second before ignoring the pain.
The bliss he felt was enough for him to throw the pain to the back of his head at least until the celebrations were done with.
Although he had come on in the second half, the match had taken its toll on him.
Izan sighed and looked to the sky. "Dad,look at me. You looking " he thought as he smiled.
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A/N : Hey guys please leave a review and enjoy the chapters for me.