|New skill rewarded|
|Skill: Quickfeet [Upgradable]|
|Skill:Effects|
|Allows host to confuse markers with a series of complex leg movements, some of which may involve slight movements of the ball|
Omari had checked the details of the new skills that he had been rewarded with when Jack was celebrating his goal. A huge smile had unknowingly appeared on his face.
This match just got slightly more interesting.
After Jack finished his celebration, the referee blew his whistle and signified the continuation of the match.
The fact that they conceded a goal didn't change Manchester Red's game plan in the slightest. They planned to draw Teeside deep into their half and initiate a counterattack.
While this would've worked just fine in the first half when Teeside were disorganized and played without any real sense of direction, this time they were organized while pressing for the ball.
They maintained the general shape of the formation, Jack given the freedom to press whichever area of the field the ball ended up on. They were also compact with their defending, giving Manchester United little space to exploit.
In the end, the inevitable happened; Teeside got the ball and initiated a counterattack of their own.
57'
Jack got the ball from Micheal Oyedele and played a through ball to Joshua. Joshua skillfully dribbled down the right flank but the ball was tackled off him by a defender.
Luckily, Ashley Martins (Central Midfielder) was close by and scooped the ball to Omari who was waiting on the right. Omari easily dribbled past the right back and sent a drilling pass to the center.
Anthony easily found the pass and set himself up for a one on one with the keeper. As good as Timothy Miles had proven himself to be that evening, there was only ever going to be one outcome.
'Goooaaaallll! What a goal by Anthony. That was a very good team move in general. Joshua definitely should've done better at the right, he was saved by Ashley Martins who sent a brilliant pass to Omari Hutchingson. Once he got the ball to Anthony at that position, there was only ever going to be one outcome! Beautiful goal from Teeside!'
'With the way things are turning out, I don't think it's impossible for Teeside to stage a comeback. Just twelve minutes into the second half and they've already pulled two goals back'
'It really is a case of shooting oneself in the foot. Manchester Red seemed to have planned to see out their four goal lead. They way they've been playing, it's fairly obvious that they had no attacking plans from the beginning of the half'
'With the way Teeside have been playing, they'll want to reconsider their tactics'
'Right now it's Manchester Red- four, Teeside- two. Let's see how things change in the coming minutes'.
After Anthony's goal, Manchester Red started to play attacking football. Even though Teeside became a lot more organized in their defense, they still conceded a few chances.
The tactical changes made by Steve at half time turned out to be a genius move. The fact that the fullbacks were positioned high up in the pitch restricted the amount of runs that the wingers could make into the box.
The defenders kept only a minimal amount of pressure on the striker and focused more on the incoming midfielders, barring their entry into the penalty box.
In the end, Manchester Red could only pass the ball around the penalty box, posing no real attacking threat and take a few long range shots, all of which were easily handled by Teeside's goalkeeper.
71'
Once again, Teeside were on the counter. Omari stole the ball from one of the full backs. He had a lot of space to run into and kept running until he was at the edge of the left side of the penalty box.
Stepover.
His legs flashed over the ball, but the center back didn't give him enough space to move. He furrowed the brows and attempted the skill again only to be met with the same result.
Quickfeet.
Omari deemed the timing appropriate to test out his new skills and used it against the defenders. His legs moved in a series of complex movements, occasionally dragging the ball with him.
He finally got past the defenders, kicking the ball between his legs right as he attempted a risky tackle since he wasn't really sure that he was going to get to the ball.
As soon as he got into the penalty box, he was marked by the other center back and the defensive midfielder. The goalkeeper had even turned towards his direction, wary of a shot from him.
You guys are acting as if I'm the only one capable of shooting the ball.
Without even looking at the intended target, he chipped the ball towards the other side of the pitch.
Joshua was making a run into the box and the ball fell perfectly in front of him. He connected to the ball with a diving header, nodding the ball into the neglected side of the post.
'Teeside are at it again! They pull a third goal back. They completely shut down Man Red's attacking play. Omari Hutchingson pounced on Fedran MacAllister (Right Back) and retrieved the ball from him. He brilliantly dribbles last the defender and sends the cross into the box. What a goal!"
'Nice play from Teeside, pulling another goal back thanks to sloppy attacking play and sloppy defending from Manchester Red. It's hard to fathom how a team that played so well in the first half are playing so badly'
'Manchester Red would really want to get back the organization and composedness that gave them the lead in the first half right about now. If they keep playing like this then it's only a matter of time before they conceded a fourth goal'.
'It's quite funny actually, we started the half thinking that Teeside have no chance at a comeback and not even up to half an hour into the second half, it seems as if Teeside might actually get the win!'