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When Jerry got outside the locker room, he saw everyone arranged in a single line. The players from the other team were just coming outside and arranging themselves. Without so much as another word, Jerry walked to the front of the line and stood there. A few moments later, he was joined by the captain of the other team who was standing in front of the line of his team.
The two briefly smiled at each other, then started walking outside once the referees in front of them started moving. After a little bit of formalities, the match finally started.
[And it's starting. A very mouthwatering encounter between two prestigious grassroots academies in Manchester. James Charles Academy versus Jeremiah Hayes Football Institution]
[I think it's worth mentioning that the Jeremiah Hayes Football Institution is owned by former Manchester Red player, Jeremiah Hayes. At twenty-four, he won three English Premier League titles with Manchester Red and scored over three hundred goals for them, being their current all-time top scorer. I think having him in the crowd to watch will be a massive form of encouragement to the young players looking to make an impression to the scouts watching]
[Another thing I think is notable of mention is that we have Jeremiah Hayes Junior captaining the Jeremiah Hayes Football Institution. He's playing as a striker in the lineup we've received. It seems he's looking to follow his father's footsteps. No doubt, he'll also be looking to use this tournament as a stepping stone to kick-starting his football career]
As if Jerry wasn't already feeling enough pressure, the commentator had to go on and blabber. While the commentator was talking, he didn't bother listening to anything else once he heard the fact that his dad was watching the match. For some reason, he felt more nervous that his dad was here than the fact that there were scouts from top clubs around the country watching this match.
[Ding!]
"What the?" Jerry was a bit confused. He thought he heard a bell chime. Of course, the only sound remotely close to what he was hearing was the referee's whistle. He was confused about the referee starting the match before the starting lineups were announced but he didn't question it, he passed the ball straight back to the center back.
"Piim".
That sound was definitely the referee's whistle.
"Why'd you kick the ball?" The referee gestured for the game to stop.
"I thought you blew the whistle," Jerry said, confused.
"Well, you thought wrong. One more slip-up like that and you're getting a yellow," the referee said. He called for the ball and tossed it toward Jerry.
[Looks like someone is a bit anxious for the match to start. Why don't we just get on with the starting elevens so the match can commence]
[Here are the starting lineups for the two sides:
Jeremiah Hayes Football Institution: 4-2-3-1 Formation
GK: Archie Stoke
RB: Lewis Carver
CB: Nathaniel Drake
CB: Moses Ford
LB: Miles Heath
CM: Jamie Halliday
CM: Oliver Trent
CAM: Ethan Maxwell
RW: Jordan Phillips
ST: Jeremiah Hayes Jr.
LW: Zachary Cole
James Charles Academy: 3-5-2 Formation
GK: Edward Rowe
CB: Henry Ashcroft
CB: Leo Whitman
CB: Oscar Yates
RWB: Dylan Cross
LWB: Freddie Simmons
CM: Alfie Kingston
CM: Riley Moore
CAM: Callum Foster
ST: Mason Knight
ST: Elijah Brooks]
After the commentator finished announcing the lineups, the referee blew his whistle and the match commenced.
Jeremiah Hayes Football Institution started the match and as soon as they started, they controlled the tempo of the game. Their entire starting eleven was filled with technical players who excelled under pressure. In fact, that was one of the requirements to join the football programs, hence they had a lot of the ball.
7'
Despite the fact that Jeremiah Hayes Football Institution had a lot of the ball, it wasn't until the seventh minute that they created their first chance of the half.
Oliver Trent (Jeremiah Hayes Football Institution central midfielder) received the ball in the middle of the field. There was a James Charles central midfielder running at him but he managed to twist and turn himself away, giving himself enough time to scan and play a through pass to Lewis Carver (Jeremiah Hayes Football Institution right back) who played a pass to Jordan Phillips (Right Winger) with his first touch.
Jordan found himself face to face with Oscar Yates (James Charles Academy Left Center Back) as soon as he got the ball. He took two touches teasing a wide run before actually running wide.
As soon as he took two steps with the ball, he sent a backheel pass toward the central area outside the box, where Jerry was silently lurking. Oscar had already run after Jordan, so Jerry had a lot of time and space to do what he wanted.
Jerry controlled the ball with his first touch and took his time, before placing the ball into the bottom right corner with a powerful, right-footed shot.
Edward Rowe (James Charles Academy goalkeeper) made a full stretch toward the ball but he couldn't get to it. He could only let out a small sigh as he heard the ball crash against the net.
[Ding!]
Right as Jerry was about to celebrate, he heard a bell chime, causing him to hit pause on whatever crazy celebration he had prepared. Because of the fact that he was so focused on the bell chime, he just stood on the same spot while looking at the crowd that had gone somewhat wild.
His celebration seemed to amplify things further, as his confusion was mistaken for a 'cold' celebration by the crowd and the majority of his teammates. In fact, some of them even copied him in an attempt to make the celebration a bit cooler.
The man causing all these things however, was very confused. That was because he heard the bell chime once again. This time though, it was accompanied by something that almost made him faint from shock.
[Ding! Project Mbappe system download completed]
[Are you ready to ball?]