Final Match

When I reappear on the pitch again, fans from both teams are already occupying their designated spots, carrying the snacks and drinks along. Knowing this would be the last time I would be seeing this from the pitch, I etch those bustling activities to my memory. It seems so surreal that I would no longer be in this kind of atmosphere after today. Sensing my thoughts have gone astray again, I focus again on the activity at hand, the warmups.

Soon, the opponent team, Fukushima United, also come out from the tunnel, taking the other half of the pitch for their routines as well. Both teams have no reason to feel pressured for today's game—we have already secured promotion, their side did not make to play-offs—so both teams are relaxed. The sun is also setting on the horizon, with a calm breeze flowing through the stadium. I feel it is apt to end my career on such a beautiful day.

The players go back into the tunnel after the warmups are done. For us substitutes, we go straight to the dugout. Yahiko has not tagged along with me since he is in the starting lineup today. It seems like the coach is letting him prove his worth with his own performance. Sometimes, young players like Yahiko need a baptism to foster confidence in him. Unimportant matches like this are perfect for them to get used to the pressure and atmosphere.

Soon, the floodlights turn on, signaling the match is going to start soon. Referees are going around, inspecting the pitch and goal posts. Then the players from both teams come out, walking side by side under the cheers of the audience. After greeting each other, selecting sides and coaches shaking hands, the match is well under way. Even though I am not playing yet, I am starting to feel fidgety due to my realization that this is my final match.

Yahiko seems to be paring well the other striker, Daichi. While Yahiko can outmanuver the defending players with his agility and pace, Daichi excels in aerial challenges and physicality, making him a considerable threat in corners and indirect free kicks. The duo is a constant threat in the opponent's final third with crosses from the flanks and through balls from the midfield. The current tactic, 4-4-2, is good for quick counterattacks, but the wide midfield players end up shouldering the burden of assisting both offense and defense.

The match continues as both teams make multiple attempts at opposite ends. Soon, a situation develops on the field. A goal kick quickly delivered from our side is soon transformed into a lob pass into the path of Yahiko who has escaped the offside trap from Fukushima defenders. He then makes use of his agility to feint the opposing player to commit the tackle, goes in the opposite direction to dribble past the last outfield player. Then he cheekily lobs over the advancing goalkeeper into the net.

"GOAL!"

Soon, cheers erupt from the dugout and the stands behind, including me. To be honest, it is quite audacious of him to attempt that when he could have simply passed to Daichi who has followed him behind. Then again, I guess it is the ego of a striker speaking. Why should you pass the glory to another striker when you can make it your own? In the end, it all works out well. For Yahiko who has mostly been subbed in for most of the season, his chances of scoring a goal are usually slim due to time constraints. I am glad he makes most use of the opportunity he has been given.

The match returns to a stalemate state again after the goal, with both teams vying for possession in the midfield. It continues on like this until the first half is almost over. Fukushima is granted a free kick at the edge of the box. Four players from our team form a wall in front, with our goalkeeper, Kimura-san, guiding the position of the wall. Fukushima No. 7 takes the free kick, colliding with the jumping wall, changing the ball direction and the ball goes into the net.

The opposite fans rise up from their seats as well, proud of their team scoring on an away game. Kimura-san collects the ball from the net and kicks it forward with force, evidently frustrated. Soon the referee blows the whistle, ending the first half. Both sides go back to their dressing rooms respectively to prepare for the second half. I also stand up from the dugout and follow our team into the tunnel.

In the room, Mr. Fujikawa starts talking, "Alright. You all played well. Don't mind about the free kick. There's nothing much to be done there. Now let's switch things a bit. We made 9 crosses from the flanks, with only three reaching Daichi, out of which only one ended up a corner. It seems they have anticipated our strategy and man marked Daichi with two players."

"So I'm going to ease up the role of our wide midfielders. You will still make crosses but reduce the runs on the flanks. I'm subbing only one of you out, so you need to conserve your energy."

"Yes, coach!,"

"Next, Yahiko. Good job on the lob. But you commit too many runs early on, making it easy for them to set up offside traps. It's good that you held yourself back later in the first half, but you'll end up gassing out if you don't watch where the defense line is."

"Yes, coach.," replies Yahiko, scratching his cheek meekly.

Then Mr. Fujikawa turns to me, "Minato-san, I'm putting you in place of Naozumi. Since we can no longer make plays from the flanks, we will breach their defenses with quick passes and shots from the edge of the box. It's all up to you to create chances."

"Yes, coach," I reply, my heart beating faster than usual.

"Alright, boys, hydrate yourself, rest a bit, and let's win our final match!"

"Yes, coach!!"

It is finally the time to play the final match of my long and arduous career.