The Wide Duel IV

The game restarted, and the attacking momentum was now firmly in the grasp of Le Havre as the players attacked more aggressively than before, unwilling to yield and having yet another disappointing result. Players threw themselves up the field, searching for an opening in the Lille defence.

"I can't believe it!"

Kai was like a spongy sponge, as Le Havre pressed on with their attacks. Le Havre was guilty of overworking the pitch in their attacks, but still, there was some finesse to the Le Havre attacks. The ball would be worked into the box in some sort of manner. Whether it is a cross from the flanks or a through ball from the midfield to the striker was up for debate. But there was always a method that the sky and navy blue team could perform in hope of delivering the ball into the dangerous area.

Marley eyed the situation on the pitch, with one of his feet tapping on the floor anxiously, hoping the Le Havre youngsters can turn the situation around before long. But there were clear differences on the field that the coach can realise at a moment's glance.

The Lille team have dropped even deeper than before, having even more man back to crowd the penalty box. But this came at a sacrifice as he noticed that compared to before, the Le Havre midfielders find themselves with much more time and space on the ball than before. It is clear Lille doesn't want to concede before half-time.

Kai gritted his teeth. But it seemed that heaven has heard his inner frustration as a chance came their way.

Arbelaez was aggressive, full of attacking intent as he overlapped Chevalier on the left flank. He made a darting run as Chevalier received the ball to feet from Papillion Séverin. There was slight hesitance in the Lille defender as he wasn't sure who he was to track down on the wing. But this proved to be fatal as the defender was distracted by Arbelaez, and Chevalier took the chance to cut inside the pitch, drifting centrally.

"Chevalier cutting inside..."

The bald coach had his hands clasped tightly as he preyed to the gods.

There was no Lille midfield to speak of, and Chevalier find the time to look up and scan the pitch to full clarity as he use his footballing intelligence to make his next move. The winger didn't even care about Eze that was open on the right flank. He wanted to attack, to attack. Not to play the ball wide for a silly cross that was never going to threaten the Lille defence. But more importantly, Mauger had a firm conviction... that he was the only person that he could trust. He could only bitterly deal with the fact that everyone wasn't as talented as himself, but Chevalier eyed forward. Intending to play the killer ball that could get Le Havre back into the game.

"CHEVALLIEERRRRRRRRRRRRRR"

He spotted them. Bodies of blue and red flooded in the Lille box, but this pass was only intended for Mr Speedy. A through ball that only the fastest man on the pitch can reach. Chevalier made eye contact with the nimble forward, sending a gaze that the two long understand through their years of playing and climbing through the Le Havre youth ranks.

Sébastien was off his seat. "THAT'S A DANGEROUS BALL IN!"

The Lille defence was seemingly asleep, letting the first goal be a drug in their head as they were in a bit of a frenzy at their 1–0 lead. But this proved detrimental as the Lille defenders were caught off guard. Complacency crept in them as they all relaxed by the scoreline. This proved to be to Leroy's advantage, as the striker rushed to be at the receiving end of the through ball. Pape also pushed a few defenders in his way as he barged his way through to get a touch on the ball, determined to score the equaliser to shift the game state.

Estienne was a second late to react as Leroy got away from him in a flash, the defender was almost in shock as he couldn't believe the speed of his opponent. Instinctively, Estienne stretched his arm as he leaned forward, but his fingers could only scratch the corners of Leroy's shirt as the right winger got further and further away from himself.

Leroy had his head at an awkward angle as he scrutinise the ball coming his way, he stretched his short legs like a ballerina as he wished to get any type of touch on it to direct the ball to the back of the net.

"—LEROYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!" Sebastien had his voice carrying an excitement. The entire crowd had turned on their feet as Leroy was presented with the opportunity of a lifetime.

Yet the striker can only helplessly watch the ball being collected by the Lille keeper. He had rushed away from his line to intercept the pass, averting the danger expertly by being the first to the ball.

Leroy punched the ground as he understood that chances like that were hard to come. A wave of anger brewed within him as he felt a duty to score that.

At the dugout, Lanier had one hand on his head as he repeatedly scratched it to no avail. Trying to create a solution to the issue on hand: to break down a stubborn Lille defence.

But before Lanier could even use his tactical philosophies and instil them on the pitch, another set of play occurred on the field that threw all his downbeat mood out the window.

It was another attack developed on the left wing. The partnership between Chevalier and Arbeleaz was used to a dangerous extent as they used each other's movement to create opportunities and break down the Lille defence.

Arbeleaz was aggressive, hell-bent on not disappointing Manager Marley and everyone that had high hopes for them. As the left-back passed the ball to Chevalier up the wing, and ran up the pitch to overlap his partner, This movement was long a common movement that they two performed numerous times through this league campaign.

It was a simple overlapping movement between a winger cutting inside and a full-back running up the flanks. Simple but threatening as this caused a dilemma for the opposition wide players to react to this dangerous attack down the wing.

Chevalier received the ball to feet, with his back to the goal. Yet it was met with immediate pressure as the Lille defender that his body pressed against the Le Havre starboy. The defender had no desire to let Chevalier turn around and attack down the wing.

Linville was the Lille left-back, his face full of rage as he didn't muster an inch of space for Chevalier. He had already been embarrassed multiple times on the wing, letting the winger make a fool of himself. But he wasn't going to just let it stand, using his body as he nudged from behind at the left winger.

Chevalier was evidently prepared for this. Although the physical contact surprised him to a certain extent, with the winger almost pushed to the ground. Chevalier resisted and fought back, using both hands as he rebounded himself off the floor, all the whilst keeping the ball beneath his feet.

Chevalier eyed the Le Havre players rushing up the field, but only using his peripheral vision as he had his hands tied with Linville bumping him. But even if he couldn't see the field, his brain went overdrive as he pictured the field like a chessboard, imagining the movements of everyone member of his team.

The soft breeze delivered by a figure rushing by was all he needed to confirm his theories. With a devious smile, he lifted his foot off the ball, using his heel as he directed the ball forward.

"AND A BEAUTIFUL BACKHEEL PASS TO ARBELAEZ ON THE WING!!!!"

Chevalier orchestrated his play with ease. Even with Linville being a pest in the winger's sight, he knew where to place the ball. Ricardo received the ball that rolled only a few meters in front of him. The Spanish teenager was expecting the pass coming.

Arbelaez dribbled down the wing, eying into the box as he look to comprehend the situation in the box. Lille players tracked back as Arbelaez counted at least half a dozen men. Yet Le Havre wasn't slacking either, with players throwing themselves into the box in hopes of scrambling a ball in.

With so many people congesting the box, Arbelaez didn't think twice. They were too many people in the box, to begin with, there was no point for him to aim for one specific target. The fullback crossed his fingers as he delivered the ball into the box: a low-driven cross that was at ankle's length.

The giant Pape was the nearest to the cross. The striker lurked at the near post, intending to be at the end of the cross. Yet the ball came rushing right behind him. With his body posture all wrong, Pape used his trailing leg as he wished to get a touch on the ball. Yet the target man can only be disappointed as he failed to get any touch.

The defenders were also thankful, yet there was another Le Havre player that was also in the direction of the cross. The Lille midfielder struggled to keep him at bay, but surprisingly the Le Havre No.10 had an ounce of strength that managed to shake the opposition away.

In the most unlikely of situations, everyone watched as the ball rolled to his feet as the playmaker lifted his leg, having no hesitance as he eyed the crowded goal.

"SEVERINNNNNNNNNN!"

The midfielder drifted up the pitch. There was a strangle sensation in him as he slotted the ball into the back of the net. There was a calmness, an unmoving demeanour in him as jogged to the Lille goal.

it was as if life force had been sucked out of the Lille players as they stared at the goal that was undoubtedly in their goal. Shaking their heads as they realised their hard work that became void as the score became 1—1.

"AND HE HAS DONE IT! SEVERIN DELIVERS THE EQUALISER ONLY 8 MINUTES AFTER CONCEDING!"

Yet during his team celebrating the goal, the No.10 bent his knees as he picked up the ball. Shaking his head to his teammates before returning to the centre circle.

It was as if the goal never happened. Severin wasn't over the moon, nor was he shocked. Regardless of his joy, it had to come to an end, making the inevitable celebration of his team void. The Le Havre teammates realised Severin's message — that they must score another goal.