Minutes died down on the clock. Time passed as both sides sent their final challenges to tilt the score to their side.
The referee blew his whistle as he stopped the play, rushing to the Le Havre right flank that was subjected to a series of fouls and misplays. Sébastien eyed the scene down the sideline and couldn't help but be out of words. The pundit questioned if what he is witnessed could be described as bullying.
The referee eyed Kai, making an exaggerated cross with his arms to show his strong dissatisfaction with the player's sportsmanship. "Quit it. Play properly."
Kai Chiu had his shoulders raised as he replied to the referee with sad puppy eyes. "Sorry. Sorry. I didn't mean it." Though every player on Le Havre certainly knows Kai's words meant anything but.
'Wonderkid. Just cause you're young doesn't mean I will go easy on you... Damn kid.' Kai's not taking any chances. His desire for victory triumphs his reasoning as he showed no remorse to even teenagers. Kai had a devious smirk on his face as he eyed Mikael who is harassing the fourth official repeatedly in hopes of getting himself booked.
Eden Hazard had a dispirited look as he was pushed straight to the ground by the Asian defender. He looked at manager Mikael and found the manager was eying straight at him. The Lille manager was demanding more from the young prospect, but Hazard didn't know how to.
Sure, Hazard performed fantastically in the youth teams and earned a promotion to the U-19 Lille side recently, but he is only 16. Facing players that are much older than him, and receiving "special treatment" from Kai Chiu is not what he was expecting.
But regardless of the events happening on one side of the field. Football is a team game, and the rest of the players each have a role to contribute to the progress of the match. Marley eyed the field. The changes made the Le Havre team unbalanced, very unbalanced. By using Kai at right back and asking him to only defend, the right flank of Le Havre suddenly became very weak on offence. Not to mention Leroy who is playing out of position on the wings, the player's involvement in the game decreased exponentially.
Instead, the team now relied more and more upon Chevalier and Arbelaez to lead the attack. The duo's attacking chemistry is impressive as always, with Chevalier able to cut inside to dictate the game and Arbelaez overlapping to create space and uncertainty for opponents on the wing.
"OH AND KAI TACKLES HAZARD FOR THE BALL!"
The Lille youngster barely got the ball at feet before the dishonest defender by the name of Kai Chiu performed a heavy tackle on him. The physical force behind the tackle was shocking, as Hazard, despite preparing himself for contact, was left tumbling forward from the impact. The ball disappeared under his feet Kai dribbled with the ball.
The defender had only moved a few feet forward to give himself some time to decide on the best passing option. Yet his vision and ability on the ball are limited. Knowing this fact, Gerald Roys dropped deep from the midfield, making eye contact with the defender as he communicated his intentions silently.
"And the player lays it off to the captain…"
Roys gathered the ball to his feet, his contemplation during the "Hour of Reflection" caused him to reconsider his mentality and inner decision during situations like this. He steadied the ball before him, taking a brisk look up the pitch to scan his options. The captain knows that the armband on his left arm has a weight unimaginable for those who had never worn it.
The captain was stern. Right now, this is no time to hold back and play it safe. He has to take charge, take control, and lead things by example. Roys stared, never once had the prospect of failure dwelled in him. What's worse than defeat is not doing anything about it.
"AND GERALD ROYS PLAYS A LONG BALLL… TO THE FEET OF CHEVALIER!!!"
The Le Havre left winger ran to the ball as quickly as his body allowed. The constant running had left him almost on the ground by the sheer persistence of the defender that is marking him.
As the ball dropped to the ground, that uncanny sensation of danger triggered in his head as he felt the presence of Bonfils on his tail. Normally, Chevalier would be full of confidence to beat the defender one-on-one. But the fatigue is unbearable as his breathing is unsteady.
Chevalier had his body turned as he shielded the ball with his body. He used his body frame as a separator between the ball and Bonfils.
The winger knows better than to just blindly run at the defence. He is awaiting his teammates, and his peers to present him with options.
"Mauger. MAUGER!" Arbelaez shouted as he run up the pitch, having his arm raised for the ball as he made himself open. Yet the fullback is tightly marked by the Dubreucq.
Chevalier made his move.
"AND CHEVALIER PASSES TO… — NO! HE CUTS INSIDE THE PITCH AND ATTACKS THE CENTRE!"
That slight hesitance, that slight alleviation of force from the Lille defender is all Chevalier needed to know Bonfils was distracted, too concerned with the danger of the overlapping Arbelaez.
The chance was seized. Finding the route, he dribbled vertically across the field as he eyed the forward line. The Lille midfielders were in two minds, a presence invaded their zone, but should they leave their midfield counterpart to close down this player?
Leon certainly thought so as he ignored Severin that is running through the centre. He eyed the winger as he closed down the distance in a frantic manner, imposing his superiority.
"LEON….."
The midfielder barged his shoulders, bumping against the winger to knock him off his balance. That was what he was expecting but the result was out of his expectations.
Using his superior vision, Chevalier was like an eagle as he surveyed the field. The open passing option didn't leave his view as Chevalier passed to Severin, the exact player the became unmarked by the rash Leon.
"Crap" Leon realised his mistake, changing his target immediately as he refocused on Severin to win the ball back.
Leon lunged for the ball, but once again was left to be made a fool as he was completely played. The ball was at Chevalier's feet, passed to Severin, but then returned to Chevalier in such a manner that left Leon stunned.
"OH! – AND WHAT A BEAUTIFUL ONE-TWO BETWEEN SEVERIN AND CHEVALIER! LEON HAS FALLEN VICTIM TO THIS FANTASTIC! — FANTASTIC! ATTACKING COOPERATION!"
By now everyone has noticed the phenomenon on the pitch. The boy-wonder is using his magic, the audience can feel it, the coaching team can feel it, and every player on the field can feel something unbelievable is about to happen.
The Lille team was shaken. "Get Back! GET BACK!" Mikael ordered on the sidelines, informing the team the danger that was brewing.
The crowd chanted. Their belief united together to deliver a lasting impact on one individual. "CHE–VA–LI–ER. CHE–VA–LI–ER. CHE–VA–LI–ER…" The crowd chanted, their throats burning as they fulfilled their responsibilities as the invisible support outside the pitch.
Adrenaline powered the No.7. Chevalier, rejuvenated, found a strength that he never thought he had within him as he ran harder against the current. It was the perfect chance. He wasn't going to let it slide.
'Should I play it safe?' No, the boy-wonder shook his head. At a moment like this, they must get a goal. They must get a goal and nothing else.
"–– LONG BALL TO PAPEEEEE!!!"
It was cross delivered deep in the midfield. But there was enough height to the cross that made Pape the intended target. The giant moved involuntarily to the ball, his instinct getting the better of him as he made his unnatural movement to get to the ball.
Estienne was having none of it. Both of his arms wrapped around the striker to stop him at all costs. Pope gritted his teeth, trying to shake off the defender using his strength.
But the shackles put upon him were like a force like never before. Pape struggled against the challenge, his footing slowing despite his best.
The ball was nearing.
Pape jumped.
Estienne jumped.
"OH NO… – Pape missed the header…"
Lanier was on his knees as he witnessed the header directed nowhere near the goal. The coach swore in his heart the striker would have double the heading training from tomorrow onwards. Marley had his eyes closed as he couldn't bear suffering his undeserved pain.
But Kai saw something different. His persistence and continuous observation on the field made him notice something that others didn't pick up. He was on his toes, hands clasped together as his belief of them winning hasn't faltered
"WAIT! – WHAT THE..."
The header wasn't missed. It was never intended to be a goal, but a pass to a player that disappeared off the field once all the attention was focused on Chevalier and Pape.
None noticed the threat. Arbelaez saw the ball head his way. He was clear. The defenders didn't pick him up. None of the Lille players noticed him before it was much too late.
The Lille Keeper panicked. Rushing away from the goal to limit the angle Arbelaez could score. The angle was tight, could he do it?
"GOAAALLLLLLL!!! HE HAS DONE IT! ARBELAEZ SLOTS THE BALL RIGHT THROUGH THE KEEPER'S LEGS!"
There was a relief in Arbelaez as he witnessed the ball collide with the back of the net. He couldn't believe what had happened. He was still trying to process that he, a fullback of all players, managed to score a goal. The events had happened much too fast for him to react. A long ball, another long ball, a header, and then a goal?
But before Arbelaez can further think this through, an unbearable mass weighed down him as he found Bernard Pape piling on top of him.
"Oof! My poor stomach!"
Arbelaez voiced between puffed breaths, but before he can send his dissatisfaction, another body piled on him. And then another, and another, before the entire team piled on top of Arbelaez to celebrate the goal.
"Ow, ow, ow. My tummy…"
Though the celebration was sincere, the fullback was trying his best to inform them he was struggling to breathe. And that his life might end on a football field…
Sebastien: "ITS THE 78TH MINUTE AND LE HAVRE HAS TURNED THE SHIP AROUND! FROM 0–1 DOWN TO 2–1 UP. I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT!!! – IS THAT THE WINNING GOAL OF THE GAME?"
Kai slapped Lanier that was parading on the ground, stopping the coach in his eerie display as he pointed at the scoreboard. The baldy was confused, but his mood soon took a rapid U-turn as he jumped up and down on the sidelines. Lanier shook Kai beside him as he was in disbelief.
"WE'RE WINNING!? COME ON! LET'S GOOOOOO!"