Starters vs Reserves (2)

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"Alright, boys, the match is going to be pretty standard," Xavier said to the boys when they came back from the locker room. "I don't care if you already did training or you're feeling tired. We're going to play two forty-five minute halves."

After hearing these words, all the boys started to complain. Even Alexis, who was usually very quiet, couldn't help but voice a complaint. They were just teenagers. They barely completed the ninety minutes when they were fully fit in the first place. They couldn't imagine how it would be playing a full ninety after some training beforehand.

Eventually, all of their complaints were summarized by David, who directly spoke to Xavier instead of murmuring like the rest of the squad.

"With due respect, sir," David began, "are you trying to kill us? We're already tired from the training we did earlier. I think it's unwise to force us to play a full ninety minutes. What if we get injuries from it?"

Xavier appeared to be in deep thought. "Alright then, you cunts will play the full ninety minutes and have the next two days off to recover."

"It's Friday, sir; we always have the weekend free," David said.

"Well then, I don't see what you're complaining about."

David turned to the rest of the squad and shrugged. It was his way of saying, "I tried my best." Everyone else groaned. By now, they figured that there was no way to escape the training—they just had to get it over with.

The two teams went to their respective sides on the field and stood in formation. Alexis looked at David and Archie standing behind him. This was his last chance to prove that he could play in the same system as them.

"Alright, Emery is going to be the main referee. Kieran and Emmanuel will serve as the linesmen," Xavier said. He went to the touchline and sat on a chair placed nearby. "I would stand to watch, but I can't imagine myself standing for ninety more minutes after that grueling training session. Good luck, boys."

"Fuck you!"

"Wanker!"

"Fucking get a stroke!"

"I pray your chair breaks!"

"Break a leg… literally!"

The players couldn't hold themselves back after they heard Xavier's words. He was clearly provoking them. During the training session, all he had to do was stand and give a few corrections from time to time. They had been the ones doing the real work.

Xavier didn't seem to mind the outburst from the team. In fact, he even agitated them more, sticking his tongue out at them and showing them his middle finger.

"Focus on your match, cunts!" he said while laughing at them.

Kieran blew his whistle to restore order. The situation could've developed into a one-versus-twenty-six brawl if he hadn't calmed the players down.

Michael had the ball in the center of the field. Kieran blew his whistle, and Michael passed to Alexis. The training match had started!

2'

It didn't take long for Team 1 to get their first chance. Team 2 decided to press the Team 1 players, a strategy that would've been good if not for the fact that Team 1 had two monsters anchoring the midfield. As soon as the ball got to Archie and David, they distributed it with so much expertise and calmness. As for finding space between the midfield and the defense, it didn't take much time. When the space came about, Alexis was already lurking behind and waited for their pass.

When Alexis got the ball, he hinted at a move to his right before sharply turning to his left, getting past the defender that marked him. With time and space in his favor, Alexis took his time, then sent a through ball to the left-hand side to Trey, who was already making a run.

Trey ran towards the ball and found himself face-to-face with the left-back when he got the ball. His legs flashed over the ball a couple of times as he did a stepover, then kicked the ball between the legs of the defender. He found himself in an abundance of space on the left flank, drove the ball forward, and sent a left-footed cross into the box.

Michael Uche managed to free himself from his markers and stuck a foot out to the cross. Just when it looked like the ball was going into the net, Oliver Green (Team 2 center back) cleared it off the line. Unfortunately, the ball only went as far as David.

Xavier, who was watching from the touchline, had a smirk on his face when the ball reached David. "Knuckleball," he said, quite loudly in fact.

David controlled the ball with a touch from his left leg. The ball bounced off his leg, and he then kicked it towards the goal on a half-volley. Unlike normal shots where the ball had a certain spin while moving towards its destination, this ball didn't spin. It just went up, then dipped towards the top right corner of the goalpost.

Sam dove towards the ball, full stretch, but he couldn't manage to touch it. He could only watch as the ball rustled the back of the net.

"Team 1, goal!" Kieran blew his whistle and pointed at the goalpost.

"What the fuck was that?!"

"Fucking knuckleball."

"David, you sexy genius!"

The players on Team 1 got excited when they saw the goal that David scored. Alexis couldn't believe his eyes. That was such a sexy shot. It was… turning him on! (A/N: not in a sexual way, lol)

The person who made the shot everyone was fussing about didn't have any reaction. He would only smile at the people who called him David and repeat the same four words: "Please, call me Dave."

After a bit of celebration, the two teams retreated back to their respective positions. Even though they had seen an absolute beauty of a shot, they had to remain composed. They still had a match to win, after all.

Xavier had a smirk on his face. He carefully observed the facial expressions of the players on the reserve team.

"This is about to get fun," he smiled to himself.

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