156 - Manchester United (Part 2)

The clouds continued to hang ominously over the pitch, while the score was now 1-1. Lucas Tanaka was ecstatic. The goal had been a cry of affirmation, but he knew the job was not yet complete. Manchester United were no ordinary opponents; they would press harder and harder until the final whistle.

In the middle of the pitch, Jason Hawthorne stared at Lucas like a predator eyeing its prey. The gleam in the striker's eyes was of one who was determined to return the blow.

"Is that what you've got?" Jason teased, with a smile in his corner. "Let's see how long you last."

Lucas didn't reply. Instead, he raised his chin and signaled to his teammates. He knew that, right now, words didn't matter. It was the performance that would speak loudest.