As the second half kicked off, Benjamin's demeanor shifted.
York City's players still felt sluggish compared to Real Madrid, but something about Benjamin's gameplay had changed. The flow of the game began to tilt.
In the 50th minute, Benjamin's underdog squad worked the ball upfield with surprising fluidity.
A quick one-two pass between the forwards created a sliver of space. The crowd roared—or rather, the virtual crowd on the screen did—as Benjamin's striker unleashed a low, driven shot that slipped under the diving Casillas.
"3–1," Adam, playing the role of an announcer, leaned forward with interest. "You've got one back."
Sophie waved it off with a flick of her hand. "Just a consolation goal," she declared, but her earlier smugness had dimmed just slightly.
Benjamin's focus deepened further. His defense tightened, and Sophie's confident dribbles were suddenly met with well-timed tackles.