Semifinals (2)

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[And these are the starting lineups for the two teams in action right now. It looks like Jeremiah Hayes Football Institution coach Victor Werst has stuck to the 3-4-3 formation that he used last time out against Jermaine Walter Academy.]

[Starting in goal is Archie Stoke, making his third consecutive appearance in this tournament.]

[There's a back three consisting of Nathaniel Drake, Jeremy Carlson, and Moses Ford. They'll be covered by the midfield quartet of Lewis Carver,Ethan Hallbury, Jamie Halliday, and Miles Heath.]

[The only change to the lineup is Jordan Phillips coming in for Daniel Durant, who had an abysmal game last time out. It's a front three of Zachary Cole, Jeremiah Hayes Jr., and Jordan Phillips.]

[The Young Dragons Academy are sticking to their usual 4-3-3 formation.]

[In goal, it's Isaiah O'Connor. He's kept two clean sheets in a row in this tournament and will be looking to make this match his third consecutive shutout.]

[Protecting him will be a back four consisting of Aaron Welbeck, Destiny Uchechukwu, James Shoyinka, and Taylor Mosby.]

[The same midfield trio of Bruce Henry, Justin Cleverlake, and Christian Romero will once again be holding it down. They've been representing the academy together since they were twelve years old.]

[Upfront, we have the joint top scorers of the tournament. Along with Jeremiah Hayes Jr. on the opposing team, Casey Simpson, Victor Smith, and Miles Hunter all have three goals to their names so far.]

[It's a very exciting lineup that we have in front of us today, and I'm sure that everyone watching this match, as well as the players, are eager to get it underway.]

"Hey man, good luck," Casey Simpson, the captain of The Young Dragons Academy, called out to Jerry as they met the referee for the pre-match formalities.

Jerry smiled when he heard Casey's words. "Can't say I wish you the same, though."

Casey laughed when he heard Jerry's response. Although it was said in jest, Jerry's words made it clear that he wasn't here to mess around. Casey respected that level of determination.

After their brief interaction, the two captains turned their attention to the referee. Following a quick round of basic greetings, they engaged in the coin toss, which Casey won. He opted for his team to take the kickoff, and both captains returned to their respective halves of the pitch to prepare for the start of the match.

Fweee

[And that's the starting whistle! What promises to be a very interesting match has commenced.]

The commentators shared a few opening remarks as The Young Dragons Academy began the game with a simple pass back to their midfield, signaling their intent to control possession early on.

The first ten minutes of the match were evenly contested. Both teams enjoyed lengthy spells of possession but struggled to create any clear-cut chances. It was clear that the two defensive units were well-organized and prepared for the occasion. The back three of Jeremiah Hayes Football Institution held their shape firmly, while The Young Dragons' back four worked tirelessly to snuff out any dangerous passes.

However, the balance between the two teams did not last long. By the fifteenth minute, the status quo shifted dramatically.

25'

Jeremiah Hayes Football Institution was enjoying a promising spell of possession when a disastrous error changed the flow of the game. Jamie Halliday, the central midfielder for Jeremiah Hayes Football Institution, attempted a simple sideways pass to his teammate, Lewis Carver, stationed on the right side of the pitch. Unfortunately for Jamie, he didn't put enough power behind the pass, leaving it vulnerable to interception.

Seizing the opportunity, Casey Simpson, the star right winger for The Young Dragons Academy, pounced on the loose ball and immediately surged forward toward the opposition's goal. His speed and quick thinking caught the Jeremiah Hayes defenders off guard.

Lewis Carver, determined to make up for the mistake, quickly stepped in front of Casey to block his path. But Casey was prepared. With a clever touch, he played the ball between Lewis's legs, cutting out wide toward the wing.

Even though Lewis had been nutmegged, he didn't give up. He chased Casey down and met him just as Casey regained control of the ball. Once again, Lewis lunged for the tackle. And once again, Casey outwitted him, this time cutting inside and sending the ball through Lewis's legs a second time.

"Damn it," Lewis muttered under his breath, frustration evident in his voice. In his attempt to recover and reposition himself, he tangled up his own feet and stumbled to the ground, leaving Casey free to continue his run. The crowd buzzed with excitement at Casey's skillful display, and the commentators couldn't help but heap praise on him.

Casey, unfazed by the chaos behind him, kept driving toward the goal. By the time he reached the edge of the penalty box, he found himself face-to-face with Moses Ford, one of Jeremiah Hayes Football Institution's most reliable defenders. Unlike Lewis, Moses didn't immediately commit to a tackle. Instead, he adopted a cautious, zonal marking strategy, keeping Casey in front of him while waiting for the right moment to make a move.

Casey recognized Moses's approach and adjusted his pace, slowing down as he approached the box. This forced Moses to backpedal, giving Casey a bit more room to maneuver. Then, with a sudden burst of acceleration, Casey cut inside, creating just enough space to take a shot.

The stadium held its breath as Casey unleashed a powerful strike. The ball curved toward the near post, catching Archie Stoke, the goalkeeper for Jeremiah Hayes Football Institution, off guard. Archie had already committed to diving toward the far post, leaving him completely out of position.

The net rippled as the ball slammed into the back of the goal. It was a brilliant solo effort by Casey Simpson, and The Young Dragons Academy erupted into celebration.

[The Young Dragons Academy had scored!]

A/N: sorry for the lack of updates, my laptop was getting fixed but I'm back noww.

And if anyone is having trouble imagining what happened between Casey and Moses, search for videos of Diogo Dalot twerking for left wingers on YouTube. I'm sure you'll have more than enough material