A Moment To Shine

The moment Morales called his name, Daniel felt his pulse quicken.

He had been waiting for this.

As he jogged down the sideline to warm up, the roar of the crowd filled his ears. The stadium wasn't as massive as a LaLiga arena, but it felt just as intense. Fans chanted, waving banners for CF Igualada, urging them to turn the game around.

Daniel glanced at the scoreboard:

CF Igualada 0 - 1 CF Olesa55th Minute

Not much time left.

He finished his sprints and returned to Morales, who stood with his arms crossed.

"You're going in," Morales said, voice firm. "But listen carefully—don't force it. Play smart. If you try to do everything yourself, you'll make mistakes. Let the game come to you."

Daniel nodded.

The assistant coach held up the substitution board.

Number 17 OFF.Number 10 ON.

Daniel stepped forward, exchanging a handshake with the player coming off. The ref signaled him onto the pitch.

It was time.

The moment his cleats touched the grass, Daniel's mind switched into game mode.

Everything felt sharper—the movement of the players, the positioning of the defenders, the weight of the ball as it rolled across the pitch.

His time-perception powers kicked in, subtly slowing things down in his mind. He had learned to control it better over the past few months—rather than making everything feel disorienting, he could now use it in flashes.

As he scanned the field, his instincts kicked in.

CF Olesa had been pressing aggressively all game, but their right-back was slower than the rest of their defense. If Igualada could exploit that side, there was a chance to break through.

Luis played a short pass to him.

Daniel received it cleanly, feeling the defender on his back.

Tap. Touch. Turn.

With a quick flick, he spun away and surged forward. A midfielder from Olesa rushed in, trying to close him down, but Daniel saw it coming a second earlier than normal.

He cut inside, dodging the tackle.

The crowd roared.

Miguel was making a run down the left. Daniel played a through-ball, perfectly weighted. Miguel sprinted onto it and sent a cross into the box—

Header!

Saved!

The Olesa goalkeeper punched it away at the last second.

Daniel clenched his fists. So close.

Minutes passed. Igualada dominated possession but couldn't break through. Olesa's defense held firm, blocking shots and closing passing lanes.

Daniel kept moving, positioning himself between defenders, looking for openings.

Then—

A counterattack.

Olesa's striker broke free.

One-on-one with the keeper.

Daniel sprinted back, muscles burning. His time perception kicked in again, and he anticipated the striker's shot before it happened.

Just as the ball left his foot, Daniel lunged.

His foot deflected the shot at the last second, sending it wide.

The crowd erupted.

Daniel rolled onto the grass, breathing hard.

"¡Buena, Carter!" someone shouted.

He didn't know what that meant, but from the way Miguel patted his back, it had to be good.

75th Minute.

Still 0-1.

Time was running out.

Daniel knew they needed something different.

He drifted into space, waiting for the right moment. When the ball finally came, he didn't rush.

Instead, he slowed down.

Olesa's midfield pressed him, but he saw the space opening. A tiny gap.

One touch. Two touches.

Then—a chip over the top.

Miguel ran onto it.

One-on-one with the keeper.

Shot.

GOAL.

The stadium exploded.

CF Igualada 1 - 1 CF Olesa.

Daniel pumped his fist. They were back in it.

The Final Moments

85th minute.

Olesa was getting desperate.

Their defense started making mistakes, leaving gaps.

Daniel could feel the moment coming.

Then—Luis won the ball in midfield.

Daniel sprinted forward.

Luis saw him and played the ball.

Daniel's mind slowed everything down.

One defender closing in.

He feinted right—then cut left.

Space opened.

Just the goalkeeper now.

Daniel took a deep breath.

Then—he struck.

The ball curled past the keeper's outstretched hands.

And hit the back of the net.

CF Igualada 2 - 1 CF Olesa.

The crowd went wild.

Daniel barely had time to react before his teammates swarmed him, shouting and celebrating.

He had done it.

The final whistle blew.

CF Igualada had won.

As they walked off the field with Daniel being awarded as Man of the Match, he felt a hand on his shoulder.

He turned.

Morales was staring at him.

For a second, the coach said nothing.

Then—he nodded.

"Good work, Carter."

Daniel smiled.

Maybe—just maybe—he was ready for promotion.