My Goalkeeping System

Chapter 291 Change Of Tempo

It had already been five minutes since the second half kicked off and so far Dynamo FC have been quiet while Unique FC were controlling the game, but despite that, they weren't finding it easy to get past their defense even through the middle where Norman told them that their defensive force was the weakest.

"Dynamo FC can't hold onto the ball so Unique FC are doing them the favor in hoarding it like they always do but things aren't going exactly smoothly for them." Jim articulated.

Mateo received the ball from Ferran on the right wing and tried to push his way through the two players who were already onto him but he knew it would be futile so he had to send the ball back to Roland who had gotten to the other side of the pitch now.

The left-back got hold of the ball and shifted a little to the middle before passing it to Ferran.

So far, the only thing that the host players were doing was stacking up passes without making any attacking attempts.

They've tried dragging out the defense and making a sleek move but it had all been countered perfectly by the guests.

The last time both teams faced each other was during pre-season and it ended in a goalless draw because both teams were evened out and that seemed to be the case here today except that Dynamo FC already had a one-goal lead.

The most important player in that match for Unique FC was Dave Richards, if it weren't for him, that match could have ended in a different because he pulled off quite a number of unbelievable saves in that match and today that he wasn't here, Dynamo FC had managed to grab the lead from a decisive moment.

Fred was quite confused as he was quickly surrounded by three players as soon as the ball was sent to him from Merino, so he had to send the ball over to Mateo to avoid losing it.

"Mateo."

The winger tried to race down the wing and make a cross into the box but the left-back quickly raced after him and took the ball off him and out for a throw-in with a tackle.

The winger was brought down in the process and raised his hand to call for a foul but the goalkeeper wasn't buying it as the only call he made was for the throw-in which was clearly against Dynamo FC.

"Unique FC are finding things quite difficult here, Mateo especially is struggling to find a way through but things aren't going his way." Jim expressed.

Before that ball went out for a throw-in, Norman was convinced that he had seen enough of what Dynamo FC were doing and now it was time to make his move.

"Looks like Norman has finally decided to make his first change of the night."

Norman seemed to be filling Minino in on something as the midfielder walked alongside toward the official with the board.

"Minino is going to be the one coming in, but who's going to replace him?" Steve said.

"Given that Martinez is the DM, it has to be Edward," Jim said. "He needs fast players to speed up his attacks, Ferran has pace but Edward isn't that fast, this match may take an interesting turn."

The official raised the board to show the number twenty-one in red and the number fifteen in green.

"Looks like you were right, Jim, Edward's going to be the one to make way for Minino," Steve said.

Edward had not been spectacular tonight but he was one of the best midfielders on the team so the fans had to give him a standing ovation as he left the pitch.

Minino was already fired up and was jumping up and down as Edward approached him.

He set up both of his palms for him as he got closer, Edward slapped both of his palms and patted him on the back before the midfielder began to jog his way into the pitch.

He received a louder standing ovation compared to that of Edwards.

"That's the cue," Mateo muttered as his teammates slowly began to fall into their new positions.

Now that Minino was on the pitch it was time for Unique FC to take the throw.

Roland was the one standing on the sidelines looking for the person to give the ball and since almost all of his teammates in the area were almost occupied and would most likely lose the ball after receiving it, he looked for someone in a loose position.

Minino was heading toward the area from the center of the pitch so he sent the ball to him.

"Minino gets his first touch on the ball."

Since most of the Dynamo FC players had their attention in the throw-in area, the midfielder had a little space to run down the middle.

He closed up on the box a little and without hesitation, he sent the ball flying toward the goalpost.

Victor was glued to the center of his goal line as the ball flew toward the top right-hand side and hit the crossbar before falling off for a goal kick.

"Oh, my goodness that was so close!" Jim exclaimed.

"First touch and first shot right off the bat, he's not messing around," Steve said.

"I wasn't expecting him to shoot from there but it was so close to going in," Jim said.

"Why didn't that go in?" Dave said before pressing his teeth against his lower lip.

"An equalizer from him just a few seconds after joining the match would have been wild, I don't know about you but I feel like the tempo of this game has changed." Emma expressed.

Victor sent the ball toward the right and set up Minino for an aerial duel along with his teammate.

Minino just came into the match so he was super energized and hyperactive, he won the aerial duel, and just before getting pulled down by the player, he passed the ball to Mateo who had switched to central attacking midfield now.

"What's Mateo doing in the middle?" Dave asked with a confused expression on his face.

"I think they've....changed formation," Emma said. "Can't you see Fred moving a little to the left?"

"Yeah, Mateo's been switched to attacking midfield." The goalkeeper muttered.

'I hope this works.'

Minino called for a pull on him after getting pulled down, but the referee didn't make any calls so play continued.

Mateo got past the player right in front of him with some neat dribbling before he sent the ball to Merino.

"I think Unique FC has just switched up their formation, I'm getting a certain feeling about this," Jim said.

Merino pushed the ball back to Mateo as soon as he got it and with a single touch, the winger sent the ball to Ferran with his back heel before moving a little to the left ahead of Fred.

"This attack is moving faster and they look more determined compared to the ones before.

Ferran saw an opening and decided to go for a low shot but Minino found himself in the way at the moment.

"Ferran shoots, oh, Minino's blocked it."

That block wasn't all that bad as the midfielder ended up hitting the ball up with his back heel when he was trying to avoid it and now the ball was sent flying toward Mateo who had squeezed through the defenders to create space for himself.

Victor quickly rushed to the area to try and avert the danger, but Mateo was already onto it and with his head, he pushed the ball past the goalkeeper from above and into the goalpost.

"Oh, my goodness what just happened?!" Jim exclaimed.

The guests raised their hands to call for an offside but none of the flags were up as the referee blew his whistle and pointed to the kick-off spot.

"They've gotten that equalizer! They've been looking for it for ages and now they've found it, I don't know what happened there but that block from Minino was a blessing in disguise!"

"Just comes in and provides an assist to put his team back on leveled terms, it wasn't intentional but it worked out well." Steve articulated.

Mateo wasn't even allowed to leave the area as his teammates gathered around him and dragged him down to the floor.

"Dynamo FC have been giving them too much space to reach their box since the start of this second and now they've found a way into that box to punish them, we are now back to square one, Unique FC one, Dynamo FC one."

****

Mass release goals.

A magic castle= one extra chapter.

Two magic castles= two extra chapters.