My Goalkeeping System

Chapter 525: Free-kick Invitation

That equalizer was a massive hit to Dynamo FC who had planned to play it safe for the currently ongoing second half and just drag the game out.

Unfortunately for them, Unique FC didn't give them the chance to do that, striking fast to level the game as soon as the game resumed.

Whatever bit of the home team's morale that seemed to have dropped after conceding that goal in the first half seemed to have been restored now with increased intensity.

The chants from the fans were louder now as Dynamo FC tried to keep the ball away from Unique FC players.

They looked pretty sharp in the first half but the second half was currently seven minutes gone and they seemed to be lacking that first-half intensity. Maybe their game plan suddenly crashing in the first minute of the game was the cause of that.

"Dynamo FC just don't seem to be able to break through Unique FC's line anymore and it doesn't look like they want to take any risks, constantly playing back passes." Jim articulated.

"Well, they seem to be doing a good job of keeping hold of the ball at least," Steve remarked.

In a desperate attempt to break through, Frank pushed forward down the right flank after receiving the ball from one of the defensive midfielders but just before he could kick his full speed into gear, sprinting Roland threw himself toward him, getting the ball off him with a not so neat sliding tackle.

The attacking midfielder crashed down to the ground immediately after that, clutching onto his ankle with his hand up as he called for foul play.

However, there was no response from the referee who allowed Roland who was already up on his feet to carry on with play.

"I guess he did make contact with the ball first but he did also make contact with Frank's ankle."

The fullback quickly pushed the ball a little forward before rolling it to Mateo who was already racing down the middle with one of the defensive midfielders right behind him.

All the youngster needed was a single touch to skillfully drill the ball further forward down the right flank in an attempt to find Merino who had quickly pulled back at that moment to shake off the fullback on him and get his foot on the ball.

As soon as he got his foot on the ball, Minino quickly pushed down further down the right flank, turning his gaze to Frank who was slowly getting up on his feet at that moment.

"That could work." He muttered with a sinister smile on his face.

Catching sight of the midfielder heading toward him, Merino pushed the ball back to him before pushing forward past the fullback marking him.

"Merino to Minino, is he going to play him through?"

That was precisely their plan, and being well aware of that, Minino did not hesitate in drilling the ball in for Merino, skillfully getting it away from the defender who had made an admirable attempt to stop the ball.

"Oh, this is a golden opportunity for Unique FC to take the lead."

It was just as Jim said, Minino's pass put Merino in a pretty good shooting position just inside the box but a little hesitance from the forward was all that was needed for one of the defenders to quickly block his path before stretching out his legs to take the ball from him.

That was a bit of a clumsy mistake from the forward, not taking that shot on time, however, he did not falter.

Trying to salvage what was left of the good chance he had been given, he faked a shot on the defender before quickly shifting the ball to his left foot, quickly lifting it up toward Fred who had just pushed into the box.

"This could be the moment!"

The striker was able to get to the ball ahead of the defender trying to stop him and the defensive midfielder right behind him.

However, just before he could actually nod the ball forward, Victor dived to the target with his gloves, pushing the ball away while somehow avoiding making contact with the striker.

"Oh, wonderful intervention from Victor to thwart that danger."

That was a relief for the Dynamo players and fans but that moment didn't last long for them as the ball happened to have fallen to the foot of Mateo who was just dying to cause some trouble.

"Uh oh, the ball has fallen to Mateo, Dynamo's not clear of danger yet."

Quickly cutting to the right, the youngster was able to get past the defensive midfielder in front of him but just before he could push further forward into the box, he felt someone pull on his shirt from behind before he was forcefully dragged down.

"Oh, come on." He snapped before quickly springing up on his feet, turning to Connell who still had a tiny grip on his shirt. "Hey, what's the big idea?"

The referee blew his whistle to confirm that that was indeed foul play, but that wasn't enough to stop the commotion that had just been kicked up in front of Dynamo FC's goalpost, and wherever there were flames, there was always Minino to add more fuel and wood.

"Oh, dear, the home team are understandably not very pleased about that challenge," Jim commented.

"Yeah, that was a very blatant pull, deserves a card in my opinion."

As expected, Minino took over from Mateo, almost getting into a fight with Connell but thanks to his teammates, he was restrained and just narrowly escaped a yellow card.

The only person who ended up getting booked was Connell and aware of what he did, he made no attempt at protesting against it.

"Well, that sure was something, but now that it's over let's talk about the free kick which could possibly turn into something to Unique FC being so close to the box."

"I'm just wondering who's going to take it."

Back at the pitch, Ferran could be seen heading to Mateo on the spot the referee had marked out for the free kick with the ball in his hand.

"So, are you going to take it?" He asked just after stopping in front of the youngster. "You're clearly the better free-kick taker now."

Mateo was a bit hesitant but he was able to take the bail from him.

"Well, I guess that's true, but…"

"But what?"

"I think Dave should take it." He responded before turning toward the goalkeeper.

Seeing that reaction from the youngster, a smile appeared on Ferran's face as he also turned toward the goalkeeper on the other side of the pitch.

"I guess according to statistics, he is the better free-kick specialist among the three of us.

Mateo began to wave at the goalkeeper at that moment, and it didn't take him long to notice.

<Looks like you're getting a free kick invitation>

'Seems that way.'

<Try not to mess it up>

'I'll do my best.'

To avoid wasting any more time, the goalkeeper quickly began to make his way to the area, the home fans erupting in cheers of joy.

"Looks like they're leaving this one to their multi-talented goalkeeper," Steve commented.

"Well, he is currently the best free-kick taker in the team, converting five out of seven attempts. He did also get the winning goal against Dynamo in their last meeting, it wasn't a free kick but there's a good chance he can make something out of this." Jim articulated.

"If he's not going to score then sending it over the bar might be the best option, anything else and they might be in trouble."

"True."

At the moment, Dave could be seen standing over the ball, his gaze fixated on Dynamo FC's four-man wall inside the box.

I guess it would be more accurate to call it a five-man wall since they had someone below.

The referee was still making sure that everything was in place so in the meantime, he was wondering.

'Victor's a phenomenal goalkeeper, but what the right placement and power, beating him won't be a problem.'

He heard the sound of the referee's whistle resound in his ears at that moment, and in response to that, he slowly took two steps backward.

"The moment of truth," Jim uttered.

After carefully scanning the barricade blocking him from the goal from left to right, the goalkeeper quickly closed up on the ball.

He got to it in no time and with his right foot, he lifted the the ball with tremendous power, kicking up the little droplets still hiding in the grass.

The shot power was out of this world but what really had the fans gaping was the curve as the ball pushed toward the top right corner.

Determined to stop the shot and keep the game level, Victor dived toward it, getting the tip of his gloves on it.

However, that was the best he could do as the ball smashed past him, hitting the angle between the crossbar and post before dropping into the goalpost.

"Oh my goodness! What a strike! Victor stood absolutely no chance against that!"

"What is this guy even doing in between the sticks?"

The home fans went crazy after witnessing that, screaming and jumping. Even some of the away fans couldn't help but applaud that goal.

Dave seemed to have gone as crazy as the fans as he quickly took off to the side screaming at the top of his voice before Minino got to him and dragged him down allowing the rest of his teammates to crash down on him.

Dynamo FC players on the other hand had devastated looks on their faces, especially Victor who was sitting on his goal line shaking his head.

"There you have it, a brilliant moment from Dave and Unique FC have the lead," Jim commented. "That's the second time Victor has conceded against him, making him the goalkeeper he has scored most against."