Chapter 546: Disaster Comes?!
Unfortunately, the moment Japan tried to slow down the pace, Senegal decided to strike hard. The two wingers on the flanks started to exert their strength, bullying Miki Yamane and Sugawara left and right.
Honestly, if it was just speed, the two full backs would still be able to survive. However, the physicality shown by the two wingers, Amadou Sagna and Ousseynou Niang, was too much for them to handle. This kind of confrontation was the worst, enough to wear them down just in one half.
"No, I cannot do this all the time, Nakamura." Miki Yamane was ashen as he held his knee while trying to keep his breath steady. This was probably the worst state he had ever been in the first half of his career. "If we don’t change something here, let alone preventing any leak, I wouldn’t be able to survive two or three more clashes."
Nakamura couldn’t help but nod solemnly here. He himself also saw how battered his comrade was. "So, what would you need me to do?" He asked.
The only answer he got, though, was just pure silence, as Miki Yamane himself didn’t know what to do right now. This was not something that could be thought in a wimp, and with his exhausted state, there was no way he could force his brain to work clearly. The boy tried to look at the bench, but Kageyama-sensei’s focus was completely on the other side of the pitch.
"It cannot be helped." In the end, Miki Yamane gritted his teeth. "Let’s try to run more. Even if we are getting replaced later, we have to defend our area with everything we have. No leak can escape from the left flank!"
Unfortunately, things didn’t go well in this regard.
A few minutes later, another attack came from that side. This time, Ousseynou Niang burst with his speed, and while doing so, he used his left hand to protect the space around him, preventing Miki Yamane from entering his personal space. This was a normal defensive move to protect himself, but in return, Miki Yamane felt like he got slapped on the chest quite hard.
Thud!
This move was so subtle that it threw his balance off. However, the referee just looked at it as a normal contact and continued the game. This left that side open, with Nakamura having to face two players at the same time.
Niang didn’t hesitate here. After attracting Nakamura’s attention, he saw the full back, Alpha Dionko, was making an overlap on the outer side, so the boy sent a through pass there, passing through Nakamura’s defense. Then...
Thud!
A high cross was delivered, with the target one meter away from the six-yard box. It was aimed at Ibrahima Niane, the giant who always hovered around the box and who was currently fighting against two players simultaneously, Hiroki Ito and Ayumu Seko.
"Fuck! Don’t you dare lose a position, Ayu!"
"Shut up and work, Ito!"
Those two jumped together, gritting their teeth to get a better position against Niane. Unfortunately, while they were at the same height, the Senegalese player was 10 pounds heavier and somehow jumping higher than them. The difference in their physical state was so visible that those two, to everyone’s shock, lost this aerial duel.
BAM!
The header itself was also strong, going like a bullet to the bottom left. Zion just stood in the middle, freezing on the spot and unable to react. As a result, the ball hit the back of the net quite smoothly, giving Senegal the goal they needed the most here.
"OH! As expected, it has to be you!"
"Good job, Niane! That’s how you head it!"
"Come on!"
All the Senegalese players celebrated around Ibrahima Niane, who was knee-sliding close to the corner spot. The goal really helped alleviate the pressure on their shoulder, and it also came so timely, six minutes away before the first half was over. The goal came right before they were too anxious to act, and with that, they could also continue the rest of the first half with ease.
Of course, the same thing couldn’t be said for Team Japan. This goal was a complete disaster for them. Not just because of the score, as a draw in this minute wasn’t really that bad. However, the process was completely devastating, enough to give a huge blow to the team’s morale.
The fact that their two best defenders, Ito and Ayumu Seko, were beaten simultaneously like this didn’t sit quite well in their stomachs. Not only that, before the header came, Miki Yamane was also getting beaten on the flank, and the boy was also one of the most solid defenders on the team.
Three of their best players getting beaten in just one play. This was definitely not a good sign for the team, and now, they were haunted by one horrible thought: What could prevent the opponent from repeating the same scheme?
That thought only flashed for a second, but the effect was clear. All the players were so down instantly, and no matter how hard some of them were trying to encourage each other, the result was still nothing.
As a result, their performance in the last six minutes of the first half was only getting worse.
They lost possession more often, and their offense also got stuck in front of the Senegalese defensive line, unable to reach the penalty box. It was as if everything they did had no meaning at all.
To make it worse, the Senegal team also got more excited. Their players became more aggressive in chasing the ball and forcing the opponent to run further. Their threat became more dangerous, and finally...
With one more minute to go, Amadou Niang made a cut inside move to get past Sugawara. Having a little space in front of him, the boy tried to use his right foot to curl the ball from his spot. However, the inevitable happened.
BAM!
Ito jumped right at the same time as the shot was launched, and yet, his active hand was also raised at the same time. As a result, the ball bounced off it quite obviously, and what followed was the whistle from the referee.