Free Web NovelChapter 13: [13] "The Boy Who Killed the Plan"
Henri rubbed his temples. "I don’t know. He’s not in our scouting database, he’s not in our tapes. I just called my assistant, and he’s an eighteen-year-old kid they’ve pulled up from the reserves this morning. Damn that Dubois."
There was a lot of grumbling in the locker room. Managers did not automatically start inexperienced defenders just because they had some rookies in the mix.
"Hey, it’s a trap," Mateo grumbled, getting to his feet. "He’s watched the tape from last week, and he knows you’re fast and eager to run behind them so he put a kid in place of his slow defender. Why?"
Luc completed the thought: "Because the kid has pace." He wasn’t concerned. In fact, he smiled. It was a cold smile. "The plan remains the same: Dubois thinks he can outrun me, let’s see if he can. Hugo will find the space, Mateo will give Hugo the time to make the pass, and I will do the rest."
Henri looked like he was ready to avoid a fight and just lay back, to switch to defence and just play out a 0-0 draw. However, he noticed the absolute confidence in Luc and swallowed his words. "All right, stick to the plan, but beware, Luc, Belleville isn’t a nice little place to play. Their defence was the best in the league last season.".
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The whistle sounded and the inside of the stadium was so loud it was deafening.
When the match started, 40,000 fans screamed. This cold air burned Luc’s lungs, but he quickly began looking at the pitch and making his notes on the geometry of the game.
Belleville was a mean team. After just five minutes, the giant twin, Khalil, appeared. A floated ball was kicked up towards the midfield. Luc jumped to chest it down. Khalil ran in at the back for the ball as though he were a freight train and powered his foot into the centre of Luc’s back.
Luc barrelled headfirst into the cold turf. The wind was violently knocked out of his lungs.
The fans at Belleville were in an uproar. The referee only waved his hands and said it was okay to play. No foul.
Luc tried to get up, gasping for breath. He ate dirt and grass. Khalil passed him and was grinning with a big gap in his teeth. "Welcome to Belleville little boy."
Luc didn’t say a word. He merely wiped his mouth and ran back to his place. He desired them to be aggressive. He wanted Khalil to be sure of himself. Confidence breeds carelessness.
Over the next half hour, there was "no-peace" in the game for SC Valois. Belleville was pushing high, hoping to get SC Valois to make a mistake. Hugo’s midfield battle was proving to be difficult. He was being bullied by bigger and more powerful opponents. However, Mateo did not disappoint. The heavily tattooed captain was a bodyguard and rushed in to cover tackles for the young playmaker.
Luc remained very high on the pitch. He watched closely the new boy, Amadou Fall. Amadou was not quite as tall as Luc, would be described as lean, and was very quiet. He didn’t advance. He simply stood around watching the U.S. player.
Minute 38. Finally, it was time.
Belleville put too many guys in front when kicking off in corners. The cross was poor. Mateo cleared the ball long out of the penalty area. It was well fed to the feet of Hugo Blanc towards the middle circle.
The Belleville midfielders began to rush close Hugo down.
Luc saw the trap instantly. Khalil, the big center-back, was standing close to the half way line. Khalil moved aggressively, trying to put Luc offside or tackle him before he had a chance to get the ball.
This was exactly what Luc desired.
"Hugo! Now!" Luc shouted through the noise of the crowd. frёewebnoѵel.ƈo๓
Hugo didn’t hesitate. He delivered a beautiful, looping pass right over Khalil’s head, to the forty yards of totally unoccupied green grass behind the Belleville defense.
Khalil knew at once that he had made a mistake. He attempted to stop and turn, but the obstacle which was his great size proved too great. He stumbled.
Luc turned around and went off on a rampage.
This was his land. Pure, unadulterated speed. He took three strides to hit top gear. The cold wind blew in his face. He maintained his gaze on the ball falling like a shooting star in an open sky. He continually tracked the ball. He had knocked out Khalil. He was completely isolated. Nobody else was on that area of the field with him, just the goalie.
Or so he thought.
He suddenly noticed that some part of his vision was obscured by a shadow.
Luc’s pupils dilated a bit. There was somebody running beside him. A person closing the distance at an awe-inspiring, unnatural pace.
It was Amadou Fall.
"This shouldn’t be possible," Luc screamed at his legs.
[System Notification]
[Reminder: Temporary reduction in speed stats for the duration of one match]
"Shit," Luc shouted. "How could I forget about this."
The 18-year-old youth player was not only quick but also skillful. He was a rocket. His running form was so elegant that he seemed like he was not even touching the ground with his cleats.
Luc was trying to find a sixth gear, and he was doing his utmost to strain his muscles to their very limit. This was the first time in his life that he had been outran. Not in college. Not in trials. Never.
However, this child was quicker. The Everything System playing a part ofcourse.
Finally, Amadou didn’t dive into a mess and tackle the ball. He didn’t panic. Instead, he just sailed past Luc then swept his body off steadily in the American’s way and, of course, protected the ball.
Luc wanted to push Amadou away, but his core was as tough as well-cemented... cement. Luc rebounded off of him and awkwardly stumbled in grass, losing all momentum.
Amadou took one gentle touch to control the falling ball and then skated the ball back to his charging goalkeeper.
The risk was immediately removed.
The stadium erupted into a huge, derisive cheer.
Luc was standing by the penalty box, his chest rising and falling, his eyes bulging with complete shock. He looked at the boy. Amadou didn’t gloat. He didn’t say anything or talk any sort of trash talk. He simply turned around and quietly walked up to his defense, his face a blank slate.
It was like the greatest disgrace. Dubois had not only placed a youth kid just a bit faster than the rest. He had installed a specialist there only to neutralise the threat of the American altogether.
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However, the ordeal was far from over.
The Belleville goalie sent the ball rolling out to his fullback as Luc was dazed. SC Valois was all out of position. They had sent men forward, and they were hopeful that Luc would score.
Belleville made a perfect, uncompromising counter-attack. The unorganised SC Valois midfield was cut through by four quick passes. Mateo was able to attempt to slide in and stop the final pass but was too late.
The Belleville forward was in possession on the edge of the box and drove it home into the top corner of the net.
1-0.
