"I thought the first half was going to end on equal grounds but Dynamo FC managed to grab an opener from a corner kick just before the referee blew his whistle, it was a weird header from Frank James, but it was enough to do the job." Jim expressed. "What do you think about the first half performance, Steve?"
"Both teams have played so well, obviously they have both been playing cautiously, that's why Unique FC has one shot so far which was on target and Dynamo FC didn't get any shot until the last minute when they got two shots both of them being on target and one of them leading to a goal.
"The guests have clearly been the more decisive side but we've learned from other matches this season and even near the end of last season not to count off Unique FC until the final whistle, I know they'll do something, so let's wait and see how the second half will play out."
"Alright, Dynamo FC has managed to force out a one-goal lead from the hosts but will they be able to hold onto it? We'll all find out in the second half, so don't go anyway."
Unique FC players were all in the locker room, some of them had pulled off their shirts while some of them were trying to quench their thirst.
Norman was quietly standing in front of them as he wanted all of them to settle down before he said what he wanted to say.
"I can't say that was the best we could have done out there in the first half but you guys tried at least although that goal was quite unfortunate, I would have been happy if we went in on the break on equal grounds, but now we have a lot of work to do." He expressed.
"They just have too many players at the back, that's why they weren't attacking much until the last minute, trying to find a way past their backline is a serious pain," Fred said before letting out a deep sigh.
"I am aware of that, but Mateo managed to get through and get a shot on target, he may have been able to pull that off because of the situation then but that proves that their excessive backline isn't completely impenetrable, no defense is completely impenetrable, it becomes like that if you choose to do nothing serious about it."
"So, what's your plan, coach?" Adolf asked.
"We're going to find a way through their cracks and that's going to be through the middle because that's where they have the most cracks on their defense." He replied.
He slowly looked at all the players before he turned to the board and took steps toward it to get close enough to it.
"Minino will be coming on early in the second half to replace Edward and that is when things are going to change, that is when we are going to switch to four-four-two."
"Four-four-two? That means someone is going to switch from attack to midfield or are you also replacing one of the attackers with a midfielder?" Adolf asked.
"No, Edward Harry are more of central midfielders, they're good in helping control the game and making important passes and Frankie is more of a defensive midfielder even though his natural position is central midfield so I'm going to be pulling someone who can help control the game, drop deep to draw out the defense and create chances as well as attack back into midfield to make my attacking midfielders three," Norman explained.
"And that will be Mateo, right?" Roland asked.
"Yeah," Norman replied before turning his gaze back to the board to illustrate their change of game plan. "Now listen carefully, all of you, as soon as Minino steps on the pitch, I want you to shift a little to the left to create space for Mateo to switch into central attacking midfield and then Minino will be on the right as an attacking midfielder along with the both of you."
"And that means that the attacking roles will be left to me and Merino," Fred said.
"Yeah," Norman replied with a nod.
"Remember, our main focus is going to be through the middle, keep that in mind, everyone."
"Okay, but why not start the match with this change? It seems pretty legit to me so I don't think we shouldn't waste any time in using it against them?" Adolf asked.
"I know where you're coming from, Adolf but I'll like to observe things for a while before I can deploy this move," Norman replied.
'Nice change of tactics from coach as expected, but I hope they don't have a countermeasure already, I hope this works.' Mateo said subconsciously.
Back at the stands in the stadium, Dave was sitting quietly on his seat with both of his hands folded together and a lot of thoughts going through his mind while Emma was busy writing down something on her jotter, she had been writing since the first half came to an end, and she was still doing that.
"I wonder what the coach is telling them now, probably giving them a little scolding." The goalkeeper muttered to the hearing of his wife.
"I don't think he has any reason to scold them, they played better from my point of view, they just got unlucky in the last minute, I'm sure they'll figure something out in the second half." She expressed with her gaze still on her jotter and her pen still moving smoothly on it.
"Yeah, I hope so," Dave muttered.
With the fifteen-minute break now over, the players were now making their way to the pitch to start the second half.
"Welcome back, everyone, the second half is about to kick off here as we can see the players making their way to the pitch," Jim said. "They have gotten the required amount of rest and now it is time to decide how the second half is going to turn out."
"There have been no changes from both sides, looks like they still have confidence in their starting eleven to do the job," Steve said.
Merino was the one standing over the ball waiting for the referee's whistle, and as soon as he heard it, he quickly pushed the ball to Martinez.
"That's the whistle and the second half is on the way." Jim expressed. "Unique FC will want to get back into this game fast so let's see how they're going to respond."
Martinez had to push the ball back before the player racing toward him could get to him and without hesitation, the center-back sent the ball to Roland.
Roland quickly cut through the middle and zoomed off with the ball before quickly laying it off for Edward on the right.
Edward quickly sent the ball rolling toward Ferran who quickly got past Cornell with a humiliating nutmeg before he sent the ball rolling through the middle for Mateo as Fred made a run into the box.
"Nicely done by Ferran and he's sent it to Mateo who has just switched out of his position to the middle."
The winger moved a little to the right with the ball to try and disorientate the defender blocking his path before he decided to go for goal.
He sent the ball flying toward the goalpost with his right foot but he seemed to have overhit it as the only thing Victor could do was watch the ball as it floated over the bar from the right side.
"Oh, that was so close to going in."
Merino was upset to see Mateo go for goal like that while he was calling for the ball on the right wing.
Mateo had to raise his hands and apologize before jogging back a little toward his wing.
"We just have to keep trying and wait for coach to make his move."
A magic castle= one extra chapter.
Two magic castles= two extra chapters.