Chapter 34: Against Rosenborg's Second Team

The game went exactly as Coach Johansen had anticipated in the first ten minutes. Rosenborg's second team kicked off the game and maintained possession as they bore down on NF academy's goal.

All their players were able to retain the ball and pass it around quickly. They could advance steadily towards the goal without giving the academy players a chance to win possession. Their teamwork frustrated Zachary and his teammates via compactness and narrowness.

The Troll Kids were playing the Tiki-Taka Barcelona style.

They were arrayed in a 3-5-2 formation with three men in the middle of the pack supported by two wingers. Ole Selnæs, Gjermund Åsen, and Fredrik Midtsjö were the core players in their midfield. The three midfielders controlled the overall pace of the game with their tight ball skills.

However, the boys in white and black seemed wary of Zachary. They played around him instead of through him in the midfield. They so often chose to pass the ball instead of dribbling and facing off against him and his teammates.

But that wasn't the most threatening peculiarity about Rosenborg's team arrangement and game plan. Any one of their three central midfielders would occasionally burst forward and threaten the NF academy's box.

Rosenborg's second team created their first clear chance of the game in the 10th minute in such a manner. Ole Selnæs, who was supposed to be playing the defensive midfield role, exploded forth. He played a one-two with Trond Olsen—the left-winger after receiving a fast pass from Fredrik Midtsjö.

The duo bypassed Magnus Blakstad and penetrated deep into the half of NF academy with their smooth passing. Ole made a quick through pass to Mushaga, who was making a run behind the three center backs before they managed to react to the swift change in the game's pace.

The Rosenborg striker dashed into the box and found himself one-on-one with Kendrick Otterson, the goalkeeper. However, as he raised his foot, preparing to shoot, a swift silhouette came—sliding in and poked the ball out of play with a green boot.

The referee blew the whistle and pointed to the corner flag.

Zachary had saved the NF academy from conceding an early goal. He was the only player on the academy team who had reacted swiftly to Rosenborg's change of pace and sudden attack. He was in the central midfield when the attack started, but he'd managed to run more than 40 yards, catch up with Mushaga, and tackle the ball.

Mushaga regarded Zachary, who was in the process of getting up from the ground, with a frown. "It seems like you've gotten faster and better over the past year." He mumbled.

"That was simply luck," Zachary lied.

Of course, he wouldn't tell his opponent that he was capable of predicting their offensive tactics. His high game intelligence supported by the Zinedine-Visual-Juju had helped him analyze the patterns in Rosenborg's play. He'd been able to infer that Mushaga would receive the final ball instead of John Chibuike—Rosenborg's second striker.

Mushaga creased a brow as he continued eyeing Zachary. "Whether that was a fluke, or you could predict our passes, that means nothing in today's game," the striker stated. "You'll lose no matter how well you play. How many times can you defend against our attacks? Wait and see." He smiled softly before walking away.

Zachary could tell that the striker was attempting to burden him mentally and affect his game. He gave his comments no mind and readied himself to defend the corner.

Zachary frowned at Lars Togstad, who had just returned to the box. "Don't allow their strikers to make runs behind you. Wasn't that what the coach said? What are you people doing in defense?"

"They were too fast with their transition," the center-back said, smiling sheepishly. "But it won't happen again. I can promise you that." He thumped his chest.

"Great." Zachary nodded. "But maintain a proper backline throughout the match. You should command the rest of the defenders to move up-and-down the field in unison in all defensive situations. Only then can we lay a good offside trap and prevent their fast attacks from threatening our box." He advised the number-4.

Zachary had noticed that Mushaga would have been offside if Robin Jatta, the left center-back, hadn't dropped back and played him onside. He didn't expect such a rookie mistake from defenders in a professional academy.

"Don't worry," Lars assured. "We'll do our best for the rest of the game. Let's defend the corner first."

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The defender seemed like an easy-going person. Zachary was glad that he'd listened to his reminder with a positive attitude.

Jonas Svensson, Rosenborg's right-winger, delivered a teasing ball from the corner into the box, starting the replay. Simen Wangberg, the tall center-back, outjumped NF academy's defense to meet the resulting corner and headed the ball right down towards the middle of the goal. However, his long-range header was not powerful enough, and Kendrick Otterson, the goalkeeper, made a comfortable save.

"Kendrick," Zachary yelled, dashing out of the box. "Quickly throw the ball to Kim."

Kendrick did not dilly-dally. On hearing Zachary's instruction, he made a long throw towards the touchline where Kim Riksvold, NF academy's left-winger, was waiting. Zachary and most of his teammates took off swiftly towards the other side of the pitch after the ball.

Kim, in the left-wing, controlled the ball beautifully close to the centerline. However, two of Rosenborg's players who hadn't partaken in the corner kick boxed him in. They surrounded him and forced him to pass the ball back to Zachary. Rosenborg had managed to stop NF academy's counter attack successfully.

Zachary received Kim's pass as he stepped into the midfield. He was calm as his eyes were—focused on the field before him. He controlled the ball with a deft touch and dashed towards Rosenborg's half with an explosion of long strides.

Although he hadn't touched the ball in the first ten minutes, he'd been observing and analyzing the entire game situation. The right-wing was open, like a highway, inviting Zachary's pass.

Zachary did not hesitate and whipped the ball towards Kasongo, in the right-wing. The short winger latched on to the precise long pass and took off towards the opponent's goal as if his life depended on it.

However, Christoffer Aasbak, the left-back, was instantly on him, forcing him to head towards the corner flag instead of the box. To make the situation worse, Gjermund Åsen, one of Rosenborg's three core midfielders, also rushed towards the wing to support his teammate. The two players surrounded Kasongo and forced him to lose possession soon after. The only attack of NF academy in the game, so far, had resulted in nothing.

For the next few minutes, the game situation remained the same. Rosenborg's second team dominated play and possession, forcing the NF academy to stay put in their half.

Fortunately, the NF academy's defenders were alert and managed to swat most of Rosenborg's attempts at goal. They worked hand-in-hand to set up plenty of offside traps for Rosenborg's two forwards. Mushaga had already been offside three times by the twentieth minutes of the game. The game remained in a stalemate.

However, Zachary soon realized a problem. The Rosenborg defense and midfield always swatted their few counter-attacks with ease.

The Troll Kids had a basic defensive shape, denying Zachary and his team any possession or penetration through the center. The Rosenborg players were compact vertically and horizontally the few times when Zachary was on the ball.

When Zachary would receive a pass in the midfield, Jonas Svensson or Trond Olsen, the wingers of Rosenborg, would pinch into the half-spaces. They would close off his horizontal passing routes on either side of the pitch.

The central midfielders would—then collapse and form a narrow triangle in the middle of the field, blocking any spaces that he would have utilized to make runs through the middle.

It seemed like Rosenborg's strategy was to mark the spaces around him instead of man-marking him. They knew that Zachary was good. They could only limit his impact on the game with their perfect team play.

Zachary could only resort to making long passes into the wings or to the forwards. However, Rosenborg's well-organized midfield and defense would easily box in the forwards and the wingers when they received his passes. The Troll Kids would effortlessly force them towards the touchline, preventing them from threatening their goal.

After Zachary understood their tactics, he called Kasongo over and whispered in his ear. He then ran back to the midfield and readied himself to receive the ball from his goalkeeper.

Mushaga had just made another long-range effort at goal. He'd struck the ball towards goal from the edge of the 18-yard box. However, his shot had flashed inches wide of the right post. The NF academy was on tenterhooks.

Zachary ran out of the midfield towards the right-wing abruptly when Kendrick was about to take the goal-kick. "Pass here," he shouted, swapping numbers with Kasongo.

"Zachary" Coach Johansen yelled from the sideline. "Go back to the midfield. What are you doing in the wings?"

Kendrick didn't seem to hear the coach's words. He whipped the ball to Zachary right away.

Zachary controlled the ball with his left foot in the right-wing—and then took off like the wind. He penetrated the opponent's half soon after.

A sense of anxiety built within him as he heard Coach Johansen yelling from the sidelines. However, he calmed himself since he trusted his vision and game intelligence. Zachary believed his decision to swap positions with Kasongo was right since there were no gaps to exploit in the middle of the pitch. NF academy would only get one chance to attack through the wings before the Rosenborg coaches realized they had left spaces in the sides of their formation.

"Cut him off," Zachary heard one of the midfielders yelling.

However, he shut out all the voices and continued his dash. He was fast, as fast as a bullet train. Zachary kept running and did not stop. At one point, he somehow shrugged off two simultaneous challenges from a pair of Rosenborg defenders—and still emerged with the ball.

He felt like his body was lighter as his boots flew in uniform long strides across the green. His one-year progressive overload training was showing off its wonders.

Gjermund Åsen sprung up in front of him, blocking his running path as he changed direction and cut into the pitch, heading towards Rosenborg's box. The midfielder was trying to force him to move towards the corner flag. That was what he'd been doing to Kasongo.

Zachary smiled. He expertly flicked the ball forward with his right leg before easily beating the Rosenborg midfielder for pace. From there, he continued to bear down on goal, sprinting to his left past Christoffer Aasbak.

However, the Rosenborg left-back was having none of Zachary's nonsense. He shadowed Zachary with his swift pace and tried to win the ball with a sliding tackle. The defender sent Zachary tumbling to the ground right after he'd stepped into the box.

*FWEEEEEEE*

The referee blew his whistle and pointed to the penalty spot.