Penalty of the Heart

CHAP 7

CHAPTER 7: His Path to Success (2)

As the game continuously roll, Lorenzo took advantage of their weak passes, even the moment when they slightly let their guard down, he steals the ball, earning two consecutive goals.

The referee called for a time-out when a collision between players happened, breaking the intense concentration in the game.

Some of the audience got pissed because they've been eagerly waiting for the newbie's another own goal. But they got worried if any of the players got injured.

A player from Blanco Grimoire who got caught in the collision is screaming in pain. The referee immediately called for the medical team.

The players who gathered up began to fight, blaming one of El Dragón's players from causing the accident. The others tried to stop them but it broke when the referee raised a red card to the player who started the fight. Before he could further complain, he was dragged away.

The players went to their respective areas to cool their heads.

"Gather up!", El Dragón's coach angrily said. "You damn brats! How could you lose to one person at the start of the second-half!", he spat, pissed off from their disappointing play. He continued to rant on them until he finally cooled down. "Listen! I am sure that number 17 will do a solo play again, I don't care even if all of you will have have to mark him! I just want him to be shut down! You understand!"

"Yes, coach!"

Meanwhile, on the other team...

The player who got the red card is still fuming in anger from being removed. The others patted his back to comfort him.

The coach handed Lorenzo a bottle of drink and sat beside him.

“Hay... What a day! Never expected this to happen. We lost two players in a row...", the coach faced him. "Do you know why I didn’t put you in to play even though you’re in the starting line before?”, he brought up the topic and the other players began to listen.

Lorenzo was quiet.

“It is true that you are beyond amazing even by yourself when it comes to football. When I first watched your play in the practice match, I was totally shocked but you know Lorenzo…”, he paused. “...football is a team play. You can play the defense and offense by yourself but every player has a crucial role in the field. You don’t need to shoulder everything by yourself. I don’t know what you experienced when you were young but learn to depend on your teammates even just for once”, he smiled patting Lorenzo’s shoulder.

Lorenzo was fazed by his words, all this time he has been playing by himself like a child lost in the dark. Enjoying football with his teammates and win with them is all he could wish for when he joined the amateur club in Lisbon during his childhood days. He very much loved his team and he wanted to do something for them, he knows that he has the talent but still he trained harder to polish more of his potential. He succeeded and turned it into a weapon for his team but in the end, why did they still lose? Why did his team turned away from him and beg him to transfer to another team? He was so lost back then but at this very moment, he could not believe that he forgot that the teammates he always longed are just right behind his back who is ready to support him.

“How could I forget such an important thing! I am such an i***t!”, he gritted his teeth. “To be held back by my past! I feel so lame right now!”

He faced the team who has been watching him.

"Right! I was also totally shocked and amazed when you goal by yourself but it feels like a one-man team!", one of them said.

"Sorry for insulting you earlier during the interval. I know that I misjudged you and I really feel guilty about it, but don't get cocky again next time or else I'll kick your ass!"

"We're a team who made it here in the finals too, it means that we're also strong! You can definitely depend on us!", they proudly said.

"Though we were close to losing in the quarter-finals and semi-finals", one of them broke the momentum and they all glared at him.

"Pfft...! Hahaha!", Lorenzo suddenly burst out laughing.

"What?! Why are you suddenly laughing yourself out?"

"Nothing...", Lorenzo continued laughing holding his stomach. "I-I just remembered all your faces and expressions during a match while raining. All of you tripped during the opening ceremony and went flat on your faces, you were all totally covered in mud and some of you ate some of the dirt. It was really hilarious!...but at the same time... you were all cool because you won the game with your hard work."

They were all embarrassed but burst out laughing, they argued on somethings, and happily teasing one another.

"FWEEETTT!!!", the referee whistled. "Time to resume the match!"

"Now! Let's go back to the field and start kicking some asses! Make sure to return the favor for toying on us during the first-half!"

"And take revenge for me and also for our injured comrade!"

"YEAH!", they all shouted.

So much to the expectation of El Dragón, the solo play unexpectedly turned into a team play creating confusion to their opponents. A lot of players have been constantly marking Lorenzo leaving the others free, Blanco Gromiore took advantage of the holes and passed the ball but they couldn't score so in the end, Lorenzo was tasked to do it until the very last minute of the game.

7-4

Blanco Grimoire vs El Dragón

Blanco Grimoire held home their hard-earned cup from the championship and their journey continued to the U-15 International Youth Tournament, they were invited to participate in IBERCUP. They played with a lot of strong teams from other countries, it was enjoyable for them but only one team gets to take home the cup but unfortunately, they lost in the quarter-finals.