Chapter 11: Recognition
Coach Bano decided to split the regulars and the reserves into two teams of 11 players. Coach Bano saw that after splitting them there would still be 6 players left as the addition of Izan has brought the squad number to 26 players. He decided to give each team 3 players as substitutes. "Ok gather around and look at the lineup for the starting eleven and the reserve eleven". Izan walked over to the chart to look at the teams starting players.
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Formation: 4-3-3
Goalkeeper: Raul jiminez
Left back:David nuñez
Right back:Lucas Tèna
Centrebacks:Alejandro Pana ,Mark montes
Central Midfield : Javier buèso, Jan martinez, Andranik chust
Left wing:Marc Juardo,Right wing:Pablo Neri
Striker:Hugo de marc.
Subs: Juan solidado, Gaia palo,louis gurendal
Izan after looking at the starting team and their substitutes decided to look at the reserve team because his name will probably be in their substitutes.
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Formation:4-2-1-3
Goalkeeper: Vic Abril
Left back:Jose palerno, Rightback: Nico paz
Centrebacks: Kike Reyes, Nico gulaz
Central Midfield: Juanda terrano, Enrique Sautin
Attacking midfield: Izan Miura Hernandéz
Leftwing: Pedro fontin, Rightwing: wissam andrich
Center forward: Sam Kalo
Subs:Ian riggs, Mark barai, Juan barsi
Izan was surprised to see his name on the reserve team's starting list after he saw it. He thought he would have to start from the bench but that wasn't the case.
"Okay so I guess by now you should know which teams you belong to. Now those starting the match should go onto the pitch and the subs should sit on the bench". After saying this Coach Bano took a whistle from his pocket to officiate the training match.
Unbeknownst to the players,coach Patricio moreno had arrived on the pitch and was watching the match which was about to start.Coach bano after meeting eyes with Patricio Moreno nodded and decided to start the match with the reserve team kicking off.
The reserve team striker kicked of and passed the ball to Izan who took a nervous first touch. Taking it easy, he passed the back to the midfielder behind who passed the ball to the left back after after taking a touch.
The reserve team using one touch or two touch passes kept playing around the regulars that had advanced into their half. The right back of the reserve team,Nico paz got the ball and passed to Pedro fontin.
Getting the ball ,Pedro looked for options to pass but couldn't find one as the regular's team players had pressed high up. Izan saw that his teammate was in a bit of a predicament and freed himself from the player near him and went to receive a pass.
Pedro after seeing Izan who was free still decided to hold onto the ball because of his animosity for Izan. "Look at this bastard, does he think I'm going to pass to him" thought pedro who decided to go alone.
Unfortunately he was tackled cleanly by the right back of the regulars' team. After the right back took the ball he looked up and sent a high diagonal lob towards the left winger who took a nice touch of the ball before rushing towards the opportunity goal.
The left winger went forward on the flanks and after seeing that his striker had a bit of and edge when it comes to Air balls over the opponents defenders, he crossed the ball into the box. The striker Hugo de marc rose to the air and headed the ball into the back of the net. After scoring he went and did a ridiculous celebration to rub salt in the wound.
Even though it was just a training match,conceding goals was still not fun. The players of the reserve team all turned their attention to Pedro fontin who lost the ball with some eyeballing him.
Pedro who couldn't stand the stares slowly looked down in defeat. "Pedro, keep playing like that and you're out of the squad for the next match" Coach moreno who was quiet and observing the match finally spoke up after witnessing Pedro fault in the team conceding a goal.
He already knew Pedro was an egoist but coach moreno didn't talk about about it because of his connection to the sporting director of the club.But now even he was getting fed up. "Why dig your own grave" Izan thought who was staring at Pedro.
The match restarted and the striker passed the ball to Izan who looked for Pedro and passed to him. Pedro this time knowing that all eyes were on him took a touch and passed the ball back to Izan. Izan trapped the ball and looked for passing options. Izan with his great vison picked out their player on the right wing and with a raking pass,sent the ball over to the winger on the right side of the field.
Izan quickly followed to support the right winger who had started speeding on the flank. This right winger was none other than wissam who had nothing going for him aside his speed and explosiveness. After slowing the down, Wissam raised his head to look for any red bibs around him but was surprised to see that he had been surrounded by 3 opponents players. Finally Wissam saw that Izan was approaching and out of nervousness of the ball being taken away from him sent a questionable pass to Izan.
Izan,seeing the ball coming in an awkward motion Izan adjusted his body position and controlled the ball with side of his boot before flicking it over the incoming player. Izan controlled the ball on his thigh and continued toward the box. After Izan saw that Pedro was making a run, he sent a nicely drawn trivela pass with his left leg making the ball curve like crazy. All Pedro did was stick his leg out and 'pa', the ball changed directions and entered the net. Pedro stood up and saw the reserve team players rushing towards him. He saw Izan also rushing towards him and wondered why he hated him.
The players including Izan jumped on him causing him to fall down under the pile of sweaty bodies.
Bano blew the whistle and all the players dispersed to their half. Bano looked at his watch and saw that over 22 minutes had passed and decided to close the first half of the training match. After the matched resumed,Coach Moreno approached the teams and made Izan join the regulars while switching their formation to a 4-2-1-3 to accommodate Izan.
The teams also made 3 changes each for the subs to come in. "Okay I admit it he's really good" one of the players who had just been substituted off said whiles looking at Izan. "Yah ,during the match, I tried taking the ball from him many times but couldn't; that ball flick and trivela pass at the end was crazy" another said. "Wow geniuses really have it easy" another player added. "By the way he's playing it won't be long before he gets to make his debut for the senior team" Pedro who had been subbed off thought as he sat there.
Coach Bano restarted the match and the regulars kicked off this time around. The regular's team passed around a bit and tried multiple attacks to score. Izan stood behind the striker and infront of the midfielders serving as a link between them and also controlling the tempo of the game.
Slowing down the game when his team starts getting a little aggressive and speeding up when its time to attack. Overall Izan stood in the midfield like an instructor and kept delivering instructions.
The players who disregarded him at first started listening more after they saw their style of play become more sharp and threatening after listening to him once.
Izan saw that the match was being dragged out. After realising this,he went to the defence and took the ball. After taking the ball he initiated an attack. He started dribbling the ball towards the heart of the midfield of the opposing team.After holding the ball for a bit Izan laid the ball of to Gaia who returned the ball after seeing Izan in a good position.
With a quick one-two between his teammate Izan quickly stepped on the gas and started speeding towards the opponents goal. The midfielders of the reserve team tried to corner Izan by number but he just knocked the ball between them and with suing his exceptional, he caught up to the ball.
After he caught up with the ball he saw that his striker was being marked by the opponet defence and decided to go alone.One of the center backs came to meet Izan and using his strength forced him to go to the left side of the 18 yard box. Izan seeing this pretended to cross the ball into the box. The defender who saw his movement tried to block it but saw Izan dragging the ball back to complete a cruyff turn.
After laying waste to the defender,Izan with the ball dribbled to the left side of the edge of the penalty box. After seeing that some of the opponent players had recovered and were coming to tackle him, he pretended to shoot and forced the players to throw their bodies and legs in the way but Izan simply faked and continued. Izan seeing space infront of him drew his right leg back before 'bam'. Izan sent a finesse shot to the top right corner of the net leaving the keeper with no chance.
After Izan scored, he wasted now chance and went to the corner flag before bowing to the imaginary fans. His teammates arrived and jumped on him. "That crazy man"." How the hell are you so good". His teammates kept talking.
After this the regulars managed to score again ending the match in a 3-1 score for the regulars as Izan scored his second goal after tapping in a rebound ball.
"That kid's really good", Ferran who had been standing beside Coach moreno spoke."What the" coach moreno said.
"I told you not to sneak up on me again".
Ferran laughed. "But yeah he's really good" coach Moreno said. Ferran who was looking at Coach Moreno saw him smile. "Did you just smile" he asked. "No I didn't " Coach Moreno replied.
Coach Moreno walked up to the kids who where chatting among themselves. "Very good display by the regulars and also the reserves. But the reserves also need to be as good as the main team so you guys should train hard and don't always make it easy for the regulars in training matches". "But Coach they got that little demon of a player" one player said drawing a bit of laughs from the players as they now recognised Izan's strength. "Don't use that as an excuse" coach Moreno said whiles coughing a bit."And nice performance by Izan. By the way where is he"ferran asked after looking around and not seeing. "Oh he said he's going to the washroom" Gaia said. "Oh ok" Ferran said scratching his head.
Izan who was in one of the stallsin the washroom looked at the rewardshe got from the system
"Ding" [host has completed system quest]
Rewards:
+20 Stats point
+5000lp
+1 growth potion
Izan's eyes shimmered as he looked at his rewards."Its about to go down" he said whiles rubbing his hands together.