Chapter 105: 104 - Liverpool FC versus Brighton FC (Part 2)
[Liverpool FC 0-1 Brighton FC.]
Felix's goal was impressively beautiful, with a frightening power of shot that few midfielders of his age could achieve.
Liverpool manager, Mr. Ferg, raised his eyebrows and clapped his hands. "That's some scary power in your right leg, kid!"
Felix, returning to his side of the pitch, nodded and thanked him. "Thank you, sir!"
However, standing next to Mr. Ferg on the side of the pitch, his assistant coach thought:
'The kick was impressive indeed. Only what was more impressive was how this counter-attack unfolded. The ball was in the back and in less than a minute, the goal happened. Of course, that happens a lot, but it wasn't a direct counter-attack where the attacking team has the numbers advantage and can go straight for the goal. It was an indirect counter-attack in which the ball went past the right-back and ended up in the back of the left wing without them making any mistakes. I heard this team has only been together for a week, and they coordinate such an efficient counter-attack from the off... What kind of training have you done with these lads, Eddie?' He looked at the Brighton coach.
"Very good, lads! But you were lucky, very lucky!" Eddie exclaimed with his arms crossed.
Just looking at the midfield, the Brighton boys felt a chill run down their spines.
As the scoreboard flashed Brighton's "1" on the electronic board, the Liverpool boys gathered in the center of the pitch. Their expressions ranged from tiredness to dense concentration, full of minor frustrations.
Sam Robinson, always one of the first to solve problems, smoothed his disheveled hair with the back of his hand before speaking.
"Okay, guys, we need to talk about this goal. It wasn't just bad luck. Let's see where we went wrong."
Liam Hargreaves, the goalkeeper, who until then had remained silent with his hands on his hips, looked up and commented:
"I saw the whole play from the back. We gave them a lot of space in the back. I don't know if it was our line of defense or what, but they were completely free to pass."
Connor Flynn, the central defender, snorted: "Maybe we went too fast on the first move. We underestimated them." Connor said, glancing at Oscar Hughes, his defensive partner. "What do you think, Oscar?"
Oscar sighed. "It was that and more. They played fast, but in a coordinated way. When we realized it, the ball was already in midfield, and their transition was very well done. I didn't mistake my position on purpose, but we seemed to be a step behind in every move," admitted Oscar.
At the other end, some of the Brighton players didn't understand the delay in restarting the game. Miguel saw Lucas was frowning and said:
"Most teams usually have this kind of conversation during the restart to understand where they went wrong and so on."
Lucas, with his arms crossed, smiled with a touch of pride. Brighton had started the match well. Felix's goal had reflected what they were building on the pitch.
"They're good." Lucas commented with a slight smile. "But we can put more pressure on them. They're still adjusting."
Felix, meanwhile, stood in the center of the pitch, his eyes fixed on the ball. He knew that goal was just a sign of what could happen later in the game. His opponents' eyes were on him, but he didn't care. The important thing was that the team was focused.
Felix took a step back to talk to Denis, the Brighton midfielder. The pitch was too quiet, and the conversation between the two was almost inaudible, but Felix was explaining what had to be done next.
On the Liverpool side, things were also moving. Sam was giving the last instructions, and the boys were lining up, forming up again for the restart of the game.
"Come on, lads! React! Let's make Brighton chase the ball!"
The Liverpool team's pressure intensified soon after the restart. They played more aggressively, pushing forward more quickly. Toby Clarke, the midfielder, was tireless. His mission was simple: steal the ball and transition quickly. But Brighton wasn't unprepared.
Loki, Brighton's left-back, positioned himself more firmly, covering the passes that Sam tried to project. The opposing team's confidence seemed to grow as pressure plays were neutralized.
In one of these moves, Ethan Murphy, Liverpool's right-back, received the ball in a counter-attacking situation. He had the speed to get to the by-line, but Brighton's defense was adjusting quickly. Daniel, Brighton's central defender, was already on Ethan's tail, reducing the inexperienced player's options.
"Over here, Daniel!" Arthur shouted from midfield, drawing the defender's attention to the defensive line.
Ethan, his head held high, quickly looked at the options in front of him. Oliver Park was open on the right wing, and the move was unfolding, but time was against him. With one swift movement, Ethan cut inside, attempting a one-on-one.
However, Daniel's marking was impeccable. He expected Ethan's move, sliding in to intercept the ball before it could reach Oliver.
"Not that time!" Daniel shouted, putting out his foot to dispossess.
Liverpool was losing control of possession, and Brighton took advantage with a quick transition. Denis, always alert, received the ball from Daniel and passed to Felix. The team was ready to react with a move of its own. Loki, with great vision, played a precise pass to Miguel.
Miguel was ready. He knew what to do. The ball was in his hands and the view of the pitch was clear in his mind. Time seemed to slow down as he controlled the ball lightly, playing softly and watching his teammates position themselves for the counter-attack.
He made the pass to Raphael, who was advancing down to the left. Raphael, with his head held high, assessed his options. Lucas was open, but he saw Arthur closer to the goal. It was a neat move, but Liverpool was reorganizing with precision.
Ethan Murphy, Liverpool's right-back, was coming forward, pressing the ball with renewed aggression. Raphael played the ball into the middle, where Denis was ready to make his move. Denis, however, sensed Toby Clarke's approach and knew he couldn't take any more chances. Liverpool's defense, with its tighter marking, was closing down all the spaces.
"Let's go! Let's get on top of them!" shouted Sam Robinson, motivating his teammates. Liverpool, already aware that they could no longer allow Brighton to continue pressing, reacted with speed.
Liam Hargreaves, the goalkeeper, gave instructions to his defenders while adjusting his position. He knew that if Brighton managed another well-executed counter-attack, the game could get even more difficult. But he relied on his defense and his teammates to neutralize any threat.
Brighton's counter-attack seemed imminent, but at the last moment, Connor Flynn, Liverpool's central defender, bravely stepped forward. He was more alert now and knew he couldn't miss. When Denis played the ball to Felix, Connor anticipated the move. He was quick, much quicker than Felix expected. With a precise tackle, Connor stole the ball and began the transition to attack.
"Now, let's go!"
Sam Robinson, who had been following the play, quickly made the move to get closer. He received a pass and, with a long pass, he found Kieran Doyle in midfield.
Kieran, the brains of the team, looked at the options and made a first-time pass to Leo Carter, who was advancing down the left. Brighton's pressure was strong, but Liverpool's speed and coordination were imposing themselves.
Leo, with his characteristic short dribble, got rid of Aidan, who tried to keep up but couldn't. As he approached the box, Leo delivered a precise cross to Declan Shaw, who was in the right position, waiting for the ball. Brighton's defense, still trying to reorganize, didn't have time to react.
Declan rose high, higher than anyone on the field, anticipating Daniel's attempt to block his shot. With impeccable timing, Declan headed the ball, directing it towards the back of the net with a powerful header.
Brighton's goalkeeper, Anton, made a desperate attempt to stretch and reach the ball, but it was futile. Declan's header was perfectly placed in the top right corner, leaving Anton with no chance of making a save.
Brighton, who had been celebrating their near-goal minutes before, was now feeling the weight of Liverpool's reaction.
The players, who were initially filled with hope and excitement, now found themselves facing the daunting challenge of defending against one of the top teams. The sudden change in momentum left Brighton feeling overwhelmed and uncertain about their chances of success.
Eddie, the Brighton manager, slapped his thigh, visibly frustrated. "This isn't the end! We won't let that happen again!" He looked at his players, trying to regain his concentration.
On the other side, the Liverpool players were ecstatic, but they knew it was still early days.
Sam Robinson, with a determined smile, approached his teammates. "We can't stop now. They're going to come with everything. Let's push harder!"
Toby Clarke, the steering wheel, nodded. "That's it. Now it's time to show why we're Liverpool and they're Brighton!"