The assistant coach entered the changing room after some time and instructed the team to get ready for another warm-up before the match. After they finished changing and performing their warm ups, Winston was actually excited about this match. When he was in the changing room, he did some little research and found that Hampstead F.C. was formidable in front and at the back. Especially Kroug Maddison, the best left back who specializes in passing, his passes are undeniably precise—only the unskilled forward or midfielder would miss the chance to receive the ball from him. This season he had helped the Hampstead forward score a couple of goals. This season he is placed second on the assistant leaderboard, after Oswin.
The second players he did research on were the two wingers of the Hampstead F.C. Karlous and Helton they were regarded as the best wingers in the Hampstead F.C. Karlous was fourth in the scoreboard, his skills were like Oswin's although he was not a long shot shooter. He is deadly when he comes to his feet, especially when he runs on the flank. On the other flank, Helton was more of a long shooter who had the ability to shoot from far at different angles.
Winston took a deep breath. His team doesn't have man-marking defenders, and these three pose a threat. Winston felt that he needed to score more goals in order to have the chance to win this match; thanks to the core system daily challenge, and he was thankful that he had someone who wanted to help him.
As they made their way down the tunnel, the intense afternoon sun beat down on the stadium. With a capacity of roughly thirty thousand, this stadium was on the smaller end compared to others. This stadium, similar to the Colosseum in its round shape, was situated on the outskirts of the city. A walk of a couple of kilometers from the stadium's base would lead you to Hampstead F.C. senior club main stadium. The three people Winston had been researching were there, standing staring at Winston.
He glanced at them before returning to his post.
With the match underway, Westminster got a lucky break from the referee's coin flip. Winston ran, calmly played the ball to Oswin, and Oswin, in turn, calmly passed it down to the left-back. The Westminster defenders passed the ball between themselves, then began incorporating midfielders, before Oswin and Winston joined. Winston and Oswin kept moving relentlessly across the flanks, slipping between defenders and hunting for pockets of space, forcing the Hampstead F.C. players to keep their eyes on them. Westminster adjusted their strategy, maintaining their formation but swapping in Oswin on the wing. As the game proceeded, the midfielders from Westminster pushed forward. Forcing Hampstead F.C. deeper into their half, at first the midfielders passed the ball between the two of them. Of course, the entire event was not smooth; they were being pressured by Hampstead players. However, Westminster players held their own, they dribbled and shielded the ball. The ball went to Oswin, who executed a masterful dribble before passing it back to Winston. Who ran down the right flank until he met a blockade. Winston stopped, looked around, and passed the ball to the midfielder who was running down the field. The entire tactic was going well until a sliding Hampstead player intercepted the ball.
In quick succession they through ball straight to Kroug who tried to chest trap the ball. But Oswin quickly intercepted the ball; the match went like this for a couple of minutes. The match became repetitive to where most stands went to the bathrooms. At the 36-minute mark, the game shifted when the Westminster player miscalculated the bounce and missed the ball, an error Karlous capitalized on with his exceptional speed. He left the right-back in the dust. He sprinted on the left flank, body feint the other Westminster defender and dribbled inside the box. Instead of passing the ball to Helton, who was in front. Instead Karlous ran into the nine yard penalty spot and blasted the ball. To everyone's surprise, the Westminster goalkeeper palm fist the ball out.
Kroug ran to the corner and prepared to take the corner, Raising his hand, Kroug watched his teammate body feinting; he kicked the ball. Westminster headed the ball outside their box. One Westminster player passed the ball on the left side, where Oswin dribbled and passed to Winston with his outside foot. Winston dashed in a sharp zig-zag over the defenders with such speed his footwork even ankle broke some Hampstead defenders figuratively; when Winston looked up he noticed Hampstead goalkeeper was coming out of his position. Winston lofted the ball in a graceful arc, soaring over the goalkeeper's head as he scrambled to get back in place.
Thwack!
[DAILY USER CHALLENGES]
[Score goals: 01/04]
With his hands, Winston formed a dove as he ran across the field's corner. As his teammates joined the celebration, they moved towards their positions for the match restart. Oswin, on his side, asked, "Where did you get that speed? This is my first time seeing you sprint like that."
Winston brushed it off with humor, "What do you mean, I always had this speed. You never paid close attention to it,"
"Maybe I should get the ankle weights too,"
Both looking at Winston's feet, Winston replied, "Be careful, though they are heavy to move with them,"
"I am sure they're not that heavy since you're had them on ever since you came back from that mysterious training you had with Dumi,"
When they reached their position, the referee blew the whistle and pointed toward the tunnels. Winston quickly walked to the tunnel; he felt his chest tightening. He felt as if he were ready to collapse from exhaustion. His recent sprint drained him, making him question if the Nethen Essence could restore his energy. He rested on the changing room bench, eyes closed, inhaling deeply.
Jesus, I felt like I was dying; I should be careful next time when I am using my full speed until the voltage core reaches 100 percent. But I really need it right now more than ever.
Once the halftime break concluded, they re-entered the field from the tunnel to continue the game. The Hampstead team began the match aggressively, with a highly accurate style of play. Their build-up play towards the front began with Helton, who cautiously advanced to his right flank. He then exchanged passes with the forward, who back-heeled the ball to Helton as he ran behind him. With a mighty kick that bypassed trapping, he sent the ball spinning in a curved trajectory, drawing an "ohhh" from the spectators. Kroug maneuvered past Westminster players, heading towards the left side, and Karlous unleashed a powerful shot that struck the goal post.
Thwack!
Now the game was even, the stands were now alive—this is what they were waiting for. A match where each team shows its best. The rapid buildup surprised the Westminster players, as it was a tactic they usually associated with Winston and Oswin.
The chemistry Helton, Kroug, and Karlous had was akin to Winston and Oswin's. Restarting the game Westminster now did not play the game save like before this time the first played in the middle of the field, the only addition was when they passed it to the left and right backs. Who came in front, allowing wingers to cut inside; with now refined skills, Oswin took on three Hampstead players. Kroug included Atlas truly refined Oswin techniques because he left them all in the dust. His footwork, mixed with speed, was one with the field.
Cutting inside toward Winston, who was periodically glancing at Oswin, they exchanged one touch passes. Until Oswin cut behind the defenders instead of blasting the ball. He passed the ball to Winston, who was outside the box; he finessed blast the ball, curved past the Hampstead players' hips. Hampstead's goalkeeper late dived toward the ball.
Thwack!
[DAILY USER CHALLENGES]
[Score goals: 02/04]
The match went back into its stalemate, with each team emphasizing its defensive line; with only a few outbursts from each side, the match was still in its stalemate. On the Hampstead F.C. side, they tightly marked Winston and Oswin and the other attacking midfielder and winger. And on the Westminster they did the same thing; they tightly marked Helton, Karlous and the center striker. And they kept Kroug at bay.
Winston inhaled deeply as he jogged, secured the ball, dribbled, and sent it to Oswin. Oswin quickly passed it back, enabling Winston to use his full speed to dash past Hampstead's players, moving like a fast, unhindered current. Winston's shadow was all the Hampstead saw, the net's sound being the only audible element.
Thwack!
[DAILY USER CHALLENGES]
[Score goals: 03/04]
[DAILY USER CHALLENGES]
[Score goals: Completed]
Using his speed, Winston was able to score the subsequent fourth goal. And he was on his last legs. As the final whistle sounded, Oswin was the one who spotted Winston's lack of energy. Drenched in sweat, Winston glanced at Oswin and said, "Thank you, bro, I guess I overdid it this time,"
Winston's hand hanging over Oswin, he replied, "No problem, bro, I got you. Now we have to see which number you at in the scoreboard,"
Winston slowly chuckled. At Oswin and they walked to the medic who took Winston into the tunnel for an examination,
***
On the top VIP area, the same black suit man sat, giving each other looks of shock. One slouch on the single couch, "You owe me a drink and a pack of cigarettes,"
"I guess I am. Mm… I doubted him at first, but let's make another deal. Do you think he'll use it in the next game?"
"After you pay for this deal, what did the high ups say? Did they agree on enrolling him?"
"They say it in review, but with proof they will accept the request,"
The two men in black suit, stood up and left; before they left, they glanced back at Winston, who was being held by Oswin.