The teams returned to the field, and the second half kicked off for Shūdan-teki.
Riccardo began by passing to Nishimura, but Maebashi Ikuei immediately pressed. Ishikawa charged forward, closing in on Nishimura. High pressing from the start!
Seeing the situation, Nishimura quickly passed to Ono and sprinted around Ishikawa, leaving him behind. Ono noticed and delivered the ball back to him while advancing. Nishimura returned it to Ono just before Ito reached him, creating space for Ono to surge forward—until Maebashi Ikuei's number 6 closed in.
But Riccardo was right behind, ready to support. Ono slipped him the ball; Riccardo stopped his run, bracing Watanabe with his strength, then returned the ball to Ono as he sprinted on.
Ono noticed Ito approaching fast. With a clever drag-back, he fooled the defender, sending him sprawling, and passed to Nishimura, now free near the center of the field.
Nishimura advanced, weighing his options: pass to Riccardo, charging into the box but marked by Watanabe and Takahashi, or shift wide to Shimizu, shadowed by Kamiyama. Then he saw it—a chance. A risk. And he took it.
A high, unexpected pass arched toward the far post, catching even Riccardo and Shimizu off guard. Tanaka darted into the box, outrunning the right back who couldn't keep up.
He lined up his shot—but Takahashi, defying expectation, executed an acrobatic clearance.
"What?!" Tanaka gasped.
The ball bounced to Nishimura just outside the area. He controlled it with a deft left foot, faked a shot, and completely fooled Ito. A quick right-footed strike followed toward the far post—but Kobayashi, with players crowding his view, barely tipped it onto the post. Corner.
Coach Yamamoto barked orders from the sideline, anxiety showing. "Calm down! Wait for them!"
Nishimura took the corner, crossing to the near post. Riccardo sprinted—but again, Takahashi anticipated and cleared. Riccardo locked eyes with the captain, unbowed.
The ball fell to Ono on the right. Quick passes to Shimizu set him one-on-one with Kamiyama. Shimizu feinted, cut sharply, and crossed left into the box. Okamoto contested—but Noguchi anticipated and headed it into the danger zone.
Riccardo took the volley with his left foot, the shot thundering through the crowded area. Kobayashi couldn't react in time—the ball smashed into the top corner, goalbound. The woodwork saved Maebashi Ikuei, and Riccardo's frustration was palpable.
Noguchi clapped him on the back. "Keep going!"
Kobayashi's clearance fell to Ishikawa, who headed poorly under pressure. Ito retrieved it and advanced, seeking the number 7 on the left. Ueno held firm, allowing Shimizu to double up.
Ito pushed forward, bypassing Ono and threading a tight pass to Ishikawa at the edge of the box. Tamura closed in, but Ishikawa froze, then spotted Ito cutting across. He returned it, only for Aoki to intercept briefly. Ito regained control after a slight push and a foul.
"Put it in!" Ishikawa urged.
The free kick followed. Ito struck toward the top corner—but Andou, leaping brilliantly, tipped it away. The ball bounced near the near post, where Ishikawa volleyed—but Andou blocked again. The crowd roared in disbelief. Tamura cleared finally.
The rebound found Riccardo. He controlled it flawlessly, stunning players and even Kaneko on the bench. Nishimura, Tanaka, and Shimizu circled him, expecting a pass—but Riccardo surged forward, lightning-fast, straight at Watanabe.
Watanabe braced, calculating. Wait for his first move…
Before he could react, Riccardo nudged the ball past him with the outside of his right foot, charging toward Maebashi Ikuei's penalty area like a tank. Takahashi stepped up, ready to block.
"Aliberti!" "Here!" called Shimizu and Nishimura inside the box.
Takahashi's eyes widened—Riccardo might pass—but with a flash, he adjusted and shot. Powerful, precise, right-footed toward the near-post top corner.
Kobayashi dove, but Riccardo's strike was unstoppable. Goal! Silence fell over Maebashi Ikuei. Observers furiously took notes, visibly impressed.
Nishimura and Shimizu rushed to celebrate.
"Sorry, guys… went solo," Riccardo admitted sheepishly.
"As long as it counts!" Shimizu laughed.
Yamamoto's expression was frozen. I knew Shūdan-teki had stars each year… but right now, he's the difference-maker.
Ishii watched quietly from the bench, eyes fixed on the field.
Scoreboard, 55 minutes:
Maebashi Ikuei 1 | 2 Shūdan-teki