The day for the match soon approached as the Devertary United bus arrived at the Darvent Stadium, and the players filed out into the stadium locker room.
After changing into their uniforms, Molis Harrison entered the room, outlining their strategy for the match.
Alexander Nilsson would replace Guwen Ramon as right back, Svensson Erik would replace Wolf Deo as right midfielder, and Carlos Matthias would replace Ryan Shark as second striker. This tactical switch had been planned in advance due to a special training program he made the three players undergo, and the team was ready to execute his plan.
As they took to the pitch alongside the Ventas City players clothed in Yellow jersey shirt and shirts having red designes that matched that of the shirt, the fans were stunned by Devertary United's unexpected formation.
The substitution of three key players sparked doubts among the spectators, and the betting odds on Devertary United's victory plummeted.
The match began with the teams substitute captain Ruyne Ness meeting Taro Hiroshi, the captain of Ventas City, for the pre-game handshake. Taro Hiroshi received the kick-off, passing the ball to his right.
Thompson Noah, Ventas City's central midfielder, collected the pass. With his striking yellow hair and piercing blue eyes, Noah stood out on the field.
Noah swiftly passed the ball to Alves Pedro, the team's right midfielder, who burst forward with incredible speed. Nicolas Ronoa, Devertary United's defender, struggled to keep up with Pedro's pace. In a flash, Pedro delivered a precise cross into the box, where Thompson Noah expertly headed the ball forward.
The ball sailed toward Tomás Morales, a light-skinned player with distinctive brown-reddish brown locks, who was poised to strike. The crowd held its collective breath as the match intensified, with Devertary United's unorthodox formation facing its first major test.
In a flash, Svensson Erik swooped in, his blue curly short hair ruffling in the wind as he expertly swiped the ball away from Tomás Morales. With his piercing green eyes scanning the pitch, Erik burst forward, making a swift back pass to captain Ruyne Ness.
Ness darted off in an unpredictable direction, but Taro Hiroshi was hot on his heels, using his body to block Ness's movement. This brief interruption gave Ventas City's players just enough time to scramble back into position.
As the play unfolded, the ball sailed out of bounds, signaling a throw-in for Devertary United. Floxx Leon launched the ball back into play, finding Alexander Nilsson, who unleashed a spectacular long-range cross.
The crowd gasped in awe as the ball soared through the air, with spectators and screamers alike rising to their feet. Nilsson's shot was met with a desperate lunge by Axel, who managed to tip the ball over Souza Silva, one of Ventas City's defenders.
The ball fell to Carlos Marcus, who seized the opportunity to shoot. With the goal in sight, Marcus unleashed a powerful strike. In a heart-stopping moment, Larsen Magnus, Ventas City's goalkeeper, flung himself to the ground, desperately trying to knock the ball away from the goal.
Magnus's dive paid off, as he managed to deflect the ball outside the pitch lines, granting Devertary United a corner kick. The tension was palpable as the crowd held its collective breath, anticipating the next move in this electrifying match.
As the corner kick was awarded, Alexander Nilsson stepped up to take it. Meanwhile, Taro Hiroshi fixed his gaze intently on Ruyne Ness, anticipating his next move. Nilsson swung his leg, delivering a precise cross into the box.
Ness sprang into the air, his "Geo Awareness" granting him an uncanny sense of spatial awareness. He was the only player able to reach the ball, given its lofty trajectory. However, just as Ness was about to make contact, Taro Hiroshi intervened, using his body to block Ness's line of sight to the goal.
The ball was played back into the pitch, where Leonardo Santos expertly dribbled past defenders, finding his way to team striker Antonio Miguel. In a swift, fluid motion dribbled his way past Poker as he excuted a perfect nutmeg that kept Isaac in the dust, Miguel unleashed a powerful shot from 10 meters out.
Shawn Lucius dives in the direction of the ball but it's speed outmatches his reflex.The ball tore through the air, obliterating all obstacles in its path, and found its way into the net.
The scoreboard now read Ventas City 1-Devertary United 0 in favor of Ventas City, with only 39 minutes played. Yet, Molis Harrison's expression remained serene, a knowing smile spreading across his face. It was as if he had anticipated this turn of events all along.
Telepathically, Harrison communicated with his key players, Ryan Shark, Guwen Ramon, and Wolf Deo, instructing them to prepare for their entrance onto the pitch. The time had come for them to unleash the fruits of their special training, to dominate the game and alter its cours.