The room was silent, the players of Devertary United sat motionless, still stunned by Maraford's performance on the screen.
The replay had ended minutes ago, yet no one dared to speak. The energy that once filled the space was replaced by disbelief.
Finally, Ness broke the silence.
"I don't know if you guys perhaps noticed," he began with a chuckle that faded into seriousness, "but if we played against Maraford right now… I'm not so sure we'd beat them by a wide margin of 5 to 1 anymore."
A ripple of laughter filled the room, partly amusement, partly nerves. Then Deo spoke up, leaning forward with a calm but sharp tone.
"No," he said firmly. "Maraford got better because they were willing to learn from their mistakes,most especially Beyer Marcel."
He gazed the room for a second"That's what growth looks like. Speaking of which, we should all get ready, our next match is against Northin Way FC. And believe me, they're a tough team."
He paused, glancing around at the team once again. "Especially their striker, Conzalo Jesús. Remember, if we lose, we drop."
Ness groaned jokingly. "Sure, sure," he said with a grin, "but for now, let's just relax and watch Night Phantom clash with Fire Milan. Our match is tonight, so we've got plenty of time to spare, training can wait a few hours."
Before Deo could respond, Ronoa's voice cut through the banter.
"Both of you, calm down," he said with a smirk. "Enjoy the match for once."
Shark burst into laughter, amused by their constant back-and-forth.
---
The Night Phantom vs Fire Milan match was about to commence, with the atmosphere inside Dark Clawd Stadium, home of Night Phantom, electric.
Lights blazed across the pitch as the stadium announcer called out the starting lineups displayed on the massive screen:
---
Night Phantom (Home)
Formation: 3–6–1
GK: Gruber Mayer
LB: Schneider Brunner
CB: Giovanni Rizzo
RB: Marion Rossini
LM: Jorge Héctor
DM: Richter Hoffman
DM: Gunnar Krüger (Captain)
CM: Adrien Pierre
AM: West Harry
RM: Mohammed Omar
ST: Wagner Braun (starting instead of Momodu Osas)
Fire Milan (Away)
Formation: 3–6–1
GK: García González
LB: Davi Noah (starting instead of Andrea Ricci)
CB: Alessandro Marco (Captain)
RB: Matteo Leonardo
LM: Patrizi Conti
DM: Andreas Weber
DM: Lukas Müller
CM: Julien Dubois
AM: Kofi Owusu
RM: Sander Hansen
ST: Leon Laurent (starting instead of Rossi Lorenzo)
Gasps and murmurs filled the stands. Why were Momodu Osas and Rossi Lorenzo not starting? Even Shark tilted his head, skeptical.
"Hmm," he muttered, half to himself, "let's see what Wagner Braun and Leon Laurent bring to this match."
The whistle blew. With the Kick-off play given to Fire Milan.
---
Alessandro Marco nudged the ball to Julien Dubois, and the match began with a roar from the fans.
Banners waved in the crowd, flashes of blue and red, chants echoing the names of their heroes.
Dubois slipped the ball to Sander Hansen on the right flank. Hansen surged forward, then made a backward pass back to Dubois under pressure.
With Adrien Pierre closing in fast, forcing another quick pass to Hansen. This time, Hansen swung a long cross toward Kofi Owusu, who darted past Hoffman and Krüger with frightening acceleration.
Owusu neared the box, sending a sharp pass to Leon Laurent, who danced past Schneider Brunner and unleashed a curling finesse shot aimed for the top-right corner —
—but Giovanni Rizzo rose just in time, heading the ball away. It fell to Marino Rossini, who cleared it downfield to Krüger.
Night Phantom launched their counter.
Quick passes between Krüger and Hoffman helped them evade Dubois and Weber.
Krüger fed Mohammed Omar the ball, whom burst down the right flank and crossed deep into the box.
Adrien Pierre connected, sprinted past Müller, and offloaded to West Harry. Harry dodged Weber and passed left to Jorge Héctor, who whipped a blinding cross into Fire Milan's area.
Wagner Braun leaped, but Davi Noah's header cleared it. The ball dropped to Pierre again, who lofted it toward Braun once more.
Braun tipped it over Marco, sending it looping toward the goal, but González stretched his glove at the last second, deflecting it over the bar.
Cheers and gasps erupted.
The rebound rolled to Matteo Leonardo, who launched a long clearance upfield. The Night Phantom defense fell back immediately, led by Krüger's sharp signal.
The ball soared toward Dubois, who clashed midair with Hoffman. Dubois managed to head it left to Patrizi Conti.
"Thank you, Julien," Conti said under his breath as he sprinted down the wing.
Rossini closed in, but Conti's movement was too quick, in a blink, he'd slipped past. The commentators shouted his name. Even the Devertary United players watching the match were stunned.
Conti crossed to Owusu, who smirked.
"Seems my training's paying off," Owusu said mid-run.
"But your speed's still got a long way to catch up to my apex acceleration."
Rizzo met them both head-on, but the pair's teamwork was seamless,Conti slid the ball between Rizzo's legs to Owusu, who fired instantly toward goal.
Gruber Mayer dove, a brilliant save!
But the rebound fell to Leon Laurent, who struck without hesitation. The ball screamed toward goal, only for Schneider Brunner to throw his back into it, deflecting the shot. Mayer pounced, clutching the ball safely.
The crowd erupted with applause for both sides.
"What a counterattack by Fire Milan!" the commentator exclaimed. "And an incredible stand from Night Phantom to deny them!"
The voice continued through the speakers:
"If Night Phantom wins today, they reclaim first place in the league. A draw could keep them second or third, depending on the Northin Way FC vs Devertary United result tonight. But one thing's for sure — they can't afford to lose."
"As for Fire Milan, they're battling for the number 8 spot. A win takes them up; a draw keeps them at 10. A loss drops them as low as 15."
Mayer rolled the ball to Hoffman, who advanced with Krüger. Their link-up was flawless, bypassing Dubois and Weber, until Müller slid in hard,Hoffman went down. The whistle blew.
Free kick to Night Phantom.
Pierre stepped up, eyes scanning the box. He crossed deep, González rushed out, punching it clear.
The loose ball rolled to Owusu, who grinned. Conti flanked left, Laurent right. The three tore down the field, the stadium roaring their names in rhythm.
Laurent suddenly cut inward. Owusu passed to Conti, who dribbled past Hoffman and returned it to Owusu.
Rizzo stood waiting, eyes sharp, but Owusu's speed was unmatched. In a blink, he was through.
"His apex acceleration is terrifying," Shark commented aloud.
"Tell me about it," Ness replied, shaking his head. "Good thing we managed to shut him down last time we faced Fire Milan."
Owusu blasted the ball toward the goal, Mayer blocked it, but the rebound bounced right into Laurent's path.
"I'm going to dominate this pitch," Laurent shouted, "because I am the Monarch of the pitch!"
With a graceful flick, he chipped the ball over Mayer's head and it dropped cleanly into the net.
The stadium erupted in thunderous and terrifying cheers.With the Scoreboard:
Night Phantom 0 – 1 Fire Milan
Goal: Leon Laurent (28')
Fire Milan's coach, Thomas Benoit, clenched his fist with a satisfied smile, exchanging a knowing nod with Moreau Garnier on the bench.
Laurent turned to the stands, pointing proudly at the number 11 on his back. His teammates, Conti, Owusu, and the rest rushed to celebrate with him as chants of "Laurent! Laurent! Laurent!" filled the air.
Meanwhile, Krüger glanced at Mayer, who looked frustrated. Rizzo patted his back gently.
"Don't worry," he said quietly. "No more balls are getting past me today."
The chants of "Laurent! Laurent! Laurent!" still echoed across Dark Clawd Stadium, vibrating through every corner as the scoreboard glowed Night Phantom 0, Fire Milan 1 (28').
Laurent walked back toward the center circle with a confident smirk, exchanging quick high-fives with Owusu and Conti.
The Fire Milan bench was on their seats, the substitutes watching in rhythm.
Meanwhile, Gunnar Krüger runs towards the Center circle.
Giovanni Rizzo, and Gruber Mayer regrouped near their box, their faces carved with frustration and determination.
"Stay sharp," Krüger muttered, eyes locked on Laurent. "We concede again, and we'll lose control of this match."
The referee's whistle signaled play to resume.The Kick-off for Night Phantom.
Krüger tapped the ball to Adrien Pierre, who immediately sent it wide to Omar.
Momodu Omar dashed down the right flank, showing bursts of pace that forced Sander Hansen to fall back into defense.
Omar crossed the ball low into the box, but Alessandro Marco read it perfectly, sliding in to intercept.
The ball ricocheted off his boot toward Andreas Weber, who calmly distributed it left to Conti.
Patrizi Conti looked up, smiling faintly. "Let's stretch them," he called.
He sent a diagonal pass toward Kofi Owusu, who controlled it with a single touch, flicking the ball over Marino Rossini.
The crowd gasped as Owusu sprinted after it, but Giovanni Rizzo closed in fast, shoulder to shoulder, forcing the ball out for a Fire Milan throw.
Thomas Benoit, the Fire Milan coach, clapped once. "Keep the rhythm! No panic!"
Night Phantom tried to rebuild.From a short throw-in by Sander Hansen.
Hoffman intercepted the throw and gained possession and linked up with Krüger and Adrien Pierre again.
Together they advanced, orchestrating tight passing triangles through midfield.
Pierre drifted forward, playing a one-two with West Harry, who sent a through pass toward Wagner Braun.
Braun muscled past Matteo Leonardo and struck hard,but the ball flew inches above the crossbar.
The crowd groaned.
Braun stood still for a second, then clenched his fists, frustration flashing across his face.
"Not bad," Shark muttered. "They're getting back into rhythm."
"Yeah," Ness replied, crossing his arms, "but if Fire Milan keeps countering like that, it won't end well."
---
Back on the field, Fire Milan continued to play smart, compact football.
Lukas Müller and Weber shut down every attempt through the center.
By the 39th minute, Night Phantom had regained possession again.Pierre dancing through midfield, passing left to Jorge Héctor, who quickly crossed into the box.
García González came out bravely, punching the ball away under pressure from Braun.
The loose ball rolled toward Conti, who didn't hesitate,he launched a perfect lob down the left side toward Laurent.
The Fire Milan striker brought it down effortlessly with his chest before cutting inside.
Giovanni Rizzo moved in to close the gap, but Laurent's control was superb. He feigned right, spun left, and tried a curling shot from distance.
Gruber Mayer dived full stretch, catching it cleanly.
The fans roared with appreciation.
Rizzo jogged past Laurent and muttered, "Not again, kid." Laurent only smiled.
---
As the final minute of the first half approached, Night Phantom pushed one last time.
Krüger advanced from deep, delivering a piercing pass to West Harry, who spun away from Müller and fired from outside the box, the shot curved, but González was there again, slapping it wide.
"Corner kick!" the commentator shouted as the crowd's cheers swelled.
Pierre placed the ball. The stadium fell quiet,He delivered a perfect cross,it curled in fast, met by Wagner Braun's head but Alessandro Marco rose higher, clearing it.
The ball rebounded toward Adrien Pierre, who struck it on the volley,just over the bar.
A collective sigh swept through the stands.
The referee glanced at his watch… then blew the whistle indicating the half time.
Night Phantom 0,Fire Milan 1,goal by Leon Laurent (28')
The players made their way to the tunnels some applauded by fans, others shaking their heads in frustration.
On the Fire Milan bench, Thomas Benoit spoke quietly to Laurent, patting his shoulder.
"Good first half," he said. "But remember, champions finish what they start."
Across the field, Krüger turned to his teammates.
"We're not losing this at home," he said, his voice steady. "We strike back in the second half."
The crowd buzzed in anticipation, chanting both teams' names as the camera panned across the packed stadium, the scoreboard glowing:
Night Phantom 0 – Fire Milan 1 (HT)