"The second half begins, dear viewers! What will this match bring us? Can Tokyo come back? We'll find out in the next 45 minutes!"
The ball moved around on Tokyo's side.
This time, the tempo was more controlled.
Less rushed.
Minato dropped deeper to get on the ball.
Kenji, who had just come on, was already asking for it between the lines.
"He's already in it… this guy feels zero pressure…" thought Rikuo.
On the first play, Kenji recovered the ball in midfield thanks to a well-coordinated press with Raizo.
He passed it immediately to Minato.
One touch.
Two touches.
Ren found Rivelinho through the middle with a line-breaking pass.
Shot—blocked.
But this time…
The stadium reacted.
The fans were finding their voices again.
"You can feel a different energy from Tokyo! That halftime talk clearly had an effect!"
On the sideline, Matheus didn't move.
Arms crossed.
Eyes locked on the pitch.
"They've adjusted… interesting…" thought the German coach.
He made a simple hand gesture.
Kashima instantly tightened their shape.
Alex moved forward slowly, watching the build-up.
He didn't run for nothing.
He waited.
Always patient.
Always calculating.
On the bench, Rikuo was analyzing everything.
"Their block is even more compact… they're waiting for a mistake… they want us to force it…" thought Rikuo.
Minato tried to switch play to the right wing.
Intercepted.
Immediate counterattack.
Akira picked up the ball.
One clean touch.
He lifted his head.
Alex was already making a run behind Toru.
"Watch the transition! Kashima are moving forward quickly!"
A deep cross.
Alex controlled it with his chest.
He made a turn then he shoots
Over the bar..
The whole stadium held its breath.
Rikuo clenched his fists.
"This guy… one mistake and he's right there…"
thought Rikuo.
Alex showed no emotion.
He simply repositioned himself.
Like a machine.
Akira walked up to him.
"We keep going like this. They're shaky."
"Yes."
Same short answer.
Akira smiled slightly.
"Programmed to score… nothing else…" he thought.
The match was getting more intense.
More tactical.
More mental.
Tokyo kept the ball moving.
But struggled to break through.
Kenji kept offering options.
Minato was organizing everything.
Rivelinho tried to use his physical presence.
But Kashima stayed calm.
On the bench, Coach Sato watched in silence.
Rikuo glanced at the tactical board next to him.
"He changed Kenji's positioning… we're playing more in a diamond now…"
He was reading everything.
Like he was already on the pitch.
60th minute.
Still 1–0.
The crowd kept pushing harder.
"Tokyo are insisting! But Kashima's defense is holding strong!"
High recovery.
Raizo intercepted.
Quick pass to Minato.
Minato beat a player with a sharp turn.
He looked up.
Called for a run.
Rivelinho was already going.
Perfect pass.
Rivelinho shot.
Saved by the keeper.
"Damn it! This keeper's in my way… does he think this is gonna keep going like that?" shouted the Brazilian, holding his head.
This time, the stadium exploded.
The chants came back.
Flags were waving everywhere.
Rikuo felt his heart racing.
"That's it! Keep going like this!" thought Rikuo.
On the pitch, Raizo raised his arms.
"We're close! Keep pushing!"
Minato shouted:
"Again! Again!"
The ball was on theirs side again
But right after they decided to take on the space in front of them.
They made mistake in the build-up.
Kashima recovered the ball.
Akira burst past Ren and delivered a cross toward their number 9.
Alex jumped.
Higher than ever.
He got a touch on it
But Toru barely managed to deflect it for a corner.
"I won't let you score again, big guy," Toru said to Alex.
"…"
Alex didn't respond.
The stadium let out a collective sigh.
"What a second half, ladies and gentlemen! We are witnessing a real show!"
"We can't give them even a second…" murmured Rikuo.
On the bench, Sato turned to his assistants.
A few quiet words.
Then…
He looked toward the substitutes.
His gaze moved from player to player.
Then stopped.
On Rikuo.
Time felt like it slowed down.
Rikuo straightened up.
His heart was pounding.
Sato raised his hand.
"Rikuo. Go warm up properly." He said.
Kenji, from the pitch, glanced toward the bench.
A small smile.
"I knew it…" he whispered to himself.
Rikuo took off his jacket.
He took a deep breath.
"This might be it…"
He looked up at the stands.
He saw his father again and smiled.
On the field, the game continued.
Minato recovered the ball once more.
He looked up.
Looked toward the bench.
Their eyes met for a second.
Like a silent message.
The match was slowly shifting.
The tension was rising.
And Rikuo…
Was about to step into his moment.
The world of Japanese football was about to witness a new chapter.
The era of the king of the pitch…
Rikuo Amada.