Soon enough, players from both teams were also starting to get ready for the first half of the extra time. The bench players also walked back to their spot one by one, including Higo. Of course, the boy didn’t just go back immediately. If anything, he stared at his friend with eyes full of jealousy.
"Teme, you bastard. Don’t get nervous and make a mistake in this crucial stage, okay? Don’t you dare humiliate our Hakodate gang in front of so many people like this." He punched the boy’s shoulder lightly.
"Ha! Just say so if you are jealous!" Makino didn’t back down in another one of their bickers here. "Also, nervous? If you could do that against South Korea, why would I be bothered in a game today? The opponent is not that big to make me tremble, you know?"
It wasn’t like the boy dismissed Team Senegal, but in his heart, and probably all the boys here, South Korea carried more weight than Senegal. The former was their long-time rival, a team they had been fighting tooth and nail for so many years in Asia. Compared to that, Senegal, whom they had only met once in the last few years or even decade, was simply a friendlier team here.
"Tch! Who is jealous here?" Higo clicked his tongue in annoyance. There was no way he would admit it loudly. "Also, mind your words, Teme. When we are closer to the shootout, I will be the one behind you, being the hero once again. When that happens, make sure you are cheering loudly for me, okay?"
If anyone heard this, they would smack the boy for his arrogance. Higo would also never say something so stupid as being a hero in front of the others. However, when it was just him and Makino, his mouth sometimes ran quicker than his brain, letting him speak something stupid that he should’ve never said at all.
"Wait, what?! You want to replace me?" Zion suddenly came here, overhearing the conversation. "No, no, no, Brother! Just one time is enough; when the penalty shootout happens, it would be me who will be the hero!" He patted his chest smugly.
"Yeah, exactly!" Makino nodded with a little smirk on his face, ecstatic that he had a helper right now. "Just go back and sit comfortably on the bench; we will bring you to the semifinal later!" The smile on his face was full of mockery, enough to irritate Higo.
Before the boy could speak more and continue this bickering, though, Kageyama-sensei interrupted them immediately. "What the hell are you doing here?! Go back to the pitch quickly and get ready! Don’t you dare messing around in the extra time, okay?!" He glared at them, especially at Zion. The goalkeeper sure had a tendency to act recklessly in the safe environment, something that was so hard for the coach to curb.
"YES, SIR!" The two players rushed to the pitch as quickly as possible, while Higo also sneaked back to the bench quietly.
Soon enough, all the players from both teams were ready, and after one last check from the referee...
FWEEE!
The whistle was finally blown, starting the first half of the extra time. Just like Kageyama-sensei instructed beforehand, Japan hit the accelerator immediately, intending to encircle Senegal’s territory from the beginning and not giving them any chance to breathe.
Even though the team had already moved back to the original scheme of four defenders, Mamoru was still operating behind the two strikers. His presence there was the biggest headache that Senegal faced, as the boy could always find any threatening spot for his teammates to exploit.
Not just that, Morita also started pushing forward. He didn’t go that far, since Yuta Goke still needed help in midfield, but his presence as the bridge behind Mamoru was a big help to distribute the ball forward.
Every time those two carried the ball, it could always end as a great threat, and yet, somehow, none of them was enough to get Japan their fourth goal of the game.
Mamoru’s little cross from outside of the box, the execution from Miyashiro went wide outside of the pitch.
A through ball from Morita, but Kawabe found his shot being blocked again.
Another triangle combination between Morita, Mamoru, and Tagawa, and yet, Mamoru’s final shot was too weak for the goalkeeper to grasp it easily.
They sent one attack after another, and yet, they only added to their shots on target statistic. Other than that, their final execution was always lacking, and Senegal also started to regain their confidence. Even though they couldn’t snatch possession from Japan’s side so easily, once they had a chance, their transition was enough to give Japan’s defensive line a heart attack.
Then, five minutes before the first half was over, a big incident happened on the pitch.
It all started from Senegal’s goalkeeper managing to snatch the cross from Sugawara in the air. Then, without hesitation, the boy threw the ball to the right side, knowing exactly that the full back there had just gone forward and would find a hard time recovering.
Amadou Sagna, who received the ball, grinned, controlling the ball with his chest before turning around quickly, pushing forward with his speed.
"This is it! This is my chance!" He gritted his teeth, trying to run as quickly as possible.
He wasn’t alone, as two more Senegal players followed from behind. However, that didn’t mean Japan’s defensive line would let him go so easily.
"Ayu, Makino, keep an eye on the center! Goke, mid! Watch for a cutback!" Ito shouted while also running to the flank, intending to cover for Sugawara’s position. His defense came in time, as with just his three big steps, he had already covered the route for the boy to come into the box.
’Tch! You think you are enough to stop me?!’ Amadou Sagna clicked his tongue in annoyance. ’Well, let’s see if you can do this!’
The boy pushed the ball a little bit far, intending to get through Ito’s left side with his speed. Of course, Japan’s captain would be able to react. After all, this was a reckless attack that was quite easy to handle.
However, in desperation, Amadou Sagna suddenly moved both his hands frantically, trying to pull Ito back with his force. His left hand got into Ito’s neck, and with the reckless swing from his right hand...
BRUGH!
His elbow met Ito’s forehead, knocking down Japan’s captain instantly.