"Scheiße! What the hell is going on here?!"
"We have scored the goal?! How could it be this quick?!"
"Hey, who the hell is that number 8 from Japan?! He is the orchestrator, right?!"
Even the people on the stand were so confused at this point, questioning the goal itself instead of celebrating it properly. Well, it couldn’t be helped, since they had never thought that this team could be this strong, stealing a goal against a third-division team so easily like this.
Those who were involved in the scene themselves didn’t bother with the reaction outside. No, Luca Schuler was so excited as he got his first goal of the season, pointing at Fabian Reese excitedly. The assister himself also didn’t take credit for this goal, waiting for Morita to come and celebrate together. Fabian knew that without Morita’s crazy through ball, it would be impossible for him to get that assist.
"Damn, what the hell is wrong with your head?!" Fabian laughed while also rubbing Morita’s hair fondly. "It is so weird for someone to find me that easily, you know? That pass is perfect as well! I don’t even need to adjust at all!"
"Yeah, I saw the pass as well." Schuler nodded along. "If you can give one to me, I will be sure to give you one assist in the future." He added.
Now that he knew that Morita’s passing ability was so ridiculously strong, it was important for the striker to offer a favor, hoping inwardly that more passes would come to him in the future.
Morita himself just grinned foolishly. Little did the two other German players know, though, that the boy didn’t understand a single shit about what they said. Yeah, his English hadn’t reached the level where he could comfortably speak with the others yet.
However, the boy didn’t need to know everything here. Just watching his teammates’ expressions was enough to tell him that they were satisfied with his service.
"Nice execution. If you are in an open position again, I will find you, don’t worry." He said slowly.
The rest of the players there stared at each other for a moment, not expecting Morita to brag like this. However, the last few weeks of training sessions had shown them how capable Morita was in the midfield, so they didn’t hesitate to nod here.
"Hah! This is interesting!"
"Don’t worry, Morita! We will always run, so don’t forget to find us!"
The chatter and laughter there finally subsided once the referee blew the whistle. Since it was just a friendly match, there was no need to give more time for the players to celebrate the goal. It would be better to get back in the game soon, giving both teams time to make some changes.
The players from KFC Uerdingen also started to get fired up. If before, they wanted to treat this game casually, thinking that it was just a normal pre-season game, this time, they changed their mind. No, this goal not only made them go down in score, but it also hurt their pride.
They were a team that was proud of their defensive system, and yet, a bunch of no-name players who couldn’t even get into the first team were able to humiliate them. This result was definitely far from being acceptable.
True enough, the moment the game started again, it was their time to push further, and they showed immediately why they were in the third division while Schalke II was in the fourth one.
During their pressure, everyone moved neatly, always going to their assigned player without any complaint. Not only that, but they also managed to push the ball to the flank, and once it was there, two or three people would try to surround that side, wanting to overwhelm Higo’s territory with numbers.
However, Morita would never let something like that happen.
No, leading the line of midfielders, he started to control the ball more, combining the short-pass scheme that could maintain possession for longer and the progressive pass that always landed on his teammates’ feet.
Honestly, his ability to attract pressure and free his teammates in the opposition half was remarkable.
Not only that, though, Morita was also essential in the defensive team. The moment the front line lost the ball, he would arrange at least three or four players to press immediately, trying to either snatch the ball again or just wanting to stall for time so that the rest could go back and form their defensive shape again.
Just in the first fifteen minutes of the game, he had already stolen the hearts of the supporters outside, telling them why he deserved to be on the main team.
"Damn! That brat is crazy!" One of the old geezers laughed when he saw Morita spinning around in a circle to get through the opponent’s marking. "He is the talented Japanese boy that the team talked about three weeks ago, right?! It seems we are going to have a strong midfield this season!"
"Don’t talk too fast yet, Old Man! He is still 19 and not a German; there is no way he could secure a spot in the team!" Another person chimed in.
Some debates erupted around the ground, but at least they all could agree that Morita was a rare talented player that deserved the main team’s attention.However, it all had to wait first, because this time, it was they who finally received an unexpected attack.
It all started when Jonas Hofmann’s pass to the right wing got intercepted. The culprit dashed immediately with the ball on his feet, and with a quick one-two pass, that player managed to sneak into Higo’s territory without any guard around him.
Honestly, this should be a sure-goal experience for him, and the winger started to get cocky, slowing down his pace while also trying to make sure that no one could get him from behind. Unfortunately, he forgot to see that heroic action always came from the front side, as someone suddenly slid with his body on the ground, getting the ball first before anyone else.
BRUGH!
It was none other than Higo who took action, getting the ball first before it got launched in the air. The boy was trying to complain, but the referee just shook his head and made a quick gesture, as if saying, ’The game is not over yet! Don’t go down that easily!’
Higo also saw that subtle movement. However, his focus was completely on the pitch, as he caught the movement from three different areas. The boy didn’t even blink, exerting all the muscles in his right arm and shoulder to send a perfect throw toward his teammates.
BAM!
"Shit! Nice pass, Higo!"
"It is time for a counterattack!"