Chapter 11 - Danone Cup Istanbul Semi Finals(2)

Half time…

"So far, everything is going as planned, we did not score in the first half. Now the real match will begin. " Helder said.

"Yes, Captain."

The coach was telling the players what to do in the second half.

Yes, they were good defenders, but if they didn"t score, they wouldn"t have a chance to win the match.

Maybe the match could go on penalties, or even the coach could count on him as Helder was on the team.

However, the coach did not want the match to go to penalties.

Because none of the matches they played was up to penalties.

And so what the players would do on penalties could be a huge problem.

"We haven"t conceded goals so far, but now we should consider scoring." said the coach.

"Coach you"re right, but how do we do this? Our opponent puts a lot of pressure on us… "said defender Yusuf.

"We will change our tactics and give them an unexpected surprise in the second half."

"So what tactic will we take to the field?" Helder asked.

"When the opponent team attacks, we will line up in the form of 4-2-1."

"4-2-1? Are you sure, coach? " asked the striker Burak.

This tactic might seem very defensive, but the coach had a plan in mind.

"Yes, I am sure, you know that the opponent team has never scored a goal in the 2nd half before. They will experience the stress of this. They will attack without thinking. And when we get to the last 2 minutes of the match, I"ll shout at you. We will have a sudden and unexpected attack after I shout. You will all go on the attack, including the players in defense. Is that clear? "

"Yes, coach."

It was a very risky plan.

If they lost the ball in those last-minute attacks, it would be a great opportunity for the opposing team.

Was this really true?

But the team had come with risky plans so far.

And they trusted the coach.

"You have the rest, Helder." said the coach.

Helder dropped the drink on the floor and stood up.

He looked calm.

"Do you think it is luck that we come to the semi-finals?"

"No, captain."

"So what did we do to come to the semi-finals? We trained for hours, days, weeks, and months. We suffered. I want to hear one thing from you. Show me how much you want the finale. Let"s fight with all our souls ... "

"Yes, captain."

The locker room groaned again.

Even one of the security guards was startled when he heard the voice of this team for a moment.

Who wouldn"t have freaked out?

After the coach and Helder"s speech, the team had incredible self-confidence ...

***

The referee blew the whistle.

And the second half started ...

It was what the coach and the team expected.

They could see the anxiety on the opponent"s team"s face.

There was not the slightest relief. On the contrary, they were very nervous.

They changed their tactics as soon as possible to score goals.

They had made a substitution and were on the field with the 2-2-3 tactic.

But Helder and his team were already prepared for it.

The opposing team was attacking unconsciously from the start of the 2nd Half.

The minutes were ticking.

Unless they score goals, they get even more stressed out.

And they started to argue between them as well.

"Oh, these little boys…" thought Helder.

The minute was now 33.

Melih took another unexpected shot from afar like in the first half. His goal was to relieve the stress on the team.

But Helder took control of the ball easily again.

"This goalkeeper is a complete nuisance. If anyone else were, my shots had already been scored." he thought, and he was getting angry more and more.

The opposing team had now increased the gear even more.

They were constantly attacking.

After the coach said that we will do 4-way defense during the break, Eray in the midfield had moved on to the defense. And the opponent"s striker was controlling Arda alone.

What is this?

The opponent team"s playmaker Melih made a great pass.

No defender could interfere with the ball.

The striker of the opposing team was facing Emre and Helder.

Helder stepped forward.

He opened both hands.

He was trying to close the space between the two.

He did not lie down until he waited for the ball to be hit.

Emre shot from the ground.

"Now." Helder thought, and he was already waiting for it.

The ball going to the left corner was cornered with the tip of his crampons.

Helder stood up.

If he was even 1 second late, the ball was scored.

Thanks to his past life experiences, he knew that he had to wait until the last moment for the ball to be hit.

In fact, in a match of the European Champion Clubs" Cup in 1969, he scored in almost the same position because he lay down early.

He remembered each position.

He never forgot.

He knew what he had to do ...

***

The opponent used the corner, Helder jumped and took the ball in his hands.

At that very moment ...

"Noooow !!!" shouted the coach.

"Everyone forward!" he shouted at Helder.

The players were moving forward with all their might.

He launched the ball fast at the Helder.

The opponent did not expect this.

The ball had come to Hakan in the midfield.

He passed the Alp next to him.

As soon as the ball came to his feet, he passed the striker Burak.

Burak was preparing to shoot.

But the defenders of the opposing team blocked the way.

"Pass me."

Burak tossed the pass towards the incoming voice.

There was Kaan, who came forward from the defense where he threw the pass.

The top came to Kaan"s feet.

He took the shot with his right foot.

The ball was a little slow, but it was heading right into the corner.

The goalkeeper of the opponent team jumped.

He just thought he was saving, he bounced the ball!

Burak felt as if the goalkeeper would bounce the ball and he was there.

Burak took the shot and…

Goooooool…

Gooooooooooolll…

Gooooooooooooooooolllll…

Orange necklace took the lead 1-0 in the last moments of the middle school game.

"The match is not over yet!" Helder was shouting.

"Instead of everybody!" he would continue ...

The referee blew the final whistle of the match.

Helder and his teammates were now in the Danone Cup Istanbul Region Finals.

They were happy like crazy.

Slowly, Helder was comforting Melih, the playmaker of the opposing team.

"It was nice to meet you, I hope we can once again become rivals."

Melih did not say anything.

Melih closed his eyes with his hands. He didn"t want it to be obvious that he was crying.

That was football.

"I know losing feels so painful, my friend," Helder sighed.

Melih was leaving the field ...

Will Helder and his teammates perform a miracle?

They would see that very soon ...