Chapter 652: Quarter-finals IV
Chapter 652: Quarter-finals IV
With them on the counterattack, the stadium roared, and the atmosphere of the stadium got heated.
While the pitch was in chaos, Hiro lifted himself from the ground. He had collided harshly
against Kane, but he didn't want to sit back and recover.
He'd rather be up ahead than sit here and do nothing.
Immediately after the ball was sent to Kubo, Hiro began to sprint. With long steady strides, The breezed past the retreating opponents.
While halfway on the pitch, Kubo had only breached the opposing defensive third.
'I can make it,' Hiro thought, his eyes laser-focused.
At this moment, the entire field was under his spectrum. Hiro could pinpoint the location of each individual on the field.
Being able to see the field from above, Hiro had a bird-eye view of the entire pitch.
The steadily retreating players, the charging teammates, he could see all of them. He could even see the spaces that would be difficult to predict under normal circumstances.
He was aware that using multiple skills simultaneously would drain him. However, he couldn't flinch at this stage.
Upon identifying their locations, Hiro breezed past the opponents. Like a hot knife slicing through the butter, Hiro sliced through their formations.
Even at this chaotic moment, their formation was compact.
However, it didn't stop him from advancing. Kubo being the center of attention also helped him mask his presence.
With quick feints, Kubo managed to get through the opponent pressing on him. However, he was pushed further to the flank.
Though Kubo managed to venture deep into the opposing box, he couldn't find a good shooting angle. Hence, rather than attempting to shoot, he searched for his teammates. This wasted quite a lot of time and allowed the opposing team to position themselves.
Most of the players on the opposing team were rather quick. Hence, they managed to relocate first.
This outcome made Kubo worried.
'Do I have to shoot?' Kubo was well aware of his strengths and knew that shooting from such a tight angle wasn't his cup of tea.
However, the longer he waited, the more difficult it got.
The opposing keeper had already moved quite ahead, minimizing the shooting angle further. The opposing defenders had successfully positioned themselves and one was even advancing on him.
If he waited further, he might blow the chance away.
Reluctantly, Kubo glanced around him one last time. Now, if he failed to find any of his teammates, he'd have to attempt the shot even if it was difficult.
A part of the reason why he was hesitating was because it was their first real opportunity and he didn't want to blow it away.
Thus, he would rather assist than make a selfish decision.
'Is this it?' Kubo couldn't help but feel bitter.
He was unable to locate any of his teammates open. However, right when he was about to turn away, he found Hiro at the periphery of his vision.
Seeing Hiro wide open, his heart thumped in joy. He was glad to see him here.
Without hesitating any further, Kubo passed the ball behind. The opponents couldn't help but feel surprised at his decision.
They were expecting him to shoot. After all, they had already cornered him to make that decision. However, seeing him tossing the ball outside the box, they couldn't help but feel perplexed.
Who is there?
Their eyes followed the ball. Then at the end of the ball's route, they found Hiro.
They were aware Hiro was fast. However, now that they witnessed his speed firsthand, they couldn't help but feel astonished.
From defending the ball to attacking, it seemed like he could do it all.
Guardiola who had been watching Hiro, stared Hiro dazedly.
However, unlike others impressed by his acceleration, he was impressed by his ability to judge the route to run unhindered. Having coached the likes of Iniesta, Xavi, Bosquets, and Messi, each possessing great vision, Guardiola knew this boy possessed great vision. However, while others used their ability to make passes, Hiro used it to open spaces for him. Erling relied on his physicality to create spaces. But this guy could find spaces as if he could see through the entire pitch. This guy knew where to run.
It was almost as if he could foresee the future.
Upon this discovery, Guardiola couldn't help but feel astonished.
"Monster!" He mumbled subconsciously.
The defender panicked upon finding him. They had seen that Hiro could shoot impressively from outside the box. Hence, they didn't want to provide him space to execute those shots.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
With that thought in mind, some of them advanced.
In hopes of limiting the space, they advanced. However, before they could get to him, Hiro struck the ball with the inside of his left foot.
The ball soared above the head of incoming defenders.
The opposing keeper sensed that it was heading to the top right corner. Hence, he
immediately dashed to the right.
There was a substantial amount of spin on the ball, helping the ball to curve.
However, right before the post, its speed decreased and fell short of its mark. By now, the opposing keeper had already lifted from the ground to save the ball.
He wasn't prepared for this sudden decrease in speed.
At that moment, Yamada soared high above everybody in the box and met the ball with a
stunning header.
The net rippled, the expression of the opposing keeper ashen.
The stadium erupted in an excited roar, their voice traveling far and wide, shaking every nook
and canny of the stadium.
"GOOOAL! Hiro with the assist, and Japan takes the lead! This kid is unstoppable!"
Yamada having scored the goal, rushed to the sideline with a wide jubilant grin etched on his
face. His entire body was pulsating with excitement.
The buzzing stadium around him, the feeling of excitement, he was intoxicated.
Yamada couldn't refrain from letting himself lose.
Hiro was among the crowd that was celebrating. Though it looked like he had been forgotten,
he didn't mind it. Rather he was elated from the bottom of his heart.
Even though he wasn't the one to score, this goal meant a lot to him.