Soccer System: All the Skills, One Player!

[Bonus Chapter!]

After the rehydration break, the Brighton team was completely transformed. It wasn't just their organization on the pitch, but also the expressions on the players' faces. If before they had been lost, agonized, irritated and frustrated, after the break they gained a new lease of life.

While Declan watched his opponents go on the offensive from the Brighton pitch, Lucas received the ball in the middle of the field and drove it forward.

Lucas' eyes were scanning the field, looking for the best possible alternatives to complete this move towards the goal.

Denis, running to Lucas' left, was ready. Lucas made the pass to Denis, who dribbled the ball between the legs of Liverpool's number six.

Liverpool's defense closed in, but Brighton was advancing like a wave that was receding. The ball passed from foot to foot until the Brighton players were amassed in the penalty area and the ball rolled towards the Brighton left-winger, Raphael.

In situations like this, it was normal for the winger to try and dribble past his markers and cross into the box to get an assist for a header. However, Liverpool's defenders were tall, and Brighton's average height was not the greatest.

Raphael, who wasn't stupid, knew this and tried to do something different. He had the ball at his feet, exchanged a quick glance with the players in the area, and knew that crossing would be a predictable gamble. He needed to surprise, to break logic, to do something different.

Raphael took a quick touch to the ball, bringing it onto his left foot. His opponent in question was Sam Robinson, and he was already facing him with his arms out to limit his movement.

At that moment, Raphael made a quick cut to the left with a twist that confused Sam and allowed him to slip past his marker.

Raphael's body dribble, which opened up a brief and precious space left behind, momentarily unbalanced Sam.

Freer Raphael raised his head, adjusted his posture and launched a shot. His left foot came down hard on the ball, and the ball sliced through the air on an upward trajectory towards the goal.

Everyone's eyes followed the ball as it rose. Defenders, attackers, the opposing goalkeeper. It seemed relentless, destined to find the back of the net without them being able to do anything to stop it — the goalkeeper was literally immobile. But then, in an instant, the impact. The ball exploded against the crossbar with a bang that vibrated sharply. The metal structure swayed, and the ball was thrown high into the air, spinning helplessly over the penalty area.

It was at that moment that the pitch almost froze for most of those young players. The ball was descending in an unpredictable trajectory and, below it, the taller players were fighting for the chance to touch it first. They were ready to jump, and it seemed impossible to Raphael that anyone from Brighton could win that aerial contest.

However, Lucas Tanaka didn't think so. Even with his height of 1.70m, he had copied the jumping ability and timing of the best header he knew.

With a frightening force of impulse, Lucas leapt like a gale lifting him off the ground. Despite defying logic, his leap surpassed even the tallest players.

"Kid!" Alex exclaimed, startled.

In the air, Lucas leaned back slightly and headed the ball towards his forehead, and he took just the right touch to redirect it into the goal.

Everyone held their breath, watching the ball go towards the top left corner of the goal.

But the Liverpool goalkeeper, in an almost instinctive reaction, leapt up and did an overhead kick. His right hand reached out, catching the ball at an unlikely moment. With his fingertips, he deflected Lucas' shot just enough to send the ball out in a heroic save.

Lucas fell to the ground and wailed. "Damn! What a son of a bitch!"

He got up from the ground and glanced at the opposing goalkeeper, who was still celebrating his save with a clenched fist. Lucas pressed his lips together in a half-smile.

"Hey, Denis!" he called, running towards the corner. Denis, who had the ball in his hands, raised his face with a questioning expression. "Let me take that one."

Denis, who would insist on taking the corner with his skillful left foot, looked at Lucas for a second, assessing.

"Go on." Denis replied with a quick nod, clearing the way. "Go for it, Lucas."

Lucas then agreed and placed the ball on the corner mark, turning it to find the perfect point of contact. He took a brief breath, his hands trembling slightly, and watched the pitch.

For Lucas, his vision was divided into invisible lines, literally a network of possibilities unfolding in front of him. He saw the options - lines of different opacities, vibrating in his mind like trails of colored smoke, each leading to a different destination. In the distance, his eyes met the gaze of the tallest of his teammates, Arthur, posted at the second goalpost.

Arthur, with his 1.90m and powerful physique, intimidated the Liverpool defenders who were watching him.

Lucas put his weight on his right foot, letting his left slide back slightly. He adjusted his positioning, leaned over, and launched his foot at the ball, making it turn in a perfect curve.

The ball rose and described an impeccable curve, a trajectory that deflected off the nearest markers and gained height. Every second, Lucas followed the ball with his gaze, hoping internally that Arthur was in the right place at the right time.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Arthur, for his part, was already in position, his eyes fixed on the ball coming towards him. He planted his feet in the grass, waiting for the right moment to jump.

'This is it.' Arthur thought, seeing that the ball was heading in his direction.

The Liverpool defenders surrounded him like wolves, each trying to position themselves as close as possible, pressing, stepping on Arthur's heels, ready to challenge any move.