THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME
The Second Team Rosenborg

The match went exactly as Coach Johansen anticipated in the first ten minutes. Rosenborg's second team started the match and retained possession as they broke into the NF academy goal.

All their players are able to keep the ball and pass it quickly. They can progress steadily towards goal without giving academy players a chance to win possession. Their teamwork left Zachary and his teammates frustrated by the compactness and constriction.

Troll Kids plays the Barcelona Tiki-Taka style.

They are set in a 3-5-2 formation with three men in the middle of the pack supported by two wingers. Ole Selnaes, Gjermund sen, and Fredrik Midtsjo are the core players in their midfield. The three midfielders control the overall tempo of the game with tight ball possession.

However, the boy in white and black seemed wary of Zachary. They play around him instead of through him in midfield. They so often choose to pass the ball rather than dribble and face him and his team-mates.

But it was not the most menacing oddity about the team's setting and Rosenborg's game plan. One of their three central midfielders would occasionally attack and threaten the NF academy box.

Rosenborg's second team created their first net chance of the match in the 10th minute in such a manner. Ole Selnaes, who was supposed to play the role of defensive midfield, exploded. He played one-two with Trond Olsen— a left-wing player after receiving a quick pass from Fredrik Midtsj.

The duo passed Magnus Blakstad and broke deep into the NF academy's half with their fine passes. Ole made a quick breakthrough pass to Mushaga, who ran behind three centre-backs before they managed to react to a quick change in pace of play.

The Rosenborg striker ran into the box and found himself facing off one-on-one with Kendrick Otterson, the goalkeeper. However, as he lifted his foot, preparing to shoot, a quick silhouette came— skated in and poked the ball out of the game in a green boot.

The referee blew the whistle and pointed to the corner flag.

Zachary has saved the NF academy from conceding an early goal. He was the only player in the academy team to react quickly to the change of pace and Rosenborg's surprise attack. He was in midfield when the attack started, but he managed to run over 40 yards, chase Mushaga, and handle the ball.

Mushaga looked at Zachary, who was in the process of rising up from the ground, with a frown. "It looks like you've become faster and better over the past year." He muttered.

"It's just luck," Zachary lied.

Of course, he would not tell his opponent that he was able to predict their offensive tactics. His high game intelligence powered by Zinedine-Visual-Juju has helped him analyze patterns in the Rosenborg game. He could have concluded that Mushaga would have received the final ball, not John Chibuike—the second attacker Rosenborg.

Mushaga furrowed his brows as he continued to stare at Zachary. “Whether it's a coincidence, or you can predict our passes, it doesn't mean anything in today's game,”. "You will lose no matter how good you play. How many times have you been able to defend against our attacks? Wait and see." He smiled gently before leaving.

Zachary can see that the striker is trying to overload his mentality and influence his game. He paid no heed to his comments and prepared himself to defend the corner.

Zachary frowned at Lars Togstad, who had just returned to the box. "Don't let their strikers run behind you. Isn't that what the coach said? What are you doing on defense?"

"They are too quick with their transition" said the centre-back, smiling shyly. "But it won't happen again. I can promise you that." He hit his chest.

"Big." Zakaria nodded. "But keep the right back line throughout the game. You should order other defenders to move up and down the field simultaneously in all defensive situations. Only then can we set up a good offside trap and prevent their quick attack from threatening our box." He suggested the number-4.

Zachary has noticed that Mushaga will be in an offside position if Robin Jatta, the left centre-back, does not back down and plays him in an onside position. He did not expect such rookie mistakes from the defenders in the professional academy.

"Don't worry" Lars assured. "We will do our best for the rest of the game. Let's defend the corner first."

The defender looks like a relaxed person. Zachary is glad he listened to his reminders with a positive attitude.

Jonas Svensson, Rosenborg's right winger, delivered a teasing ball from a corner into the box, starting the rematch. Simen Wangberg, a high central defender, overtook the NF academy defense to welcome a corner kick and head the ball right into the middle of the goal. However, his long-range header was not strong enough, and Kendrick Otterson, the goalkeeper, made a comfortable save.

"Kendrick," cried Zachary, running out of the box. "Fast throw the ball to Kim."

Kendrick wasn't kidding. Hearing Zachary's instructions, he made a long throw towards the touchline where Kim Riksvold, the NF academy's left winger, was waiting. Zachary and most of his teammates went quickly to the other side of the field after the ball.

Kim, on the left wing, controls the ball beautifully near the halfway line. However, two Rosenborg players who did not take part in the corner kick punched him. They surrounded him and forced him to pass the ball back to Zachary. Rosenborg managed to stop the NF academy counterattack successfully.

Zachary received Kim's pass as he stepped into midfield. He is as calm as his eyes — focus on the field in front of him. He controlled the ball with a deft touch and ran towards the half of Rosenborg's pitch with a blast of long strides.

Zachary did not hesitate and passed the ball towards Kasongo, on the right wing. The short winger caught a precise long pass and darted towards the opponent's goal as if his life depended on it.

However, Christoffer Aasbak, a left-back, directly attacked him, forcing him to head towards the corner flag, not the box. To make matters worse, Gjermund sen, one of Rosenborg's three core midfielders, also rushed to the wing to support his team-mates. Both players surrounded Kasongo and forced him to lose possession immediately. The only NF academy attack in the game, so far, has yielded nothing.

Over the next few minutes, the game situation remained the same. Rosenborg's second team dominated the game and possession, forcing the NF academy to stay on.

Fortunately, the NF academy defender was wary and managed to hit most of Rosenborg's effort into the net. They worked shoulder to shoulder to shoulder to make many offside traps for the two Rosenborg attackers. Mushaga was already three times offside in the twentieth minute of the game. The game remains in a dead end.

However, Zachary soon realized a problem. Rosenborg's defence and midfield have always fended off some of their counter-attacks with ease.

The Troll boys have a basic form of defense, denying Zachary and his team possession or penetration through the center. The Rosenborg players were compact vertically and horizontally several times when Zachary had the ball.

When Zachary would receive a pass in midfield, Jonas Svensson or Trond Olsen, the Rosenborg winger, would pinch into the half space. They will close the horizontal passing route on both sides of the field.

The middle midfielder would later collapse and form a narrow triangle in the middle of the field, blocking any space he would use to run through the middle.

It looks like Rosenborg's strategy is to mark the space around her instead of marking it with a human. They know that Zachary is good. They can only limit their influence on games with perfect team play.

Zachary can only do long passes to the wings or forward. However, Rosenborg's well-organised midfield and defence will easily fit into the front box and wings when they receive his pass. Troll Kids will easily force them towards the touchline, preventing them from threatening their wicket.

After Zachary understood their tactics, he called Kasongo and whispered in his ear. He then ran back into midfield and prepared to receive the ball from his goalkeeper.

Mushaga just took a long-range kick into the net. He hit the ball towards the goal from the edge of the 18-yard box. However, his shot went a few inches wide from the right post. The NF Academy is on edge.

Zachary sprinted out of midfield towards the right wing abruptly when Kendrick was about to take a goal kick. "Pass here," he shouted as he exchanged numbers with Kasongo.

"Zachary" shouted Coach Johansen from the sidelines. "Go back to midfield. What are you doing in the wings?"

Kendrick didn't seem to hear the coach's words. He passed the ball to Zachary.

Zachary controlled the ball with his left foot on the right wing and then shot like the wind. He broke through half the opponent immediately after that.

Anxiety arose in him when he heard Coach Johansen shouting from the sidelines. However, he calmed down because he trusted his vision and his game intelligence. Zachary believes his decision to swap positions with Kasongo is appropriate as there is no loophole to take advantage of in the middle of the pitch. The NF Academy will only get one chance to attack through the wings before coach Rosenborg realizes they have left space on their side of the formation.

"Stop him" Zachary heard one of the midfielders shouting.

However, he closed all the sounds and continued his run. He's fast, as fast as a bullet train. Zachary kept running and did not stop. At one point, he somehow ignored two simultaneous challenges from a pair of Rosenborg— defenders and still came up with the ball.

He felt his body lighter as his boots flew with uniformly long strides across the green field. One year of progressive overload training shows its magic.

Gjermund Sen appeared in front of him, blocking his running path as he changed direction and cut into the field, towards Rosenborg's box. The midfielder tried to force him to move towards the corner flag. That's what he did to Kasongo.

Zakaria smile. He expertly flicked the ball forward with his right foot before easily beating midfielder Rosenborg for speed. From there, he kept pressing the goal, running left past Christoffer Aasbak.

However, left-back Rosenborg has no Zachary nonsense. He overshadowed Zachary with his quick pace and tried to win the ball with a sliding tackle. The defender sent Zachary tumbling to the ground right after he stepped into the box.

*FREEEE*

The referee blew his whistle and pointed to the penalty spot.