Backstreet No. 7

The whistle pierced the air once more, signaling the start of the second half.

Group 3 kicked off, eager to turn the tide. A quick pass was delivered to Eito Kagura, who instinctively pushed the ball out wide to Chul-Moo on the left flank.

Chul-Moo, light on his feet, received the pass effortlessly. An opponent rushed toward him, but with a deft twirl, Chul-Moo left the defender grasping at thin air, drawing gasps from the sideline.

He dashed down the wing, his pace leaving a trail of dust as he approached the edge of the field. With a sharp motion, he sent in a low cross into the box.

But before it could reach its intended target, a Group 1 defender slid in, deflecting the ball out of bounds.

Pweeeeet!

"Corner kick!" the referee announced, pointing to the flag.

The players began to gather in the penalty area as Kagura walked over to the corner spot, his face calm and calculated.

Among the huddle in the box, one figure stood out. A towering presence that dwarfed everyone around him.

So Chang-Min.

At 6'5, the Group 3 center back was a rare sight in Korean football, his size an almost unfair advantage. His large forehead which was often the subject of light-hearted jokes among his teammates was his secret weapon.

"Here we go," murmured Kyung-Sam beside Lucas, leaning forward in anticipation.

Kagura swung the ball into the box with precision, the curve perfect and purposeful.

It seemed to home in on Chang-Min, who didn't even need to leap. His height did all the work. With a powerful twist of his neck, he directed the ball smoothly into the left corner of the net.

Pweeeet!

"Gooooooooal!" the referee shouted, and the Group 3 players erupted in cheers.

"Game on!" Chul-Moo exclaimed, pumping his fist in the air as his teammates rushed to congratulate Chang-Min.

The once-dominant Group 1 was now visibly shaken.

Lucas, still on the bench, felt a wave of adrenaline course through him as he watched the match intensify. The players on the field were giving everything, proving they belonged here.

Could I do that? Could I make an impact like that when my turn comes?

The game clock ticked down to the final two minutes.

Both teams were pushing hard, but fatigue had begun to take its toll.

Suddenly, Nazeel Megat of Group 1, the Malaysian midfielder known for his pinpoint passes, saw his moment.

Intercepting a sluggish pass from a Group 3 player, Nazeel acted instinctively, threading the ball forward to the one player everyone feared—Marco Rodriguez.

The Filipino prodigy received the ball with a world-class touch, his movement effortless.

Instantly, all three Group 3 defenders closed in on him, desperate to stop him from advancing.

Even So Chang-Min, the towering 6'5 center back known for his dominance in the air, threw himself into the challenge. His massive frame closed in on Marco.

But Marco, unbothered, pulled off a sharp feint that sent Chang-Min stumbling the wrong way, his height working against him as he struggled to recover.

With Chang-Min out of his way, Marco's path was clear. His face remained calm, his focus unshaken. With a series of dazzling moves, he left the remaining two defenders in the dust, spinning past them with ease.

"He really is a prodigy!" someone shouted from the bench.

Now, Marco was one-on-one with the goalkeeper, who had no choice but to step up. The keeper rushed forward in an all-or-nothing attempt to clear the ball, but Marco's confident smirk only deepened.

With a light flick of his foot, Marco evaded the charging goalkeeper, who dove at empty air.

The goal was now wide open.

Without breaking stride, Marco strolled forward and casually placed the ball into the back of the net, as if it were the easiest thing in the world.

Pweeet!

Cheers erupted among Group 1 and even the spectators watching from the sidelines clapped in admiration.

Marco jogged back to his position, his expression unchanging. To him, it was just another goal.

The score now stood at 3-1.

The clock was running down, and the match was on the brink of ending. Both teams were visibly drained, their movements growing slower, their shouts less frequent.

Just as the referee glanced at his watch, Kagura received the ball in midfield. The Group 3 players around him were scattered, unsure whether to push forward or hold back.

Kagura, however, was focused. He knew there wasn't enough time left for a proper build-up.

The Japanese midfielder adjusted his stance, took one touch to steady the ball, and then unleashed a shot with everything he had.

Boom!

The ball left his foot like a rocket. The Group 1 keeper, startled by the sheer speed and movement of the knuckle shot, leaped desperately.

But it was futile.

The ball soared straight into the top right corner of the net.

Whoosh-thwap!

Pweeeeet!

The referee blew his whistle, signaling the end of the game. There was stunned silence on the pitch.

The final score was 3-2 in Group 1's favor. However, despite the loss, Group 3 had shown resilience, pushing back from two goals down.

Kagura's leadership in midfield and Chul-Moo's relentless energy on the wing had all combined to leave a lasting impression.

Dong-Yul, who was sitting on the sidelines with his clipboard, watched the Group 3 players intently.

His sharp eyes lingered on Kagura for a moment before scanning the rest of the squad. There was something about their determination, their refusal to give up, that spoke volumes.

Even in defeat, Group 3 had proven they were worth watching.

Lucas, still on the bench, absorbed every moment. The match had been electrifying, and he could feel the pressure mounting.

His turn was next. His group would take the field, and he would have to show Dong-Yul that he, too, was someone worth remembering.

"Next up, Group 2 vs Group 4!"