God Of football

Chapter 111: Take A Bow

After the restart, both teams went at it. One side was looking to equalize, whilst the other did its best to keep the scoreline the same.

As the clock ticked past the 42-minute mark, the intensity at San Mamés reached a boiling point.

Athletic Bilbao, buoyed by their home crowd, looked eager to draw level before the half after Correia’s goal put them on the back foot.

Valencia, however, was determined not to concede just before the break as it would shift the momentum to the opponent side.

In the 43rd minute, Athletic Bilbao found their chance. Nico Williams received the ball near the left wing and drove at Correira with purpose.

A quick change of pace and burst of acceleration saw him skip past the defender. Correia shouted, raising an arm to tell the referee something but the referee didn’t pay him any mind.

Nico Williams got to the byline and delivered a sharp low cross into the box.

In an unfortunate twist for Valencia, the ball ricocheted off Cenk’s outstretched leg and spun into the bottom corner of Marmadashvilli’s net.

The own goal silenced the away crowd and ignited a wave of celebrations from the home supporters.

The equalizer stunned Valencia, but before they could sulk any further, the referee blew his whistle.

This drew the attention of the Bilbao fans and players who were wondering what the referee meant.

After a few moments, the referee signalled that the ball had gone out of play before Nico Williams got to the byline.

The reaction from the Valencia fans said it was all about their frustrations. The home fans looked at each other in confusion before one of the big boards around showed the referee’s decision.

The Bilbao fans couldn’t help but feel disappointed after the referee’s decision. After the goal was reversed, Correia approached the ball and threw it sharply as Valencia looked to threaten the Athletic Bilbao goal.

The response was immediate. Just two minutes later, Izan darted down the right flank, leaving Athletic’s Yuri Berchiche trailing in his wake.

Izan’s whipped cross into the box after he got to the byline found Hugo Duro, who unleashed a powerful header toward goal.

However, Bilbao’s goalkeeper, reacted with lightning reflexes to parry the ball away, earning applause even from opposing fans.

As the half drew to a close, both teams traded blows in a frantic attempt to seize control before the break.

Athletic’s midfield duo of Mikel Vesga and Oihan Sancet tried to wrestle back momentum, while Valencia’s Javi Guerra and Pepelu worked tirelessly to disrupt their rhythm.

In the final minute of added time, Valencia nearly struck again. A quick counterattack saw Izan thread a precise through ball to Diego López, who found himself in a one-on-one situation with Unai Simón.

López’s shot, aimed low and hard, was spectacularly saved by Simón’s outstretched leg, denying Valencia a crucial lead.

After this, the referee’s whistle brought an end to a breathless first half with the away team leading 2 to 1.

As the players trudged off the pitch, the San Mamés crowd buzzed with anticipation. Athletic’s head coach, Ernesto Valverde, greeted his players at the tunnel, a mix of encouragement and frustration on his face.

He pulled Nico Williams aside for a quick word, gesturing toward the Valencia defence, perhaps offering tactical adjustments for the second half.

In Valencia’s camp, Rubén Baraja exuded calm confidence as he walked toward the dressing room. His assistant handed him a tablet, and the two began reviewing key moments from the first half.

Valencia’s players were in high spirits, energized by their lead and eager to regroup.

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In the stands, Athletic supporters exchanged animated discussions, some lamenting the defensive lapse that led to the 2nd goal of the visiting team.

Valencia fans, clustered in one corner of the stadium, sang jubilantly, waving their orange-and-black scarves. Their team led at halftime, and that was reason enough for a celebration.

Some fans couldn’t help but talk about Izan’s ingenuity in his passing, especially the pass that led to the second goal.

While the adults engaged in heated discussions, the kids couldn’t help but admire and imitate Izan’s free kick, which almost gave them the lead.

Back inside the dressing rooms, the coaches got to work. Valverde emphasized tightening the backline and leveraging Athletic’s speed on the wings. The Athletic players nodded at their Coach’s instructions.

Inside the Valencia dressing room, Baraja subjected his players to a pep talk he urged his side to stay compact and strike quickly on the counter.

Izan, who had been subjected to a lot of kicks during the first half, nodded at Baraja’s words as he received a massage from one of the staff.

”Thank you,” Izan said after the staff was done. The latter nodded in appreciation and walked away.

”Izan, a word,” Baraja said after he saw Izan free.

”Yes, Coach,”, Izan said as he sat up. ”How are you feeling?” Baraja asked after inspecting Izan with his eyes.

He tried to find any signs of discomfort, and if he found any, he would take Izan off, but he didn’t, so he resorted to asking.

”No Coach. Aside from some bruises here and there, I’m fine” Izan said respectfully. ”Okay then, if you feel any pain or discomfort during the match, draw my attention and I’ll take you off”.

”Anyway, we’re leading, so don’t rush into their encirclement too much, okay? Those grown men won’t hesitate to hurt you if they deem you too troublesome, and believe me, they have their methods to do it and would only get away with a yellow card or being sent off at worst while you could get injured”.

Baraja said prompting a nod from Izan. ”Okay, rest a bit,”, Baraja said before leaving Izan alone. ”I don’t want to use the legend points as it would set me back when I’m trying to upgrade the system, but I guess I’ll have to buy that injury pill ”, Izan thought as he sat down.

After a while, the designated time for the halftime break passed. The players got out of their dressing rooms and walked towards the tunnel.

As the players emerged from the tunnel, the atmosphere crackled with excitement. The fans showed their excitement in the way they cheered. The second half promised to be just as thrilling as the first.

After the restart, Athletic Bilbao tried to equalize, but Valencia proved a tough nut to crack as all their players retreated to their half, save for Izan, Hugo and Pietro.

Athletic Bilbao, however, kept knocking on Valencia’s door. In the 54th minute, Berenguer threaded in a ball to the left flank which was met by a sharp cross into the box by Nico Williams.

The cross aimed at Inaki Williams, who was making a run behind the defence, was cleared by the outstretched leg of Mosquera.

The visiting fans lauded the defender with cheers for his well-timed clear. In the next minute, Athletic initiated another attack as Inaki Williams drove down the middle.

With a subtle flick, Inaki sent the ball towards the right before dashing behind the Valencia defence. After getting in behind, Inaki received the ball back and poised himself to shoot.

Before he could let the ball fly, a figure appeared in front of him.

Izan, who had run back with the team, swept the ball,l, winning possession with a perfectly timed slide tackle. Izan quickly stood up and chased after the loose ball.

With remarkable composure, he danced past two pressing Bilbao players, showcasing his impeccable ball control after winning the ball.

Izan surged forward, weaving through midfield like a seasoned playmaker. Spotting space on the right, he executed a no-look pass to Thierry Correia, who sprinted down the wing.

Correia delivered a sharp cross into the box, but Bilbao’s defence deflected it. Unfazed, Izan picked up the loose ball just outside the area and, with dazzling footwork, evaded two defenders before lofting a pinpoint lob to Hugo Duro at the far post.

The Valencia fans smiled hopefully while the sequence kept the Athletic fans on the edge of their seats.

With the goalkeeper rushing forward, Duro timed his leap perfectly, meeting the ball mid-air with a powerful header into the top corner.

The net rippled as San Mamés fell silent, save for the roaring Valencia fans. Izan’s genius and Duro’s clinical finish highlighted Valencia’s unity and resilience, sealing their lead and cementing the young talent’s rising status in world football.

As Hugo Duro’s header thundered into the top corner, the commentary box erupted with excitement:

”What a goal! What an absolutely sensational piece of football from Valencia! And that young man, Izan, take a bow!

”This is what makes Izan so special—his composure, his vision, and that breathtaking ability to unlock defences. He’s only 15, but my word, he’s playing like a seasoned pro!” Mikel Sorrento screamed.

”Let’s talk about that sequence Mikel. It all started with Izan winning the ball back in his half. The drive, the skill, the creativity to send Correia forward, and then to pick out Duro with that lob—it’s pure artistry!” Juan Ceballos said excitedly.

”And let’s not forget Hugo Duro’s finish! A header like that takes impeccable timing and precision. But credit where it’s due—this goal is Izan’s masterpiece. He’s showing us why the football world is raving about him.” Mikel spoke.

”Well If you weren’t paying attention to Izan before, you’ll certainly know his name now.

Remember, this is against Athletic Bilbao at San Mamés. This kid has already delivered against Atlético Madrid already and he is now delivering again”.

As the replay rolled, the crowd’s cheers echoed, and the commentators marvelled again at Izan’s brilliance, signalling a star’s meteoric rise.

A/n: Hey guys, have fun reading and I’ll see you tomorrow. Okay I have training so by now