God Of football

Chapter 117: Valencia’s Attacking Prowess

The clock ticked down toward halftime at the Mestalla, and Valencia was trailing Cádiz 2-1. The fans, a sea of orange and black, roared their encouragement as their talisman, Izan, orchestrated wave after wave of attack.

Izan, the focal point of Valencia’s offence, moved with the ball as he approached the opponent’s half.

His vision, pace, and uncanny ability to turn defenders inside out had the home as well as the away crowd buzzing with anticipation every time he touched the ball.

Another chance to equalize before the break came in the 39th minute. Izan, receiving the ball near the halfway line again, surged forward with purpose.

Cádiz’s defence scrambled to keep up, but the youngster glided past two defenders with a flick and a feint, drawing gasps from the crowd.

Spotting José Luis Gayà overlapping on the left, Izan played a perfectly weighted through ball into the box.

Gayà’s cross was met by Hugo Duro, whose diving header flew just wide of the post.

A collective groan rippled through the stadium as the replay showed how close the ball had come to leveling the score.

”¡Qué jugadón de Izan[What a great play by Izan]! This boy is special,” the commentator exclaimed. ”Look at that composure!”

On social media, fans couldn’t contain their excitement. ”Future Ballon d’Or winner!” one tweet read.

Another fan posted a clip of Izan’s assist attempt with the caption, ”How is this kid not already playing for Real Madrid or Barça?”

”Tone it down, guys. He hasn’t even played a full season yet. This kind of hype makes players with potential crumble under pressure.” A fan commented.

”I agree with this guy. Haven’t we learnt enough from Barça’s Ansu Fati? He hasn’t been the same ever since he came back from injury.

The media pressure has also been tough for him to handle. Let’s not do the same,” Another fan wrote.

Valencia’s next chance came a minute later. This time, Izan received the ball just outside Cádiz’s penalty area.

With his back to goal, he controlled it with his chest and immediately spun away from his marker. With a quick one-two pass with DiegoLópez, Izan found himself with a sliver of space at the edge of the box.

He unleashed a curling shot aimed for the top corner, but Cádiz’s goalkeeper, Conan Ledesma, leapt to his right, tipping the ball over the bar.

”¡Qué paradón! Ledesma denies Izan,” the commentator shouted. ”That would have been a goal-of-the-season contender. This kid is relentless!”

The fans, though disappointed, rose to their feet to applaud Izan’s effort. ”Izan! Izan! Izan!” they

chanted, their voices echoing around the stadium.

The Cadiz fans were restless. Every time Valencia attacked, they were on edge. They managed to get out unscathed but there was no guarantee that the next ball won’t end up in the net.

The pressure mounted on Cádiz as halftime loomed. In the 44th minute, Valencia won a corner, and all eyes were on Izan as he stepped up to take it.

The young playmaker delivered an out-swinging cross that found Cenk Ozkacar at the far post. Cenk’s header was powerful but struck the crossbar with a resounding thud.

The ball rebounded into the six-yard box, sparking a chaotic scramble. Izan darted into the fray, managing to poke the ball toward goal, but Ledesma smothered it at the last second.

The Mestalla erupted in frustration. Fans in the front rows waved their scarves, urging their team to keep pushing. One supporter, caught on camera, shouted, ”Vamos Izan. Vamos Valencia! You’ve got this!”

As the referee signalled one minute of added time, Valencia launched one final assault. Izan, stationed on the right wing, received the ball and drove toward the byline.

Facing two Cádiz defenders, he executed a dazzling double step-over before nutmegging one and sprinting past the other.

The crowd roared as he delivered a low cross into the box. The ball found Pepelu, who turned and shot, but Ledesma was once again equal to the task, diving low to his left to make the save.

The Cadiz fans cheered on their keeper for pulling off another save. It looked as if their keeper’s body was inhabited by the soul of Lev Yahsin.

It was just one of those nights for Ledesma who had denied Valencia over and over again

The halftime whistle blew moments later, and the Valencia players trudged off the pitch to a standing ovation.

The scoreboard might not have reflected it, but the fans knew they were witnessing something extraordinary in their team’s performance.

In the commentary box, the pundits couldn’t stop singing his praises. ”It’s rare to see a player of Izan’s age dominate at this level,” one remarked.

”He’s been involved in every major chance for Valencia tonight. It’s only a matter of time before he gets his goal.”

Online, Valencia’s official account tweeted: ”We’re behind at halftime, but what a performance from our #Izan! The second half is ours!

#AmuntValencia” Fans flooded the replies with messages of support, many expressing disbelief at Izan’s talent and maturity.

Back in the stands, young fans wearing Izan’s jersey buzzed with excitement, mimicking his moves during the break.

”Did you see that nutmeg?” one asked his friend, who responded with a wide grin and a thumbs-up.

During halftime, both teams revised their tactics. Ruben Baraja brought on Mark to stabilise the defence since Mosquera liked to attack too much.

This had resulted in the second goal for Cadiz and he wanted to avoid any sort of mishap again as they continued to attack in the second half.

Ruben Baraja turned his attention to Izan after talking tactics for 10 minutes. ”You okay,” he said. Izan turned and nodded at his words.

”You know, coach, I’m not glass, and I also try my best to avoid dangerous tackles, so it’s very hard for them to injure me. The worst I get are bruises, but I’m fine,” Izan confronted.

”That’s good then. I need you to push more. Don’t defend much and leave that to your teammates. We are a goal down but we still have 45 minutes to win this game. A draw won’t suffice” Baraja said spiritedly.

Izan nodded at Baraja’s words before the latter got up and walked away. ”Moreno, tell Pietro to warm up after we go for the next half,” Baraja said as he walked past Moreno.

Moreno nodded before continuing to inform players of the revised tactics.

As the players prepared to return for the second half, one thing was clear for the Valencia fans: Izan wasn’t just Valencia’s future; he was their present.

The next 45 minutes would offer him another chance to etch his name into Mestalla folklore.

Their only problem was that being too extraordinary attracted attention.

At least they should be able to keep Izan for a while.

...

The players re-emerged from the tunnel, the energy in the stadium crackling with renewed intensity.

The Valencia squad, their bright white kits now slightly smudged from the first half, jogged onto the pitch with determined expressions.

Captain José Luis Gayà was seen rallying his teammates, his gestures conveying urgency and belief.

The Cadiz players, clad in their bold yellow and blue, looked equally focused as they took their positions, eager to protect their slender 2-1 lead.

The Mestalla crowd roared as their team reappeared, a chorus of whistles and chants drowning out any semblance of calm.

Many fans waved their scarves, creating a sea of white and orange in the stands. They were restless, hoping for a quick equalizer.

Hori, a vibrant 14-year-old with thick black curls tied back in a ponytail, had her arms folded tightly across her chest.

Her sharp, almond-shaped eyes darted between the pitch and her brother Izan who had just entered from the tunnel.

Dressed in a Valencia scarf over her casual denim jacket, she leaned toward her mother, voice barely audible over the chants and cheers.

”Miura is unlucky today? They’re down a goal, but all his shots and passes end up being saved or blocked,” she said, her tone laced with both excitement and worry.

Komi, her elegant features calm yet thoughtful, adjusted her loose hair. Her almond eyes, reminiscent of Hori’s, sparkled with a mix of maternal pride and lingering apprehension.

Dressed in a simple yet sophisticated blouse paired with flowing pants, she carried an air of excitement, similar to her daughter’s energy.

”Izan has already shown that he is the most dangerous”, Komi said with a reassuring smile that couldn’t hide her happiness.

”Valencia will score. It’s only a matter of time, but I hope they can defend against those sudden attacks from Cadiz.” Komi added.

Komi glanced at the pitch again, where Izan was talking with other players. A proud smile curved her lips as she looked at her son.

....

The commentator’s voice rose with the scene, capturing the mood:

”Welcome back to the second half at Mestalla! Valencia trails 2-1 against a resilient Cadiz side. It’s been a spirited encounter so far, and you can sense the urgency in the air.

Valencia needs to step up—no doubt about it. Can the likes of Hugo Duro and young talent Izan unlock this Cadiz defence? Or will Cadiz find another to seal the upset?”

As the referee’s whistle signalled the restart, the game resumed with Valencia immediately pressing high, their fans urging them forward.

A/n: Have fun reading. This match will probably end in the next chapter. Stay tuned for the next 2 match though after this cause.