God Of football

Chapter 153: Sinking The Yellow Submarine

After the goal by Valencia, the intensity of the match ramped up not only on the pitch but in the stands.

Fans of both teams went to head with their chants, each trying to one-up the other.

The stadium became a cauldron of emotion as each team’s fans tried to up the morale of their respective teams

Fweeeeeee,

After the restart, a few movements were being seen on the touchline.

For Valencia, they brought on Andre Almeida, causing Izan to leave his play-making role to go on a more attacking edge, causing the dynamics of the match to shift.

In the 55th minute, a mistimed pass from Javi Guerra turned into a fast break for the yellow Submarines.

Yeremy Pino, who got the ball, tried to create a replica of his goal, but he was bodied by Mark.

This action brought about a chase as players of both teams tried to go for the ball.

Ultimately, Alfonso Padreza got to it before flicking the ball back to Yeremy Pino.

The young winger sent the ball into the box, aiming for Gerard Moreno, but the ball was punched out for a throw-in.

Izan, who had been relatively quiet for a while, saw the throw as an opportunity and moved in.

With the ball in his hands, newly subbed-in Alex Baena launched it towards Dani Parejo, who controlled it expertly, his touch embodying his expertise.

The midfielder raised his head for a quick scan, but Izan suddenly stood in front of him. With a smirk, the midfielder faked a pass, but Izan wasn’t fazed.

”Oh,” Parejo thought as he dragged the ball back. With a sudden flick, Parejo, who was dragging the ball back, nutmegged Izan and tried to go around but Izan’s right leg extended behind to halt the ball from going any further.

Without waiting for support Izan turned on the jets. With a quick flick, the ball led Izan but was still within reach.

Caught on a quick counter, the remaining two defenders tried to stall for their teammates to return but Izan wasn’t having any of it.

Meeting the first defender, Izan just flicked the ball to his right, then to his left before pushing it out right again, causing the ball to slip between the legs of veteran defender Raul Albiol.

With space in front, Izan burst forward, his boots eating up the grass as he got to the 18-yard box.

At this point, the whole Mestalla were on their feet albeit for different reasons.

The last defender on the Villarreal side closed in on Izan together with the keeper while making sure they could clear in chipped balls.

Izan, however, didn’t even glance at them and just sent the ball across to his left, slipping it between the legs of the defender.

This sudden action caught both opposing players off guard as they had forgotten that he wasn’t playing alone.

Diego López, who had been able to keep up with Izan’s blistering pace got to the ball and tapped it into the net.

Goooaaaalllllllll, the Mestalla faithful screamed while the away fans slumped into their seats, head in hands.

”Bursting forward for the goal. Took care of albiol. Slid the ball across. Clean finish. Another goal made by Izan. Easy, Quick and Efficient,” the commentator ranted about Izan’s pace and dribbling on the ball.

As the Valencia players celebrated, a complaint was lodged against them for excessive celebrations leading to a yellow card for Diego López.

The referee’s action wasn’t well received by the home fans who showed their displeasure by booing and making chants.

After the Valencia players returned to their halves, the ball was set on the kickoff spot once again.

”For those of you just joining us, it’s Valencia 2, Villarreal 1. Very good football being played here and I don’t think that this will be the last of the goals.”

After the restart, Villarreal played conservatively, but they didn’t forget to attack when Valencia put their guard down.

After some back and forth, Valencia launched a devastating counter-attack.

After a Villarreal corner was cleared by Cenk Ozkacar, substitute Andre Almeida quickly played a long ball to Izan.

Izan sprinted down the right flank, outpacing Villarreal’s left-back, and delivered a perfectly timed low cross into the box.

Diego López made a clever dummy run, dragging defenders away, allowing Hugo Duro to ghost in unmarked.

Diego López’s first-time shot was narrowly parried by Villarreal’s keeper, but the rebound fell to Hugo Duro, whose first-time shot was also blocked by one of the Villarreal defenders.

”And Hugo Duro puts his hand on his head. He can’t believe he missed that. Valencia have wasted a chance to go two goals clear. What a MISS!”

In the 69th minute, Villarreal showed their trademark patient build-up. Raul Albiol, playing out from the back, found Dani Parejo in midfield, who orchestrated the attack with a slick one-two with Álex Baena.

Parejo then spotted Yeremy Pino’s diagonal run and chipped a delightful ball over Valencia’s defensive line before Pepelu could close in on him.

Pino controlled it brilliantly, cutting inside past José Gayà, but his curling shot toward the far post was denied by an acrobatic save from Valencia’s goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili.

”Villarreal has all the momentum here. Can they draw level here at the Mestalla?”

As if sensing the commentator’s words, Baraja made a change, bringing on Pietro for Javi Guerra; however, Baraja’s aim to break the flow was fruitless.

After much relentless barrage of shots, Villarreal’s persistence in the final third materialised in the 76th minute.

Gerard Moreno dispossessed Pietro near the halfway line and immediately surged forward with the ball.

He played a quick give-and-go with Alex Baena, who slipped a through ball into the path of Yeremy Pino.

The winger burst into the box under the gazes of the hopeful Villarreal fans and made a thunderous effort into the back of the net.

”Goooaaaalllllllll” the commentator screamed passionately as the away fans celebrated. The away stand was shaking a bit, a result of the excessive celebration by the Villarreal fans.

”Villarreal have tied the match here at the Mestalla. 2 goals now in this match. Yeremy Pino is thriving. Valencia have their work cut out for them.”

[On the touchline]

”Why don’t we relieve Izan of his defensive duties. A win would be good for our morale heading into the next match”.

Baraja, who sat in his seat, considered Assistant Coach Moreno’s words for a bit before giving him the go-ahead to do it.

While the Villarreal players were returning from their celebration, Moreno signalled to Izan and told him of Baraja’s instructions.

”Okay,” Izan said with a smile as he walked to his position. After Villarreal’s goal, the attacking dynamics shifted.

....

Valencia’s only attacking players were 3, with Izan, Hugo and López threatening Valencia, but without a pivot to connect them, their attacks were snuffed out before they even got threatening.

After observing for a while, Izan moved behind Duro. Diego López also sensed his intention and moved to support Duro.

”And it seems, Valencia are abandoning the wings. They’re going direct here” the commentator spoke from his observation.

As the clock ticked by, with the score tied, Valencia launched another attack. After playing around the Villarreal setup for a while, Izan slipped a pass behind a defender.

Diego López, his target, ran towards the ball intending to find a target, but Alfonse Padreza chased behind.

Feeling the need to get free, Diego López flicked the ball ahead slightly with his right as if he was going but then stopped the ball sharply with the inside of his left leg causing the onrushing m Padreza to slip.

Diego López saw Hugo Duro free and sent a cross inside the box. His cross, well sharpened, was headed towards goal by Duro.

The ball was destined for the goal, but the keeper’s fingertips were enough to tip the ball to the crossbar, the ball going out for a corner.

”Ooooooooooohhhhh” the Valencia fans exclaimed after Duro’s mixed chance. After the ball went out for the corner, Villarreal’s Coach Marcelino shouted a few instructions from the touchline.

The Villarreal players glanced at the time, knowing if they let up here, they would lose. Led their by their captain, Raul Albiol, Villarreal started a Man-to-Man marking.

Izan, who stood behind the corner, glanced at Gaya and met the latter’s eyes. Raising his hand, Izan made a 2 sign.

Gaya, who caught it, looked as if he was joining the opponents in the box, but then he suddenly charged towards Izan.

Izan, not stalling, flicked the ball to Gaya before moving into space for its return. The Villareal players who were waiting for a cross came out of the box to tackle the problem; Izan!

After Izan flicked the ball to him, Gaya went inside the box, meeting a defender before cutting back with a Ronaldo chop.

He glanced around and sent the ball to Izan on the edge of the box. Izan controlled the ball, his touch exquisite and halting the momentum of the ball in the process.

Free and unmarked, Izan positioned himself before glancing at the goal again. Villarreal could feel it, Valencia could feel it, something was coming.

”Fuck” Marcelino muttered on the touchline as Izan planted his left foot beside the ball. ”This is as good as a goal” a few minds thought as Izan hit the valve of the ball from the edge of the box.

The whole stadium stared on as the ball streaked through the air. Villarreal’s goalkeeper, whose vision was blocked by the bodies, moved with instinct, but he was way off as the ball homed into the top left corner.

”Goooaaaalllllllllaaaaaaaassssssssssooooooooooooo”

Charging down the flank, Izan slid on the ground while saluting before he was sent tumbling by his teammates who chased after him.

”Valencia have won it at the last. Courtesy of Izan once again. What a curler from the heart of Valencia.

96 minutes played and its Valencia 3, Villarreal 2”

A/N: sorry for the late release. Have fun