THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME
Important Players

The second round begins immediately. The senior Rosenborg team maintained its dominance. The club outperformed the academy players, leaving them with no chance of creating a goal-scoring opportunity for themselves.

They dictated the game and created some other chances on goal in the first 30 minutes of the 2nd half. However, the NF academy had devised something similar to an 8-2 formation.

Five defenders and their three midfielders held on desperately against Rosenborg's attack in their half of the pitch. Eight people are always behind the ball as they hold off attack after attack from the senior team. Even Rjan Boermark, the lone striker, helps in defensive midfield. Their efforts yielded a result—and they did not concede any more.

Zachary is the only striker in midfield on the left wing. He is guarded by Jim Larsen, one of Rosenborg's centre-backs, all the time.

"You guys are boring" said Jim Larsen, pretending to yawn. "How can you put four goals past our U-19 team? They slept throughout the game. Those kids!" The defender's tone was rather dramatic.

Zacharias did not answer. He doesn't have a verbal counter for the defender's jabs. He had waited the whole half without touching the ball. NF Academy did not get a shot on goal since the start of the second half.

Zachary wants to return to his half-— to help out his team-mates, instead of talking to the defenders Rosenborg. However, Coach Johansen kept reminding him to cool his heels without supporting the defense. His only role is to wait for the ball and take advantage of whatever opportunities he can get. The odds are almost non-existent except at the end of the round.

In the 80th minute, Zachary finally received a pass from Magnus that had made the Rosenborg players off guard. The ball that comes in is not the best. However, it bounced in the open space on the left wing and could be opposed by anyone.

Zachary's blood boiled with excitement as adrenaline flooded his veins. He set off before Jim Larsen could react and darted towards the ball. That split-second quicker reaction was paramount to leaving centre-back Rosenborg in the dust.

In an instant, he reached the ball before exiting the game—and ran towards the Rosenborg box. He cut into the field unhindered as the Rosenborg players all attacked in the other half, except for their two centre-backs.

According to Ronning, the other centre-back ran diagonally to close out Zachary. But the number 5 player made a mistake, trying to close Zachary with his back to him. Zachary flicked the ball back and forth between his left and right foot as he advanced nimbly towards the Rosenborg box.

Per Ronning continued to retreat while rotating from side to side until it was too late. Zachary dribbled past the centre-back with just a simple change of pace and one-on-one with the goalkeeper. The pursuing defenders could not follow him once he passed them.

A trick then sent him around goalkeeper Daniel rlund and let him put the ball into an empty net. 3:1a. The NF academy eventually made it past the Rosenborg defense despite having only one shot on goal throughout the game.

"DING"

Zachary could not help his happiness as he heard the familiar system notification popping into his mind. He has completed the mission of the system and scored goals. He eventually had enough capital to buy some elixir from the system store for his next training plan.

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Trond Henriksen, assistant coach of Rosenborg, approached Coach Boyd Johansen after Zachary scored.

"That's one of the clinical players" Coach Henriksen said, without caring about any greetings. The two coaches met before the game started. "The efficiency and handling of the ball is at the level of the first team. Was he that fast when he joined?"

"It looks like Mr. Stein's vision is still as sharp as ever." Coach Henriksen nodded. "How old is he now?"

"16 years and 17 in a few months. Our doctors have confirmed the age of the skeleton."

"So, about another year," murmured Coach Henriksen, returning his attention to the match.

Zachary's goal was like poking a beehive. Rosenborg attacked with renewed strength, putting great pressure on the NF academy team. The balls hit the post—a shot that missed just a few inches, as the senior team attacked the academy goal.

However, the goddess of luck seemed to be on the side of the NF academy. The team almost escaped conceding a goal in the final minutes of the game. The match ended 3:1 for Rosenborg. However, the NF academy managed to score with just one shot on goal, thanks to Zachary Bemba.

"We have reviewed your request" Coach Henriksen said after the referee blew the final whistle. "Team management also wants him to gain experience from international matches." The coach smiled. "However, we need a commitment from him before he travels abroad. He has to understand that we are investing in him as a potential Rosenborg player. We don't want to hear him run to another club after the tournament in Riga. . You can discuss the details with Mr. Stein about how to handle this."

"Thank you" Coach Johansen said with a smile.

"Are you going to take up a position on the second team soon?" Coach Henriksen asked, diverting the subject from Zachary.

"Not yet." Coach Johansen shook his head. "I want to win one of the tournaments before leaving the academy. Riga Cup and SIA will look good on my CV." The coach smiled.

Coach Henriksen looked at his partner with a curling look. "Are you sure you're gonna win? It was a tournament with serious club academies like Manchester City, PSV, Valencia and Atalanta."

Coach Johansen was half-smiling. "With Zachary, we had a pretty good chance."

"What are your plans for her?"

"We will design a good training plan for him to improve his speed and ball possession over the next few months. In February, his pace has to be at another level if he continues to improve."

"Don't forget to run everything by Stein's parents" Coach Henriksen warned.

Coach Johansen frowned but nodded after a moment of consideration.

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