The corner was floated in, curling toward the near post. Dennis Hadzikadunic, the tall centre back, rose above everyone else and powered a header out of the box. The ball spun high through the air, dropping just outside the eighteen yard line.
Sebastian's eyes locked onto it immediately. He saw the trajectory and knew it was going to land slightly behind him. At the same moment, Anel Ahmedhodzic, another centre back, Mattias Svanberg, the central midfielder, and Felix Konstandeliasz, the left midfielder, recognized the danger and broke toward him in unison, determined to smother any chance before it became a shot on goal.
Sebastian shifted his weight, shaping his body as if he intended to bring the ball under control with his first touch. He even raised his leg slightly, baiting the three defenders into closing him down.
Then, at the last instant, he angled his boot and used the outside of his right foot to flick the ball sharply to his right. As he made the pass, he turned his head to the left, disguising it completely. The no-look pass slid perfectly into the space where Noah Lindgren was waiting just outside the box.
The sudden deception wrong-footed the defenders who had charged at Sebastian. For a brief moment they froze, caught out by the feint. That single heartbeat of hesitation gave Noah the opening he needed.
Noah stepped into the ball with the inside of his right foot and struck cleanly. The shot skidded low but veered just wide of the left post. Tobias Kristensson, the U-17 goalkeeper, threw himself anyway, but the ball rolled harmlessly out for a goal kick.
Noah let out a frustrated shout, placing his hands on the back of his head. As he jogged back into position beside Sebastian, he shook his head. "Bro, I'm sorry about the miss."
"Don't deep it too much. We'll go again." Sebastian, who had gotten to his position with his eyes already on the restart, replied to him.
The U-17s came back on the attack, pressing higher as less than twenty-five minutes remained in the scrimmage. But by now the U-15s had settled into a disciplined 5-4-1 shape, their lines compact and difficult to break down. What made the difference was how they transitioned.
When they won the ball, they no longer rushed forward recklessly. Instead they shifted into a pseudo 5-1-3-1 formation, with Sebastian holding the space between defense and midfield as a deep-lying playmaker.
He stayed deeper than the others for two reasons. His legs were heavy after running relentlessly all game, and he knew that to win, his team could not allow the U-17s a way through. His positioning also added a constant threat. The older boys were wary of his vision and passing range, which meant they could not press with the same abandon.
Still, the U-17s carved out chances. A cross whipped in from the right by Aron Már Brynjarsson, the right back, was met by Teddy Bergqvist, the striker, who rose and headed it on target, only for the U-15 goalkeeper, Hugo Lindström, to react sharply and tip it away.
A couple of long-range efforts from Oliver Stojanovic Fredin, the central midfielder, and Mattias Svanberg were blocked bravely by the compact U-15 backline, with Viktor Olsson and Filip Nyberg throwing themselves in front of the shots.
Then, around the eightieth minute, Anton Kralj, the left back, overlapped down the wing and squared a dangerous ball across the box. It fell perfectly for Onur Körhan, the right winger, arriving at the back post. His connection was strong, but the shot skimmed wide, grazing the outside of the right post on its way out.
Onur was on his knees, pounding his hands on the grass in frustration, livid with himself for not burying the chance that could have given his side the goal they so desperately needed.
A few minutes later, the referee's whistle echoed across the pitch, followed by the call from the sidelines. Five minutes left. It was clear the U-17s would not win, but they still pressed forward, determined to salvage at least a consolation goal.
They pushed higher up the field, stringing passes together as the U-15s dropped deep once again. The ball was worked down the left wing, where the U-17 left midfielder whipped in a cross toward the crowded box. Hugo Lindström reacted quickly, leaping high to punch it clear before Teddy Bergqvist could make contact.
The ball looped out toward the edge of the box, and Dennis Hadzikadunic headed it back in, but his effort lacked direction. The rebound spun away toward the left side of the pitch.
Sebastian had already started moving. He sprinted toward the loose ball, sensing the counter. Aron Már Brynjarsson, the right back, broke into a chase, while Mattias Svanberg began tracking back from midfield to help recover. Three of Sebastian's teammates, Felix and Sebastian, surged forward with him, bursting into open space as the U-17s scrambled to regroup.
Sebastian reached the ball just before it could go out for a throw-in and struck it forward with his left foot to keep it in play. He pushed off hard, his stride lengthening as he accelerated along the left flank. The right back was still chasing but struggling to close the gap. The crowd of players and coaches on the sideline had risen slightly, following the movement.
Sebastian drifted inside as he neared the box, cutting toward the goal while Aron tried desperately to stay with him. He could hear the footsteps closing in behind, but he stayed calm, keeping the ball close to his feet. As he entered the penalty area, he found himself one-on-one with Anel Ahmedhodzic, who was backpedaling, shadow marking, and trying to keep him contained.
Sebastian slowed his run slightly, staring down the defender in front of him. As he got close to the defender, he feinted moving left before moving right, pushing the ball with the outside of his right foot. Then, with a quick flick of his right leg, he performed an elastico, the ball snapping from outside to inside in one smooth motion. He slipped past on the left side before Ahmedhodzic could turn to recover.
With the path open, Sebastian guided the ball deeper into the box and, without hesitating, passed it sharply across with his left foot. The timing was perfect. The U-15 center forward, William Enarsson, unmarked and ready, met it first time with his left foot and drove it into the bottom left corner.
Goal.
3–0.
The U-15 players swarmed William, shouting and laughing as they surrounded him near the corner flag. Sebastian slowed to a jog, breathing heavily, before joining them, smiling faintly as his teammates celebrated around him.
On the far side of the pitch, the U-17s stood scattered, their heads down, disbelief written across their faces. A few of them sank to the grass, staring blankly at the field. The goal had been the final nail in the coffin.
When play resumed, it was little more than a formality. The U-17s tried to move the ball forward once more, but their passes lacked conviction. Seconds later, the referee's whistle blew three short blasts, signaling the end of the match.
*FWEEEEEEEE*
*FWEEEEEEEE*
*FWEEEEEEEE*
It was over.