The players of Akagi Seishin looked shaken after conceding such an easy goal from a set piece.
Coach Okada noticed it immediately."Come on, guys! It's still early!"
The whistle blew.Akagi restarted the game: the No. 9 tapped the ball back to their keeper, and the whole team pushed up aggressively into Shūdan-teki's half.
Coach Ishii narrowed his eyes. They want the equalizer right away…
The keeper launched it long. Ono challenged the No. 8 in the air but lost the physical battle; the ball dropped to the No. 6, who immediately played it forward for Ren, the No. 9—unaware of Noguchi charging in from behind.
The No. 6 called out, "Ren, watch out!"
Too late. Noguchi muscled him off and took the ball cleanly.
Coach Ishii clapped. "Good! Break forward!"
The No. 6 tried to recover, but Tamura darted in and stole the ball first. Time to ride the open field!
Akagi's defensive line was scrambling back, leaving huge gaps everywhere.The No. 18 tried to chase Tamura down—arms out, reaching desperately.
Those arms are like tentacles… Tamura thought, weaving past him.
He darted toward the box with Riccardo rushing beside him.
"Daiki! Over here!" Riccardo shouted.
Sorry, Riccardo… but there's a better lane!
Tamura saw the right-back drifting inward and passed into the free space on the flank—exactly where Tanaka arrived at full speed, blowing past the No. 7.
I owe you one, Daiki!
Tanaka burst into the box, but the No. 3 slid in to block his shot.
Alright then…
Tanaka faked the shot. The keeper came out aggressively, shrinking the angle.
"Damn it!"
He fired anyway—off the right post. The ball rolled along the goal line, only to be cleared by the fired-up No. 3.
But his clearance fell straight to Shimizu.Shimizu cushioned it on his chest, danced at the No. 2 with fast step-overs, pushed toward the byline, then chopped the ball back low into the box for Riccardo—who was tightly marked.
Riccardo let it run.Nishimura was sprinting in.
Great awareness…
Nishimura exploded into the area.
"Shit!" the No. 4 yelled, failing to catch him.
The keeper rushed out, but Nishimura calmly chipped the ball over him.
5:46 — Shūdan-teki 2 | 0 Akagi Seishin
Nishimura raised his arm in celebration before being mobbed by teammates.
Observers commented from the stands:
"Look at the No. 10's close control—insane.""And the No. 11's footwork… plus the No. 24 letting it run like that!"
Coach Ishii joined the celebration, then yelled: "Tanaka!"Tanaka turned, startled."You need to be more decisive!"
"Yes sir!"
Meanwhile, Coach Okada tried to steady his sinking team."Less aggression! Don't give them open space—slow the tempo and keep the ball!"
It didn't help. Akagi kept circulating the ball but never broke through.Their No. 9 was neutralized—Noguchi shadowed him relentlessly.
The No. 10 checked the scoreboard: 15:38.I have to do something…
He dropped deep, received the ball, and with a sharp feint got past Tamura.
"Pass it!" the No. 9 called.
He got it back instantly—Akagi attempting a quick one-two to break into the box.
Aoki recognized it. They're going for the give-and-go!
The pass slipped through—catching Shūdan-teki off guard.
This is it! the No. 10 thought, eyes wide—
—but Andou sprinted forward and smothered the ball with a sliding catch.
"Great read, Ryota!" Aoki praised.
"Stay alert!" Andou barked back.
He threw long to Ueno on the right flank. Ueno was challenged by the No. 55, but with a soft right-footed touch he nutmegged him straight out of the air and sprinted past.
He exchanged a quick give-and-go with Shimizu and surged down the line.
He ran the whole field… and he's still going!? the No. 55 thought, baffled.
Ueno crossed.The keeper punched it away just before Riccardo could head it.
The rebound fell to Nishimura, who was shoved down by the No. 3.
But Riccardo stayed alert—stepping outside the box, receiving another pass, and facing the No. 4.
A quick shot feint. The defender bit.Riccardo shifted right and unleashed a rocket into the top corner.
18:55 — Shūdan-teki 3 | 0 Akagi Seishin
The stands erupted.
"He scored twice already!" Sato cheered."Their teamwork is unreal," Yuzuki added.
Coach Okada stared at his crushed players."Stay focused… don't give up…"But they weren't hearing him anymore.
Coach Suzuki stepped toward Ishii."The team's doing incredible… maybe it's time to praise the—"
"Aoki! Noguchi!" Ishii roared, startling everyone. "What was that defending!? Stay locked in!"
Suzuki blinked. Harsh… but fair.
Time passed.
85:24 — Shūdan-teki 5 | 0 Akagi Seishin(4–0 by Tanaka, 5–0 by Shimizu)
Substitutions had been made—Yasuda, Nakamura, and Kinoshita on.
Coach Ishii checked the clock, then turned to Kaneko."Kaneko, get ready. You're going in on the next stoppage."
Kaneko stood. "Finally…"
Riccardo noticed. He's taking me off…
Akagi's No. 9 lost the ball to Kinoshita. Yasuda picked it up.
"Yuto!" Riccardo called.
Yasuda saw him dropping deep and played it.
Riccardo exploded forward.Akagi's midfield looked exhausted—legs heavy, reactions slow.
He split two players with pure speed.
The No. 6 gasped. He still has this much stamina!?
He grabbed Riccardo's shoulder, trying to foul him—only to bounce off and fall to the ground.The crowd rose to their feet.
"Such strength…" Kagayama whispered.
Riccardo surged past Nishimura, toward a terrified back line.
He pulled off a smooth elastico between two defenders.
The keeper charged out—
—but Riccardo toed the ball through his legs and buried his hat-trick.
The stands exploded.
He held up three fingers toward Kaneko, who glared back.
If I'm coming off, it'll be with a hat-trick.
88:03 — Shūdan-teki 6 | 0 Akagi Seishin
The substitution board went up:OUT 24 — IN 9
Riccardo walked off calmly.Sato jumped to her feet applauding, followed by Inoue, Yuzuki, the scouts, and the entire student section—forming a small standing ovation.
Riccardo bowed his head in thanks.
He approached Kaneko."You gonna score?"
Kaneko scoffed. "Obviously."
They slapped hands. Kaneko took his place.
90:00 — one minute added.
Riccardo watched Kaneko closely.He wasn't technical, not great on the ball, but physically he was a monster—and his instincts were sharper than people gave him credit for.
Shimizu got trapped by two opponents and back-heeled the ball blindly into the box.The No. 3 prepared to clear it.Just get rid of it—
Kaneko appeared from behind and got kicked in the ankle.
Penalty.
Second yellow. Red card.
"Damn it!" the defender shouted.
Riccardo smirked. Guy's a magnet for chances…
Shimizu checked Kaneko. "You okay?"
Kaneko rose, stone-faced, and grabbed the ball."Never better."
The referee gave final warnings.Scouts murmured:
"That keeper is huge… he fills the whole goal.""Scoring on him won't be easy."
The whistle blew.Kaneko took a slow run-up and struck it with his right.
The keeper dove the right way—but the ball flew into the top corner.
91:01 — Shūdan-teki 7 | 0 Akagi Seishin
Kaneko immediately pointed at Riccardo on the bench—issuing a silent challenge.
Their eyes locked.
The whole stadium cheered as the referee blew full-time.