The game has resumed for a couple of minutes since Shūdan-teki's equalizer.
We are approaching the ninetieth minute.
Shūdan-teki and Tōen trade attacks, both desperately searching for the winning goal to avoid a penalty shootout.
Kadoshima receives the ball at the edge of the box and shoots, forcing Andou into a save. The keeper parries it away for a corner.
Noguchi claps his hands.
"Ryota, after the match I owe you something for that performance!" he jokes.
Andou exhales sharply.
"If I actually got rewarded based on my performances, I'd have to work even harder!"
Riccardo tracks back into the box to help defend the corner. He's matched up with Kanzaki, who tries to shove him away—but barely manages to move him at all.
What the…
Riccardo scans the area and realizes that many Tōen players are positioned outside the box, with Nakamura and Nishimura among them, clearly preparing for a counterattack.
A corner kick this close to the end, and they're all outside the box… They want to keep possession even if we clear it.
Riccardo takes a deep breath. The scoreboard shows 89:33.
If it ends like this, it goes to penalties… We'd still have a chance.
Kadoshima takes the corner, swinging the ball inward.
Riccardo reads the trajectory. Seeing it float away from him, he steps out of the box with determination.
No. We can't go to penalties. We can't leave everything to luck.
Noguchi reaches the ball first and clears it powerfully with a header.
The ball drops near Nishimura, who is shoulder to shoulder with Tōen's number 20.
I have to get it—no matter what!
As Nishimura and the defender battle for position, both are startled to see Riccardo sprinting toward them at full speed.
What is he doing here!? Nishimura thinks, stunned.
Tōen's number 20 shields the ball and is about to control it—but Riccardo tackles the ball with all his strength.
The collision sends the ball high into Tōen's half. Riccardo tumbles to the ground.
The fourth official raises the board: 1 minute of extra time.
Sato watches anxiously—then suddenly stands up and takes a breath.
The collision sends the ball high into Tōen's half. Riccardo tumbles to the ground.
"Come on, Riccardo!!!"
Her voice echoes across the field.
Riccardo jumps back to his feet and starts running again.
The ball is still in the air. Nishimura clashes with another Tōen player.
They collide. Nishimura manages to get a touch, but the ball drops loose.
I have to take it!
Riccardo arrives first, steals the ball, and surges down the right flank.
Nishimura freezes for a split second—then sprints after him.
Tōen's defense is unbalanced, though a few players scramble back.
Number 20 and Naruse close in on Riccardo near the right edge of the box.
"Reiji! Hiroshi! Don't let him through!" Tōen's coach shouts.
Riccardo stops abruptly, staring them down as if daring them.
Naruse swallows.
He's really challenging us… now of all times!?
Both defenders track every movement—then Riccardo flicks the ball upward, lifting it slightly between them.
What—!?
Before they can react, Riccardo bursts through the gap, overpowering them.
He breaks through the line. Another defender rushes in—but Riccardo beats him instantly with a roulette.
He's inside the box.
Nishimura and Nakamura are there, with only one defender between them.
"Riccardo!"
"Aliberti!"
They both call for the ball, ready to score.
Everyone on the pitch watches him, speechless, waiting for his next move.
On the bench and in the stands, people rise to their feet.
Riccardo strikes the ball with the inside of his left foot—
Not a pass.
The shot rockets toward the top-left corner.
Nishimura watches in disbelief. He shot…
Time seems to stop.
The goalkeeper can't even react—the shot is too powerful.
Then—
A loud metallic crack echoes.
The ball smashes into the crossbar.
That sound snaps Riccardo back to reality. His eyes widen.
What did I do…
The ball rebounds upward, then lands out of play.
The referee blows the whistle three times.
Riccardo stares at him, unreadable.
"Prepare the list of penalty takers!" the referee announces.
Players from both teams walk toward their benches, exhausted.
Everyone—except Riccardo.
He stands still for a moment, then lowers his head and follows.
Sato notices. So do the others in the stands.
"What happens now?" Kagayama asks, confused.
"In professional football, there would be extra time," Yuzuki explains. "But here it goes straight to penalties. Whoever misses more is eliminated."
Kirishima shivers.
"I can't imagine the pressure they're feeling right now…"
Coach Ishii gathers the team.
"We have three penalty takers on the field: Kaneko, Nishimura, and Aliberti. Are you willing to take the first ones?"
"Yes!" Kaneko answers immediately.
"Of course," Nishimura says.
"...Alright," Riccardo replies, his voice trembling.
The coach studies Riccardo, who still hasn't lifted his head.
"Good. We need two more. Who's in?"
"Me, Coach!" Noguchi shouts.
"I will too!" Nakamura adds.
"Thanks. Get ready."
The players gather near midfield.
Nishimura approaches Riccardo.
"Let's win this."
Riccardo doesn't answer.
Noguchi meets with Kadoshima and the referee to decide the order.
He returns.
"They're shooting first." He looks at Andou. "You've already pulled off so many miracles today… Am I asking too much if I want a few more?"
Andou tightens his gloves. "Captain… you don't need to ask. I want to win too."
Kanzaki steps up first for Tōen.
Riccardo lifts his gaze slightly.
Why did I shoot instead of passing…? I planned everything to reach that moment. I wanted to help the team.
The referee whistles.
Kanzaki runs up and strikes it hard.
Andou guesses the direction—but it's too powerful and precise.
Tōen score.
Shūdan-teki 2 (0) | 2 (1) Tōen
Kaneko steps forward. "I'll go."
"Good luck!" Noguchi says.
Kaneko snorts arrogantly. "I don't need it."
The others look at him.
"Same old Kaneko…" Kinoshita jokes.
Kaneko places the ball as the referee speaks to him.
Riccardo watches, lost in thought.
What triggered that emotional burst…? Think, Riccardo. If you don't figure it out before your turn, you won't take the penalty properly.
The whistle blows.
Kaneko runs up and sends the keeper the wrong way.
Shūdan-teki 2 (1) | 2 (1) Tōen
Shūdan-teki erupt in celebration.
Naruse walks to the spot.
Riccardo watches him.
The reason…
He replays the entire match in his mind.
I played alone the whole time. Even when I tried to help the team, I was really just showing off. But that doesn't change the fact that I wanted to pass on that last play…
Naruse shoots weakly.
Andou dives—and saves it.
Shūdan-teki 2 (1) | 2 (1) Tōen
A roar explodes from Shūdan-teki's side.
"Great save, Andou!" Coach Suzuki shouts.
The keeper raises his fist.
"I'll go next," Noguchi says.
"Go, Captain!"
"We believe in you!"
Noguchi walks forward.
Riccardo watches the captain's armband.
A memory flashes—Noguchi refusing to ruin the team's progress with his own mistakes.
Maybe that's it…
The whistle.
Noguchi strikes it hard and straight. The keeper dives away.
Shūdan-teki 2 (2) | 2 (1) Tōen
"Yes!" Noguchi shouts.
"We're ahead!" Yuzuki cheers.
Noguchi is surrounded by teammates.
Riccardo watches—close, yet far away.
I shot because I wanted to erase everything. Not just my mistakes today, but everything. The problems I caused my family. Leaving my friends in Italy. Not being there when they needed me. I tried to shed it all with that shot.
Kadoshima steps up—and scores.
Shūdan-teki 2 (2) | 2 (2) Tōen
"Who's next?" Kaneko asks.
"My turn," Riccardo says firmly.
Everyone freezes.
Riccardo walks to the spot with steady confidence.
Tōen's coach watches him carefully.
He looks calm… confident. Even after that mistake.
Riccardo places the ball amid the murmurs of the crowd.
Sato clasps her hands, almost praying.
Riccardo hears nothing.
His gaze alone unsettles the goalkeeper.
The whistle.
Riccardo strikes with his right.
A missile.
Top-left corner.
The keeper guesses—but stands no chance.
Silence.
Kaneko exhales, half-smiling. "That damn monster…"
Shūdan-teki 2 (3) | 2 (2) Tōen
The little stadium erupts.
Riccardo clenches his fist, then exhales.
His teammates swarm him.
"This is the Riccardo we want," Noguchi says, draping an arm around his neck.
Riccardo gives a faint smile.
Reiji steps up for Tōen—and scores.
Shūdan-teki 2 (3) | 2 (3) Tōen
"Nakamura," Nishimura says quietly. "Can you take this one? I want the decisive penalty."
Nakamura nods after a moment. "It'll only be decisive if I score."
He walks up calmly.
The whistle.
He shoots—
The goalkeeper reads it and saves.
Shūdan-teki 2 (3) | 2 (3) Tōen
A brief silence—then Noguchi claps. "It's okay! You tried!"
Nakamura returns, Nishimura looking apologetic.
"Sorry…"
"Don't be. That's penalties. Now let's trust our keeper again."
Arata steps up for Tōen.
Andou bounces on the line.
I can do this…
The whistle.
Arata shoots—and surprises everyone, wrong-footing Andou.
Shūdan-teki 2 (3) | 2 (4) Tōen
Now everything rests on Nishimura.
I wanted a decisive penalty… just not like this.
He places the ball.
Power or precision?
The whistle.
He shoots down the middle—to be safe.
Too safe.
The keeper, already diving, clips it with his foot.
Shūdan-teki 2 (3) | 2 (4) Tōen
The referee blows the final whistle.
Tōen's players rush toward their goalkeeper, running past Nishimura, who stands frozen.
Shūdan-teki are eliminated in the semifinals.