The roar of the crowd was deafening as the ball rolled under the floodlights.
The night air shimmered with energy banners waving, fans chanting, flares painting streaks of red and white in the stadium
The match began at a fierce tempo. Kim Austin, the Nixon Pool captain, set the rhythm immediately his sharp first touch guiding the ball out wide to Girard Roux.
Roux advanced down the right flank, cutting in with smooth footwork before slipping the ball to Vincent Maes, who had dropped deep to link play.
Maes, composed and calculating, turned swiftly, threading a pass toward Lake Cory breaking forward between Devertary's center-backs.
Cole Isaac reacted instantly, stretching a leg to deflect the through ball, sending it spinning out toward the right touchline.
The crowd applauded early alertness from Devertary's defense.
But Nixon Pool weren't done.
Samuel Taylor, their defensive midfielder, intercepted Leon's attempted clearance and fed Matheus Reis on the left.
Reis feinted past Ramon, swung in a cross but Shawn Lucius stepped up, gloves sure, catching the ball mid-air before rolling it calmly out to Simon Keller.
Devertary United began to grow into rhythm. Ruyne Ness dictated play from deep, spreading passes to calm the flow.
He found Floxx Leon, who turned under pressure and released Wolf Deo on the right.
Deo, the captain, surged forward, his pace igniting cheers from the home crowd. He cut inside past Reis, then sent a diagonal ball toward Ryan Shark, positioned between Björk and Hugo.
Shark chested it down brilliantly, holding off Björk's challenge, before laying it off to Delbris Axel near the edge of the box.
Axel took a quick touch then unleashed a fierce low drive.
The ball skimmed the turf, arrowing toward the bottom corner but Alexander Daniel, Nixon Pool's keeper, dove sharply to his right, parrying it away with his fingertips.
Gasps echoed through the stands.
Devertary Corner Kick.
Dierckx Matthias jogged over to take it. His delivery curled in beautifully, met by Cole Isaac's rising header but it soared narrowly over the bar.
From the goal kick, Cedric Benoit sent a long diagonal ball upfield toward Roux.
Roux controlled with one touch, then played a quick give-and-go with Austin, bypassing Keller.
He crossed low toward Maes but Daniel Chris slid in, clearing it inches before the striker could pounce.
Lucius collected the loose ball, bellowing at his defenders.
"Mark tighter! Stay compact!"
Devertary regained shape quickly. Ness gestured, organizing the line, his calm presence steadying the back four.
Midfield possession shifted Devertary's way again. Leon received the ball near the center circle, glancing up to find space.
He played a through ball into Axel's path. Axel sprinted forward, shoulder to shoulder with Hugo.
The striker's intensity was palpable, his movement sharper, more aggressive than usual.
He used his arm to shove the defender aside before firing a shot from a tight angle it struck the side netting.
Shark, who had been running parallel, slowed, watching silently as Axel looked back with a defiant glare.
The crowd applauded the effort, but Harrison, on the sideline, folded his arms, expression unreadable.
From the stands, Vincent Greenwood observed keenly from his glass booth.
Chloe, standing beside him, murmured,
"Axel's playing with fire tonight."
Greenwood smirked faintly.
"Let him. Fire reveals steel."
Devertary pressed again. Ramon intercepted a pass from Reis and moved swiftly up the right flank.
He sent a grounded pass into Deo, who flicked it behind with a backheel, right into Shark's stride.
Shark darted between Björk and Hugo, his balance perfect.
He shifted the ball onto his left and struck a curling effort aimed for the far corner.
Alexander Daniel leaped, fingertips grazing the ball just enough to push it over the bar.
The stadium erupted
"OHHHHH!"
Another corner kick to Devertary United.
Matthias sent in the cross again this time low. It bounced dangerously in the box before Taylor cleared it long toward Cory, relieving the pressure.
Lucius gathered the ball calmly, resetting the tempo as the referee signaled the 15-minute mark.
Devertary United look sharper in possession, led by Deo's vision and Leon's control.
Axel showing fiery individualism, eager to prove himself a mix of brilliance and recklessness.
Shark calm but focused, his shots more measured, his presence steady.
Nixon Pool compact and dangerous on the counter, with Maes and Cory lurking.
The scoreboard still read:
Devertary United 0 – 0 Nixon Pool
But the storm was building.
The tempo of the game had found its rhythm quick, fierce, relentless. The home crowd at Zeriot Malin Stadium pulsed with energy, their chants echoing like drums of war.
Devertary United had begun to seize control, their passes sharper, their movement synchronized.
Nixon Pool, though organized, started to look stretched under the waves of red attacks.
Leon orchestrated the play from midfield, pivoting beautifully under pressure from Kim Austin.
His control opened a channel forward where Matthias ran diagonally inside.
A neat one-two between Matthias and Deo broke through the midfield line.
Deo darted toward the box before laying off a clean pass to Axel, who shaped up to shoot but his strike was blocked by Cavalcanti Hugo.
The rebound rolled toward Shark, who tried to stab it goalward, but Alexander Daniel was quick off his line, diving low to gather.
A mix of cheers and gasps echoed across the stands both strikers hungry, both inches away from a breakthrough.
From the sideline, Harrison clapped once, voice booming:
"Keep the pressure! Don't give them air!"
Nixon Pool attempted to build from the back, but Ness intercepted Taylor's sideways pass near midfield.
He looked up, Shark was already moving.
Ness sent a looping through ball over the top.
Shark sprinted onto it, weaving between Björk and Hugo. His pace was explosive, his control immaculate.
A single feint sent Björk the wrong way.
Now inside the box Shark slowed, glanced up, and with a lightning flick of his right boot, he dragged the ball behind him, cutting sharply left to escape Hugo's challenge.
The keeper rushed forward.
Shark didn't hesitate.
He lifted his head, and with the faintest flick of his left foot chipped the ball cleanly over Alexander Daniel.
The crowd erupted.
A wave of white and blue flares ignited around the stands as Shark spread his arms wide, sliding to his knees near the corner flag.
> "RYAN SHARK! WHAT A GOAL!"
"Pure brilliance — strength, composure, class!"
Deo sprinted over, wrapping him in a hug.
Even Axel, from a distance, stood frozen his jaw tight, the flicker of frustration behind his eyes unmistakable.
The scoreboard flashed in bright crimson:
22' MINUTE — GOAL!
Devertary United 1 – 0 Nixon Pool
(Ryan Shark — Assisted by Ruyne Ness)
The visitors pushed forward almost immediately. Austin, determined to wrestle back control, began dictating play through the center.
He spread the ball to Reis, whose curling cross found Maes in the box.
Maes rose high above Cole Isaac, heading downward but Lucius dove spectacularly, blocking the shot with both hands.
Nixon Pool continued pressing. Taylor and Roux exchanged passes along the edge of the box, trying to stretch Devertary's defense.
But Ramon and Keller held firm, closing lanes and clearing danger efficiently.
Devertary shifted into counter-mode. Leon intercepted again, launching a long diagonal ball toward Deo on the right.
Deo cut in swiftly, skipped past Klein Helmut, and unleashed a grounded cross.
Axel darted forward but Hugo cleared it for a corner.
The atmosphere inside Zeriot Malin was electric. The home fans could sense another goal coming.
During a brief stoppage for a Nixon Pool throw-in, Axel stood alone near midfield, breathing heavily.
His gaze flicked to Shark surrounded by teammates, soaking in applause.
The faint shimmer of darkness flickered behind Axel again subtle, almost imperceptible.
A whisper curled into his ear.
"He shines… and you follow. But soon, they will cheer your name instead."
Axel clenched his jaw, eyes narrowing.
"Then I'll make them."
When play resumed, he demanded the ball.
Leon passed to Matthias, who looked up and found Axel drifting inward.
Axel's first touch was perfect his second, ruthless.
He sidestepped Cavalcanti, then faked right before spinning left, slicing into open space.
The stadium held its breath.
Axel powered forward, the ball glued to his boots. Hugo stepped in, too late. Axel flicked it past him with one swift motion and approached the box.
Shark ran beside him, calling for the pass.
But Axel didn't even glance.
He angled his body, wound his leg back and unleashed a thunderous curving shot toward the top right corner.
The ball spun violently, carving through the air like a streak of flame.
Alexander Daniel leapt fingertips outstretched but it was unstoppable.
The net rippled. The stadium exploded in pure chaos.
Axel froze for a second, then lifted both arms wide, shouting over the deafening noise.
His teammates rushed him Leon, Matthias, Deo the crowd chanting his name now.
> "AXEL! AXEL! AXEL!"
From above, Greenwood watched silently, a faint, knowing smile touching his face.
Chloe, eyes wide, whispered,
"Both scorers… both on fire tonight."
Greenwood replied softly,
"Exactly as intended."
The scoreboard flashed again:
40' MINUTE — GOAL!
Devertary United 2 – 0 Nixon Pool
(Delbris Axel — Unassisted)
At the 40th Minute;Devertary United were in control, Shark composed brilliance and leadership, Axel raw hunger and fire.
The team: balanced, fierce, united at least for now.
But beneath the cheers and celebration, the shadow still lingered unseen, waiting for its moment.
The roar of the crowd still thundered across the stands a mixture of disbelief and joy. Devertary United led 2–0, and their confidence radiated through every pass, every movement.
The scoreboard glowed against the dusk sky, reflecting on the players' faces like a red sun.
But beneath the applause, the field pulsed with quiet rivalry Shark and Axel, side by side, but worlds apart.
Nixon Pool restarted play swiftly. Austin rolled the ball back to Reis, who pushed it forward to Maes.
Devertary United retreated momentarily, compacting their shape.
Leon orchestrated from deep, waving his hand for the front line to drop.
"Hold position!" he barked, voice steady amid the noise.
Maes tried a long-range strike a hopeful attempt from outside the box.
Lucius barely moved, catching it cleanly and distributing it wide to Ness.
From there, Devertary slowed the tempo deliberately. Ramon, Keller, and Cole Isaac passed between themselves, drawing Nixon Pool out before launching a sharp ball forward.
Matthias received it on the flank, flicking past Helmut with ease.
He then found Shark in the middle, Shark held up the ball, shielding it perfectly, before laying it off for Deo, who fired wide.
A ripple of applause followed calm control, measured dominance.
From the technical area, Harrison nodded in satisfaction, exchanging a brief glance with Vincent Greenwood, seated above. Greenwood simply smiled.
"Let them taste rhythm before the break," he murmured.
As Devertary mounted another attack, Axel drifted deeper, collecting the ball near the center circle.
Shark gestured for a pass.
But Axel hesitated.
Instead, he carried it forward himself, slicing through the middle.
Leon called for calm, "Spread it wide!" yet Axel surged onward, hunger still burning from his goal.
When he finally released the ball, it was a heavy pass toward Deo, slightly overhit, rolling out for a goal kick.
Shark exhaled sharply, frustration visible in his eyes.
He turned briefly toward Axel not in anger, but in silent understanding. A rivalry was forming, not spoken yet… but real.
Axel, however, didn't look back. His gaze was fixed on the turf, chest rising and falling.
Nixon Pool attempted one last drive. Taylor swept the ball out wide to Reis, who crossed low into the box but Cole Isaac cleared decisively, booting it upfield.
The referee glanced at his watch.
Then.... Pheeeeeew!
The whistle sliced through the sound of drums and cheers.
Half-time at Zeriot Malin.
Devertary United walked off the pitch to thunderous applause.
Shark jogged ahead, giving thumbs-up to the fans, his face composed.
Axel followed behind, slower, wiping sweat from his brow but his expression unreadable, distant.
In the tunnel, Harrison stood waiting, clapping his players one by one as they filed in.
"Good first half, lads. But don't get comfortable, it's far from over."
As they entered the locker room, the crowd's chants still echoed faintly outside:
> "DEVERTARY! DEVERTARY! DEVERTARY!"
The blue banners waved proudly, while up in the VIP box, Vincent Greenwood leaned back, whispering to himself with a knowing grin:
"Now the foundation begins to settle."
The screen faded out on the scoreboard:
Half-Time — Devertary United 2 : 0 Nixon Pool
(Goals: Shark 22', Axel 40')