Soccer System: All the Skills, One Player!

The break ended. Eddie had adjusted the plan, but now everything depended on execution. On the opposite side, Brentford looked invigorated, confident that they could draw or even turn the game around.

In the broadcast studio, Henry Martin enthusiastically resumed the broadcast. "Well, guys, the first half was a rollercoaster. Brighton started brightly, but Brentford responded in kind. With the score at 2-1, the second half promises to be electrifying. Clara, what can we expect from the next stage?"

Clara Rodrigues adjusted her headphones and answered with her characteristic calm. "Brighton needs to regain their organization. Eddie has made clear adjustments, bringing on Willian and centralizing Lucas to strengthen the middle. Now it all depends on how the players adapt to these changes. Brentford, on the other hand, must keep pressing. If they keep up this pace, a draw is only a matter of time."

As the teams positioned themselves, the narrator mentioned the other Premier Youth League matches. "On the other pitches, we have some updates. West Ham is beating Crystal Palace 1-0, while Manchester United is drawing 2-2 with Chelsea. The competition remains fierce, and these results could have an enormous influence on the overall standings."

On the pitch, the referee blew his whistle, and the ball rolled again. From the start of the second half, Brighton was trying to get their act together. Willian, positioned on the left, was dynamic and direct. In one of his first interventions, he received a pass from Felix, dribbled past the Brentford right-back with a dry cut and attempted a cross. The ball was deflected for a corner, drawing applause from the visiting fans.

"Yes, Willian, that's what we need!" shouted Lucas begrudgingly.

Denis took the corner, but the Brentford defense cleared safely. The ball fell to the Brentford No10, who immediately tried to start a counter-attack. However, Felix, on the lookout, intercepted it with a neat pass.

"Not now, mate," muttered Felix, getting up quickly and playing a short ball to Lucas.

Brighton needed to impose the pace of the game, but Brentford wasn't making it easy. Their defensive lines were compact, and the midfield remained a fierce battle.

Meanwhile, Eddie, with his arms crossed, and his gaze fixed on the pitch, was analyzing everything.

Alex, next to him, commented quietly: "They're trying, but we're still struggling to keep the ball in the middle. We need to be quicker in transition."

Eddie nodded. "Yes, but look at Willian. He could be the difference today. If we can get him on the ball more often, something will come of it."

On the pitch, Brentford continued to exploit the flanks, but Brighton, now more organized, could neutralize their play. Aiden and Loki were attentive to the defensive back line, and Daniel and Luiz, the central defenders, looked more secure.

In the 58th minute, Brighton had a simple chance. Willian received a deep pass from Lucas, outpaced the opposing defender, and broke into the box. With a subtle touch, he tried to dribble past the goalkeeper, but the latter deflected the ball with his fingertips. On the rebound, Lucas arrived with a first-time shot, but a defender who threw himself in front blocked the ball and cleared it off the line.

"What a missed chance! Brighton are getting close, but they need to improve their finishing!" analyzed Henry,

"Willian is being a key player, but he needs more support in the box. Lucas is doing his best, but it's not enough against such a well-positioned defense. Brighton's No9, Arthur, is out for the moment."

In the 64th minute, Eddie made another change. He took off Miguel and brought on Hillebrand as a right winger, looking for a breather. The idea was clear: to speed up play on the wings and exploit the spaces left by Brentford, who were also beginning to show signs of fatigue.

Brentford, however, continued to be dangerous. In the 63rd minute, their No10 received a pass on the edge of the box and shot wide. Anton once again pulled off a spectacular save to keep the ball out. Read chapters at empire

"Anton is holding it together for Brighton. What a goalkeeper!" exclaimed Henry.

The camera focused on the young goalkeeper, who was shouting to his teammates:Nôv(el)B\\jnn

"Let's wake up! They will not take us down!"

In the 70th minute came the moment Brighton fans had been waiting for. In a quick breakaway, Felix stole the ball in midfield and set Willian up on the left. The young winger took off at speed, dribbled past two defenders and crossed low. The ball traveled the length of the penalty area and found Hillebrand, who was free on the right. He calmly finished into the far corner, with no chance for the goalkeeper.

"BRIGHTON'S GOOOAAAAL!" shouted Henry, as the players ran to hug Raphael.

As the boys celebrated, Clara analyzed the move: "Brighton could exploit Brentford's tiredness. But, I must say, coach Eddie made the right substitutions. Willian was brilliant in that move, but Hillebrand's cool finish deserves a mention. Now it's time to manage the game."

With a two-goal lead, Brighton continued to prioritize possession. Lucas, Denis and Felix exchanged quick passes in midfield, while the full-backs supported only when necessary.

Brentford, meanwhile, looked dejected. Marcus in particular. Despite a few sporadic attacks, they could no longer impose the same rhythm.

In the final minutes, Eddie made his last substitution, bringing on Parker in place of Luiz to strengthen the defense. The final whistle blew in the 94th minute, sealing Brighton's victory.

"Game over! Brighton 3, Brentford 1. A great result for the away team, who showed resilience and knew how to adapt." said Henry.

"Despite having struggled, this game proves that Brighton can compete very well this year. The news about the contradictory decision took us all by surprise, but it looks like they've put together a very complete team."

In the changing rooms, Eddie gathered the team for a brief speech. "Good win, guys. But we can't repeat the mistakes of the first half in a game with a better team. We have a lot to improve and the league is still a long way off. Enjoy this win, but be ready to work hard next week."

The players smiled and celebrated quietly, aware that they had overcome a tough opponent.

Lucas, while putting his boots in his backpack, felt a hand on his shoulder. The touch made him startle slightly. When he turned around, he saw Willian, still wearing his sweaty shirt from the game, staring at him with an expression he couldn't immediately decipher.

"Can we talk?" asked Willian, his voice lower than usual.

Lucas hesitated. Despite their victory and the crucial role Willian had played, their relationship was complicated. Suspicious, he stammered:

"Hm... sure. Right here?"

Willian shook his head. "No. Let's go out there, in the corridor."

Lucas followed Willian, keeping some distance. The corridor was quiet, far from the euphoria of the changing room. The fluorescent light cast long shadows on the cold white walls.

Willian leaned against the wall, crossing his arms. Lucas stood a few paces ahead, still holding the strap of his backpack as if it were an anchor. There was something uncomfortable about the silence that hung between them.

"So, what do you want?" Lucas asked, suspicion clear in his voice.

Willian held up his hands, as if to calm any reactivity.

"It's not what you think. I didn't come here to argue, fight or anything like that."

Lucas arched an eyebrow, crossing his arms. "Then what is it?"

Willian took a deep breath, as if organizing his thoughts before speaking. Finally, he let the words out:

"You're very good, Lucas. Maybe even genius."

The silence that followed was so heavy that Lucas needed a moment to process what he had heard. Of all the things he had expected to hear from Willian, a compliment was at the bottom of the list. He blinked a few times, trying to assess whether it was a prank.

"Are you... are you serious?" asked Lucas, frowning.

Willian gave a small smile, without a trace of irony. "Totally serious. I've been thinking about it a lot since they put us on the same team. We're both different, we think differently, it's true. And sometimes it's hard for me to admit that not everything has to be my way. But one thing that became clear today is that when we work together, we can do something great."

Lucas relaxed his shoulders, but was still cautious.

"We went through the same sieve to get into Brighton, remember?" Willian continued. "We went to different teams, it's true. But now we're in the same one. And if we carry on in this stupid dispute, we're both going to lose. And, worse, the team will lose. I don't want that."

Lucas nodded slowly. Sure, he remembered the soft well. It had been a grueling event, with hundreds of boys competing for just a few places. Willian had always been talented, and Lucas had known it since that day.

"So what do you want?" Lucas asked, his suspicion less incisive.

Willian uncrossed his arms and took a step forward, coming closer.

"I want us to put all this nonsense aside. I want us to play like a real team. You're the guy who can dictate the pace of the game, Lucas. I can be the cog that makes the moves work and has a happy ending. Today, when you gave me that deep pass... That's when I realized. It doesn't matter who gets the credit. It's important that we win."

Lucas lowered his gaze, staring at the ground for a few seconds. It was rare to hear Willian speak with such sincerity.

"Right. If you're willing to try, so am I."

"Partners?" asked Willian as he extended his right hand for a handshake.

"Partner." Lucas returned the greeting.