The Little Prince of the Field - Chapter 15

“What are we going to do now?” 

” Hey, man. If you continue doing this, I’ll break your leg next time. What would you do then?” 

“What!”

Opponent No. 8 who was tackled by Las Palmas central midfielder Gonzalez suddenly grabbed his knee and fell. 

Players from Zaragoza and Las Palmas intertwined and exchanged a war of words. 

The referee took a yellow card out of his chest pocket without hesitation, but the players’ ruffle did not subside. 

While taking a breather from afar, Zaragoza’s striker Suarez approached me and talked. 

” So, what’s happening? Did you come out after hearing something? ” 

“No.” 

“No…, you mean you haven’t heard anything about it.” 

“I’m not good at Spanish..” 

Suarez nodded his head while twisting his lips like a fish. 

The players’ clashes continued along with the boo from the stadium. 

“How long have you been in Las Palmas?” 

“A year.” 

“You’re good, Are you from Japan?” 

“I’m from Korea.” 

Suarez was not Spanish by his name and appearance, but he spoke fluently in Spanish and non-stop. 

He’s a bit annoying. 

“Oh, it’s another card.” 

“It’s Rodriguez.” 

“Haha, I guess he got the card due to protesting. Marcos is really a great artist. His act has earned two cards.” 

“Is that acting?” 

“Of course. He often falls down even during practice games.” 

“Look at their hands. Your team doctor says he can’t play?” 

“….” 

Suarez was slightly stunned by the replacement due to his teammate’s injury.

I sneaked away before he regained his attention. 

By the way, it’s not good to receive two cards, not long after the beginning into the second half. 

Of course, it was commendable that Aitami stopped Lemos, who already had a card, from going near the clash.

However, it is clear that the left-center midfielder Gonzalez and left-winger Kirian Rodriguez collected cards one after another, which might have a detrimental effect on the defense.

There’s no way Zaragoza players didn’t know what was infeasible which even I could infer with my limited soccer knowledge.

WHISTLE! 

The game resumed, and Bella’s sliding tackle caused Zaragoza’s No. 9 player to roll down the ground while holding his leg. 

Due to the countless yellow cards towards the left line, the wingback Bella started to feel the pressure to keep up the defense. 

The referee looked sternly at him and said, “I won’t let it slide twice.” 

Fortunately, it was not a card. 

If Bella had got another card, the left would have become a completely horrible sh*t line that matched the color of the Las Palmas team uniform. 

The free-kick that followed was saved by Martinez and the ball went past the penalty box before falling down. 

Viera, who went all the way down, put the ball down with his instep. 

As soon as I confirmed Viera’s possession of the ball, I started to continuously switch positions between the opposing defenders. 

I had to make a gap to get the forward pass. 

“Alright.” 

Viera responded to Zaragoza’s right-center defender’s vague moment, and in the half-line, he made an overhead pass. 

It was a little long pass, but if he kicked with all his might, the ball would have gone into the goalkeeper’s hands. 

It was better because it was far from the central defender following from behind. 

It was thanks to maintaining a distance that my uniform was not caught. 

I followed the ball that bounced on the floor right in front of me. 

The moment I got the ball, I was more than two steps away from Zaragoza’s goalkeeper. 

But I was more relaxed than I thought. 

I don’t even have to use my feet for this opportunity. 

I raised the ball to the top of my head and used my forehead to accurately hit the ball, the ball bounced beyond after touching the fingertip of the goalkeeper’s finger drawing a parabola.

The rushing central defender attempts a final sliding tackle, but the ball that meets the goal net calmly settles on the grass. 

As soon as the referee’s whistle blew to announce that Las Palmas had scored a goal, I quickly ran straight to the net and returned to the half-line with the ball. 

I made a High-five with Viera, who has a gentlemanly heart, unlike his appearance. 

He seems to have noticed that I don’t like getting myself patted. 

Well, I’ll remember him as the second nice guy. 

I felt sorry for Pedri, who is competing for the same position, but Viera is a decent guy. 

At least according to my standards. 

“Good job!” 

‘Try one more goal. Hahaha.” 

“Are you planning on another hat trick?” 

“You are not normal.” 

Viera is definitely different from the barbarians who came running to me and started patting me on the back, shoulders, and the back of my head. 

“Are you going to score another goal?” 

“I don’t know.” 

Before Zaragoza’s attack began, Manager Pepe pulled out the second replacement card. 

Gonzalez, who received a card in the second half, got swapped for Cedris. 

Kirian Rodriguez, who played on the left wing was replaced by a central midfielder, while Cedris, who has entered, moved to the left-wing. 

I glanced at the side of the bench and saw Pecardt and Narvaez warming up and preparing to replace me. 

Manager Pepe will replace me as scheduled in the 70th minute of the game. 

Before scoring the second goal, the backside of my right thigh was slightly numb after sprinting. 

It was a sign that my body was getting tired. 

But to reach the 70th minute, there’s less than 10 minutes left. 

I thought about giving my everything for a short time left for me on the field since I still had some stamina. 

Through the cheers of Zaragoza fans, the shouts of the players burst throughout the stadium. 

“Mesa! Mark!” 

“Mark, number 26! Mark! It’s empty!” 

“Guti!” 

Zaragoza, who switched the formations to 4-4-1-1, tried to play the game by focusing on flank play through a central fight. 

Zaragoza’s No.14, central midfielder Guti’s pass comes in, to the left.

It was a good pass, but Mesa, who entered the right wingback position on behalf of Sanchez, occupied the side space and the cooperative defense with Srnich returned Zaragoza’s attack to nothing. 

I must admit that I was wrong. 

Mesa was a player who could show above-average skills even in the wingback position. 

Mesa’s pass was delivered to Kirian Rodriguez, who moved towards the center through Aitami. 

It was an attacking opportunity for Las Palmas. 

“No.22! Come on! Toss!” 

When Zaragoza’s defense failed to properly control Cedris who penetrated to the left and gave up the space, the central defender’s shouts soon burst out. 

Kirian Rodriguez’s ground ball pass falls at Cedris’ feet. 

Cedris cleared the pass and dribbled into Zaragoza’s left side of the camp, and the opponent’s fullback cleared the ball with his toes. 

The home fans burst out applause. 

In the following throw-in situation, Cedris, who received the ball from Bella, endured the pressure of the Zaragoza defense and delivered the ball to Kirian Rodriguez, who came up to a close position. 

The central defenders lower the line and narrow the space between them, so there is not enough space to move. 

Rodriguez got down to the white line that marks the penalty box and reached out. 

“Inigo!” 

The ball was passed by Kirian Rodriguez to Inigo, who stopped the ball without hesitation. 

With the opposing midfielder approaching behind him to mark him, he exchanged short passes to and fro the center in the way Viera liked. 

When the mark got shaken off with a one-two pass, it revealed a space in the front. 

In an instant, Zaragoza’s central defenders approached the square of the goalpost. 

The goalkeeper is quite skilled in blocking the balls from any shooting angles. 

Viera could try a wind-up shot, but it seemed difficult to avoid a sliding tackle from the opposing midfielder, who was coming towards him.

Viera, who went inside the penalty, was also reluctant to pass because of those who were marked. 

“Kim!” 

As Viera ran into the empty space of the penalty box, Srnich deceived the opponent’s wingback, leaving his original right position, and ran towards the center. 

There is no time for any other choices. 

Srnich rolled the ball weakly on the soles under his feet, and at the same time had a fearful power fight with the central defender who came in to narrow Srnich’s shooting angle. 

“Whew!” 

“Maldición!” 

To be exact, it was more of a struggle than a fight. 

I was glad that he didn’t get thrown off like he was in a car accident.

I rushed towards the central defender like a wolf rushing to the back of the Siberian brown bear.

There was no need to hold out for a long time since Srnich immediately made a move to connect with a shot.

But he couldn’t. 

The central defender throws me aside and starts marching towards Srnich. 

Did I hold out for about half a second? 

It’s not even that much. 

But it was the best I could do while trying not to lose my balance and fall violently. 

“Kim! Look ahead!!” 

The moment I finally recovered my balance and corrected my posture, the ball dropped in front of me. 

I don’t know what kind of magic Srnich used, but all the defenders nearby were all staggering in reverse movements. 

Srnich, you lovely guy! 

I may be weaker than a Siberian brown bear, but I’m still a wolf. 

I won’t let go of the prey that fell in front of me. 

Zaragoza’s goalkeeper, who fell right in front of the penalty kick point, could not even rush in. 

“Joédette!” 

“Maldito chino!” 

“Woooooooooooooooo-!” 

Zaragoza supporters boo and cursed from the crowd. 

Yes, this is it. 

I did not fly all the way back to Spain to get applause from where the winner and the loser are divided. 

Fans of Zaragoza shouted while raising their middle fingers.

“Hahaha.” 

Slowly, and not too fast, I turned around while watching the Zaragoza stands. 

Rather than feeling accomplished with the second hat-trick of the season, I felt more joy in hearing the abuses of Zaragoza fans. 

I know it sounds weird, but it was just my honest feelings. 

To me, it’s better to be pointed at, than applauded by face-saving people. 

In the stadium filled with anger and irritation, I get back to the half-line to the crowd of savages of Las Palmas. 

The score was 2-3. 

The remaining regular time was 22 minutes.