The ball was now placed for the corner kick, with Davies stepping up to take it.
Inside the box, the atmosphere was anything but calm, with both teams jostling aggressively, fighting fiercely for position, while Kabuto and Gaku firmly marked the tallest Australian players.
From the corner flag, Davies raised a hand, signaling to his teammates before stepping forward and whipping a sharp cross deep into the penalty area.
Rising above the crowd, Kabuto and Christopher leaped together in mid-air. Battling through heavy contact, Kabuto managed to get his head to the ball first, redirecting it away from danger.
The ball flew clear of the cluster of players before bouncing heavily just outside the penalty box.
Spotting the loose ball, Raya immediately sprinted toward it. But mid-stride, a sudden shiver ran down his spine, causing his steps to falter.
The ball bounced once more, and for a split second, time seemed to slow to a crawl.
