The second half got off to a very quick start. Both teams looked fired up. Whatever their coaches had said during the halftime break clearly worked. The players came back out with a different kind of energy, sharper movements, louder communication, and more intensity.
In the opening five minutes, both teams created two solid chances each. The goalkeepers were tested immediately. One shot was tipped over the bar, another parried to the side. It was end to end football.
With that short exchange of attacks, Hull City U18s had figured something out. Sam was the key. He was the heart of Birmingham City U18s. The engine. The playmaker. Both chances that Birmingham created in those five minutes had come from Sam's involvement. Whether it was a pass, a run, or a clever dummy, he had played a part in everything dangerous.
Hull recognized this and adapted quickly. They started marking Sam more aggressively. One player stuck tight to him, while another hovered nearby, ready to double up. But even then, Sam managed to cause problems. He did not need to touch the ball to influence the game. His movement alone dragged players out of position, opened up space for others, and disrupted Hull's shape.
James noticed it from the sidelines. He clapped his hands loudly.
"Oh! That's my boy. Very fucking intelligent!" he shouted. He had just seen Sam drag one of the Hull City center backs out of position with a decoy run, creating space for Birmingham's striker to run into. The striker got the ball but could not finish. Still, the idea was brilliant.
"Those are the best type of midfielders. Intelligent! Very fucking intelligent!"
Valen smiled as he watched from the bench. There was no denying it. Sam was the reason Birmingham were still holding their own in this match. Without him, it would have been one way traffic. The way things were going, the team needed him to keep functioning at this level. Otherwise, the tide would completely turn.
As the minutes passed, Hull began to dominate again. Sam could only do so much. One player could not carry the entire team forever. Birmingham began to sit deeper. The midfield line dropped back. The attacks became fewer and fewer. The defenders were starting to look a little tired.
James glanced at the bench. Then he turned to Valen.
"Alright kid, your time may be near," he said quietly.
Valen looked at him and nodded. He had been watching the match closely. He saw what James saw. Able Wilson, after that amazing run in the first half, had gone quiet. He was not playing badly, but he was not contributing either. The Hull City right back had figured him out and was winning the duel.
James continued speaking, voice low, but firm.
"When I put you on, I need you to do what Able can't seem to do. I need you to beat that right back. Kill him. Not once, but repeatedly. Nicolas is a runner. He is not a dribbler. We are not going to get much joy on the right. That means you have to own the left. You cannot afford to be quiet. I need you to grab this match by the scruff of its neck and make your mark."
Valen took a breath and nodded again.
"Yes coach."
In the sixty fourth minute, James made his first change of the game. Able was substituted off. Valen came on. Some of the Birmingham players looked surprised. A few even looked unhappy. But there was nothing they could do. The decision had been made.
Valen took his position on the left wing and tried to stay loose. He jogged a little, moved his shoulders, and took deep breaths. His heart was racing, but his mind was calm.
In the sixty seventh minute, just three minutes after coming on, Valen got his first real involvement.
It was a counter attack. Hull had committed too many men forward. Fred, Birmingham's defensive midfielder, managed to intercept a sloppy pass and poked it forward to Sam. Sam had his back to goal and was immediately under pressure. He did not have time to turn, so he used his first touch to lift the ball over to the left side.
Valen was in space. Nobody was close to him.
He controlled the ball and immediately took off. He pushed the ball forward and then flicked it through the legs of a Hull City central midfielder who tried to close him down. It was a clean nutmeg. Valen accelerated down the left flank. Now it was him against the right back.
This was the same right back who had shut down Able. The same right back who had won almost every duel so far.
Valen slowed down slightly. He approached with caution, dribbling slowly, eyes scanning for passing options. But no one was in a good position. He had to go alone.
The right back took a step forward. He tried to reach for the ball, hoping to steal it early. But Valen was ready. He quickly shifted the ball wide and burst down the line. The right back turned and chased, but Valen had already pulled away.
He reached the byline. Then he stopped. In one motion, he performed a Ronaldo-style chop. The right back stopped moving, trying to anticipate the next action.
Valen saw the hesitation. He tapped the ball through the defender's legs again, this time back toward the byline. The right back was completely fooled. His body could not keep up. He was beaten.
Valen took a final touch and looked up. He drove a low cross into the box, aiming for the top of the area. Most of the Hull City defenders had dropped deep, expecting a cut back. That left a pocket of space just outside the box.
Sam arrived at the exact moment.
He struck the ball with his left foot. The shot stayed low. It was precise. It zipped through a few bodies and somehow avoided every boot and leg in its path. The goalkeeper reacted late. The ball slipped into the bottom corner.
The net bulged. The crowd erupted.
"Get in!" Sam shouted. He ran toward the corner flag, dropped to his knees, and did a slide while pumping his fists. His teammates followed.
Valen sprinted over, smiling. He shoved Sam playfully and then wrapped his arms around his shoulder. It was a big goal. A huge moment.
James was clapping hard from the bench.
"That's it! That's what I'm talking about!" he shouted. His voice cut through the noise. He pumped his fist. This was exactly what they needed. Hull City had been the better team, but that goal gave Birmingham some breathing room. It changed the mood. It brought relief.
Valen walked back with Sam to their half of the pitch. His heart was still racing, but now it raced with joy.
He had been brought on, and just like the coach had asked, he made his mark.