An away match. The stadium is small, but the home fans are loud, pressing in on the pitch. Robin is on the bench. He's getting used to the view.
Martin is sticking with the 4-3-3: Dean Brooker in goal. Louis and Tyron at center-back. Kurtis and Julian on the flanks. Mateo holding, with Doyle and Haruto in the middle. Tobi and Lazaro on the wings, Hugo as the striker.
The same attacking lineup, minus him.
The referee's whistle cuts through the noise.
"And we are underway here at Oakminster! Northwall FC, in their pink and black away kits, get us started."
The ball goes to Doyle. He taps it to Lazaro. Gets it back, _instantly_. He's moving. He jinks past one, nutmegs a second, and he's in open space. He looks up, slides a perfect through-ball. Hugo Mendes is on it.
"Doyle is through the middle... he finds Mendes! Hugo Mendes... first-time shot! OH MY WORD!"
The ball leaves Hugo's foot and lasers into the top right corner. The net bulges. The keeper just stands there.
"GOAL! NORTH WALL! Can you believe it? We are not even sixty seconds in, and Hugo Mendes has stunned the home crowd!"
Robin's jaw drops. Martin is running down the sideline, fists pumping, celebrating like he just won the league. The stadium is dead quiet.
They scored. Just like that. That's it?
Doyle silenced the whole place. Robin can't believe it. He almost laughs. Minute one, lol.
Minute 14.
"Oakminster are waking up now, and it's all coming through their star man, Kane. He's on the left wing…"
Kane doesn't just tackle Kurtis, he steals the ball, leaving the right-back on the turf. He's sprinting. He spots his striker, Karsten, in the middle. He fakes the pass, sending both Tyron and Louis the wrong way. He cuts inside, beats another defender, and blasts a shot.
"Kane... he's done it all by himself... what a save! Dean Brooker, at full stretch, gets a strong hand to it!"
On the bench, Martin claps, looking relieved. Robin just watches. That Kane guy is fast.
Minute 27.
Northwall's confidence is up. Hugo wins a header, lays it off to Tobi. Tobi fake-sprints, drawing the fullback, then crosses it long to Lazaro on the far side. Lazaro takes it down, beats his man, and slides it back into the box for Hugo, who's made the run.
"It's a great switch! Lazaro to Mendes... he chips the keeper! Oh, what an audacious finish! That's 2-0!"
Hugo is sprinting to the corner, arms out. Martin is halfway onto the pitch again.
"But... wait. The linesman has his flag up. Offside."
Hugo slows, sees the flag, and just smiles to himself. The celebration dies. Martin stomps back to his box.
Robin lets out a breath he didn't know he was holding. He feels... better? He frowns. Why am I glad the goal was disallowed? The thought is ugly, but it's honest. He realizes it: He doesn't want them to be doing this well. Not without him.
Minute 32.
"But Oakminster are pressing. Their striker, Karsten, has just won the ball in a very threatening position, just outside the box."
The defense panics. Louis and Tyron both rush him. Karsten just plants his foot, pulls the ball back, and feints. The two center-backs, all momentum, smash right into each other. Dean, the keeper, sees the danger and sprints out to close the angle.
"Oh, he's made a fool of the defenders! The keeper is coming…"
Karsten pauses. Lets the keeper commit. Then he blasts it. The ball rockets past Dean's head. 1-1.
"GOAL! OAKMINSTER! Karsten levels it! The crowd erupts!"
Robin doesn't feel bad. He doesn't feel anything. It was expected. Sooner or later, they were going to give up the lead. Martin just stands on the sideline. Silent.
Minute 44.
"Just before the half. Oakminster's Kane has the ball. He's been a menace all day."
This time, he doesn't pass. He doesn't fake. He just runs. He runs right at Louis and blows past him. Tyron steps up; Kane cuts inside. Kurtis slides in, desperate. Kane just hops over the tackle and is in on goal.
"It's a brilliant solo goal! He's dribbled past three defenders! Kane makes it 2-1! What a turnaround!"
Martin looks pale. The Northwall defenders are on their knees, stunned. Kane is dancing for the crowd. They love him. The commentator is shouting about him being "Young Player of the Season" last year.
Robin understands why. He watches the celebration, his eyes cold. Stilgar. And now this guy. He adds Kane's name to the list of people he has to destroy to be the best.
And just like that, the lead is gone.
Minute 69.
The second half is a grind. 2-1. Northwall is chasing shadows. Finally, Martin turns to the bench.
"Silver! Warm up!"
Robin is already warm. He pulls off his bib. The sub board goes up. Green 11. Red... Lazaro.
"And Northwall is making a change. It's the young loanee, Robin Silver, coming on. They need a spark from somewhere."
Lazaro jogs off, tired. He fist-bumps Robin. Robin steps onto the grass. The home crowd boos, a generic welcome for any sub. Robin doesn't hear it.
He has one goal in mind.
We are going to win this game. And I am going to score the winner.