Chapter 641: Round of 16 IV
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"Isn''t it a foul?" Aya cried out, demanding for a foul.
He was outside the box. To make an important save, he had left the box. Luckily for him, despite being cornered, he had cleared the ball.
The match had already entered its climax and eighty minutes had passed.
Just now, during a threatening counterattack from the opposition, he had to leave the post to make the save.
With the opposing forward rushing threateningly, he made a risky tackle.
Fortunately for him, he managed to tackle cleanly.
However, the threat was far from over. Immediately after he tackled, the ball went out of bounds. Almost instantly, the ball boy handed the opposing forward with another ball.
But to prevent them from taking a quick throw-in, Aya tossed the previous ball back to him. Though this decision prevented them from taking a quick throw-in, it enraged the opponent. Enraged, the opposing forward hurled the ball he held at Aya, leading to this moment.
Immediately after the referee blew the whistle, the yers swarmed around Aya. Both sides exchanged words as they shed.
Given the state of the match, the opposition looked seemingly desperate. Well, they were losing by a goal. So, it was only natural for them to be furious.
For a little while, the scene on the field became extremely chaotic.
With both sidesining, the referee found it incredibly difficult to maintain the order. Despite being swarmed withints, he tried to retain his rationality.
''The fault lies with the Japanese goalkeeper. However, the action taken by the Croatian forward is equally concerning. If only he hadn''t hurled the ball at him, it wouldn''t be this difficult.''
The referee thought while trying to control the situation.
Even though he tried to control the situation to the best of his ability, he was being swarmed.
The fans were growing equally anxious.
While the chaos continued on the field, Hiro took this opportunity topose himself. In today''s match, he had exhausted himself.
Especially after utilizing the talent like "Phantom Steps" multiple times, he had been left drained.
Utilizing the distraction around him, Hiro opened his attribute panel.
''Stamina 22, damn! No wonder, I feel so tired,'' Hiro couldn''t help but feel exasperated.
The other attributes looked equally pathetic. From the current state of his attributes alone, Hiro could tell he had exhausted himself badly today.
Even though he had expected such an oue, the oue before him far exceeded the oue he expected.
He had anticipated to lose a few points. But it was more than a few points.
This was the lowest he had gone since he started monitoring his attribute state mid-game. Hence, he couldn''t help but feel concerned.
''These skills and talent do consume a lot of points, don''t they?'' Hiro thought revealing a self- deprecating smile.
While going through the attribute panel, suddenly something piqued his interest.
[Substitution Rmended]
[Low-Energy Level]
[Current State: Extremely Exhausted]
"This doesn''t look good," Hiro muttered with a sense of foreboding.
It was the first warning he had ever seen.
Well, the system has also issued him several warnings in the past.
However, it was the first time he had noticed this one.
Hiro could tell that his depleting energy reserve could be attributed to his overuse of skills and talent.
Though the warning was concerning, Hiro wanted to y more. He wished to remain on the pitch until the final minute.
However, he was also aware that he shouldn''t neglect the warnings.
Now, should he listen to the warning, or should he do as he wished, he was caught in a dilemma.
Thinking over the warning, his expression becamecent.
While pondering, he shot a gaze at the reserve box. There he noticed Nanami preparing to make a few substitutions.
Staring at the box, Hiro''s expression started to lighten. His knotted brows unfurled and a subtle smile graced his plum lips, "Guess, I''ll being out."
For some reason, Hiro felt relieved upon finding that he would get substituted. Usually, he didn''t like to get substituted. However, this time, he didn''t mind it. Perhaps, he was aware that he''d be holding the team back if he were to remain on the field.
Then Hiro averted his gaze from the reserve box. Even themotion had died down.
The final verdict of the referee was a foul in favor of the opposition. However, both the yers involved were warned for their actions.
''Let''s make the best of our remaining time,'' Hiro''s eyes gleamed with determination.
Hiro was aware that he wouldn''t be on the pitch for long. So, he wanted to utilize those remaining minutes to the fullest.
Beforeing off, he wanted to widen their lead.
However, right now, he had to focus on defending. After all, the opposition had earned a set
piece at a threatening spot.
About 35 yards away from the post, the opposition had earned a free kick. The distance from the post was great but it wasn''t that much.
So, they had to be cautious nheless.
A momentary act of carelessness might cost them greatly. Hence, aware of their predicament, the Japanese yers focused all their attention on the set piece.
Hiro wasn''t an exception either.
Soon, the opposing team took the free kick. Instead of attempting a shot from the distance,
they opted for a short pass.
With a few quick short passes, they breached the Japanese defense.
Then from a distance, their forward attempted a shot at the post. However, the ball flew
astray, missing the post.
For a moment, the Japanese yers were under huge pressure. But now that the ball went out
of bounds, they couldn''t help but feel relieved.
Their once tense shoulders lightened as if a huge weight had been lifted.
Even the audience shared the same sensation. They had been on their toes for a moment, their
stomachs roiling in terror.
But now that the ball went out of bounds, they felt relieved.
However, the relief on their face didn''tst long.
"Hiro ising out too?"
Some of them felt devastated upon seeing Hiro walking to the sideline.