Goal Line

Matsumoto grasps the ball, relief flooding his face.

Fujimura has a smirk on his face, but Ren and Morita are distraught.

'That's the most incredible save! How did he even manage to pull that off?'

As it reaches the 15th minute Matsumoto throws the ball to Kubo. The ball is passes around the back line for a minute.

'Learning better off the ball movement is probably the way for me to improve right now.

I don't think Morita thought it'd be this hard to beat this team... But I was, so I have to surpass not only him, but Fujimura as well!'

Shirota gets the ball, Hayashi, presses him. Shirota feints and chops the ball around Hayashi.

Shirota boots the ball upfield as if he's done it a million times, it's about to land at Fujimura's feet...

Ren controls the ball mid-air after intercepting it.

"woah" Fujimura says.

'I read your movement Fujimura!'

Ren takes the ball past Shirota.

He sees the defensive line encroaching on him.

'Think Ren... Think!'

Ren can't think of anything to do though, they're coming in.

"Ren!"

When Ren heard his voice he knew what to do. He backheel passed it behind himself to Endo!

"no" Fujimura says in his monotone voice as he reaches Endo.

"Maybe instead of watching me, you should be watching him!" Endo shouts as he lobs the ball up.

Fujimura turns and sees Ren get the ball on the edge of the box.

Ren plants his right foot into the ground, and makes a great connection with his left.

The ball flies into the air, it curves as it lifts...

'Yes!'

Matsumoto leaps for it, but it seems to be going in.

Matsumoto lets out a deafening scream before punching it out of his net.

'How!? Who is this guy!??'

The ball flies away, to Itoshi.

"Ren! Do it!" Itoshi passes it back to Ren.

'I practiced the unsaveable shot! Time to use i-'

Endo runs besides Ren.

'I know..'

Ren curves it up top-left again, but it hits the crossbar, and rebounds to Endo as a pass.

Matsumoto regains his footing quickly and Endo shoots.

Matsumoto leaps...

But the ball hits off the crossbar again... to Ren.

'This is... MY MOMENT!'

"SEISEN KNUCKLE!!!!!!"

Its slamming in... surely...

Olivier Nganga clears it off the goal line!

'WHY??!??!? WHY CAN'T I SCORE!???!??'

Fujimura hits the ball with a scissor kick mid-air. It flies up the pitch... To Tanaka who timed his run perfectly.

Tanaka gets to the keeper and chips it over him calmly.

3-1 23rd minute