Chapter 44 - 42 - One More Touch II

Chapter 44: Chapter 42 - One More Touch II

The second half began with Metz in possession, and Vautrin immediately offered himself between midfield and defence. He received from Caron, returned the ball and continued toward the penalty area while Rafael remained higher against the centre-back.

Caron played wide instead of looking for the next pass into either striker, so Rafael recovered his position and waited for the following attack.

A few minutes later, Perrin carried possession toward the right side of the box while Vautrin moved short.

Rafael held his run against the last defender and called toward his teammate.

"I’m staying, Loïc!"

Vautrin glanced over his shoulder before continuing toward the ball.

Perrin found him, and the striker returned possession immediately as Rafael accelerated behind the centre-back.

The defender stepped across the passing lane before Caron could release the next ball, forcing the midfielder to play backwards.

Rafael slowed and returned to his position as Metz switched possession toward the opposite flank.

Their first few combinations produced little.

Versailles had begun defending more narrowly, keeping one centre-back close to Vautrin whenever he approached the ball while the other remained deeper to protect against Rafael’s runs.

Rafael recognised the adjustment during their next attack and delayed his movement until Vautrin received, but the senior striker returned the pass toward Caron instead of turning to find him.

The ball travelled wide.

Several minutes later, Rafael checked toward midfield and received with his back to goal, only for the nearest defender to press through him before he could establish enough separation.

He tried to protect possession and return it toward Caron, but the defender stepped around him and intercepted.

Versailles immediately broke forward.

Their winger carried the ball down the right and delivered an early cross, forcing Vasseur to retreat toward his own penalty area before heading clear.

Rafael recovered toward halfway as Metz regained possession, but the effort of the preceding run remained in his legs.

Vautrin offered himself for the next attack, receiving from Caron near the edge of the final third.

Rafael was already moving behind the centre-back.

The senior striker returned possession to midfield without seeing the run.

Rafael slowed as the ball travelled away, and Vautrin glanced toward him.

"Didn’t see you there."

"I’ll call it earlier next time."

"Yeah, do that."

Metz switched possession toward the other side, and the match continued with Versailles protecting their penalty area while looking for opportunities to counterattack.

Rafael stayed close to the defensive line whenever Vautrin approached the ball, forcing the deeper centre-back to remain near him instead of stepping forward to challenge the senior striker.

He occasionally received possession, but the defenders closed quickly enough to prevent him from turning.

On one occasion, Perrin reached the right side of the penalty area and delivered a low cross. Rafael moved across his marker and reached the ball with the outside of his boot, although the contact lacked enough power to trouble the goalkeeper.

Versailles recovered possession and moved forward again.

As the match entered its closing stages, Rafael shortened one recovery run when Metz regained possession near halfway, allowing himself a few seconds before accelerating again as Caron moved forward.

The midfielder looked toward Vautrin, who was already dropping to receive, and Rafael remained beside the nearest centre-back rather than following possession.

Caron played wide.

The attack eventually ended with a blocked cross, and Versailles recovered possession before launching another counterattack down the right.

Their winger reached the edge of Metz’s penalty area and attempted a low delivery toward the striker waiting near the penalty spot, but Vasseur stepped across and cleared.

Metz recovered the second ball, and the goalkeeper slowed the restart long enough for the players ahead of him to regain their positions.

Rafael moved back toward the centre-backs while Vautrin approached him.

"You all right?"

"Yeah. Legs are getting a bit heavy."

"You’ve been going all afternoon."

"I’ve still got enough."

Vautrin glanced toward Caron, who was preparing to receive from the goalkeeper.

"Stay high for this one. I’ll come if he needs me."

Rafael nodded and moved toward the defensive line.

Metz worked possession through midfield before Caron received facing forward.

Vautrin began moving toward him.

Rafael checked short, inviting his marker to follow.

The centre-back stepped forward.

Rafael changed direction immediately and accelerated across the defender’s outside shoulder, but the defender recovered quickly enough to close the initial passing lane.

Caron looked toward Vautrin instead.

The senior striker received with his marker tight behind him and returned possession before Rafael could move into another useful position.

Metz switched play toward Perrin.

The winger carried the ball forward, but Versailles’s full-back remained close enough to force him backwards.

Rafael slowed near the edge of the penalty area.

His earlier movement had failed to create the space he wanted, and the covering centre-back was now watching him more closely.

The next attack developed through Caron again.

This time, Rafael remained near the defensive line while Vautrin moved underneath him.

The centre-back nearest Rafael glanced toward Caron before taking a step forward, expecting another check toward midfield.

Rafael shifted his weight as though he intended to come short.

The defender followed.

Rafael immediately turned and accelerated across his outside shoulder.

"Loïc, I’m going!"

Caron found Vautrin’s feet.

The senior striker received with the centre-back pressing through his back, but he had heard Rafael’s call and opened his body enough to see the run developing beyond him.

The covering defender had already begun turning, although Rafael’s change of direction had given him a small advantage.

Vautrin delayed the release just long enough for the passing lane to open, then slipped the ball through.

Rafael accelerated after it.

The pass travelled between the centre-back and the narrowed full-back, reaching Rafael before either could recover.

His first touch carried him inside the penalty area.

The goalkeeper began advancing as Rafael approached, narrowing the space between himself and the near post.

Rafael could hear the recovering defender behind him.

Another touch would give the centre-back time to challenge, so Rafael opened his body and struck across goal before the defender could reach his shoulder.