Chapter 245: [245] "MATCHDAY d’Azur 7"

The immediate aftermath of Luc’s goal...

The vast majority of the fans inside the stadium unleashed a deafening chorus of boos and hostile whistles. The sound cascaded down from the top tiers, a raw expression of collective outrage aimed at the SC Valois captain.

Luc slowed just outside the penalty arc. He turned his back on the goal, stood upright, and spread his arms wide, holding them out.

He stood there, a static monument in the center of the hostile territory, soaking in the vitriol raining down from the stands.

The boos washed over him, validating the ruthless efficiency of the strike. He let the anger of the opposing fans fuel the satisfaction settling in his chest.

Thirty-one goals.

The Golden Boot lead was once again restored to a comfortable two-goal margin. Fresko and Fontaine were currently locked in their own respective fixtures, but Luc had firmly reestablished another benchmark.

Through the overwhelming wall of negative noise, a distinct roar cut across the pitch. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ

Tucked into the corner of a certain stand, confined behind a fence, the small pocket of traveling SC Valois away fans erupted. They waved their black and gold scarves frantically, screaming their captain’s name, their voices piercing the hostility of the home crowd.

Luc tilted his chin up, acknowledging their presence, appreciating the loyalty of the supporters who had crossed a long way to witness the title charge.

The celebration lasted only about ten seconds before the impact of his teammates arrived.

Cillian Doyle was the first to reach him. The Irish midfielder didn’t slow down, launching his heavy frame through the air and colliding with Luc’s chest, wrapping his arms around his neck.

"That is how you finish a transition!" Cillian roared, his face flushed with adrenaline, his thick accent cutting right through the stadium noise. "Buried it before they even knew what hit them!"

Gabriel Assis arrived a second later, grabbing Luc by the shoulders and shaking him aggressively. The Brazilian winger’s earlier frustration regarding his defensive duties had evaporated completely. Now only the euphoria of a successful tactical execution remained.

"Who started the counter, huh?" Gabriel shouted, pointing a finger at his own chest. "Who made the slide tackle? That goal doesn’t happen without the defensive shift, Captain! You owe me the assist credit!"

"It was Cillian who fed me the ball, Gabriel," Luc laughed, keeping his balance under the weight of his teammates. "But yes, the shift worked. Thanks."

Hugo jogged over, arriving with his usual composure. The teenager didn’t join the physical dogpile, opting to stand at the edge of the huddle.

"The screen was amazing. The chances of the goalkeeper reacting in time was reduced to near zero. Amazing finish."

Klaus Becker walked up, slapping a massive hand onto the back of Luc’s neck. The German midfielder offered a firm nod. "The Cap is back. Now, we can dictate the rest of the ninety."

Over on the touchline, Coach Henri did not display his usual indifference. The manager stepped to the edge of his technical area, looking at the huddle of players near his captain. He raised his hands and delivered three sharp claps.

It was a validation of the tactical discipline he had ruthlessly drilled into them all week. The defensive sacrifice from Gabriel had directly fueled the offensive lethality of his captain.

The referee jogged over, blowing a short trill on his whistle and gesturing toward the Valois half, instructing the players to conclude the celebration and reset for the kickoff.

Luc dropped his arms, untangling himself from Cillian and Gabriel. He jogged back toward the center circle, his right knee feeling incredible.

The Côte d’Azur players trudged back to their positions. The two center-backs exchanged heated words, arguing over the failure to close the angle for Luc’s shot. The number six midfielder was still brushing dirt off his shorts, avoiding eye contact with his own bench.

Minute ten.

FC Côte d’Azur 0, SC Valois 1.

The referee checked his watch and blew the whistle to restart the match.

The home side took possession. The Côte d’Azur striker tapped the ball backward, initiating their structure. Having conceded the opening goal, the luxury of sitting deep was no longer a viable strategy for the home side.

They needed an equalizer, which meant they had to actively pursue the offense and push their lines forward.

A Côte d’Azur central midfielder received the pass and immediately surveyed the pitch. He attempted to execute the primary directive their manager had established before kickoff, isolate and overlap on the Valois fullbacks.

He drove a lofted diagonal pass out toward the right flank, aiming for his winger.

SC Valois was ready.

Before the ball reached, Gabriel Assis abandoned any thought of an attacking run. The Brazilian winger sprinted backward, tracking the flight of the ball. He arrived simultaneously with Kévin Aubert, establishing the exact two-versus-two defensive structure Henri had demanded.

The Côte d’Azur winger trapped the ball near the touchline. His overlapping fullback charged down the outside, demanding a quick slip pass.

Gabriel stepped into the passing lane, cutting off the overlap, while Aubert applied aggressive pressure to the ball carrier.

Finding no avenue forward, the winger was forced to turn his back to the Valois goal and recycle possession backward to his defensive line.

The home crowd groaned, the frustration returning instantly.

The Côte d’Azur defense cycled the ball across the backline, shifting it from left to right, searching for a vulnerability on the opposite flank.

They played a firm pass out to their right winger.

Zack Florez was ready and waiting. The young left-back was operating solo, as Dário Ferrão maintained his high, asymmetrical positioning. The Côte d’Azur right-back immediately initiated the overlapping run, attempting to recreate the exact two-versus-one overload that had momentarily terrified the Valois defense prior to Luc’s goal.

Zack replicated his flawless execution from training. He angled backward at a precise angle, keeping his body open, baiting the midfielder to make a decision.

The player attempted to push the ball down the line for the overlapping runner. Zack anticipated the weight of the touch, stepped across the attacker with perfect timing, and absorbed a heavy shoulder charge.