Chapter 863: Crazy First Minute of the Second Half! (II)

The only fortunate thing in this shitty situation, Higo found, was that it wasn’t Haaland who rushed to get the ball. No, it was none other than Jadon Sancho, another talented Englishman, who was eager to challenge him in a one-on-one situation.

The winger rushed with quite great speed, shortening the distance between him and the ball in a heartbeat. It also helped that no one else was on the back, since all the Schalke players failed to realize that they all rushed to the front, leaving only the Bosnian defender guarding their own territory.

However, even if it wasn’t Haaland, that didn’t mean it was less threatening. It only made Higo relieved a little bit since his clairvoyant ability would work, but this situation, a one-on-one duel against a talent like Jadon Sancho, was still dangerous enough to face.

Knowing that his chance would drop by miles if he didn’t take action immediately, before Jadon Sancho got the ball, Higo did what every goalkeeper would do.

’Even if I stay here, I would only be a lamb to be slaughtered. So, I need to take initiative!’

With that thought in mind, he rushed forward with all the speed that he could muster, trying to get the ball first before the opponent. Seeing this, Jadon Sancho also increased his speed, not wanting to miss this chance because of his stupidity.

"COME ON, SANCHO! BEAT HIS ASS!"

"DON’T YOU DARE MISS THIS CHANCE!"

"YOU HAVE TO SCORE! YOU HAVE TO FUCKING SCORE!"

All the supporters on the stand also rose, waiting anxiously to see what would happen next. Even though this one-on-one situation was a little bit too good to be true, they didn’t dare to lower their guard, knowing that Higo was still a top goalkeeper who could do anything unthinkable in this kind of moment.

Once Higo was close, though, an image suddenly flashed inside his head, and the boy couldn’t help but smile wryly.

’Yeah, damn, as expected, I am not quick enough to beat him.’ However, his gaze hardened instantly after that. ’Fortunately, I know his next move. He will get closer to the ball, and then... LEFT!’

Thud!

True enough, to get through Higo’s defense, Jadon Sancho decided to push the ball to the left side, completely avoiding the goalkeeper. However, Higo had already known about it two seconds before, and that short period of time was enough for him to shift his body weight and change direction toward that side quickly.

As a result, the moment he tried to get to the ball once again with his speed...

BAM!

"Wait, what?!" Jadon Sancho widened his eyes in disbelief when he felt someone was charging him from his right side. The boy glanced a little, only to be so dumbfounded to see that it was Higo, whom he should’ve gotten rid of a moment ago.

’How could he be there?!’ The boy wanted nothing but to cry right now.

However, Higo didn’t let him have time to think. The goalkeeper kept charging relentlessly, and in the next second...

Brugh!

Jadon Sancho finally lost his balance, stumbling to the ground. As for the ball, it just rolled on the ground, and no one managed to get it. Of course, Sancho wouldn’t just do so without saying anything. The moment he found everything falling apart, the first instinct here was to complain to the referee.

"REF! THAT’S A FUCKING FOUL!" He got up immediately, rushing toward the man without hesitation. "He charged on me so violently, and he is the last man standing! That should be a fucking red card!"

The supporters also reacted quite violently, shouting so many insulting things in one go.

"FUCK YOU, REF! YOU DIRTY BASTARD!"

"HOW MUCH DID THEY PAY YOU?! HOW MUCH DID THEY PAY YOU?!"

"HE IS GUILTY! CHECK HIS FUCKING BANK ACCOUNT!"

The referee’s gaze turned ugly as he got targeted by so many people like this. However, his decision stood. Just because the defender won in a one-on-one situation like that didn’t mean it would be deemed a foul. If anything, Higo’s defensive movement was clean, especially since Jadon Sancho also fought back with the same intensity.

Just because the attacker lost the physical contest didn’t mean it had to be a foul, right?

So, in the end, even amidst the boos from the others, the man just shook his head, not granting any foul. Hell, he didn’t even check the VAR, knowing that his judgment was correct.

Higo had done everything in a clean manner, not giving the home team any chance to complain.

However, the players were one thing, but the supporters were completely another. They were not the kind of people who were infamous for using their brains, as even though the decision was logical, they still couldn’t accept that their team didn’t get any advantage in this regard.

Coupled with the fact that they had already been at a disadvantage due to VAR at the end of the first half earlier, their dissatisfaction was at its peak right now, and more bottles of water were thrown to the edge of the pitch.

"FUCK YOU, JAPANESE BASTARD!"

"HOW MUCH DID YOU PAY?! HOW MUCH DID YOU PAY THE REF?!"

Higo could feel the corner of his lips twitching when he listened to the constant chant that was trying to insult him. ’Yeah, as if I have the money to pay the fucking ref...’ He snorted inwardly at that ridiculous train of thought.

Of course, there was no way in hell he would say that out loud. No, that would be a blatant suicide, something only a brainless person would do in this hostile environment.

Frohling: What? Why are you looking at me?!

Fabian: I don’t know a single shit about it, I swear!

Still, Higo knew for sure that even without him doing anything, this decision would only fuel Dortmund players to go way more berserk than before. Realizing this, the boy took a deep breath, turning his eyes on his teammates quickly.

"Come on, Guys! The attack is done! Now, fight for our territory like your life is on the line!"