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Chapter 395 Knockouts VII

Chapter 395  Knockouts VII

With just one move, he had managed to antagonize the entire opposing fanbase. If it were any player other than him on the receiving end of those hostile gazes, they might have a mental breakdown by now. However, he didn't appear to be bothered in the slightest. "Seems like you won't be able to sleep well today," making his way to Hiro, Shun joked. "If we win this game, not even a nightmare will prevent me from having a deep sleep let alone their hostility," Hiro responded calmly. Clap!! Clap!! Clap!!

He applauded Hiro, shooting a gaze full of admiration. Even when faced with such hostility, how could he remain so calm? Shun couldn't help but applaud Hiro's unwavering mentality. "Well said," he spoke as he walked into the tunnel alongside Hiro. They then disappeared into the tunnel. However, he didn't receive any break even after leaving the pitch. He continued to receive hostile gazes from the players of the opposing team. But among those hostile gazes, one was filled with admiration.

'Just how could you remain so calm?' Alex couldn't help but wonder about the secret that allowed Hiro to remain so calm in such a dire moment. And, only after they went their separate ways did he have some peace of mind. Even he couldn't deny that it felt quite relaxing to not be the target of those hostile gazes. "Huff!!" Hiro heaved a sigh of relief. As if a burden had been lifted from his shoulders, he felt quite lighter after separating from the opposing players. ☼☼☼☼ ☼☼☼☼

"Welcome back, folks. It's halftime here at the stadium, and what an intense first half we've witnessed. The score is level at 1-1, and both teams have shown remarkable spirit. Let's break down the action so far. What are your thoughts on the game, Mike?"

"It's been a fascinating first half. Both sides came out with a lot of energy. The Japanese team started strong, and that penalty goal by Hiro was executed with such precision and calm under pressure. He's truly shown his skill and why he's such a vital player for his team."

While the commentators were discussing the match, players emerged out of the tunnel for the second half. The stadium had been nothing but noisy till now. Yet still, when they emerged out of the tunnel, it became even more noisy. Filled with the joyous chants of the fans, it lit up. The euphoria from Hiro's goal was still lingering among the Japanese supporters. And, they were rather excited for the second half. While at the same time, the opposing fans were filled with anticipation and rage. From the tone of their voice and their gestures, it was evident that they hadn't forgiven Hiro for what he had done in the first half. They were thirsty for revenge. Truly at this moment, Hiro felt like he wasn't in a stadium but in a colosseum filled with an audience that wanted to see him dead. 'Seems like they don't wanna see David beating Goliath' Hiro couldn't help but sneer at the gestures of the opposing fans. They were the underdogs. Yet even so, they were expected to win fair and square. Aren't they being just narrow-minded? 'Well, what can we expect, it's totally different when it comes to international games. Patriotism reigns supreme after all' Hiro shook his head, submissively. Then he diverted his gaze back to the field from the stands. He had a much greater concern ahead of him. Observing the state of the opposing players, he could faintly feel that something had changed. Sure, after that short break, they'd be better rested. So, they'd appear slightly different. But his hunches told him that it wasn't only that. It wasn't just that they appeared well rested but something about them was different. The look in the eyes of the opposing players had changed. They appeared more sharper and determined than ever. Were they now going to unleash their full potential? As they assumed their position to kickstart the second half, it felt like he was preparing to enter a battlefield. His enemies were right in front of him, dressed in red jerseys, raring to go. However, he wasn't all alone. Beside him were his teammates who were just as ready as him to face this situation. Beep!!

The second half resumed with the referee's whistle. Intensity soared on the field as players of both teams pressed aggressively. None of them were willing to spare any effort as they all gave their all. The Japanese team pushed forward, trying to maintain their lead and possibly double their lead. But the opposition was simply relentless. They gave them no opportunity. Instead, they tested their defense over and over with their coordinated attacks. And, soon they were forced into defense. Let alone moving the ball forward, even winning back the ball became a challenge to them. It felt like it wasn't the same team from the first half they were facing at the moment. Upon seeing this turn of events, opposing fans became extremely exhilarated. Finally, the match was playing as they had envisioned. Just like how their team had dominated previous matches, once again they were dominating the ball possession and the entirety of the match. Hiro and his teammates struggled to endure the relentless press from the opposing players. Yet, somehow they managed to defend their lead. However, despite their best efforts, cracks started to emerge in their formation. And, the opposing players often exploited these cracks, making their way into their penalty box. It put a huge burden on Shun as he had to make countless extraordinary saves to keep them in the match. Let alone scoring another goal, even defending their sole lead started becoming difficult for them. The absence of Akutsu was starting to get visible too. The opposing players were often breaching their defense from the center. In the 71st minute of the match, Alex sent a brilliant through pass right in the middle. Sato who had replaced Akutsu slid down to interrupt the pass. But, failed to do so.