"Zachary," Coach Johansen began as soon as he stepped before him. "We need to change our entire approach to this game. Otherwise, we'll lose to Strømsgodset today. To prevent that from happening, we have to switch to a 4-4-2 formation and adjust our tactics to the long ball strategy for the final twenty minutes of the game. That will enable us to put more pressure on the Strømsgodset backline with two forwards."
"I want you to partner up with Nicki upfront as a second forward in the new formation. We'll be able to create more chances to score with you working together with Nicki on striking."
"Moreover," the coach continued uttering instructions at the pace of a world-famous rapper. "We'll destabilize the Strømsgodset formation if those two clowns that have been shadowing you decide to follow you to your new position. Are we together, Zachary?"
"Yes, coach," Zachary replied, chugging down some water. "I understand."
That time around, he wasn't the least bit dissatisfied with the coach's decision to switch him to the striking position. He could tell that Coach Johansen's strategy was the quickest way to get Rosenborg out of its predicament.
If they played their cards right in a 4-4-2 formation and played the long-ball strategy, they would be able to apply tremendous pressure on the Strømsgodset backline. The ensuing lofted passes over the midfield towards the back of the defense would render Strømsgodset's 'park-the-bus' tactic ineffective.
As a plus, Zachary would get rid of his two bodyguards after the switch. That was because they were playing as midfielders in the Strømsgodset squad. They would presumably not want to leave gaps in the midfield by following him upfront.
If the two midfielders stubbornly insisted on escorting him to the new position, Rosenborg would still gain an edge by exploiting the holes they would be leaving in the midfield.
Zachary was determined to do anything necessary to get his team out of its predicament by following the game plan to the letter. It seemed to be the perfect way for Rosenborg to score against their defensive-minded opponents at that juncture.
Of course, he preferred playing in midfield to being a forward. But he understood that if he didn't play up front, his team would lose a vital game against the second-placed on the table.
"That's good," Coach Johansen said, nodding after hearing Zachary's response. "Tell the others our defense will remain the same. Mike Jensen and Jonas Svensson will be the midfielders in the new formation. John Chibuike and Tobias Mikkelsen will continue playing on the flanks. You and Nicki will be our two spearheads on striking to complete the formation. If you understand the whole strategy, go back and relay my instructions to the rest."
"Yes, coach," Zachary replied, nodding. He quickly threw the water bottle aside and ran back to his position on the field.
The gameplay had already recommenced since he'd spent more than a minute on the sidelines receiving the coach's instructions. He had to wait for the ball to go out of play before relaying the coach's orders to the rest of the squad.
After receiving the coach's new instructions, the Rosenborg players immediately shaped up into a 4-4-2 attacking shape. Mike Jensen and Jonas Svensson, the two central midfielders in the new formation, began unleashing defense-splitting long-range passes deep into Strømsgodset's half from the get-go.
John Chibuike and Tobias Mikkelsen, the two wingers, also began crossing the ball into the box whenever they got the chance. In a matter of minutes, the Rosenborg squad transitioned seamlessly to the new formation, catching Strømsgodset off-guard. With the sudden change, they managed to send the boys from Drammen into momentary disarray.
The two players that had been marking Zachary's and shadowing his every move were even more confused. To begin with, they weren't defenders. So they proved ineffective in stopping Zachary from penetrating through the Strømsgodset backline. As a result, they only followed him to his new position in Rosenborg's striking line for a few more minutes before giving up and returning to their rightful spots in midfield.
Zachary's hopes soared when his two bodyguards stopped shadowing him. He immediately gained a lot of space to receive and maneuver with the ball. He started connecting with more and more passes and crosses from his teammates as the game progressed into the final eight minutes.
He was like a tireless maniac on the striking line, his feet never coming to a halt as he chased after every long ball released into the Strømsgodset defensive third. His relentless efforts put the Strømsgodset defenders under immense pressure, creating several half-chances for Rosenborg.
The defining moment of his brilliance on the pitch came in the 85th minute.
He reacted almost instantaneously on seeing Mike Jensen, one of the Rosenborg midfielders, unleash another long-range defensive-splitting through-pass towards the Strømsgodset box. He shrugged off Jarl André Storbaek, Strømsgodset's center-back, and then chased after the ball like a whirlwind. Thanks to his long strides, he managed to get to it first, right on the edge of the box.
He immediately turned around and leaped high, bringing the ball under control with his chest. However, he felt a Strømsgodset player colliding into his back just as his feet were touching back onto the ground. He could tell that the player marking him was aggressive and seemed to have no intention of leaving him any time or space to turn and face the Strømsgodset goal.
In an instant, Zachary took in the scene around him, searching for a teammate while holding off his opponent with his physique. However, Nicki Nielsen, the only player in his proximity, was closely guarded by two defenders as well at that moment. On the other hand, the rest of the Rosenborg players were still far from the box. So, he decided to flick the ball from his left foot, back to his right, repeatedly — to draw in the defender. He also began twisting his body from side to side, executing full-body feints to elicit a reaction from the defender.
As expected, the defender couldn't sit still since he thought Zachary was about to break into a full sprint and rush towards the goal. So, he spread out his arms before stretching out a boot to tackle the ball off Zachary's feet.
Zachary smiled, feeling his hopes soar when he noticed that the defender had fallen for his gambit. Without wasting even a moment, he brought the ball to a halt between his legs while still holding off the defender with his physique. The next instant, he lifted his foot and smashed the ball with the back of his heel, unleashing an unexpected shot at goal through the defender's legs. The stadium descended into a momentary silence immediately.
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Coach Johansen could feel his heart pounding like a jackhammer within his chest as he followed the proceedings in Strømsgodset's box. He fought down a pang of rising anxiety, half-raising his arms like a crab-man dancing, as he watched the ball burst through the defender's legs, heading towards the goal. "Please go in, please go in," he mumbled, clenching his fists.
"GOAAALLLLL...."
The next moment, he jumped up as he watched the ball streak past the goalkeeper's outstretched arm and nestle itself into the back of the net.
1:1.
Rosenborg had managed to equalize in the 85th minute through Zachary's brilliant efforts. With a glorious back-heel, he'd caught the keeper sleeping, bringing matters back to level in the Marienlyst Stadion.
"Keep on attacking," Coach Johansen yelled from the touchline, right after the Rosenborg players finished celebrating. "Don't let up the pressure. Continue using long balls to Zachary and Nicki. Zachary and Nicki: try to test their keeper more often with long shots..." He wanted his players to push for a second goal before the final whistle.
The Rosenborg players didn't disappoint when the game restarted. They continued attacking with renewed intensity in the closing minutes of the game. By relying on long balls and crosses from the wing, they managed to push almost all the opposing players into the final third.
However, the Strømsgodset players remained steadfast in their defense, dealing with every Rosenborg attack like the professionals they were. They even started double-teaming Zachary again — to prevent him from connecting with the passes and crosses from his teammates in the final third.
However, Zachary showed great determination and created another goal-scoring chance for Rosenborg. He didn't relax in the slightest in the final few minutes of the game. He continued running into spaces and receiving long-range passes from his teammates to apply tremendous pressure on the Strømsgodset defensive line.
The majority of the Strømsgodset defenders started focusing on him since he was the most active in their box. They seemed to have forgotten about Nicki Nielsen, the other forward in Rosenborg's new 4-4-2 formation.
Nicki, of course, came close to punishing them for their error. In the 89th minute, he got to the end of a teasing cross from Tobias Mikkelsen, the Rosenborg winger. Uncontested, he jumped high to plant a header towards the goal from around the edge of the box.
However, Adam Kwarasey, the Strømsgodset keeper, was alert. He committed himself to a full acrobatic dive, punching the ball away from the goal with an outstretched fist. Coach Johansen felt his mood sink as he watched Rosenborg miss their chance to take the lead. He was on a razor's edge of panic since he understood Rosenborg would find it harder to score as the game progressed into additional time.
But the next moment, his eyes widened in wonderment. He felt his heart start to race again as he watched Zachary rush to meet the rebound from the keeper. Without even trying to control the ball, the boy prodigy met it on the volley with his left boot, unleashing a missile towards goal from twenty yards away.
The keeper couldn't even react as he watched the ball curl around a few defenders with an incredible spin before homing into the back of the net.
1:2.
The cheers of the Rosenborg fans in the Marienlyst Stadion rose to thunderous heights, drowning out every other sound in the stadium right after. Rosenborg had managed to score and take the lead in the 90th minute through Zachary once more.
Coach Johansen was all smiles as he watched his players celebrate in the middle of the field. At long last, he could relax. His team was close to obtaining the vital three points that would extend their lead at the top of the table.
**** ****
