Chapter 74 A Misfortune that Begets Opportunities

Chapter 74 A Misfortune that Begets Opportunities

As the Bayer Leverkusen players were celebrating, Sergio Conceicao called Otavio and Shoya Nakajima from the bench to quickly begin warming up as he had to quickly make some changes to the game plan before the game got out of hand.

Thus before the Porto team kicked off, the assistant referee held up the board, signaling for substitution.

Jesus Corona and Mattheus Uribe on seeing their numbers being displayed in red knew that their time was up on the pitch and they quickly jogged down to the sidelines.

Shoya Nakajima was going to be coming on for Mattheus Uribe while Otavio would be coming on for Jesus Corona.

'Hopefully, they can breathe life into our attacks that are coming to a dead end every time,' Sergio Conceicao thought to himself as he watched the new substitutes run to take their positions on the pitch.

The match kicked off again with the Porto side having possession of the ball and without wasting any time they launched an attack that ended up repelled, but were able to show their fighting spirit that said that they weren't willing to stay down and swallow this loss just yet.

Under their incessant attacks, they put tremendous pressure on the Bayer Leverkusen team and gradually pushed them back into their half, forcing them to put most of their efforts into defending.

Finally, in the sixty-fifth minute of the game, the Porto team launched an attack that seemed like it would finally result in the goal they had been looking for.

The Porto team had been exchanging the ball among themselves just outside the Leverkusen penalty area with well-calculated passes.

Suddenly Shoya Nakajima, the newly substituted player who had just received a pass from Danilo Perreira tried to make a run into the Leverkusen penalty area with the ball, hoping to make use of his advantage in stamina as a newly brought-on player.

He managed to get past Lars Bender with a swift flick of his feet and a sudden change in direction, but just as he was entering the penalty area, he made as if to shoot and swung his left leg before faking the shot and pushing the ball towards Tiquiniho Soares who had just gotten rid of his marker.

The ball had barely left his feet when Jonathan Tah's right foot which was outstretched in a sliding tackle collided into his right ankle harshly. Geett the latest novels at novelhall.com

Jonathan Tah hadn't known that Shoya Nakajima would fake a shot before passing the ball to an opponent instead and had flown into a tackle, intending to block Shoya Nakajima who looked like he would get the shot away.

This led to a mistimed tackle that sent Shoya Nakajima tumbling over in the Bayer Leverkusen penalty area.

Jason looked up in surprise, but his body ignored his surprise and pulled him out of his seat while his mind was still processing the manager's sudden decision.

Jason quickly began to do a few stretches and warm-up routines on the sidelines all while the medics on the field were giving Shoya Nakajima first aid treatment while calling for another colleague to bring a stretcher as they had determined that he was not going to be able to continue the game.

He had been hit hard by the tackle and his ankle was almost dislocated, but for now, they weren't completely sure of whether it was only his ankle that had been injured or if he had a muscular injury as well.

They were of course not going to risk it, so he was out.

As they were slowly shifting Shoya to the stretcher while being extra careful with his leg, Jason had already finished warming up and had arrived beside Sergio Conceicao.

"Tell Pepe and Otavio that I want you on the right and Otavio in the center and they'll get the information across to the other members of the team,"

"I'm sure you hear all the instructions during the tactical meeting, but just in case, I'll say it again,"

"Make sure to keep your marker on his toes, run at him, and if you can get past him like you've done so many times in training, leave him behind to have no choice than eating your dust,"

"We are currently behind and I want you out there doing your best for the team so we can get on level terms and maybe even make a comeback, but don't be pressured, just take it as if it was a training session and you'll be alright," Sergio rattled off instructions and even a motivational speech to Jason who was changing into his jersey and checking his kits to see if everything was in place.

After giving his instructions to Jason, Sergio Conceicao told the assistant referee that Jason was coming on and the referee got started on the substitution procedure, putting Jason's number on the board.

As Shoya Nakajima was being carried off the field, the assistant referee held up the board and Jason stood beside him rubbing his gloved hands to stave off the nervousness that suddenly arose in his heart as the moment for his debut approached.

After giving his instructions to Jason, Sergio Conceicao told the assistant referee that Jason was coming on and the referee got started on the substitution procedure, putting Jason's number on the board.

As Shoya Nakajima was being carried off the field, the assistant referee held up the board and Jason stood beside him rubbing his gloved hands to stave off the nervousness that suddenly arose in his heart as the moment for his debut approached.

His heart was beating at an unnatural speed and felt like it was going to leap out of his throat.

He was so nervous that he unconsciously did the cross sign and even prayed.