C18 Anyone Could Win with Such a Player!

At that moment, Archie sprinted up from midfield as the Sunny Coast Institute players began to fall back on defense. He was acutely aware that he couldn't allow Sunny Coast Institute the chance to regroup defensively; he needed to find an offensive opportunity—and fast.

Seizing the moment, he signaled to Suren with a raised hand. Once he received the ball, he quickly adjusted his direction and launched a cross. The ball soared over the heads of the Sunny Coast Institute defenders and into their defensive territory, landing right in front of the goal.

The goalkeeper for Sunny Coast Institute, thinking this was their moment to counterattack, rushed forward, confident he could easily clear the ball. But suddenly, a shadow loomed before him, and in an instant, the two players were face-to-face.

Before he knew it, the ball was gone. Turning around, his eyes met the sight of the net billowing from the force of the ball.

"It's Arnold!" exclaimed the commentator, taken aback.

"How did he get there unnoticed? No one saw him coming! It's hard to believe that Sandalwood School has managed to score a second goal! And it's Arnold who has secured this crucial point for the team!"

Despite being paid by Sunny Coast Institute and having to speak well of them, the commentator was, at heart, a fan—and the goal was simply too spectacular not to admire. Unlike the previous goal, this was a head-on assault, achieved through a series of impressive maneuvers.

He couldn't help but commend the goal, saying, "It's one to two now. Fifty minutes into the match, Sandalwood School has taken a one-goal lead. Incredibly, they've scored two goals within the first three minutes of the second half. Could it be that they've rediscovered the form they had against Millenium High?"

While everyone anticipated more thrilling gameplay, Sandalwood School unexpectedly parked the bus in front of their goal, seemingly abandoning any further offensive efforts. Lucian even substituted Abram, using their final substitution of the match.

"It looks like Sandalwood School intends to hold onto their one-goal lead until the end," noted the commentator. "See, the head coach has taken out their top striker. It must be said, this team's playstyle is incredibly solid. Once they're ahead, it becomes exceedingly difficult to exploit any weaknesses."

"Just like in their previous match against Millenium High, they attacked for only five minutes, netting three goals, and then switched to defense for the remainder. However, as the match neared its conclusion, they capitalized on another opportunity and scored once more."

Today, they launched an attack for just five minutes, netting two goals before switching to defense. This strategy must have been quite frustrating for the opposition.

Sandalwood School managed to hold onto their lead until the final whistle. The head coach of Sunny Coast Institute was no match for Wayne. Throughout the rest of the game, he did nothing but berate his players.

Already behind, the players were unsettled, and the coach's tirade only made matters worse, causing some to break down and cry right on the field, tears streaming as they continued to play.

Had Lucian not substituted Abram, he would have pressed for more offense. But with no substitutions left and lacking a dominant striker, he opted for caution and abandoned the idea.

"Any coach can win with outstanding players. If my players had that kind of ability, I'd win too," the head coach of Sunny Coast Institute remarked bitterly to Lucian after the game.

"I agree with you; my players are indeed fantastic," Lucian responded, seemingly oblivious to the sarcasm. He genuinely believed in his team's talent. Today, they had exceeded his expectations by defeating a strong team without any system assistance.

This wasn't Lucian's first victory without the system, but his previous wins were due to having a strong team that didn't require any external aid. However, today marked his first triumph over a formidable opponent without relying on the system, leaving him thrilled and immensely proud of the kids' performance.

After two grueling matches against tough opponents, their next game promised to be less exhausting. They were set to face a newly established private high school that had just formed a football team due to their financial resources. Based on their current performance, this team was even less of a challenge than Sandalwood School, having lost both of their matches with no points to show for it.

As Lucian and his team set off for home, a weary group from Ivlofgend had just arrived in the city.

"Elisha, we'll be staying here," one of them said.

Gazing at the timeworn hotel, Clem, the renowned host of the Total Soccer program, wore a look of bitterness.

"Clem, the conditions are tough, but let's make do. You should also think about the rest of the team," someone suggested.

Clem, a celebrated presenter on the sports channel, took the helm of Total Soccer on November 27, 2000, and subsequently interviewed soccer legends like Baggio, Messi, and Henry.

During the 2002 Korea Japan FIFA World Cup, Clem served as the lead reporter for Central Television's sports channel. In April 2003, he began hosting the weekly show "Electronic Sports World," which was unfortunately banned a year later by the broadcasting authorities.

Now a prominent figure, Clem was accustomed to staying in hotels while on assignment, never having to resort to modest street-side inns. Despite funding his own interviews, his salary could easily cover the cost of upscale accommodations.

Yet, the interview team comprised seven members, and aside from Clem and Elisha, the others earned modest wages. While official assignments were one thing, footing the bill for a hotel stay was quite another.

To maintain team harmony, Elisha opted for a budget-friendly, albeit less comfortable, roadside lodge.

Understanding the rationale, Clem reluctantly checked into the establishment.

"Based on my intel, the scoop on Lucian originated from the provincial football association. So, we'll head there together to request an interview and try to get his contact details," Clem announced.

After organizing their belongings in the cramped room, which could scarcely accommodate all seven, Elisha led the team outside the hotel to convene and strategize about the upcoming interview.