Time passed quickly, and right now, the game was already in the 70th minute. However, somehow, Sapporo Otani still failed to put the ball in the back of the opponent’s net, and this was enough to make their supporters nervous.

"Hey, hey! What are they doing?! Yuwell! Kenji! Get serious!"

"No fucking way! Are we really going to lose against the fucking Ritsumeikan?!"

"Come on, Sapporo Otani! This is not funny at all!"

The unease boiled hotter in the stand, as they didn’t know what was going on here. However, the home team wasn’t really worried. No, there were still twenty minutes left, and they also saw their opponent’s pitiful state.

At this point, the away team had already made three substitutions, and yet, the rest of the eight players who had been on the pitch from the start were already worn out, their movement sluggish. Hell, even Iwai, the one who got the privilege of not having to defend, could also be seen panting while having both hands on his knee, his breath heavy.

This just showed how bad the away team’s state was right now.

This was not just nonsense coming from Sapporo Otani to console themselves. No, they had already breached the opponent’s defense so many times in the last couple of minutes that they believed it would only be a matter of time before a goal would be on their bag.

Of course, that didn’t mean Ritsumeikan High would just give them straight away.

"COME ON, EVERYONE!" Iwai roared, trying to gather the remaining spirit of the team. "TWENTY MINUTES LEFT! WE SURVIVE THIS, WE MAKE HISTORY! COME ON! WE CAN DO THIS!"

"YES, CAPTAIN!" Even amidst their exhausted state, their voice was still loud as ever.

Even Sapporo Otani players had to admit that they were impressed with their opponent’s persistence. Not a lot of teams could pull this up against them, especially in Hokkaido.

However, that only made them more excited.

Another wave of attack came again, and this time, it was from the left. Three players with the light blue jersey were doing a combination to get through the three defenders on that flank.

Somehow, though, another one from Sapporo Otani managed to sneak in from the outside of the sideline before receiving a through ball from behind. Seeing this, the Ritsumeikan players on that side panicked a little bit, and one with the number 3 couldn’t help but pull the opponent’s jersey to stop him.

Brugh!

"ARGH! FOUL!" That player was Shintaro Okamura, the team’s left back, and he complained immediately the moment he realized that he had been tripped.

The Ritsumeikan player who had just committed a foul also raised his hand, knowing that he was guilty. The moment the referee showed a yellow card, he even sighed in relief, knowing that the referee still pitied him in this case.

’At least, it is not a red card.’ He murmured. When Iwai came to him, the boy couldn’t help but smile apologetically. "Sorry, Captain. I made a mess so close to our penalty box."

"What are you saying, you brat?!" Iwai scolded him with laughter. "You are our saving grace here! If not for you, he would be able to breach our flank, and we wouldn’t know what could happen! Just get back quickly and get ready to defend the free kick!"

The boy’s heart warmed when he heard that. He knew he put the team in a bad position, and yet, the captain still had his back. He clenched his fist tightly before nodding with a solemn expression.

"Don’t worry, Captain. Even if I die, I would never let anyone run past me so easily."

"Atta boy! That’s the spirit!" Iwai grinned, not even showing any exhaustion in his expression. "Come on! We need to defend now!"

Soon enough, Ritsumeikan’s penalty box was swarmed by the majority of the players on the pitch. At least, there were 16 players inside, with seven being from the home team. The foul was committed on the left flank close to the penalty box, so this was a great chance to score.

"Come on, Hizashi! Keep your eyes on Yuwell!"

"Kono! Don’t turn your eyes on their defenders! They are tall, they can get a strong header!"

"Hey, anyone! Keep eyes on the post area! Get ready to clear the ball!"

All the Ritsumeikan players were busy positioning themselves, getting ready for any incoming storm from the opponent’s side. Of course, Sapporo Otani also did the same, wanting to create chaos on that box. Meanwhile, Kenji Harada, the team’s playmaker, was standing in front of the ball, raising his left fist as a signal for the attack.

FWEEE!

Soon enough, the referee blew the whistle, signaling that the free kick could be started. Kenji sent a lofty pass that would require tall players to clear, and as everyone expected, the ball came straight to Yuwell, the strongest person in the aerial duel.

It was honestly scary how the Swedish striker beat three defenders in the jumping contest, getting to his highest reaching point so easily to get the ball. However, Ritsumeikan’s goalkeeper had already expected this scenario.

’In a free kick situation like this, there is a 27 percent chance that he would aim at the far post...’ He bit his lips, getting ready to make a move. ’However, the rest of them are... To the near post!’

BAM!

He reacted on time as Yuwell also sent a strong header to the near post. For a moment, it looked like everything was under control. However, Iwai, who was guarding that spot, didn’t see his goalkeeper’s action. No, what he saw was that the ball was coming to his side, and his thought was simple here.

’I can clear it!’

With two people on the same side not paying attention to each other, of course, there would be one outcome to be expected. In the last second before any one of them could get the ball, they finally realized each other’s presence. Unfortunately, it was too late, as...

BAM!

They collided with Iwai, touching the ball last, deflecting it slightly to his own goal.

The ball rolled past their goal line for the first time today, giving Sapporo Otani High a game-tying goal.