BLUE LOCK - a place where soccer is more than just a sport and a future of worldwide glory is within grasp. Desperate to prove her worth and break barriers, Keiko Iteya fights to hold her own in a rigorous competition against 299 young men in Japan...
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Once the whistle blew Rin kicked right to Isagi, the offensive line taking off straight forwards with Chigiri and Bachira racing past me. I took a few steps ahead and then held my position, watching closely as Ego's words from a few days ago echoed in my brain.
"The basis of our main formation this time around is a 4-5-1 pattern with Rin at the front. But think of this as our defensive structure. When we're attacking, the center key will be Iteya Keiko, who will fall back between the two center back to give us three back. This will allow the two full backs to move up and then we'll switch to a 3-6-1 pattern and attack with our nitro formation, with all of our player clustered in the center. This is possible because we are an all striker team. It's a variable formation that can score from anywhere. The ultra-offensive "Blue Lock System"."
It was a formation that would be subject to change and would depend on conditions given in the situation. But it was a great out of the gate strategy we all agreed to, since we had the ball first.
Sae moved right for Isagi, who passed it Rin and then Nagi. They did this a few times, which gave the space for Bachira and Chigiri to move forwards, throwing off the other team. Isagi held the ball and analyzed the situation before passing it to the right.
"Go you monster!" Isagi ordered.
Like a bullet, Bachira intercepted the pass. "Time to fire away!"
One of the center backs, Hayate, moved forward to challenge Bachira, who began dribbling like crazy before completely rush turning around him. Bachira lifted his head, the distraction to allow the offensive line to get into better positioning over. But Rin and Nagi were being marked. I saw Isagi moving around the back, something Bachira noticed too before booting the ball in a spiraling pass through the air. Isagi raced to meet it, eyes locked on the ball. Unfortunately he didn't see what was waiting in front of him.
I held up my hand suddenly, causing Aryu and Niko to look to me. "Be ready for a counter!"
Aiku Oliver jumped into the air, stealing Bachira's pass to Isagi near the goal. Isagi lifted his head in surprise as the ball bounced off of Aiku's head and off the field. The whistle blew and the ref called out of play. I relaxed slightly and took a breath as Rin told Chigiri to make the throw in.
Chigiri quickly grabbed the ball and threw to Isagi, who collected it and began to take it back towards the goal before passing it to Rin. Otoya zoomed on the right and Isagi looked his way, already trying to think of the next play. The boy with the green striped hair was struggling to get past against Darai, one of the U-20 defenders.
"Isagi! Change your thinking!" Rin shouted at him, sending the ball back.
Isagi received the pass and looked left to where Karasu was open. Karasu captured the ball with his usual smirk and quickly came face to face with Naru, the beady eyed right back. Karasu tried to out maneuver him with some quick movements, but he underestimated the quickness that Naru mimicked and kept up with him. The two collided as Naru aggressively charge and the ball bounced out into open space.
