Lover II- ML

212. Concerning Clashes

Kaia happily stepped aside and handed the captain's role to Leah for tonight's game, going back to her place just in front of Lucy in the tunnel.

It'll be the very first time Leah leads them out since her injury, and the media were loving talking about her once they were walking out into the cold Irish air to the sound and cheers of Irish fans.

The stadium was loud and the majority of the seats were filled with green, while only a slither was white.

Still, England were the favourites and were expected to control this game or at least dictate the pace.

They shook hands, took the team photos and flipped the coin. Then the game kicked off.

Kaia had been given a lot of freedom by Sarina tonight to drift infield with the ball and interchange with Alessia and Tooney.

They created good chances, confident in their set game plan and executing it perfectly. At 8 minutes, Lauren Hemp opened the scoring, then ten minutes later Ruesha Littlejohn came running at Jess Park to block her shot which she ended up doing with her hand.

Kaia put the ball on the spot and shot the ball into the top left corner, not giving the keeper much of a chance.

She fist pumped the air in celebration. This was a difficult group, with this being arguably the easiest of the three other competitors. They needed a win here and at home against Ireland.

Kaia had barely noticed Sofia's presence on the pitch, they were playing on different sides and both more focused on the game. That was except for corners, where Sofia thought she could mark Kaia and distract her while doing it.

Sofia covered her mouth, well aware of the cameras and not wanting them to catch her words. "Married life, sounds like a bore."

Kaia didn't even look at her, too busy waiting for the in-swinger. But she did push her away like some sort of pest and Lucy moved in between them to stop anymore taunts.

Another taunt did come again, but this one wasn't words. Ireland had found a counter with Sofia leading it, and Kaia was tracking her back and trying to keep her wide while Lucy got back.

But Kaia saw her chance, and she pulled off quite a strong but well timed slide tackle to take the ball out of play before they reached England's final third.

When Kaia got back to her feet with the cheers from English fans, she felt her shoulder get harshly checked by the Irishwoman.

It made her lips lift in amusement but she wasn't going to bite while already winning 2-0.

"Mature from Morelli there." The commentator says as the slow-mo reply of Sofia barging the front of her shoulder into Kaia's. "Ireland are trying to frustrate England here, bully them and not let them completely run away with this game. But we're only 25 minutes in, there's no need to get a yellow card so early on by retaliating; Morelli knows that."

Three minutes later, England win another penalty which was much less of an obvious decision. To be honest it was harsh and Kaia didn't make a big deal of putting the ball down on the spot for a second time.

She shot left again, but this time low and hard into the side netting. 3-0 before halftime.

The next person to talk to Kaia in green and white wasn't Sofia. And Kaia was thrown and a little uncomforted to find Littlejohn joining her side as they walk towards the tunnel.

"Alright there?" Ruesha smiles almost innocently, her accent thick.

Kaia had never actually spoken to her one on one, plus she was a friend of Katie's which just made this conversation plain weird. "Uh, yeah." She tries to be kind and casual.