Rise of Legends

Chapter 11

When the whistle blew to start the game, its sharp blast was nearly swallowed by the deafening roar of the home crowd. The Hurricanes immediately hunkered down, parking the bus so effectively that even José Mourinho might have shed a tear. The Ironwings threw everything they had at them, but it was like trying to break through a fortress—their frustration mounting with each failed attempt.

Then, a sudden shift—the Hurricanes regained possession. But instead of unleashing their usual lightning-fast counter-attack, they opted for a slow, deliberate march up the field. Every pass felt like a challenge, daring the Ironwings to make a mistake. The tension in the stadium was palpable, and it boiled over when left-back Kara Hendricks lashed out with a reckless tackle, conceding a free-kick in a dangerously close range.

The referee handed the ball to Hermione, who carefully placed it at the indicated spot. She took a few steps back, then two to the left, her eyes scanning the box for any potential openings. Finding none, she locked her focus on the task at hand. The referee's whistle pierced the tense air, and in a heartbeat, Hermione surged forward, striking the ball with everything she had.As the ball rocketed toward the goal, the crowd fell into a stunned silence. The ball had almost no spin—a perfect knuckleball, unpredictable and deadly. Isabel Stone braced herself, trying to read the ball's erratic flight. But at the last possible moment, it dipped sharply, diving under her outstretched arm and slamming into the back of the net. The home crowd gasped in disbelief, the silence now echoing with shock. The Hurricanes had taken the lead with a strike so audacious that it left everyone, even the Ironwings, momentarily frozen.

The Ironwings finally broke through in the 20th minute with a powerful header from Ethan Jackson. This goal ignited a spark in the team, pushing them into overdrive. In stunning fashion, they put two more past the Hurricanes before the half within two minutes. The first came from a rocket of a long shot off midfielder Liv Cooper's left foot, and the second was an own goal following a disastrous back pass from Hurricanes' center-back Elara Moon.

As the referee's whistle shrilled three times to signal half-time, its sound was nearly drowned out by the roaring crowd. In the locker room, Coach Beeks remained calm despite the scoreline. "It's closer than we expected, but we need to tighten up if we want to keep it that way," he said. The players nodded in agreement, determined to raise their game in the second half.Meanwhile, the Ironwings' coach was livid. "They don't even have Howe! What the hell are we doing?" he bellowed. "If we don't win this game by ten goals, you're all off the team!" He paused to catch his breath before continuing, his tone more measured. "We need this win to stay on top of the table," he sighed.

As the second half began, the once-thunderous crowd had noticeably quieted. The match settled into a deadlock for the first ten minutes until Coach Beeks made a tactical adjustment, urging his team to be more aggressive. The change quickly paid off as Katie Bell equalized with a scorching volley, reigniting the tension that hung heavily in the air.

By the 80th minute, the game had turned into a fierce battle, with both teams relentlessly pressing for a goal. Katie Bell made a promising run toward the goal, but Liv Cooper, with no other option, committed a tactical foul by pulling Bell's jersey. The referee blew the whistle and promptly showed Cooper a yellow card. Although the resulting free-kick didn't lead to a goal, it earned Hogwarts a corner. The corner kick soared into the box, seemingly destined for an easy clearance, until Cassia Rookwood crashed in and buried the ball into the net, giving Hogwarts a 3-2 lead with just 20 minutes left to play.

As the match approached the 90th minute, the Ironwings pushed desperately for an equalizer, launching attack after attack. Their persistence finally seemed to pay off when Eli Jackson broke free and slotted the ball into the net. The Ironwings erupted in celebration, only to be interrupted by the referee's whistle. The assistant referee had her flag raised, signaling offside. With the decision too close to call with the naked eye, the referee went to the VAR monitor. As the VAR check dragged on, the tension in the stadium became unbearable. Finally, the referee returned to the field, signaling the conclusion of the review by making the shape of a TV with his hands before blowing his whistle and crossing his arms in front of his body—no goal. The stadium exploded in a cacophony of jeers and boos.

The game ended in a 3-2 victory for the Hurricanes. The Ironwings were livid with the VAR decision, and their coach didn't hide his feelings in the post-match press conference.

"That was a pretty controversial decision at the end. Any thoughts?" a journalist asked.

Coach Williams sighed, "I think it was a terrible decision. There's no way he was offside. I wouldn't be surprised if the officiating office comes out and says it was the wrong call."

The journalist, surprised by Williams' calm tone, pressed further, "Do you think this will affect your position in the table at the end of the season?"

"I don't think so," Williams replied. "We're still in control of our destiny. If we keep playing like we have been, we'll stay on track to finish at the top of the table and win the trophy."

Meanwhile, in the Hurricanes' locker room, the atmosphere was vibrant with celebration. Even Owen, who was nursing a bad ankle, was caught up in the infectious energy, joining in the festivities albeit with the trainers' watchful eyes. Coach Beeks entered with a broad smile, clapping his hands to gather everyone's attention.

"Alright, fantastic job out there!" he said, his voice full of enthusiasm. "Enjoy the win tonight. You've earned it. Let's savor this moment and keep this energy going."

The team, still buzzing from the game's adrenaline, responded with cheers and high-fives. Laughter and celebratory shouts filled the room, mingling with the sounds of duffel bags being packed and players excitedly recounting their favorite moments from the match.

Cassia Rookwood, still riding the high of her game-winning goal, was being playfully hounded by her teammates. "You're buying dinner tonight, Cass!" they teased, their voices full of mirth. Cassia laughed heartily, waving them off. "Alright, alright, but only if you promise to keep the party going!"

Nearby, Hermione stood by her locker, her face flushed with a mix of satisfaction and humility as her teammates complimented her stunning free-kick. "Seriously, Hermione, that shot was pure magic," Katie Bell said, eyes shining with admiration. Hermione smiled brightly, brushing off the praise. "It was just a good connection. We all played our part."

Across the room, Elara Moon stood quietly by her locker, her face a mix of determination and frustration. Coach Beeks approached her with a supportive hand on her shoulder. "Don't let that own goal get to you. You've been solid all season, and one mistake doesn't change that. Use it as fuel to come back stronger."

Elara looked up with a mix of gratitude and resolve. "Thanks, Coach. I'll make sure I turn it around."

As the players continued to chat and joke, Owen, still seated, added with a grin, "You know, we've got something special this year. Let's keep pushing and believing."

Hermione nodded enthusiastically, her eyes gleaming with excitement. "I believe in us too. We just need to stay focused and keep our heads in the game."

The locker room buzzed with a mix of celebration and anticipation. As the team changed and gathered their things, the air was filled with lively chatter and plans for the future. The victory was savored with great enthusiasm, and despite what lay ahead, the team was ready to embrace it with the same energy and commitment they had shown on the field.