Shooting Trajectory is Visible - Chapter 40



Only Krnovel

Our opponent was a youth team under the K-League.

Seoul Furys’ U18 youth team, currently ranked 3rd in the K League Classic.

I expected it would not be an easy fight.

This year’s King of Kings tournament was also held in a local area, and since it is considered the highest-level tournament among high school tournaments, people flocked to the tournament like flocks of clouds.

So much so that it makes you wonder, “Is this much at the high school level?”

‘Are there a lot of people coming because we advanced to the round of 16 in the last World Cup? Or…’

I don’t know if it was a trickle-down effect from advancing to the round of 16 of the World Cup, or if it was just acquaintances of the players and local citizens who flocked there because they thought there was a soccer tournament.

That wasn’t the most important thing.

Beep-!

The game has begun.

If Suyang High School wins this game, it will achieve the legendary feat of winning the triple crown from the underdog position.

If we just catch this one game.

Even in the finals of the competition, the opponents were not easy.

In the Geumgang Banseok Competition, it was Taebaek Jeil High School, known as the best in Gangwon Province, and in the President’s Cup Competition, it was Seoul Jinwi High School, also known as one of the best in Seoul.

And this opponent was the ultimate winner among them.

Since the Joseon Dynasty, there has been a saying that says, “Send people to Seoul and horses to Jeju.”

Even in the populous city of Seoul, the Seoul Furics Youth was considered the strongest.

‘If we just win here, the picture will turn out well.’

Just like Lee Cheon-seo said, “I will do well here and go to Real Madrid!”, I also plan to do well here and sign a professional contract.

To the place that treats you best.

***

Cha Yong-hoon, the coach of Seoul Fury U18 and a legend of Korean soccer who played in both the 2002 and 2010 World Cups, briefly moved from his seat while watching the game.

Cha Yong-hoon kept repeating that behavior without realizing it.

I sat on the bench, then got up. I stood still, then walked around.

And then I sat down and stood up again…

In Cha Yong-hoon’s opinion, there was something strange about this final.

Seoul Furix and their opponent Suyang High School were both a beat behind.

‘Both teams were exhausted leading up to the finals.’

The players were struggling to find their rhythm, adjusting their positions at the top of their lungs, shouting for someone, and competing for the ball.

But despite such efforts, mistakes that were not usually made continued to occur.

There were more instances where Suyang High School took the ball first when it was not owned by anyone, and there were also many instances where they failed to capitalize on counterattack opportunities and ended up wasting them.

On the bench side, there were voices calling for reform towards the players, but to be honest, the players of Seoul Furyx today were nothing like that.

Cha Yong-hoon rewinded his memories.

The training, effort, and even sweat that the players put in to prepare for this final.

It sent a shiver down my spine to think that all of that could be in vain because of my poor condition that day.

Although he tried to maintain a calm expression as if nothing had happened, Cha Yong-hoon instinctively moved in a disorganized manner that made everyone watching him feel uneasy.

Parents and spectators expressed their frustration at the seemingly hopeless performance from the stands. Their voices could be heard clearly all the way to the bench.

‘Even Suyang High School isn’t in my best condition.’

Director Cha Yong-hoon also knew about Suyang High School’s Miracle Run.

He won the Geumgang Banseok competition with an unknown name, won the President’s Cup as an underdog, and now he has made it to the finals of the King of Kings competition, where he is competing against us.

‘Only one goal conceded in three matches.’

An unbelievable record.

Even that one goal was not conceded by the current Suyang High School goalkeeper. It was by another goalkeeper. In other words, the one currently guarding the Suyang High School goal has not conceded a goal in all three competitions.

It was a record that was too great to be described by words alone.

Even if you just look at the number of games, there have been over twenty games without conceding a goal.

‘The goalkeeper is definitely good, but he’s not literally overwhelmingly good.’

To be honest, blocking was more than a professional. But these days, goalkeepers are expected to do more than just save.

That’s the trend in soccer these days.

Goalkeepers also need to be good at passing, kicking, and building up the ball well.

Suyang High School’s goalkeeper has excellent defensive skills, but the rest of his skills are lacking. We need to take advantage of that.

‘···how?’

For a moment, a gloomy feeling comes over me.

A goalkeeper’s primary task is to prevent goals from being scored. The remaining abilities are secondary.

Even the disciples who played in today’s game were not in good form, so it will be even more difficult for them to score a goal.

After thinking about the situation, Cha Yong-hoon sighed.

I glanced at the Suyang High School coach next to me.

The head coach of Suyang High School was also shouting at the top of his lungs, as if he was dissatisfied with this sluggish situation. Just like he had been a little while ago.

“Hey! Seungmin! Don’t be so quick, give it to me right away! What are you doing! You’re Lee Youngpyo! You’re breaking the flow!”

Director Suyang High School shook his head and muttered softly.

“They’re all show-offs, they dance like crabs and they’re just being annoying.”

weird.

Director Suyang High School clearly said that he was a good person···.

***

I wiped the sweat from my face and thought to myself.

‘This game is really fucking crazy.’

The end of August, the peak of the heat.

It seems that all the players must have lost their minds. It was a match of unprecedented disaster.

Both teams just keep building up and can’t see the end. Even Kim Jun-young, who always shows good form, had a hard time in this match.

It could be said that the goalkeeper is having a hard time because the game is not full of valid shots, but even if the ball is just hovering around the goal, the goalkeeper becomes nervous.

If possible, I would have liked the ball to fly in with a pop and sparks, but it was more difficult because the ball just hovered nearby and then broke off.

‘The kids all went to eat, but Youngjun Shichi rolled the dice well again today.’

The only one who makes one serving of Yeongjunshichi.

Isn’t it? Does it look like they did better because they did 0.5 servings?

Anyway, the final of the King of Kings tournament did not result in a single goal even after 80 minutes in both halves.

It was a complete goal drought.

Even after extra time passed, there were no notable opportunities, and the referee blew his whistle to signal the end of regular time.

For Suyang High School, this was almost the first time they had been involved in an overtime match.

It’s overtime.

‘Now that I think about it, I don’t think I’ve ever been to overtime before. Or have I? I remember···.’

So much has happened in the past four months that my memories are hazy.

Anyway, judging from the fact that I can’t remember anything, this must be my first time experiencing overtime.

‘With this level of performance, we might even go to a penalty shootout.’

It’s a penalty shootout.

Just thinking about it makes my heart warm.

Isn’t this actually the matchup I’m best at?

Just knowing which direction your opponent is going to hit is a huge advantage to start with, but since he starts with complete knowledge of that direction, he’ll have a hard time trying to hit you against him.

‘Field shots sometimes show a late shooting trajectory, but penalty shootouts are probably different. In most penalty shootouts, don’t you think about where you’re going to shoot in advance?’

Besides, the burden is greater for the goalkeeper, but there is not much to be burdened about.

Whatever happens, I’ll stop it better than the opposing goalkeeper.

“Hey, Minwoo.”

“yes?”

The director comes to me and whispers to me with a serious expression.

“Are you confident in the penalty shootout?”

Did you think the same thing?

I hesitated for a moment and then answered.

“Honestly, I’m not confident.”

“what?”

Director Yoo Jin-ho’s expression was ridiculous. How dare you say something like that? That was the expression.

Then I guess I should give it a try here.

“I’m not confident I’ll score a goal. I think I can block all five.”

Then, Yoo Jin-ho’s expression changes in an instant. He smiles and pats my head.

“That’s right, my kid. That’s it.”

***

As always, Kim Shin-ah and her parents drove over to see the finals in person.

This was already my third final, so I watched it in a more relaxed position than the first time I watched it.

“They say this is the best soccer tournament in high school, but the performance doesn’t seem to be that good···.”

Kim Shin-ah crossed her arms and pouts. In the past, it was fun to watch her do a show, but not today.

So it went into overtime.

As the game continued, Kim Shin-a’s mind became more and more absent-minded. For example, she would glance at the bench or look at the people in the same stands.

Or maybe you could chat with the scout sister who followed you here.

The game was so boring that Shin-ah even found out about Im So-yeon’s high school grades. Im So-yeon was a smarter woman than she thought…

The first half of extra time is over and the second half of extra time is here.

The players changed sides. The crowd began to applaud, so Shin-A reluctantly followed suit.

“Wait a minute. If the score continues at this 0:0, won’t it go to a penalty shootout?”

“Yeah, that’s right. Since Shin-ah oppa has great blocking skills, I’m sure he’ll be able to block penalty kicks well.”

Kim Shin-ah looked at Im So-yeon once and nodded.

“I think it will block well···.”

But does the clean sheet record include penalty shootout goals?

***

The moment has finally arrived.

After a lackluster match, we faced our first ever penalty shootout.

The players gathered in one place and drank water gulping down water. The coaches were busy deciding who would take the penalty kick, and I said something to the players who were avoiding the coaches’ eyes.

“Just put it in once out of five times. I’ll block all five of your opponents.”

“Ohhh. What is it! What is confidence!”

Youngjun Shichi’s fuss. This is why I can’t hate this guy. He’s the only one who responds. He also played well today.

“Yes. Our goalkeeper will do his best, so you guys don’t have to worry too much. Normally, the one who doesn’t get kicked in a penalty shootout wins.”

With the coach’s addition.

And for the penalty shootout, the referee decided the first and second axis.

Whoever hit first was purely a matter of luck, since it was a coin flip.

Based on the result of the coin toss, the lead went to Seoul Furyx.

‘Fuck. They say the first team has a huge advantage in penalty shootouts.’

I saw it last time. One night when I couldn’t sleep, according to numerous data, the winning percentage of penalty shootouts is a whopping 70%.

I don’t know how they get that kind of win rate just by getting first, but that’s okay. The underdog’s path is always full of thorns.

You shouldn’t think about taking it easy.

Wouldn’t it be more touching to lift the trophy after going through adversity?

The penalty shootout in the final is definitely entertaining for the viewers.

The crowd, which had been silent throughout the game, started to murmur as soon as the penalty shootout was about to begin. Actually, I was nervous too. The person taking the kick was probably more nervous.

‘It’s worth it even if you can’t stop it. But I can stop it well.’

The referee comes to me and explains the penalty shootout rules.

The explanation is that one of the two feet must be on the goal line before the opponent kicks, and if the foot leaves the goal line before the kick, it is a foul, so even if you block it, you will have to kick again.

I nodded as if I understood.

‘The average goalkeeper’s save percentage is around 25%.’

I have the advantage of knowing the location in advance, so it’s probably around 85%.

And he went to the goal and prepared. The opposing team’s number one kicker was a veteran player on the team and didn’t seem nervous.

Well then, let’s make it a little more tense.

The opponent was jumping around wildly and waving his arms like a scarecrow.

And then the penalty kick really begins.

There was a huge noise coming from the stands. It was like an unintelligible noise. I ignored it and focused my mind.

With the sound of a whistle, the opponent slowly approaches. Then, a trajectory appears. This is proof that he has finished thinking about where to hit.

The first kicker aimed for the left center.

I bent down and put strength into my feet to make it easier to dive.

and······.

Liar-!

“Ahhhhhhh!”

“Good! Good!”

A simultaneous scream and cheer erupted from the stands. Applause was also heard. The opposing team’s number one kicker kicked hard and honestly.

Not knowing that it would be blocked, he pulls up his uniform to cover his face.

This place is so responsive!

I strode to the side and clenched my fists, rejoicing.

Even if you know the direction, it feels good to stop it.

And the opposing goalkeeper enters the goal with a dark expression.

The number one kicker for Suyang High School was, of course, our captain, Han Seung-woo.

A stern expression.

The blazing eyes clearly show his determination to get it done.

‘Okay. We didn’t do well today, so let’s do well in the penalty shootout.’

I watched Han Seung-woo kick with my arms crossed.

The opposing goalkeeper read the direction in the wrong way and gave away a goal.

Han Seung-woo jumps and clenches his fist. It was his own kind of ceremony.

I went in to replace the opposing goalkeeper. Seoul Furys’ 2nd kicker. He looked at me with a nervous expression.

Beep-!

The second kicker runs straight at the whistle. This time it’s the center.

‘Where does this kid dare to go!’

Even a low ground ball shot.

It was powerful, but it was out of the question.

I took that shot and kicked it away.

The ball flies far away.

Then, the audience once again erupted in cheers of “Wow!”

I smiled and looked at the audience.

I have already confirmed where my family is.

I celebrated by doing an uppercut in the air.

The second kicker of the next Suyang High School.

Kim Jun-young.

Maybe because I’ve already blocked him twice, he runs to the neighborhood bar and kicks it, then puts it in easily. It kicks in easily and goes in easily.

I think I’ll be more careful than that when practicing.

But I put something in it anyway···.

The opponent must have sensed defeat already, as the approaching third kicker also has a gloomy expression.

I jumped up and down like before and waved my hands like a scarecrow.

and······.

Beep-!

‘uh!?’

That kid gave me a lot of strength.

I just sat there, giggling, my upper body flinching.

The third kicker’s shot flew to the right. It was a strong shot, so strong that it flew far over the goal.

Kicker number 3 covered his face with both hands, perhaps because he was feeling miserable.

‘If our team scores one more goal, it’s over, right?’

Who is the 3rd kicker? Seungmin Lim?

And the upcoming Suyang High School 3rd kicker.

Go Young-jun.

‘Huh? Why the defender···.’

Coach. What were you thinking when you put Youngjun Sichi as the 3rd kicker?

Contrary to my anxious mind, Go Young-jun took a deep breath, then ran towards the referee’s whistle and kicked the ball powerfully into the corner of the right goal.

It was a surprisingly well-placed shot.

It was a shot that flew to the corner that would be difficult to block even if I were the goalkeeper, which means-

“Waaaaaaah!”

Go Young-jun runs across the field, swinging one arm wildly.

Suyang High School succeeded three times.

Seoul Furics failed three times!

It was a long, long time, but after a penalty shootout, we achieved the treble.

I also ran towards Go Young-jun.

Good job, Youngjunshichi!

End

ⓒ Doctor Am

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