THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME

However, as the match progressed into the second half, NF academy cashed in on their superior possession.

Zachary sighed again-and-again at the effectiveness of Coach Johansen's message at the end of the previous game. All the players were very focused and played with ambition while taking minimal risks as they bore down on BK Frem's goal.

The NF academy showcased great teamwork by exchanging short passes and one-twos, waiting to open the BK Frem defense and hit them swiftly on the break.

Zachary created the game-changing opportunity in the 54th minute when he tricked his way to the edge of the box. He managed to unleash a howitzer shot towards the inside of the right post. However, BK Frem's goalkeeper was well-positioned to pull off a brilliant save. The ball went out of play, a few inches wide of the post. The referee pointed to the corner flag.

Öyvind Alseth, NF academy's right wingback, took the corner, whipping a teasing ball into the box. He managed to find Magnus, who out-jumped all the defenders and tried his luck with a header from around the penalty spot. His effort was precise enough to go past BK Frem's goalkeeper—into the top right corner of the net.

1:0.

The NF academy had managed to score their first goal against a weaker team after 56 minutes. It seemed to open the floodgates. The BK Frem midfielders lost their morale and started making a lot of amateur mistakes.

Zachary began noticing a lot of exploitable gaps in BK Frem's defensive profile. In the 60th minute, he peeled away from his markers using a well-executed Cruyff turn and accelerated towards the goal.

Although he hadn't managed to achieve the instinctual state of flowing with the ball—like in the previous match, he could still execute the move swiftly.

He dribbled past four defenders, managing to win himself enough space inside the box and score NF academy's second goal.

However, he didn't relax after scoring.

For the following ten minutes, he was on fire. He tackled players, intercepted passes, and dribbled past opponents with ease. He managed to score three more goals in the 63rd, the 68th, and the 71st minutes. Due to his efforts, NF academy was ahead by five goals with eighteen minutes left to play. Yet, he still had a lot of stamina left.

Zachary felt like he was in his best shape ever. The ball listened to him, and the goddess of luck was on his side. He wanted to score more goals. That would get him closer to completing one of the milestones of the system mission. However, Coach Johansen substituted him—out in the 75th minute, cutting his playing time on the pitch short.

"You need some rest," the coach said, patting Zachary on the back. "We want you to be in your best shape when you face Genoa. That will be the true test for us." The coach added to emphasize his point.

Zachary nodded before taking his seat on the bench. He understood the coach's decision, but he still felt a little bit indignant. He probably had the best stamina and endurance among the academy players, graded at A+ by the system. However, the coach had taken him out earlier than other players who were more prone to tiring out fast.

Zachary chugged down more water from a bottle and returned his attention to the match. His teammates were still dictating play on the pitch. They even managed to score another goal in the 85th minute. However, they wasted a lot of chances. They didn't fully capitalize on the mistakes made by the BK Frem players.

Nonetheless, the game ended with a score of 6:0, in favor of the NF academy.

Zachary felt that he could have led the team to a greater victory—had he been allowed to stay on the pitch. Although he'd scored four goals, he was still bitter.

He felt mad at the coach for taking him off the pitch too early. He covered his face with his shirt to hide the frown outlined on it. He didn't even stand up and greet the rest of his teammates when they exited the field after the final whistle.

"Hey man," Kasongo greeted him right after the match. "You played a nice game as usual. We now have six points in the bag and are top of our group."

Zachary uncovered his face and noticed that his friend was looming over him, smiling. He was quite happy since he had scored NF academy's sixth goal.

While looking at his friend, he took a moment to reflect on his emotions. He wondered why he suddenly felt angered by a simple substitution—which was a sound tactical decision by the coach.

[Do I still have a problem with mood swings like in my previous life?] He mused, feeling a chill run down his spine. The thought unsettled him—to some extent.

Zachary sighed, shaking his head. In his previous life, he had fought with his coaches, teammates, and opponents regularly. His bitterness over his unsecured football career had fueled his unsportsmanlike behavior. His bad-temper had contributed to his swift exit from the squad of TP Mazembe.

In professional sports, a player had to be in perfect control of his emotions to succeed. A single moment of instability could lead his team to a loss in an important game. Zachary had watched Zinedine Zidane, the French legend, lose a World Cup final in such a manner. He was glad he had noticed such a marked weakness before it could do any harm to his career. He resolved to find a way to strengthen his mental capabilities as soon as possible.

For a moment, he let his mind focus on his happiest moments in the past few days to chase away any lingering negativity. He soaked in the memories of the moments when he dashed past players or scored goals in the previous matches. The action was calming, and he felt his mood lighten after a few seconds.

"Are you okay man," Kasongo inquired, waving his hand in front of Zachary's face. "Why are you zoning out? The referee is calling for you to receive the match ball."

"Just a moment." Zachary flashed his friend a soft smile. "I'll be there as soon as possible. And, congratulations on scoring your first goal in the tournament, by the way." He said.