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Chapter 364: The Race for Trophies II

Currently, the Oporto team was not in a very good position on the league table, especially considering that they were the defending champions of the title, but it was still too early in the season to make any conjectures about the league title.

That being said, Oporto came to the Estadio de Sao Miguel at Ponta Delgada with the intention to win and begin their ascent back to the top of the table, but the win wouldn’t just be handed to them as their opponents also had their position on the league standings to play for.

Time passed and the match soon began.

The two teams were out on the field in their match kits, kicking the ball around with their intentions clear in every one of their movements, but the match maintained a high tension without anyone being able to trouble the scoreboard operator.

As the end of the first half approached, an assistant referee held up the board, informing the players that there would be two minutes of added time.

The Santa Clara players passed the ball around their defensive line, wanting to end the first half with an even scoreline, but the Oporto players weren’t keen on doing that and rushed forward on a heavy press and finally, they managed to win the ball in the final third.

Otavio sent the ball down the flanks to Jason and Jason didn’t hesitate to send the ball into the center at Marega who flew at the ball with his head.

The ball bounced off his head, but the keeper was equal to it and lunged at the ball, punching the ball just enough to deflect it from the face of the goal, but he hadn’t done enough and the ball bounced off the bar and back into play arriving at the foot of Luis Diaz.

Without the slightest bit of hesitation, Diaz drove the ball home and sent the net flying, putting his team in the lead.

{They’ve done it!}

{Just before halftime, they take the lead!} The commentator shouted as the Oporto team celebrated their goal.

After a quick celebration, the match resumed, but not long after, the halftime whistle went off loudly and the players walked off the field for the break.

Fifteen minutes later, the players were back on the field to continue the match.

The second half kicked off and once again, twenty-two players, one ball, and one referee constantly moved around on the field, each having different intentions.

Despite it not being their home ground, Oporto played like they owned the place and they turned up the heat on their opponents, but time and time again, they were repelled.

#68th minute…

Jason unleashed a daring run from midfield, weaving his way between two Santa Clara players on the right flank before cutting in and taking a thunderous shot at goal.

{He shoots!!!}

{Saved!}

{A potential goal-of-the-season contender! If only!} The commentator shouted excitedly, giving Jason accolades for his efforts, but his words didn’t make Jason feel any better about missing such a chance.

For the rest of the match, Oporto was firmly in control and though Santa Clara rebelled a few times, they weren’t able to do enough and the match ended with a score of Santa Clara 0 : 1 Oporto.

Despite Oporto only winning with a narrow one-goal lead, they still got all their three points and climbed to the fifth position on the league table.

The Oporto players left the field with a reward for their collective efforts, but personally, quite a few of the players were unsatisfied with the score count of the game, Jason included.

With the efforts they had put in, the game scoreline should have been outrageous, but somehow the defensive efforts of their opponents kept the number of goals conceded to just one.

Unfortunately, the match was already over and they could only rue their missed chances at goal and hope to do more in the coming match.

***1st December 2020***

It was the first evening of the last month of the year and Oporto was hosting Manchester Blue at the Dragon Stadium for the fifth match in the group stage.

Both Oporto and Manchester Blue had qualified in the group stage and the results from this match would at best be a deciding factor in who would end up in the top position of the group.

Oporto had lost to Manchester Blue previously and this was their chance to one back at their opponents… If they wished for such a revenge.

The match soon kicked off and the ball began to fly across the field as both teams tried to score, but barely a quarter of an hour into the game, it became clear that Oporto was the side with more desperation to win than the Manchester Blue side.

The Manchester Blue side seemed to put more effort into the defensive side of their game than their attacking side, but this didn’t mean that the Oporto side got more time because of that.

Quite the contrary in fact, Manchester Blue’s way of defending was by hogging the ball all to themselves and, but not doing much with it and just contenting themselves with the occasional attack.

The Oporto side had to do a lot of ball chasing and whenever they had the ball, they immediately launched an attack that either ended with a wasted opportunity, either by shooting terribly or by losing the ball before they could even reach the Manchester Blue goalkeeper.

The first half of the game played out in this manner and by the time the referee’s whistle went off to end the first half, the scoreboard remained as it was when the game started.

The two teams walked off the field, huffing as they walked into the tunnel and headed to their locker rooms.

The two managers immediately got to work reminding the players of their respective game plans while also making the necessary adjustments to the game plan, lineup, and formation.