Until the Final Whistle

A defeat that felt like victory.

Fisher and Union Middle School are the biggest rivals in our school district: for every sport. Almost every single trophy is either in Fisher or Union. And it was the JV Finals, Fisher vs Union at Union. 

“Boys! Listen up, we made it to the finals. In the league games, we lost to them, but we still have a chance. Let’s beat them up!” Coach Joey said, crouching, so our eye levels met.

“Yeah!” We yelled. 

“The starting members are Shea, Skyler, Max, Danny, Hoss, Derek, Yuto, Baldwin, Earny, Rhett, and Mark,” Coach Joey said.

I started cracking my neck and stretching my legs and arms. The Union team was already ready to go, and were huddling up for their cheer. They had 10 subs, and we had about 15. The other starting members and I drank our last sips of water before the game, then rushed back to our huddle.

“Union on me, Union on 3, 1, 2, 3 Union!” The opposing team yelled, we all glared at them, then started our cheer.

“Fisher on me, Fisher on 3, 1, 2, 3, Fisher!” We jogged to our positions, ready to win. They started with kickoff, but we had the better side without the sun in our eyes. We had a perfect team. Our goalie plays wide receiver on the football field, is tall and can catch almost anything. Our 2 defenders always had their line up, so the strikers had a hard time attacking, and we had two great CAMs (Center Attacking Midfielder), that would send amazing balls to our fast wingers. Our striker had a very strong leg, and he could blast the ball a hundred yards. 

But we have to be careful about Jose. He was the best player in the Union team. He had a massive body, a strong shot, and fantastic dribbling; we needed to have 2 people guarding him. 2 midfielders, and that was me, the CDM (Center Defensive Midfielder), and my friend Yuto, one of the CAMs. The game was about to start. The ref pressed some buttons on his watch, and Coach gulped. The ref blew the whistle, and the game started.

Their striker immediately passed it back to the Jose of their team, and our strikers rushed towards the ball eager to get it. Jose also passed it back, as their defenders received the ball. Our forwards still ran after it, but after a few passes around their team, they got tired. I looked around, taking track of where everyone was.

 “Guys, c’mon!” One of the defenders yelled. The ball got passed from one side to another on the field, and ended up in the center with Jose being in control. Yuto and I went to put pressure on him, but he quickly turned back, and passed to a wing-back. Jose received the ball again, and Yuto and I went again.

He went to the right, but quickly cut back to the left, and burst with speed past Yuto. I was up next and went to get the ball, but he took a touch left, and blasted it to their winger. 

I was amazed. I didn’t know if I could defend this monstrosity. I started as a sub, and didn’t play for the first 3 games. I barely made the tryouts. Could I do it? I showed my defending skills throughout the season, and finally became a starting member playing for most of the game, and in the position of a CDM, the control center. In the semifinals, We were tied 2-2 in the first half, then tried our best in the second half and won. Unfortunately, I injured my muscle that game and could not play the last 5 minutes. I played that game great, and I have to do the same today. I was determined to win, and so was our team.

The ball slipped past the wingers feet, and became our throw-in. Our wing-back took the throw-in, and threw it right to me, as I let the ball roll past me. I cut in, and played one of our CAMs, which dribbled past 3 players immediately. He was up against their defense, and he sent a thru-ball right to our fast winger. He drove the ball up the line, but Union’s wing-back got back quick and kicked the ball to their center-back. The possession game continued for 10 minutes, and was still tied at 0-0. Both the teams were calm, and never forced the ball too much for attacking. But Union had more possession of the ball, and we were getting tired. 

 One of our teammates was waiting at the half line to get substituted in. He was a striker, so we all assumed that our striker was going to get subbed off, and he did. 2 other people came up, and they subbed off a wing-back and a winger. Yuto and I were doing a great job covering Jose, forcing him to go backwards. I practiced staying on mark with him during practice, and that helped a lot. I was already tired, and sweating a lot even though the game just started.

Union's winger got the ball, and dribbled past our wing-back. He changed his direction a little diagonally, so he would go to the goal. The 2 center-backs and I were already sprinting back to stop the goal. The winger caught a glimpse of us 3 and started preparing to take a shot. He took a touch to the right to set it in place for his right foot and took one big step before shooting it right to the goal. 

The ball went fast, but not too good placement though. It went to the left, but wasn’t to the left enough to get past our goalie. Our Goalie took a shuffle to his right, and caught the ball effortlessly. He dropped the ball, and punted it to our striker. The striker let it bounce once, over their CDM. He was on a 1 v 2 against the center backs.

He tried to dribble, but the defenders took it away quickly. We rushed forward to steal the ball. They passed it down the middle which Jose received and faced us. He quickly slided the ball to his left foot, then pushed the ball forward, getting past us in an instant. I went to pressure and go get the ball, but I got noticed quickly and he booted the ball to the winger. The winger cut in and faced our 2 defenders. He shot the ball as hard as he could, and went to the top left corner of the goal. 

Our keeper reached for the ball, and smacked it right to the middle of the PK box. The striker was caught up with the attack, and scored with a single touch, the ball rolling slow and easy, as no one could have caught up to it. The ball crossed the goal line, and Union went crazy. 

The striker ran to the halfway line, where his teammates were waiting up for him to give him a hug. He ran right into them and their parents cheered in the crowd. The Referee looked at his watch and blew his whistle. The first half was over. Our whole team had their heads down, as turned toward the bench.

We jogged into our bench, and high fived our subs and coaches. 

“Sit down!” Coach Joey said. We all hurried to the bench, picking up our water bottles on the way. I splashed some water on myself to rinse off some of my sweat, then locked my eyes on Coach to concentrate. We gulped down a few sips, then coach Joey started talking.

“Great first half, but we have to keep taking our chances to win this game. Remember, this is the finals, we can’t lose. Ok guys?”

“Yes, Coach!”

“The starting members are the same as how we started out, but we’ll change things up a little bit. We’ll change our formation so it’s a more offensive shape. We’re down a point and we gotta score some. Alright guys?”

“Yes, Coach!”

The referee blew the whistle and everyone started to stand up. We got into a huddle, and roared.

“Fisher on me, Fisher on 3, 1, 2, 3, FISHER!”

We raised our hands high into the sky, and scattered out to our positions. It was the 2nd half, so we started with the ball. Our Striker went into the circle, and waited for the ref to give him the symbol.

TWEET! The Second Half has started. Our striker passed the ball right to my feet, and I followed the ball to my right, and then passed to the wing back for him to dribble up the line. He took his space, then passed it to Yuto. With 2 defenders in front of him, he turned to the left, and saw an open gap for the winger to get to. He sent a thru-ball right into the gap.

The ball was too fast and quickly ran out of the sideline. The other team’s wing back rushed to the ball and threw the ball right over our winger. The ball bounced once, then the ball met up with their winger and he passed the ball one touch to Jose. 

As soon as I left that bench, I was ready. I locked my eyes on the ball, and the people around me. I read the play, and cut the pass and dribbled the ball up the field. Jose was already chasing me, and his speed and mine were no match. He was already closing down on me a hundred miles an hour. So I shifted to the right, and chipped the ball to the winger. 

It went over one defender, but another defender cut in and stole the ball in mid-air. He passed it back to the defenders since he was outnumbered by our team in that area. They rotated the ball around their team, and the ball ended up with Jose. He went full speed at me. I predicted that he’d do a little fake and try to get past me. I was right and stepped on the ball in the perfect timing. I pushed the ball forward and played Yuto, Yuto played our CAM, and he dribbled the ball past 2 players. He then sent a perfect thru-ball to our striker. He received the ball but a defender behind him slid tackled him from behind. Their coach and parents went wild.

Suddenly, we all felt droplets falling from the sky. The small rain quickly turned into a storm. Our shirts were already soaked. The clear blue sky quickly faded into a big grey dome. I bent down, tired from all that running. The little shower was perfect to get me back up. Drop after drop, the rain started to become harder.

But the game was still going. 

The artificial grass made it so the ball slid fast. Now we can make quick passes with a soft touch. The defender took his space and dribbled 10 yards, then passed to the wing back which tried to dribble past a few players. He got past one, but was unlucky on the second man. As soon as he took the ball away from him, our winger passed the ball to our CAM. He booted the ball up the line, very close to the goal. The winger came back and burst with speed to goal. As the ball came down, he touched the ball up, and the ball slowly floated above their goal keeper. He reached for it, but the ball was in a perfect angle, and landed right on the goal line. 

Luckily, no defender was there to save it, so it bounced back up, gently pressing against the net. Our winger lifted his finger up in the air, as a celebration, as we all went to celebrate. We all ran as fast as we could to congratulate him. 2 people pounced on him while the rest of us just patted him on the back. 

It was still 1-1. We could still win. Since we scored, everyone’s gloomy mood rose up and the rain started to go away. 

We still had a chance.

We all looked up, as the final droplets of the rain fell upon us, as the ref blew the whistle.

They passed it back to Jose, and he dribbled right toward our team. He was eager to score, so he was going fast and furious. He quickly ran past 2 people, and then faced me. I took my distance, and struck the ball. I touched the ball before he had another dribble, and he toppled over. I dribbled and took a few dribbles, then made a move, and left a defender behind me. I passed the ball up the line where our CAM was waiting, and let him do the work.

“Ref time!” I asked the ref.

“2 minutes.” He said.

The defender quickly sniped the ball out of our teammates feet, and shot the ball straight up the field. A few people gathered up to get a head on it, but Jose was the tallest of them all. They were at the 18 yard line, and shot the ball. Our keeper blocked it, but the ball rolled over to one of their wingers. We all gathered up to block the shot. I came out first, and blocked the shot. The pain burst into me as my calf was burning already. 

A defender kicked it as hard as he could, but was blocked again by their attacker.

“Someone get the ball out of there!!” Coach Joey screamed, as the subs started shouting at us too.

The ball lay there, in an open space with no one there. It felt as if the world was in slow motion. 

We all stepped in, to do anything that would prevent the goal from going in. I could hear the crowd, shouting, but as if their noises were blurred, like hearing people talking in a slow motion video. Jose was right there, behind the ball getting ready to step in and take a shot. It was as if he was there from the start. As soon as I looked at him, his foot was high in the sky, and in a split second, his leg was already in the front. 

It was all in an instant, as if the ball just teleported there. Jose was running back already, hugs from his teammates. Our team just blankly stared at the ball in the goal. I could feel my sweat drooling down every single inch of my body. It’s over. We all thought. Half of our team sat down, with their heads down, gazing at the grass. 

But some of us were quickly running to get the ball and get going. I joined the group, as everyone started to stand up and everyone’s face expression changed. It went from despair to hope. The ref blew the whistle, and the game started all over again. We were still losing 2-1, with probably 1 minute left. Our striker kicked the ball back, and everyone rose up the field. Our defenders all came up to the half way line, ready to strike. 

Our CAM dribbled as much as he could, and sent a thru ball to our winger. He sent the ball to the middle, but a defender came to intercept it. We shot again, and again, and again, but it was all blocked. 

But none of us gave up, and just did everything we could until the whistle was blown.

Finally, the ref blew the whistle. We all sat down for a good 20 seconds, then stood up, and walked to our bench. We sat down, as all of our subs cheered us up, and high fived us. 

Coach Joey walked up to us. 

“You guys played absolutely phenomenal.”

We all nodded, not saying a single word.

“All of you guys, tried your best, and worked your butts off. This feels like a win to me.”

I kind of agreed with him. All of us were drenched in sweat, and still drinking water. 

“I don’t want to talk the whole time and waste your guys' time, so let's get out of here.”

We all got up and started walking to our parents. Some kids were crying, and dived into their parents arms. My mom brought us some donuts, which everyone rushed for. I got a glazed donut and started eating it with yuto. I hugged my mom, and she patted me on the back, saying good job. 

“Hey! All of you, we’re passing out the medals!” Coach Joey shouted out.

On the other side of the field, Union was still celebrating, and their coach was giving out their gold, shining medals. 

We went to pick up our medals, as our coach called our names one by one. I was 2nd to get the medal as Coach Joey called out my name.

“This player has played outstanding the last few days. The first few games were tough, but he stepped it up, and has become one of our strong players.”

I walked up towards Coach Joey and picked up my medal. I gave him a handshake, and walked toward my mom, as I watched my teammates get their medals. Yuto picked up his medal, and we prepared to go home. My mom was going to take him home with me, so he jumped on our GMC with us. I ran so much that I couldn’t feel my legs, so once I finally sat down on the heated car seat, I let out a big sigh. This was one of the funnest games of my life, proving to me I chose soccer as the right sport.