Soccer System: All the Skills, One Player!

Chapter 166 165 - BIG STEP

Sevilla was stunned.

Alejandro Pozo was gesturing furiously at his companions. "Are you asleep? How could we let this happen?" He looked at Bryan Gil. "Come on, it's only two goals. They haven't won yet."

But the words of encouragement didn't seem to have much effect. When Brighton regained possession, something had changed. Jimenez's instructions were finally being followed by the letter. Felix and Javier dictated the pace in midfield, distributing passes and keeping possession. Lucas, now more confident, dropped back to help with the ball and pressured the Sevilla players into making mistakes.

"Brighton are playing like never, after Tanaka's spectacular goal!" exclaimed the broadcaster. "It looks like that goal gave the team the injection of confidence they needed. Lucas Tanaka, as well as being the standout performer, is leading the way on the pitch. He drops back to pick up the ball, organizes the play and, when Brighton goes forward, he's always a threat."

Felix realized Lucas had something on his mind. "You want the hat-trick, don't you?" he asked, smiling as he made a quick pass.

Lucas replied with a determined look. "I do. And I'm going to get it. But we need a third goal before we risk everything."

In the 62nd minute, Brighton created a brilliant move. Lucas stole the ball in midfield, dribbling past Genaro with a quick touch. He passed to Miguel on the right, who returned the ball with a low cross. Arthur positioned himself well, but the Sevilla defender cut him off at the last moment.

On the Sevilla bench, the coach was trying to reorganize his team. However, he was pulling his hair out because he was so nervous about his own team.

"They're controlling the game! We need to press more in midfield. We can't let that number seven play so freely!"

But Brighton didn't let up. Soon, another obvious chance came their way. Felix found Raphael on the left with a deep pass. The winger dribbled past two opponents and shot across the goal, but Mena saved. The ball fell to Javier, who tried a shot from outside the area, but it was blocked.

"Brighton are hammering away!" commented the narrator. "Sevilla is struggling to get out of their own half. It looks like a third goal is only a matter of time."

However, Lucas knew he couldn't relax. He kept running, pressing and encouraging his teammates. At one point, he looked at Felix and said: "They're going to try a counter-attack. Monitor Pozo and Bryan. They're still dangerous."

And Lucas was right. In the 72nd minute, Sevilla finally broke through. Bryan Gil received the ball on the left wing and took off at speed.

Loki tried to keep up, but was dribbled past. Gil crossed for Romero, who dominated and shot, but Anton was there to make another spectacular save.

"ANTON! What a goalkeeper!" shouted the narrator. "If it hadn't been for him, Sevilla would have scored!"

But Brighton almost added to their tally on the very next play. In a set piece, Felix found Lucas free on the edge of the box. He shot hard with <First Kick Advanced>, just like Kenji from the soccer club did, aiming for the top of the goal, but Mena pushed the ball up because of the force and jumped to catch it in the air before Arthur could reach it with his head.

"What a save by the Sevilla goalkeeper! Lucas is hungry for a third goal, but it hasn't happened yet."

Lucas raised his hands, taking a deep breath. "Next time, it'll go in."

Brighton dominated possession, moving the ball with confidence and intelligence. Sevilla, still shaken, retreated further with each attack, desperately trying to contain the English side's momentum. Brighton's 2-0 lead looked solid, but for Lucas Tanaka, the game was not yet complete. He needed one more goal to complete his mission.

Felix received the ball in the middle and turned to Lucas, who was positioned in the opposition half but slightly back. He smiled, knowing that Lucas wanted to score. But he passed to the side. He was no longer officially captain, but he still had the spirit.

Brighton worked the ball patiently, just as Jimenez had asked at half-time. Lucas was involved in the build-up, helping to regain possession in midfield and advancing intelligently whenever Brighton had the ball. His reading of the game was impeccable thanks to <Risk Analysis> combined with <Advanced Concentration>, and even the narrators could see that he was more active than ever.

"Lucas is everywhere in that second half," commented the main narrator. "He drops back, builds plays and, when Brighton attack, appears as an option. This kid's commitment is impressive, as is his breath. You can tell he's looking for something special."

"Absolutely. After that great goal, he's gained an absurd amount of confidence. He seems to believe he can do anything."

81 minutes.

Sevilla tried to react with a quick counter-attack. Hugo Bueno advanced down the left and crossed low for Iván Romero, but Luiz Fernando came up with a providential cut-back. The ball fell to Aidan, who quickly played the ball forward to Felix in midfield.

Felix saw Lucas advancing in front of him and sensed it was time.

"Go, Lucas!" shouted Felix, launching a low, precise pass.

Lucas received the ball, turned to escape Pablo Pérez's marking and sped up towards the box. Three Sevilla defenders immediately closed in on him.

"You won't get past here, Tanaka!" taunted Genaro, Sevilla's captain, holding out his arms to block the advance.

Lucas smiled in the corner, as if to say: "Want to bet?"

With a quick dribble provided by <Mirage Feint>, he passed between two players as if he were an untouchable mist. The third defender tried to disarm him with a trolley, but Lucas wasn't selfish. He played the ball to Raphael on the left wing.

Raphael advanced down the flank, facing Alejandro Pozo. He faked a cross and cut inside, creating space. He looked into the area and saw Lucas was already there.

Raphael crossed high, looking for Arthur, but Sevilla goalkeeper Alfonso Pastor came out firmly and punched it away.

Lucas snorted, but kept his cool. He knew the right opportunity would come along.

Brighton continued to press and Sevilla could barely get out of their own half. The fans were electric, singing non-stop.

In the first minute of two minutes' extra time, Javier intercepted a misplaced pass from Bryan Gil and played it quickly to Lucas.

"It's yours now, Tanaka!"

Lucas surged forward, leaving two players behind in a fast dash. As he entered the area, but before he could shoot, Pablo Pérez brought him down. The referee immediately pointed to the penalty spot.

The stadium erupted in celebration, while the Sevilla players surrounded the referee, protesting.

"It was nothing, referee! He threw himself!" shouted Pérez, indignant.

"He just touched it with his shoulder, and the seven of them went down! It was a simulation!"

"That was nothing, you son of a bitch!"

The referee, however, was adamant. "It was a penalty, and you know it. Stand back."

Lucas took the ball firmly and placed it on the penalty spot. He took a deep breath, ignoring the Sevilla players' taunts.

"You'll miss, Tanaka! You don't have the nerves for that!" shouted Hugo Bueno.

Any of this did not bother our young Japanese player. After all, he had <Advanced Concentration> on. He took a few steps back, waiting for the referee's whistle.

The stadium was absolutely silent for Lucas.

The referee blew the whistle, and Lucas began his run. Penalties require training like any other aspect of soccer, and Lucas hadn't copied a penalty kick skill yet. However, he didn't need to either. Lucas had played his entire high school career at Wushia School in his past life, so he had already taken plenty of penalties. The secret was to kick hard, so even if the goalkeeper guessed the corner of the kick, there was still the chance that the goalkeeper wouldn't be able to hold the power of the kick.

Lucas ran, looked to the left corner, deceiving the goalkeeper, but shot firmly into the right corner. The ball was low, but with power.

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"BRIGHTON'S GOAL! LUCAS TANAKA COMPLETES THE HAT-TRICK!" shouted the narrator, almost out of breath.

Lucas ran into the crowd, kissing the Brighton shield on his shirt. His teammates quickly caught up with him, hugging him amid the euphoria.

"You did it, Lucas! Hat-trick!" shouted Felix, grinning from ear to ear.

Raphael laughed. "Looks like I'm buying dinner, anyway."

Arthur ruffled his hair, and the others slapped him on the head or back.

On the bench, Jimenez shook his head, sniggering. "That boy... It's impossible to stop him when he's like that."

In the stands, Kate Dyer screamed with pure joy. "He's done it again! That boy is incredible!"

Brighton now led 3-0. And just like that, the game ended a minute later.

As the crowd in the stands screamed with excitement at winning the Champions Youth League, Lucas received two notifications from the system.

[Congratulations, you've completed the "Big Step" mission!]

[Rewards: +100 Star Points].

[You have reached Star Level 5! You are now seen as an International Young Talent, and your potential will be recognized in many countries around the world.]

[For reaching this milestone, you have earned 30 Attribute Points.]