Soccer System: All the Skills, One Player!

In the press box, Henry Martin, the match's main narrator, adjusted his headset enthusiastically. Next to him, Clara Rodrigues, known for her precise analysis and charisma, smiled as she reviewed her notes.

"Henry, I ask you," began Clara, as Henry waved to the camera broadcasting the match live, "this boy, Lucas Tanaka... What more does he need to do to prove he's ready to shine on the national stage?"

Henry laughed, his deep voice echoing through the microphone. "Clara, do you remember that game against Brentford, Brighton's first this season in the Premier Youth League?"

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Clara nodded. "How can I forget? It was last week!"

"Hahahaha! That's true!"

"But that's not all I remember. Tanaka not only commanded the midfield, he scored and provided assists. It was the first time we told the public that Tanaka was a name to keep an eye on."

"And now, against Manchester City, he's proving that he's not just a standout in easier games," continued Henry, adjusting his posture. "Facing Phil Foden and Jadon Sancho, two of the greatest national teachers, is no joke. Sancho's goal showed the maturity of this City team, but Lucas responded with an individual move of pure genius and also almost identical to Sancho's."Nôv(el)B\\jnn

Clara leaned forward slightly, as if to emphasize her point. "I think the most impressive thing was his decision-making. He could have passed to Arthur, but he recognized the opportunity and had confidence in himself. And, honestly, what a finish!"

Henry gave a short laugh. "It was a painting, Clara. That shot... If he wasn't wearing the Brighton shirt, you could easily think he was a prominent player from one of the big European clubs or even... I'll give you a big name... Hazard, with the precision he showed."

Meanwhile, on the pitch, Manchester City seemed less shaken by the goal than might have been expected.

Phil Foden, in the center circle, called his teammates together for a quick meeting. His hands gestured as he spoke, the expression of calm, imperturbable on his face. Jadon Sancho, next to him, nodded in approval.

"You can see how City responds, Clara," commented Henry, as the camera focused on the conversation between the opposing players. "Foden is a born leader. He's not wasting time moaning about the goal. He's thinking about the next move."

"And that's what sets elite teams apart," added Clara. "They don't let themselves get emotionally rattled. But, Henry, can Brighton maintain that intensity? That's the big question."

The referee blew his whistle, restarting the game. The ball was moved again by City, and Foden controlled it with a soft touch. He looked ahead, observing the movement of his teammates.

"Jackson passes to Foden... And look at Foden's posture, Clara," said Henry. "He stopped and raised his head with the ball at his feet. Some players seem to be afraid of the ball generally, but he likes to stand with it. He seems to plan something."

"And he is!" exclaimed Clara. "Brighton needs to step up their game. The last time he was given so much space, Sancho ended up with a pass close to the box and the ball ended up in the back of the net."

Foden advanced slowly, attracting Denis' marking. He dribbled past the Brighton midfielder as if he were strolling through the park. Felix advanced to block, but Foden had already released the ball in a low, precise pass to another player who passed to Sancho on the left.

"Here he comes again!" Henry practically shouted. "Sancho with the ball! Loki, hold him!"

Loki ran to meet the City winger, trying to surround him before he could speed up. But Sancho, with annoying calm, waited for just the right moment to subtly flick the ball away from his marker.

"What skill, Clara!" said Henry, his voice rising.

"And look how he uses space!" Clara analyzed, her voice quick and incisive. "He knows exactly where to go. Loki's struggling, but Sancho's one step ahead."

Sancho cut inside, ignoring the desperate attempt by Lucas, who was coming towards him to help. The Brighton fans held their breath, as if they could predict the outcome.

"Go kick it!" shouted Henry, his voice charged with emotion.

Sancho tilted his body, deceiving goalkeeper Anton, who took a step the wrong way. Then, with one fluid movement, he struck it; the ball describing a perfect curve towards the top right corner.

However, in the middle of the path, there was Daniel Riber's forehead, like an unlikely hero at the last moment.

With a spectacular leap, he diverted the trajectory of the ball with his forehead, sending it out of the area, away from the immediate danger. The impact was so strong that Daniel fell to the turf, but his expression was one of sheer determination as his forehead turned red from the impact. The sound of the ball being cleared echoed through the stands, followed by a deafening roar from the Brighton fans.

"DANIEL RIBER!" roared Henry, almost voiceless. "What a spectacular intervention! It was an impossible shot for the goalkeeper. Clara, impossible, but he did it!"

Clara was visibly impressed. "That save was worth a goal, Henry. Look at Daniel's reading of the game. He saw Anton was committed and didn't hesitate to sacrifice himself to save the team. That's what Brighton need. Full attention, especially against players like Sancho and Foden."

Meanwhile, on the pitch, Daniel stood up slowly, receiving encouraging pats from Loki and Luiz. Anton approached, giving him a firm squeeze on the shoulder. "Thanks, man. You saved us."

Daniel just smiled, still catching his breath. "We're all in this together."

In the press box, Clara continued her detailed analysis. "Henry, it's amazing how Brighton adjusted their defensive posture after Sancho's early goal. The team has quickly learned that, against an opponent like City, it's not enough to chase the ball. Anticipate, read their intentions."

Henry agreed, gesturing to emphasize his words: "And look how much more compact Brighton's defense is. Felix and Denis are doubling up in the middle, while Loki and Aidan are positioning themselves more intelligently to prevent breakthroughs down the flanks. It's as if they've found the perfect balance between aggression and caution."

Clara added: "But the most impressive thing, Henry, is how they're dealing with Foden. At first, he had a lot of room to operate. Now, it seems that Tanaka, Aiden and Denis are taking it in turns to put pressure on him. They're not letting the boy think."

On the pitch, Lucas could already feel the sweat trickling down his brow as he watched Foden receive the ball again in midfield.

Frustration was visible on City's young playmaker's face. His passes were still accurate, but the space he had enjoyed in the first few minutes of the game had disappeared. However, he was quiet and didn't complain or fight.

"Close him down, Lucas!" shouted Eddie from the edge of the pitch. "Don't let him spin!"

Lucas obeyed immediately, approaching Foden quickly. When the playmaker tried to turn to find a teammate, Lucas expected the move, blocking the line of passing. With no other choice, Foden passed the ball back to another player further back.

"That's it!" shouted Denis, coming forward to offer support. "Don't give him a hard time, Lucas — if he doesn't think, they won't play."

On the other side of the pitch, Sancho remained a constant threat. But Loki, now more attentive, did his best to keep up with him and when he couldn't, Raphael arrived to provide cover.

"Look at that, Clara," said Henry, as the camera focused on Loki, "this kid may not be as skilled as Sancho, but he's showing a lot of heart. He's not giving up on any pitch."

Clara smiled. "And that's something Brighton has plenty of, Henry. They may not have the same refined technique as City, but they're making up for it with race, tactical discipline and, above all, courage. And what more could we ask of a team that was formed less than two months ago?"

In the 35th minute, Brighton found gaps in City's formation. After a sequence of quick passes, Felix found Miguel free on the right. The winger shot like lightning, beating his marker on the run.

"There goes Miguel!" exclaimed Henry. "That boy is fast! He's already close to the box!"

Miguel crossed low to Arthur, who got a hand to it under pressure from Eric García. The striker tried to turn to finish, but the opposing defender was quicker to stop his shot.

The ball fell to Lucas, who came in from behind. With a deft touch, he evaded another defender and took a shot from outside the area. The ball was hard, but went just wide of the post.

"UUUHHH!" shouted the fans in unison.

"Lucas almost scored the second!" exclaimed Clara. "And what a vision! He saw the space and didn't hesitate."

As the game went on, Brighton realized something important: although City had talent to spare, their reliance on Foden and Sancho meant that the other players relied too much on their individual play. This created a pattern that Brighton exploited.