Football singularity-Chapter 632 Jab Jab

Please vote to show me your support for the story. The higher we climb in the rankings, the more motivated I will feel. Mass releases will be rewarded for each 10 rankings we manage to climb.

Join Discord to connect with me and share your thoughts on the story so far. https://discord.gg/hTQJtj2K9U

#More than 10 Chapters ahead on my Patreon: patreon.com/TrikoRex

{!!!Please leave a review; it helps me a lot and lets me know how many people are invested in the future of this novel!!!}

~~~

[14]

With space opening up, he pulled the trigger from the top of the box. The shot was struck with venom, curling toward the top left corner. Casteels was beaten, his dive too late, but the ball hit the outside of the post with a metallic clang and bounced clear.

"SO CLOSE!" Wolff roared. "Bellarabi with a moment of individual brilliance, but the woodwork denies him! What a strike that was!"

"He saw a gap and immediately attacked; he’ll be gutted to be denied by the post," Kai added. "Let’s not forget Aránguiz’s contributions from deep within the Leverkusen half, who managed to not only intercept the ball but also initiate a deadly counter." Bellarabi clutched his head in frustration, angry at failing to convert another opportunity before jogging back into position.

[18’]

Wolfsburg tried to respond immediately, stung by Leverkusen’s growing dominance. Arnold collected the ball deep and played a raking diagonal toward Brekalo on the right wing. The Croatian controlled it well but found himself immediately closed down by Sinkgraven and Rakim, who had tracked back to help defensively.

Brekalo tried to cut inside, but Rakim blocked his path, and he tried to back track, but Sinkgraven pounced. Without hesitation, he sent the ball up the flank into the stride of Rakim, who had taken off. "Rex back on the move!" Wolff’s voice lifted with anticipation.

The ball seemed glued to his feet as he continued accelerating down the flank. Mehmedi tried to step across to block his path, but a quick shoulder drop and change of direction, and he glided past, barely losing any speed. Arnold came across to help, but Rakim simply released the ball to Demirbay, who carried it into the final third.

He sent it forward to the feet of Alario, who received it under pressure, using his arm to hold off Brooks. He didn’t hold onto it long, knocking it back into the run of Wirtz, who pushed off Schlager. The German prodigy latched onto the ball and immediately drew his left foot back, sizing up the goal.

Lacroix stepped up to block the shot, but he merely nudged the ball beyond him and let loose a grounded effort. "Wirtz with a fake, Oh Goal!" Kai exclaimed as the ball carved up the ground, serving past the diving keeper and slotting just inches into the left post. A second later, the net rippled, and then the loud roar of the Leverkusen bench erupted through the near-empty stadium.

Florian Wirtz jogged toward the corner flag, pointing skyward before being mobbed by teammates. "Florian WIRTZ!" Wolff roared over the stadium mic. "The Seventeen-year-old opens his account for the new season! Composure, precision, and a touch of class from the youngster!"

Kai jumped in right after, voice laced with admiration. "He didn’t blast it; he did not rush, he guided it into the net. And let’s give credit to Rakim, who started that counter with a moment of creativity, dragged Wolfsburg’s right flank out of shape, and that created the space for Demirbay and Wirtz to exploit."

[Wolfsburg 0–1 Leverkusen — Wirtz 18’]

Leverkusen fell into control after taking the lead, their midfield firmly establishing the flow of the game. Aránguiz barked orders from deep, arms pointing like a conductor setting tempo. Bellarabi and Rakim stayed high and wide, forcing Wolfsburg’s fullbacks to stretch, which only opened more lanes through the middle.

[23]

Wolfsburg attempted to respond with a counter, and Arnold tried to play a long switch to Brekalo, yet on his second touch, a wall of red shirts met him. When Mehmedi finally wriggled free down the right, his cross toward Weghorst was easily plucked from the air by Hrádecký.

"Leverkusen are starting to suffocate Wolfsburg’s rhythm," Kai noted. "It’s almost like Bosz’s side is daring them to play into their trap."

"Exactly," Wolff agreed. "Aránguiz is dropping deeper, forming almost a back three in possession. That lets both fullbacks push forward, and it’s giving the wingers acres of grass to attack on the flanks."

[30]

Moving the ball around their backline, they boxed in their opponents in their own half, slowly whittling away at them. With the Wolfsburg side hunkering down in their third, they found it hard to move the ball, forced to play shorter passes. Around the 34th minute, Wirtz suddenly sped forward, dribbling into the midst of green shirts.

He dribbled forward using a nimble La Croqueta to glide past Schlager, knocking the ball past Arnold. He fought past him, but a firm tug of the shirt knocked the wind out of him as he crashed to the ground in front of the D. The referee’s whistle shrieked immediately, and Arnold was already raising his hands in protest, but the official was having none of it.

The yellow card came out swiftly for the tactical foul, stopping a dangerous attack. "That’s clever from Arnold," Kai observed. "He knew if Wirtz got past him there, Leverkusen had numbers forward."

"But now they have a free kick in a very dangerous position," Wolff added. "Twenty-three yards out, central. Perfect range for someone with dead-ball quality."

Wirtz picked himself up, brushing grass off his shorts, and immediately, Rakim and Demirbay joined him to discuss what they would do. The three players huddled briefly, discussing options. Meanwhile, Wolfsburg organised their wall—five players: Weghorst, Brekalo, Mehmedi, Schlager, and Steffen.

Casteels positioned himself carefully, directing the wall to cover the near post while he guarded the far side. The tension was palpable even with only 500 fans in the stadium; their voices echoed eerily around the vast arena. Moments later, Rakim stood over the ball, but Demirbay was also in the frame.

The two exchanged a glance before the referee’s whistle permitted them to proceed. Demirbay ran over the ball, trying to sell a dummy. The wall hesitated with only two jumping, anticipating his strike, but he’d already passed over it. Rakim was next, his approach smooth and measured, closing in on the ball at speed.

As he reached the ball, his left foot struck it with power, whipping it up and over the left side of the wall with wicked dip and curve. The ball sailed over the left side of the jumping defenders, but curled back almost the moment it cleared them. Casteels, who had been in the middle of side-stepping to his right, anticipating a dive that way, was caught frozen.

It dipped viciously toward the bottom right corner of the goal. Casteels finally managed to react, launching himself desperately to his left, fingertips stretching. But the curve was too much, and the ball kissed the inside of the post and nestled into the back of the net.

"GOOOAAAAL!" Wolff’s voice erupted. "RAKIM REX! What a strike! The seventeen-year-old has doubled Leverkusen’s lead with an absolute beauty!" 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

"That technique is perfection, you can tell he practised that," Kai added, his voice full of admiration. "Casteels had no chance, a world-class free kick."

[Wolfsburg 0-2 Leverkusen — Rakim 34’]

Rakim sprinted toward the corner flag, arms outstretched, slowing down the closer he got to the flag. Once he reached it, he rubbed his biceps, shivering slightly before being mobbed by his teammates. The Leverkusen bench was on its feet, Bosz pumping his fist in joy as his staff celebrated around him.

The Wolfsburg players looked shell-shocked as they watched the celebration. Arnold stood with his hands on his hips, staring at the ground. Glasner was animated on the touchline, screaming instructions, trying to reorganise his team, but the damage was done.

[40’]

Wolfsburg tried to hit back before halftime, desperate to carry some hope into the break. In the fortieth minute, Arnold picked up the ball in midfield and played a wonderful through ball to Weghorst, who had dropped deep to receive. The Dutch striker turned brilliantly, using his strength to hold off Tapsoba, and immediately played it wide to Victor Sá.

The Portuguese winger was off like a fish in water, driving at Lars Bender with pace. He cut inside sharply onto his right foot, creating separation from the fullback, and from twenty yards out, let fly with a powerful strike. Hrádecký was positioned perfectly, diving to his right to push the ball away with a strong hand.

The rebound fell near Brekalo, who tried to strike it first-time on the volley, but Sven Bender got a boot to it, hitting it away. The ball flew behind for a corner. "Wolfsburg finally showing signs of life!" Wolff exclaimed. "That was a good save from Hrádecký, and then Bender there to clear the plate. Leverkusen need to see the half to close."

The corner was whipped in by Arnold with pace, curling toward the near post. Weghorst attacked it with a powerful header, but Hrádecký was there again, punching it clear with both fists. The clearance fell to Schlager on the edge of the box, who struck it on the volley, but his shot flew high over the crossbar.

"They are asking the right questions now," Kai noted. "They just need to execute to have any chance in this match."

[45+1’]

The first half entered stoppage time, and Wolfsburg threw men forward in search of a lifeline. But Leverkusen’s defensive shape remained solid, with Aránguiz and the Bender brothers organising the backline expertly. Every Wolfsburg attack was met with bodies in the way, blocks, interceptions, and strong tackles.

In the final action of the half, Arnold tried one last long-range effort from thirty yards, but it lacked power and accuracy, rolling tamely into Hrádecký’s arms. The referee glanced at his watch and brought the whistle to his lips.

[FWEEEEET]

[Halftime: Wolfsburg 0-2 Bayer Leverkusen]

.

.

.

.

To Be Continued...