Soccer System: All the Skills, One Player!

The clock was ticking slowly for Team-B, but for Team-A, the minutes seemed to evaporate.

Team-A pressed as hard as ever, trying to avoid the defeat that was looming. Jimenez's shouts from midfield left no doubt: they were playing for pride now. Enjoy new adventures from empire

"Come on, team! We've still got it! Squeeze it!" coach Jimenez shouted.

Lucas felt his heart hammering in his chest, but he remained focused. He knew that Team-B had gained the upper hand on the scoreboard and psychologically, but any slip-up could turn the tide.

Each player knew that this was more than just a friendly. It was a test to determine who would may play in the major leagues for Brighton.

Denis, Miguel, Raphael and Arthur formed a solid block around Lucas, supporting and protecting the play. The rapport between them was clear. Meanwhile, behind him were Felix, Daniel, Luiz, Loki, Aidan and Anton. It was a very well-integrated team, even with only a month's training.

Outside the pitch, the makeshift crowd of officials was forming their opinions on what they were seeing.

"They're playing with an intensity that the A-Team can't match."

"Lucas is the engine, but the whole B-Team is united."

On the other side, Eddie, coach of Team-B, remained calm. He trusted his players. He knew they were ready to withstand the pressure.

With just five minutes left, Javier picked up the ball in midfield. He knew it was time to put everything on the line. With a precise pass, he found Willian on the right. The winger advanced at speed, ignoring Loki's marking, and crossed low towards Ethan.

"Mark Ethan!" shouted Raphael from the back.

Ethan, visibly worn out, couldn't run to control the ball. Daniel, ever attentive, cut in from the side, drawing applause from the spectators.

"That defender is very good!"

"Yes. He's cleared all the dangerous balls so far. He's very attentive."

The A-Team was pressing, but fatigue was clear. The intensity of the game from the start of the first half had sapped their energy throughout.

When the ball came back to Team-B, Lucas called for calm.

"Hold it, hold it!" he shouted to Miguel, who retreated to Denis.

They played the ball patiently, waiting for the moment to finish the game.

Jimenez clenched his jaw. He knew that defeat was looming, but he couldn't allow his players to surrender the game without fighting to the end.

Willian and Simon continued to double up on Lucas, but this created holes in other areas of the pitch. Taking advantage of this, Raphael received a long pass from Denis and shot in from the left. He looked into the area and crossed to Arthur, who was well positioned.

Arthur headed the ball powerfully, and the ball was closed. However, Mark deflected it out for a corner.

"Good try, Arthur!" shouted Lucas, running to take the corner. But there was no time for that.

The referee blew his whistle for the last time, with no chance for extra time so as not to wear out the players for future matches. The 5-3 scoreline was final.

Arthur, with three goals, and Lucas, with two, were the highlights of the match for Team-B.

Team-A was dejected, especially Ethan, who had been completely neutralized by Daniel and Luiz Fernando and didn't score.

The players walked to the center of the pitch for the final greeting. Lucas approached Javier, extending his hand.

"Good game." said Lucas, sincerely.

Javier hesitated for a moment before shaking Lucas' hand. "You were better today, but it's not over yet."

Lucas smiled, tiredly. "We're ready for anything."

Jimenez crossed his arms as he watched the scene. He knew that this defeat would have repercussions. They had decided that the winner of this game would be the one to play in the main competitions at the base. This decision could be questionable if the game was too close. Some might argue that Team-A was having a bad day. But, despite the score, Team-B was tactically superior throughout the game. For Jimenez, it was a hard decision, but now inevitable.

At the side of the pitch, some members of staff started whispering.

"Hey, have you heard the rumor?"

"What rumor?"

"Whoever wins this game will become the senior U20 team."

The news quickly spread: Team-B would replace Team-A in the main competitions. Many Team-A players protested, especially Ethan and Willian.

"Coach! This is ridiculous! We're the first team! You can't just take our spot away!" complained Ethan at the end of the match, gesturing with frustration.

"You had the chance to prove that you deserved the spot," replied Eddie calmly. "And today, they showed that they're better prepared."

Willian shook his head, annoyed. "That's not fair!"

However, they were nervous for nothing, at least Willian was nervous for nothing. The truth was that Team-B had a small squad. With only 12 players, long competitions were impossible. Everyone knew that meant pulling players from Team-A, which had 16 players.

While the Team-B players celebrated discreetly, Arthur sat on the grass, taking a deep breath. Lucas came over and sat down next to him.

"Three goals, huh? I'm glad you're regaining your confidence," said Lucas, smiling.

Arthur shrugged. "It could have been more. But it was worth it. We did what needed to be done. It was great to see the looks on those guys' faces when I scored."

Lucas nodded. "It's for real now, Arthur... We're the first team."

Arthur smiled. "Does that worry you?"

"No, we've shown we can play against anyone. My biggest goal this year is to win the Youth League."

While the players were talking, Jimenez approached Eddie.

"Congratulations, Eddie. Your team played very well. You've coached them superbly."

"Thanks, Jimenez. But you know, it wasn't just about today. Arthur, Miguel, Loki and Denis have been working hard for months."

"Happy to prove that you were right to propose the creation of the B-Team instead of expelling them?"

"Just seeing you desperate was worth it! HAHAHA!" Eddie slapped Jimenez on the back and laughed.

While the B-Team players stayed on the pitch, some sat on the grass and others chatted. The A-Team left, their faces a mix of frustration and resignation. Ethan kicked a water bottle on the way to the changing room, while Willian, with his arms crossed, avoided any eye contact.

Lucas stood up slowly, holding out his hand to Arthur, who was still sitting down. "Come on, Arthur."

Arthur smiled, but his face showed the fatigue of an intense match. He took Lucas' hand and stood up with a heavy sigh. "And what's the next step? Challenge Real Madrid?"

Lucas let out a low laugh. "Easy, one step at a time."

The Japanese boy who had just joined the club knew what he was saying. Thinking one step at a time was best. They had taken the first step towards becoming the A-Team. But, perhaps the biggest step was yet to come.

-:-

The sun was setting when silence fell over Brighton's training center.

The pitch, which hours earlier had been the scene of a fierce battle, was now empty, lit only by artificial lights.

The B-Team's victory over the A-Team had marked more than just a game; it was the harbinger of profound changes in the club's grassroots structure. However, what should have been a cause for celebration for some had become an institutional dilemma.

In the meeting room on the second floor of the complex, the glass walls allowed a privileged view of the pitches.

Sitting around a long, dark wooden table, Eddie and Alex waited in silence, while Jimenez, with his arms crossed, regarded at his hands. All three were tense, aware that the conversation that evening would be crucial.

The door to the room opened with a soft creak, and two club officials entered. The director of grassroots soccer, a burly, gray-haired man called Philip Dawson, led the group, followed by Linda Harrison, operations manager for the youth sector. Both wore neutral expressions, but they were not happy.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

"Good evening," began Philip, and he straightened his glasses before continuing. "We've received reports about today's game and we've also heard some rumors. We seem to have an... intriguing situation."

Eddie leaned forward in his chair. "Interesting situation, Philip? I'd call it a great opportunity. My team has shown that it's prepared to take on the biggest responsibilities."

Linda raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms. "Prepared, perhaps. But it's not just about performance on the pitch. You two," she pointed at Eddie and Jimenez, "decided on this game as a definitive criterion, but consulting no one in management. That's not how we do things around here, and you know it."

Jimenez finally said. "Look, Linda, I understand your concern. But we need to be honest. Team-B deserved it. They played with more grit, organization, and maturity than my Team-A. I can't justify keeping the major competitions with a group that was so clearly outclassed."

Philip frowned. "This decision may seem simple to you, but there are bigger implications. Sponsorship contracts, commitments to the board, expectations from families, agents... Not to mention the psychological impact on the A-Team players."

Alex, who had remained silent until then, shifted in his chair. "Psychological impact?" He smiled. "With all due respect, Mr. Dawson, the B-Team players will suffer most. They gave their all, but the club's rules favor tradition over merit. Those boys worked hard and won the most important game of their lives so far."

Linda shook her head slowly. "I'm not saying we won't recognize their merit, Alex. But turning a decision like that into something formal requires a process. We need to align it with everyone involved."

"Then let's formalize it. That game was a test. Team-B passed. Team-A didn't." Eddie said. "What we need to discuss here is not whether the exchange will happen, but how we're going to implement it in the best way."

Philip took a deep breath, clearly uncomfortable to be pressured. "Right, Eddie. Assuming we agree to promote Team-B to the top competitions, how do you plan to deal with the squad problem? There are only 12 players. It's impossible to sustain an entire season with that number."

Jimenez leaned his elbows on the table, visibly annoyed. "I think we can integrate some players from my group into Team-B to form a more robust team."

"Who?" Linda asked.

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