Chapter 54

Soon the ball was kicked off and the players sprung into action. Khai sprinted down the field, dribbling past the opposition's defense and passing the ball to Trent. Trent made a quick move and passed the ball to Henry who was running down the right side of the field. The Strikers' defense was caught off guard as Henry used his speed and agility to maneuver past them, sending a crisp pass to Declan who was waiting in the box.

The crowd erupted with excitement as Declan took the shot, but the Strikers' keeper, Ryan, managed to save it with a diving stop. The Raiders didn't give up, with Khai and Trent pushing the offense, working the ball up the field. Phillip and Donald tried to steal the ball for the Strikers, but Austin was quick to react and made a crucial save, keeping the Raiders in the lead.

Khai was leading charge, his skillful dribbling leaving the Strikers struggling to keep up. He passed the ball to Declan who pushed towards the goal with wings on his feet. The Strikers' defense was relentless, but the Raiders were relentless in their attack.

Suddenly, Philip stole the ball from Declan and passed it to Alex, who quickly took off down the field. Austin, the Raiders' goalkeeper, was ready and waiting. He was quick and agile, diving to the ground to make a save that sent the crowd into a frenzy. The Raiders' defense was on fire, and they worked together to stop the Strikers from scoring.

The game was intense, with both teams giving their all. The ball moved from one player to another with lightning speed, and the players' movements were precise and calculated. They worked together to stop the Strikers from scoring, and the crowd was on the edge of their seats with each save that Austin made.

In a flash, Khai intercepted a pass from Alex, the Striker's midfielder, and dribbled towards the goal. The crowd held its breath as Khai faked out the Strikers' defender and sent a powerful shot into the back of the net. GOAL!

The Raiders' supporters erupted in cheers as Khai jogged back to his position, a wide grin spreading across his face. The crowd was in a frenzied celebration and the Raiders fans jumped up from their seats, shouting and chanting in delight. Students hugged each other, while some others raised their hands in the air, screamed Khai's name.

The Strikers regrouped quickly, determined to even the score. They dominated possession for the next few minutes, with Phillip and Alex leading charge. However, their efforts were in vain as Austin pulled off a series of stunning saves to keep the Strikers at bay.

With the Strikers pressing forward, the Raiders saw an opportunity to counterattack. Khai received a pass from Trent, his midfield partner, and dribbled down the field. The Strikers' defense was caught off guard as Khai faked out two defenders and sent a curling shot into the top corner of the goal.

The Strikers were not about to give up, and they fought back with all their might. They pressed forward, and their relentless attack had the Raiders struggling to keep up. But Khai was determined to keep the lead, and he made a magnificent run down the field, dribbling past three Strikers and scoring a goal that left the crowd in awe.

A loud whistle from Gordon, indicated half-time, almost drowned in the cheers and chants erupting from the crowd. The players split to their locker rooms for half time to rehydrate, and receive instruction and feedback from their coaches.

Khai emptied a bottle of water on his face as he took a look at the rest of his team. The players were visibly exhausted, but they had the lead. He knew the Strikers were holding back, waiting to exhaust their opponents so they could push through in the second half.

But he wasn't going to let that happen. He refused to loose, especially because practicing for this match cost him time that he could've spent with Ana.

After their short break, the Strikers had raised their game, playing with a ferocity that was unmatched. They barreled forward, determined to strike a goal and take the lead. Khai attempted to intercept the ball, but Joseph, a player from the Striker's with an impressive physique, attacked him with a side tackle, ramming into Khai and tumbling on the ground, crushing him underneath.

The crowd gasped as Gordon blew the whistle, calling Joseph out for his rough play. Ana clutched Maeve's hand tightly as her eyes zeroed in on Khai. He spit out a mix of blood and saliva, glaring at Joseph as he barred his teeth at him, his eyes holding the gaze of a predatory wolf.

The Strikers attempted to continue their rough play, and Raiders' right mid-fielder Davis, went down next after being aggressively pushed from behind by Ramirez. Khai's whole body set ablaze as he decided to end this game once and for all. He gazed at Trent and signaled something with his hands, Trent nodded, scanning the field as he calculated his opponent's trajectory and moved into position, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

As Alex approached, Trent made his move. With a quick burst of speed, he closed in on the ball. Just as Alex was about to take his shot, Trent reached out and deftly intercepted the ball. He passed it to Khai with astonishing precision. Khai was a blur as he dribbled past one defender after another. The Strikers came at him from all sides, trying to take him down, but Khai was one step ahead. He ducked, dodged, and swerved, his eyes never leaving the goal and he made his way towards it. The crowd held its breath as Khai approached the penalty box, the finish line in sight.

The Strikers made one final push, determined to stop Khai. But he was ready for them. With a quick turn, he faked out the defender, leaving him in the clear. He took the shot with a powerful kick, the ball flying towards the goal. It was a perfect strike, and the goal keeper had no chance of stopping it. GOAL!