The two teams return to the field and the second half kicks off for Shūdan-teki.
Riccardo begins the second half by passing the ball to Nishimura, but Maebashi Ikuei immediately puts pressure on the ball carrier.
Ishikawa goes to press Nishimura.
They start with a high pressing right away!
So, seeing the situation, Nishimura passes the ball to Ono, then quickly runs around Ishikawa, behind him.
Ono notices Nishimura's movement and passes him the ball, also starting to advance.
Nishimura passes the ball back to Ono, before Ito reaches him.
These quick exchanges create space for Ono, who rushes forward until the opposing number 6 comes close to him.
But at that moment, Ono looks up and sees Riccardo coming to support him, right behind the number 6, even though Watanabe is following him closely.
Ono passes him the ball, however. Riccardo stops his run, using his strength to hold his ground against Watanabe. Then, he sees Ono sprint forward again and passes the ball back to him.
Just before he catches the ball, Ono notices that Ito is approaching quickly, so he drags the ball behind him with the sole of his foot, surprising Ito, who slips as he tries to catch up.
With that done, Ono passes to Nishimura, who is running freely toward the center of Maebashi Ikuei's half.
Nishimura pushes forward and sees several options: he can pass to Riccardo, who rushes into the box but is marked by both Watanabe and Takahashi, or he can send the ball out wide to Shimizu on the right flank, who is marked by Kamiyama.
What do I do?
Then he looks closer at the box and sees something... and a slight smile appears on his face.
If we want to take a risk...
Nishimura suddenly makes a high pass that takes the Maebashi Ikuei defense by surprise, even surprising Riccardo and Shimizu.
The ball ends up at the far post, where Tanaka dives into the area, followed closely by the Maebashi Ikuei right back, who clearly can't keep up.
Tanaka almost seems to taste the goal.
This time I'm not wrong!
Tanaka prepares to shoot with his right foot, but is suddenly interrupted by an acrobatic intervention by Takahashi, who reaches the ball and sends it out of the area.
"What?!" Tanaka exclaims, speechless at Takahashi's intervention.
The ball is in the air, and the first to reach it is Nishimura. He masterfully controls it with his left foot just outside the area and fakes a shot, completely fooling Ito.
"Damn!" Ito exclaims, frustrated at being fooled so easily.
With a delicate touch of his right foot, Nishimura sets up the ball and then shoots with his right foot, sending it towards the far post.
Kobayashi sees the ball only at the last moment, with so many players in front of him. He lunges towards it and manages to touch it with his fingertips, just enough to push it onto the post and send it into the corner.
Kobayashi breathes a sigh of relief as he watches the ball go out.
Coach Yamamoto, after watching the Shūdan-teki skillfully break through his team's pressing, is visibly worried.
"Calm down! Wait for them!" shouts Coach Yamamoto from the edge of the technical area.
Nishimura steps forward to take the corner from the left.
All the aerial threats are in the box, ready.
He hits the ball with his right foot: a cross that comes in towards the near post.
Riccardo is in the path and sprints towards the ball, but once again Takahashi beats him to it and clears it from the box.
As Riccardo lands, he locks eyes with Takahashi, his expression defiant.
Ito and Nishimura battle for the second ball, but Nishimura gets there first, controls it and passes it to Ono on the right side of the pitch.
Ono quickly passes to Shimizu, who is one-on-one with Kamiyama on the right flank.
Shimizu double-steps, then heads for the corner flag, but Kamiyama has already anticipated him and is sliding into the path. Just then, Shimizu cuts sharply with a right-footed touch, completely surprising his opponent.
After the play, Shimizu glances towards the center and crosses with his left foot.
Okamoto contests the ball, but Noguchi, who remained in the area after the corner, anticipates him and heads it in, creating an opportunity for Riccardo.
Riccardo immediately tries a powerful left-footed volley into the area, hitting it with the instep of his foot.
The shot makes its way through the crowd of players and, due to its power and speed, Kobayashi doesn't have time to react: he is standing still.
But the ball crashes into the top corner and ends up in a goal kick, saving Maebashi Ikuei.
Riccardo is visibly frustrated at having hit the woodwork.
Noguchi approaches and gives him a high five.
"Okay, keep going!" Noguchi says encouragingly.
Takahashi watches Riccardo with a burning and determined look.
He's dangerous... he could take a chance at any moment!
Kobayashi takes the clearance from the back, looking for Ishikawa, who heads it, but it's a poor one due to Tamura's pressure.
Somehow, Ito manages to reach the ball and immediately looks for the number 7 on the left flank, who begins to face Ueno.
Ueno doesn't give an inch, holding his ground firmly. The winger hesitates to attack, allowing Shimizu to double the lead.
Ito notices.
"Man in the back!"
The number 7 senses this and passes back to Ito, who has come closer.
Ito sees the number 6 and Watanabe advance, but chooses not to pass, preferring instead to push forward himself.
He launches himself straight at Ono, outpacing him, although Ono manages to stay on top of him physically.
With the outside of his right foot, Ito plays a tight pass to Ishikawa, positioned on the edge of the area.
Tamura is near Ishikawa, who freezes for a moment, unsure of what to do. He looks around and sees Ito crossing the field from left to right.
Seeing this, Ishikawa throws the ball to him. Ito is confident he can do it, but Aoki steps forward to intercept it just outside the area.
Ito notices in time and pushes the ball forward slightly, getting fouled.
Ito stands up and Ishikawa hands him the ball.
"Put it in!" Ishikawa encourages.
Ito places the ball where the foul was committed, while the referee counts the distance to the Shūdan-teki wall.
Ito waits patiently for Andou to organize his defenders.
Then the whistle blows. Ito strikes with his left foot, aiming for the top corner.
It's in! Ito thinks, full of excitement.
But Andou makes an incredible leap, reaching the ball just enough to avoid the goal.
Ito puts his hands on his head, amazed that Andou managed to save it.
But the ball bounces near the near post, where Ishikawa beats the Shūdan-teki defenders once again and is the first to reach it.
He volleys the ball to the near post, but even as he falls, Andou manages to raise his right arm and block the shot.
The spectators can't believe what they're seeing.
"What kind of saves are these?!"
"Is it a cat or something?!"
The ball, deflected by Andou, falls at Tamura's feet, who clears it away.
Coach Ishii watches the entire sequence, then glances at his bench.
Coach Suzuki notices and approaches.
"Do you want me to send someone to warm up?"
"For now, just Hamada and Nakamura," replies Coach Ishii.
Kaneko hears this and snorts, annoyed.
Meanwhile, the rebounded ball reaches Riccardo.
He controls the high ball elegantly, so fluidly that it stuns not only the players in front of him, but even Kaneko on the bench.
Nishimura, Tanaka, and Shimizu run forward, circling Riccardo.
Riccardo watches them, making the defenders think he's about to pass, then suddenly goes forward with lightning speed, heading straight for Watanabe.
Watanabe holds back.
I'll wait for his first move... he thinks.
But before he can even react, Riccardo pushes the ball forward and passes him.
Watanabe is shocked at how easily Riccardo has passed him. Kaneko watches every move, equally astonished.
Riccardo charges forward like a tank, heading straight for Maebashi Ikuei's penalty area.
Takahashi steps forward to tackle him, focused, determined to stop him.
Try whatever you want. I'll stop you.
"Aliberti!" "Here!" Shimizu and Nishimura ask for the ball as they enter the area.
Their presence makes Takahashi nervous.
Damn! He's about to pass the ball to one of them! he thinks, anxious.
But in a flash, Riccardo moves the ball with the outside of his right foot, preparing to shoot, completely surprising the captain of Maebashi Ikuei.
"Shit!" Takahashi exclaims, trying to intervene as quickly as possible.
Riccardo fires a powerful right-footed shot towards the top corner of the near post.
Kobayashi dives, but fails: the ball ricochets into the net.
All the opponents are left speechless by Riccardo's goal.
The observers take notes with enthusiasm, visibly moved.
Kaneko exhales again, sliding onto the bench.
At this rate... I'll never see the pitch... he thinks, defeated.
Nishimura and Shimizu are the first to celebrate the goal with Riccardo.
"Sorry, guys... I went for the solo option..." Riccardo says, a bit apologetically.
"Okay, as long as we score!" Shimizu laughs.
Mister Yamamoto is speechless after the goal.
"Damn... I know that Shūdan-teki always has extraordinary players every year... but right now, the only one making the difference is him..."
Mister Yamamoto glances at Mister Ishii, who remains silent, continuing to look at the field even after the goal.
The scoreboard now reads: 55 minutes played.
Maebashi Ikuei 1|2 Shūdan-teki