Chapter Five: A Goal Defended by Nine

In the fifty-first minute, Zhao stopped a breakaway and saw red. Twelve minutes later, Chen received a second yellow. Cape City were down to nine and losing one-nil. Gu walked to the touchline. “Put me on.” Gold words appeared: [With nine players, defend for twelve consecutive minutes. Every player must make one effective defensive action. Echo duration: four minutes.] Using Gu meant sacrificing a runner, but without him there was no one to carry the Echo. “Can you defend?” Shen asked. “A forward's first job is deciding where the opponent begins.” Gu entered in the sixty-sixth minute. The twelve minutes began. Red River attacked in waves. Qiu headed out a corner, Han blocked a drive, and Luo chased to the flag to tackle. Names lit one by one.