Chapter Three: Not for Sale to Northport

Kovac blocked the direct route and forced a square pass. Vidal intercepted and gave his first touch to Kovac. The defender's long diagonal cleared Northport's midfield and landed at Reed's feet. Three seconds later, the ball rolled inside the far post. One-nil. The commentator called it “an accidental moment of inspiration.” Lin's screen showed that the route had succeeded seventeen times in six days of training. Seabridge won two-nil. Kovac attempted no tackles but completed nine progressive passes. Vidal's official line read one interception, no assists, yet Northport did not complete a single fast attack through the center. After the match, Duran avoided the interview area and stopped beneath the analysis platform.