Chapter Five: A Defeat Worth Sixty-One Percent

Crown City's first goal matched page seven of Lin's prematch plan. Bello received in the left half-space. Adrian Kane came toward the same ball, squeezing one channel down to two yards. Bello forced a turn and lost possession. Kovac stepped, but Vidal had to cover the position Kane had abandoned. One vertical pass split the center. Eleven seconds later, the ball entered Seabridge's net. From the analysis platform, Lin sent the timestamp to the bench. No answer came. Veer could see it. Three pressures held him in his seat: the board required a £52 million signing to start; assistant coach Harold insisted on last season's 4-3-3; the press waited for him to admit preseason had been a coincidence.