Chapter Three: The Cheapest Point

“A balance-sheet formation. Defeat by one and defeat by two both pay zero points.” Crown cleared the final corner, and Samuel raced toward an empty net. Luo could not catch him. Instead, two seconds early, he ran toward the passing lane and intercepted. His next ball found the lighthouse position on the right. A-He controlled it. The fullback blocked the cut inside; the goalkeeper guarded the near post. Every obvious route was closed, but the teenager saw a moving absence behind the goalkeeper and between the center backs. He crossed with the outside of his boot. Vaughan, sprinting all the way from midfield, leaped into the box. He never touched the ball, but dragged a defender away. The cross reached the far post, where Luo had somehow arrived.