It's the semifinals against Yoin High,
led by the Emperor, Tooru Asuka.
After taking the field early in the game,
Kakeru boldly used his Phi Trick
when facing Asuka-san for the first time,
then fought to assist Araki-san's shot,
giving Enoshima the first goal.
However, Yoin came back and used an unexpected strategy,
in which Asuka-san was bait, and tied up the game,
showing their deep inner strength.
Yoin is strong, but the match is just beginning.
Desperate Situation
Enoshima Yoin
The score is 1-1, still a tie,
with only moments left in the half.
The two aces, Araki and Asuka, are facing off.
Amazing.
Yoin is completely shutting down all the Enoshima attackers.
Even if they manage to get the ball,
they won't be able to move forward, or even pass it on.
Won't it be up to Kakeru then, Sera?
Kakeru should be able to slip past his defender
and get open.
That won't happen.
Look at Asuka's positioning.
While sparring with Araki,
he's blocking off his through pass options.
They're still going. It's a long face-off.
Araki still has the ball, but he's got nowhere to go.
Damn it. There aren't any gaps.
Araki!
Oda is running up behind Araki!
Here goes nothing.
Oda's middle shot.
But Asuka slides in!
The ball rolls into the vital area.
The first one to get there is...
I can make it.
Aizawa!
Out of nowhere, Aizawa comes running for the free ball.
Is this the intuition of a striker?
Keeper!
Okay!
The course...
Aizawa shoots!
Close! The ball is just outside the goal.
Enoshima didn't get that goal.
Mishima-san, how much time in the first half?
Oh, sure.
There's three minutes, plus loss time.
If we're going to play our hand, it has to be now.
That was close, Aizawa.
I'm sorry. I know I had to make it.
It's Asuka.
Huh?
At the same time he calls out to the keeper,
he's organizing the defenders,
telling them where your shot will go.
He's a real pain.
Enoshima is making a substitution.
It's finally my time!
It's Nakatsuka.
Coming in for Yakumo is the first year, Kota Nakatsuka.
Good work. Leave the rest to me.
Don't take them lightly.
All right! I'm gonna push 'em back!
Sawamura moves from the left side to the right,
and Nakatsuka comes in for the left defensive middle.
Coach, even though we've increased
the number of offensive players,
matching up Nakatsuka with Onimaru-san seems...
Wouldn't it be better to keep Sawamura-san on the left side?
It's true that Sawamura-kun's tough defense
was difficult for Onimaru-kun,
but that last goal occurred
because Yoin changed their strategy.
When Onimaru-kun cuts towards the goal,
Sawamura will be his opponent,
but to prevent a fast dribble down the sidelines,
we need Kota-kun's speed.
Honestly, it's a gamble,
but if we don't do something,
we can't prevent them from scoring.
Still,
I'm worried about Nakatsuka's defense.
It's all right.
I've told Kota-kun what he needs to do.
I'll have him running non-stop
between offense and defense
and get rid of this bad mood with his energetic attitude.
All right! All right!
If you get the ball, pass it to the sides!
You stay back!
Sides! Sides!
The game restarts with Yoin's goal kick.
The short ball goes to Sendo.
Sendo sends the ball to Shiratori on the side.
I'll stop you here.
The forward, Hino, moves in for a fast check.
The ball goes from Shiratori to Asuka in the middle.
Onimaru!
To Onimaru. His opponent is...
Nakatsuka! This is their first match up.
Be careful, Nakatsuka!
Kota-kun! Go for it!
Leave it to me!
I knew it.
Onimaru is running up the side... Wait!
Wait, wait, wait, wait!
It's Nakatsuka.
Onimaru slipped past Nakatsuka once,
but out of nowhere, Nakatsuka is again on Onimaru's back.
This guy...
This is where it starts.
Kota-kun will be able to keep up with Onimaru's speed.
After all, he may look like that, but he can run
50 meters in 6.2 seconds.
He's faster than me?
Really? I didn't know that.
He isn't very good at dribbling,
so it may not look like it,
but if he's just running,
Onimaru-kun won't easily shake him off.
In order to lower the risk
of an open sideline shot from in front of the goal,
I wanted to put him in, even if it's just for speed.
Nakatsuka's fast! He's closing in on Onimaru.
Kota!
Not bad.
This time I've put Kota-kun in,
not for attack, but to defend the sidelines.
Nakatsuka's caught Onimaru!
I'm not letting you get away!
Onimaru leave Nakatsuka and cuts into the middle.
This could be dangerous.
You're not getting through.
But here's Oda.
In a simple one-on-one, this man is hard to shake.
This is good.
Now there won't be a repeat of the play that let them score.
Yoin makes a big side change.
The ball flies with perfect accuracy to Shiratori on the opposite side.
All right.
I won't let you. I'll stop you.
He had trouble against Onimaru,
but Sawamura isn't falling for Shiratori's feints.
Shiratori!
Here's Asuka.
The dangerous man who uses the whole field
appeared on the left side,
as if he knew this side change was going to occur.
I won't let you.
Aizawa was chasing down Asuka.
Did these two know where the ball would be?
I'll stop him here and give it to Araki-san.
Hino is moving in to join them.
What will you do, Emperor Tooru Asuka?
A-A long shot?
Asuka goes for a long shot with his left foot.
No. If he was shooting from the left side
he would use his right foot to apply a hook.
This is...
No! This is a long pass to Onimaru on the opposite side.
Onimaru has outrun Nakatsuka in a free sprint.
We did this hundreds of times in practice.
Because we practiced and practiced,
I can confidently run towards this point.
Believing that Asuka-san's pass will land here.
The pass, cutting a diagonal 50 meters across the Enoshima defense,
is going to Onimaru.
I don't believe it.
What a guy.
Watch carefully, Enoshima.
No matter how difficult the opponent,
to protect the legacy of our senpais who won in the end...
We can't lose!
The burdens we carry are different!
This is...
Yoin's soccer.
Goal!
At the end of the first half, Yoin's Ikusa scores.
It's 1-2, Enoshima allowed them a comeback goal.
Damn it.
Snap out of it! We'll take it right back.
Don't worry. We're restarting right away.
That was the referee's whistle.
Enoshima gives away the comeback goal and the first half ends.
I was naive.
Even though Nakatsuka
was able to stop Onimaru-san's fast dribble once...
Yes. However,
Onimaru-kun escaped his mark by making a side change
and ran for that spot, just before the end line,
where Asuka-kun sent his long pass.
I can't believe they planned this kind of formation play
in the event that there would be
a defender who could keep up with Onimaru-kun.
After allowing a goal at the end of the first half,
when you should never lose a point,
how will Enoshima recover in the second half?
I don't know about recovering.
That goal wasn't because Enoshima's defense fell apart.
Kakeru seemed to be doing well, too,
so who knows what will happen.
They're playing against Yoin's Asuka-san.
Your friends knew best that that goal was critical.
Kakeru is the striker that Suguru was searching for.
He isn't the kind of guy who would give up over something like this.
Suguru?
You mean, Suguru Aizawa?
Yeah. Kakeru is Suguru's younger brother.
If what happened hadn't occurred,
Suguru would be playing in Kama's below top: your position.
That's right. Kakeru won't give up now.
You're going no matter what, Kakeru?
Yep. I just have to see what it's like to play with
this Araki-san who my brother acknowledged.
So then you'll never receive my passes again.
That's not true.
In the junior league or for the country,
our soccer will continue.
Kakeru...
I decided that I'll never run away again.
Yusuke!
What's wrong, Yusuke? You were spacing out.
Sorry, Kunimatsu-san.
How's Kakeru— I mean, how's Enoshima?
Yeah.
Everyone, you understand the coach's instructions?
Even when the ball goes to the opposite side,
Nakatsuka will stay on Onimaru.
Wait for the signal to go on the offensive.
Got it!
Defenders, don't neglect following up on the sidelines,
and be careful of Asuka's overlap.
Okay!
Crush, crush, crush!
We've got to score a goal.
Yes. I'll definitely do my job as a striker.
You said it.
Then let's win and eat some yakiniku.
Let's win this match!
Yeah!
Five minutes into the second half.
The score is 1-2, Yoin's lead.
It's Enoshima's ball at midfield.
What will you do, Araki?
Is this a plan to protect their one goal lead?
The withdrawn Yoin shows no signs of active movement.
Now then...
As long as Asuka-kun is in front of the goal,
we cannot easily get behind the defensive line.
Falling for their offsides trap is just what Yoin wants.
They aren't an opponent that we can easily dribble past.
Their defense isn't just good at one-on-one,
they're good at using everyone around them.
Looking for Araki's pass, Aizawa is heading into the vital area.
Kakeru.
Yes.
Do you remember?
Huh?
We'll break through their iron defense with a pass of our own.
Yes!
What's wrong? Aren't you attacking?
Araki, still at midfield, isn't moving.
Is he carefully deciding his play?
Will he go to one of his wings
or towards the back of the defense using Aizawa?
Let's go with that.
It's to Takase.
But did he miskick? The pass is long.
All right. Side out.
Takase jumps!
What?
He's good.
He drops the high ball with a header behind Yoin's Maya
and breaks into a sprint.
A wing player with that height is rare,
so the defense isn't used to that sort of sideline high ball.
Using that, we can get past the defense during their
momentary delay and cut diagonally across.
Takase is within middle shot distance,
but Araki is heading into the vital area as well.
I'll give this to Araki-san.
He sends it to Araki.
Hino is coming in from the right side
and Takase, who just passed,
is heading into the area as well.
Ohtsuki, cover number 9.
Mukai, a little forward.
Aizawa is still in the vital area.
Araki passes to Aizawa behind him
and he runs into the area!
What?
But then Kakeru-kun's pass will be offsides.
No. They're aiming for...
A middle shot!
What?
The goal keeper is distracted by Araki and isn't prepared.
The tying score is heading for the goal!
Asuka hits it,
but the ball is still heading for the goal!
An exciting middle shot against the defense
which was looking for an offsides.
It was so close, it hit the bar.
Damn it.
So close.
No, that was fine.
Now that we've show them Kakeru-kun's powerful middle shot,
if Araki-kun or Mako-kun can shoot aggressively...
Those two really did it.
Fearing a middle shot,
the defense will move up and
create a chance to take their back.
It's what was used in the inter-high game against
the withdrawn and hardened SC defense.
Nice, Asuka.
What's wrong?
It appears that it's still early for the total defense.
Huh?
We're going to get another goal,
to take away the chance of an unexpected play.
It's Araki's corner kick.
They've still got a chance.
It's up!
The ball is deflected in a rough contest.
It's Aizawa!
But Asuka marks him.
Aizawa takes a hard shot.
How rare.
Asuka doesn't take single marks like that.
It's because he's Suguru's brother.
Back when Asuka and I were juniors at Yokohama,
we had a match against Kama.
Remember, Kunimatsu?
Yes. I was on the bench,
but Suguru was already wearing number 10
for Kama by the summer of his first year.
It was a practice match,
but Suguru had just returned from
his representation tour in Europe.
Yokohama
Kama High
Suguru appeared 15 minutes before the end of the match.
He was probably jetlagged and it was a practice match,
so the coach probably didn't intend to put him in.
But...
at the moment, even though it was 2-0
and I don't know why, he said he wanted to go in.
He said he ran there, so he didn't need a warm up,
and he begged the coach.
With 10 minutes left, he went onto the field.
I was a little excited.
I was going to see the true strength of a genius player.
After all, after Suguru went to Kama High school,
he had a number of representative matches and tours so,
practices against teammates aside,
I never had the chance to see him play
against a strong opponent,
even though I had been on his team.
I still remember those 10 minutes clearly.
The game changed after Suguru went in...
In the end, he scored 2 goals
and 1 assist in those 10 minutes
and turned the game on its head.
Well, at that time, neither I nor Asuka
was at a representative level.
Wearing the Japanese flag, touring the world,
coming back twice as good, Suguru easily kicked us aside.
That's an amazing story.
Since then, I've practiced furiously.
I chose Kama as my high school without hesitation
and turned down the youth invitations
and decided to play club...
Because of Suguru-san.
It's an old story,
but Asuka probably experienced something similar.
Takajo-san, you're always looking critically at Kakeru,
but it also means he's got your attention,
because he's Suguru-san's little brother.
No, maybe he has something
that Suguru-san didn't have.
Maybe Takajo-san and Asuka-san see that in him...
Aizawa, middle shot!
This time the keeper catches it.
Kakeru!
I wonder if Kake-nii is okay.
He looks like he's in pain.
Aizawa is after the ball. Will he reach it?
It's almost time to go home, you two.
Just a little longer!
Goal!
You're a cheater, Brother!
That makes it 9-0.
If I score one more goal, it's over.
I won't lose. It's my turn next.
Honestly...
Suguru, you really like soccer.
Yep. I love it!
I going to win the World Cup, when I grow up.
Oh, shoot.
Kakeru...
Amazing, Kakeru. That was an amazing shot.
Brother, can I go to the World Cup, too?
Let's go together, Kakeru. It's a promise.
Your father will be home soon. Let's go.
Soccer is fine, but don't do anything dangerous.
Don't worry.
I'll protect Kakeru.
Forever and ever.
Yeah!
Aizawa faces the defense again!
Go, Enoshima!
Go, Kake-nii!
Go, Kakeru.
Araki!
Hyodo's middle shot!
Damn. No good.
We'll shoot as many times as it takes.
Kakeru's being completely marked.
He can get free in the vital area,
but in the penalty area, Asuka-san is marking him.
It's probably pretty hard on him.
Asuka-san is probably thinking,
if something is going to happen, Kakeru holds the key.
Oda overlaps and shoots!
Inaba clears it.
Enoshima continues to shoot middle shots.
I see.
By repeatedly taking middle shots,
the defensive line moves up.
They're making space behind for Kakeruchhi.
If all goes well.
But if Asuka reads him, they could be in trouble.
Still, if they don't go that far, it isn't any fun.
Keep pushing harder, harder, harder.
Oda slowly dribbles into the defense.
On either side are Hyodo and Araki,
but will they keep shooting from the middle?
Watch number 8!
He's got a middle shot as well.
Cut to the right!
There are two defenders on him.
Will Araki be able to hold on to the ball?
I'll show you the best drama.
It's a one-touch pass.
I've set the stage.
It's to Hino?
Follow me. This ball is...
Takase?
This ball is definitely through.
No, it's through...
The one who's waiting for the ball is...
Aizawa!
It connected!
Do what a striker is supposed to do!
The entire offense's spirit is together and
they've made it behind the back line into critical space.
Kakeru, make it.
Aizawa!
Go!
We're counting on you!
Kakeru!
Wearing number 11, Kakeru Aizawa is running in.
Put the tying point in the goal, Kakeru!
This is the chance that everyone worked together to make.
I definitely won't waste it.
The keeper is right handed,
he won't reach the opposite corner.
Don't float it over.
Push it straight in.
Go!
G-Goal!
What an attack!
Talk about lightning speed!
The tie goal against Yoin!
Why...
Next Episode: Tenacity To Win
Emperor Asuka's power is overwhelming.
Repelled every time he takes him on,
Kakeru has already accepted defeat in his heart.
But just then, his late brother Suguru's voice
echoes in his mind.
Kakeru entrusts everything to it, even knowing there's no hope.
What is Suguru trying to tell him?
Next time on Knight in the Area,
episode 24: "Tenacity to Win."
Seven, my brother is with me now!