Chapter 102 - 16: Growing in the Wildest Way

Chapter 102: Chapter 16: Growing in the Wildest Way

Davor Suker failed to reach the ball in time and couldn’t get a touch on it. He shook his head helplessly, a flicker of frustration crossing his mind.

’If it were my old self, I definitely would have made it.’

But as he got older, his body’s functions had declined, and his Explosive Power had taken a major hit.

"?uker just doesn’t have that burst anymore!"

On the sidelines, Be?i? saw this as well, sighing to himself.

The Croatian warrior who once moved like lightning on the field had now entered his twilight years.

During that burst of acceleration just now, Davor Suker pumped his arms furiously, but his legs just couldn’t propel his heavy body forward.

But he couldn’t be blamed. After all, time spares no one.

"Hey, don’t worry about it! I’ll pass it to your feet next time!" Suk shouted to Davor Suker.

Davor Suker laughed and shot back, "Bullshit! Pass it into space!"

He knew Suk was just encouraging him.

But he was Davor Suker. He wasn’t about to lose his confidence over a small setback like this.

’What the hell!’

Over on the other side, Hibbenik’s full-back, Yaklim, stared at Suk in utter shock.

The guy’s Explosive Power and Speed were so incredible he felt like he’d been left in the dust.

From the moment he took off, Suk was already ahead.

With his formidable Explosive Power and unparalleled Speed, the guy used no feints at all. He just burned him with pure speed.

And that, of all things, was what stung the most.

"I can’t keep up with him!"

Yaklim stated bluntly.

He knew he couldn’t take him on directly. If that guy got past him a few more times, his entire flank would be demolished.

So, he actively called for backup.

"I’ll cover for you, you just stick to him!"

Hibbenik’s center-back, Pedra, shouted.

This was a small relief for Yaklim, who quickly nodded in understanding.

When play resumed, Yaklim stuck to Suk like glue.

The moment Suk got the ball, he was on him, giving him absolutely no space to turn or break away.

Suk’s Power had improved a bit, but he still couldn’t hold his ground against the pressure.

He tried backing off to create some distance, but the guy stayed on him like a shadow.

With no other choice, Suk passed the ball back.

As Suk turned his head, Yaklim sneered, "I’ve got you marked."

"Are you sure?"

With that, Suk turned and retreated all the way back to the midfield line, then shot a provocative glance at Yaklim.

’You dare follow me?’

Yaklim blinked. Only a fool would follow him up there.

That would just give Suk a runway. Once he shook him off, it wouldn’t be impossible for him to charge all the way into the penalty area with that kind of speed.

Seeing he had finally shaken off his opponent, Suk breathed a sigh of relief.

In fact, he had been a little worried the guy might actually follow him.

"Serna! Pass it here!"

Suk yelled.

Seeing Suk in open space, Serna immediately sent a pass down the wing.

The moment Suk received the ball, two opponents immediately double-teamed him.

Suk one-touched the ball to a surging Modric, who then played it into the open space ahead of Suk.

"Watch out! Number 7 is about to make a run!"

The defensive midfielder Bashelich roared.

But he found that Suk hadn’t moved an inch.

’Then that pass was for...’

WHOOSH!!

Behind Suk, the full-back Serna made a quick overlapping run, charging toward the byline.

"Damn it!"

Bashelich turned and sprinted to provide cover. At the same time, Suk began to press forward into the half-space.

Just as Serna was trapped by two opponents on the wing, Suk arrived in an open pocket in the half-space.

"Suk!"

Serna roared, squeezing a pass through the gap between the two defenders.

The ball shot between them and landed smoothly at Suk’s feet.

Suk took the ball and drove into the penalty area.

"They’ve broken through again!!"

"Suk!!"

As Suk was Dribbling, he saw that Davor Suker and Valeric had drawn the entire defensive line with them, pulling them deep toward the six-yard box.

And the space between the penalty spot and the edge of the box was wide open.

Without even looking, Suk slotted the ball into that space.

"Luka!!"

The moment Suk shouted, Modric surged forward and, completely unmarked, unleashed a ferocious shot.

The ball rocketed into the crowd of players, struck the foot of an opposing center-back, and rebounded right back to Suk.

Suk immediately moved to control the ball, planting his feet on the byline.

The opposing center-back, Pedra, lunged forward with his foot, trying to break up the dangerous play.

But Suk simply flicked the ball with the tip of his boot and slipped past him along the byline.

When the other center-back, Bastekro, moved to intercept, Suk hastily flicked the ball up again.

This time, it was a move born of panic.

Suk almost subconsciously lobbed the ball over the defender’s head, just trying to get it into a dangerous area.

It just so happened to sail over the center-back and drop toward Davor Suker.

Seeing such a golden opportunity, Davor Suker didn’t hesitate. He twisted his body and fired a powerful side volley.

The ball slipped through the gap between the keeper’s hands and flew into the back of the net.

In the 31st minute, an assist from Suk allowed Davor Suker to score the first goal of the match.

ROOOOAR!——

The more than two thousand Dinamo Zagreb fans in the stadium roared and cheered.

They had taken the lead away from home.

Modric and the others also roared in excitement.

A draw?

A draw my ass!

They wanted a victory!

Head Coach Be?i? clapped lightly, a slight smile on his lips.

"Your reverse psychology worked very well."

Assistant Coach Kleman said with a smile.

Be?i? nodded. "Young players are easily provoked, but that’s a good thing. Their competitive spirit makes them play with more energy and excellence. Of course, sometimes getting too hot-headed also leads to mistakes."

Assistant Coach Kleman added, "But there’s one who doesn’t seem to have been provoked."

"Suk?" Be?i? laughed. "He doesn’t need to be provoked. He’s always calm!"

Assistant Coach Kleman nodded. "Suk is playing really well."

Be?i? remarked with feeling, "Yes, his performance has even surprised me. Honestly, all I needed was for him to keep pressure on the flank, and I would’ve considered his job well done. But now, he’s become our primary attacking threat."

Assistant Coach Kleman asked, "Is that why you had ?uker hold back?"

Be?i? nodded. "Suk is the one who needs to improve, and Suk is the one we need to develop. So ?uker came to me and offered to cede his space."

Kleman said in surprise, "?uker offered to cede his space?"

You have to understand, stars like Davor Suker are forged in the fires of constant competition. Getting them to give up space and resources is incredibly difficult, let alone having them propose it themselves.

Be?i? smiled. "?uker is retiring at the end of this season. He’s using this season to pass on his experience to these young players. And besides, I completely agree with something he said."

"What’s that?"

"Young men should be allowed to grow in the wildest way possible!"

....

"Pass!"

"I’m open here!"

"Switch it! Switch it!"

"Shoot!"

"Duimovic, shoot!"

Awww~!

Suk, Serna, and the others all covered their eyes in unison.

Duimovic, watching his shot miss the goal by a country mile, flushed red and snapped back, "Like none of you have ever shanked one?"

"At least I wouldn’t kick it into the stands!" Suk shrugged.

Serna twisted the knife. "There are no stands over there. He kicked the ball out of the stadium!"

"Wow!" Suk gave Duimovic a thumbs-up. "Home run!"

Duimovic’s face turned beet red from the ribbing, and he playfully lunged at them.

"I’m gonna shut your traps!"

Dinamo Zagreb dominated Hibbenik in the first half, leading 1-0.

And in the second half, Dinamo Zagreb played even better.

Suk’s breakthroughs on the wing, Serna’s overlapping runs, Vukojevic’s sweeping in midfield, Modric’s control of the center of the park, Duimovic’s well-timed forward runs, and Planic’s solid defense—all of it allowed Dinamo Zagreb to gradually push up the field and lay siege to the opponent’s penalty area.

However, with the opposition falling back and desperately defending their box, Suk and the others couldn’t find any good shooting opportunities.

It wasn’t until the 81st minute that Davor Suker capitalized on a Set Piece in the attacking half created by Serna, scoring with a signature "Golden Left Foot" curling free kick to extend the lead.

The match ended.

Dinamo Zagreb defeated Hibbenik 2-0 away from home.

On the bus ride back, Modric and the others started to boast loudly.

"See! We got the three points!" Modric said with a smug look.

Serna also gloated, "And we kept a clean sheet!"

Duimovic said with a sly grin, "I remember someone said... uh..."

From the gap between two headrests, Head Coach Be?i? shot a death glare.

"I’m the one who said it. Got a problem?" Be?i?’s voice was sharp and cold. Duimovic immediately backpedaled, "No problem! No problem at all!"

Suk watched the lively scene, hands tucked in his pockets, and remarked to himself, ’Ah, to be young and full of energy.’

Davor Suker silently looked at Suk.

"You’re the youngest one here!"

...

By the time they returned to the Zagreb training facility, it was already around 10 PM.

"I’m heading out, see you tomorrow!"

Modric, holding his father’s hand, said goodbye to Suk and the others.

Suk yawned, nodded, and then turned to Mandzukic. "Hey, you coming? Let’s head back and get some sleep."

Mandzukic replied, "You go on ahead. I’ll be back soon."

Suk glanced at Mandzukic. The guy had suffered a few setbacks recently and probably wanted to blow off some steam.

Suk didn’t think much of it and turned to go back to the dorm.

After a hot shower, Suk opened the system panel, ready to do the post-match lottery draw.

The familiar lottery panel appeared. Suk yawned again and rubbed his eyes. When he looked at the panel again, five cards had appeared before him.

And at the very end, a card was emitting a faint yellow glow.

A Yellow Card!!——

Suk was wide awake in an instant!