Chapter 92: Make Him Turn

Chapter 92 -90 – Make Him Turn

Rafael was finishing his warm-up at Stade Marcel-Tribut when the assistant coach called the attacking players together for their final instructions. ℴ

The days following his bowling outing had passed through training and preparations for Metz’s trip to Dunkerque. He’d exchanged a few messages with Camille during the week, although neither had found a suitable afternoon to meet again.

His attention had been on Friday’s match, particularly after the coaching staff confirmed his return to the starting eleven.

His assist against Sochaux had helped Metz secure a much-needed victory, and the manager wanted to use his pace against Dunkerque’s defence. Rafael would start on the left, with Renaud leading the attack and Perrin on the right, while Caron began among the substitutes.

Metz were also keeping the three central midfielders who’d provided better defensive protection in their previous match.

Rafael listened as the assistant finished speaking before returning to the others for the last few minutes of the warm-up.

By eight o’clock, the players were back on the pitch, and the noise around Stade Marcel-Tribut grew as Dunkerque prepared to get the match underway.

The home side started confidently, moving possession between their defenders before advancing through midfield. Their attacking players were comfortable receiving between the lines, but Metz remained organised, with the three central midfielders working close enough together to prevent easy passes towards the penalty area.

Rafael stayed near the left touchline whenever Metz defended, keeping an eye on Dunkerque’s right-back as he advanced to support his teammates. The defender was willing to push beyond halfway, but that also meant he had ground to recover whenever Metz won possession.

The first few minutes passed without either side creating a clear opportunity.

Then, in the eighth minute, Metz intercepted a pass near halfway and moved the ball quickly towards the left.

Rafael received near the touchline with Dunkerque’s right-back already approaching. The defender slowed a few yards away and turned his body slightly, positioning himself to block Rafael’s route towards the penalty area.

Rafael pushed his first touch forward and carried the ball towards him.

The right-back retreated, matching his movement while keeping enough distance to react. Rafael continued advancing until they approached the final third, then eased off his pace as though preparing to bring the ball inside.

The defender slowed with him and planted his feet, giving Rafael the opportunity he’d been waiting for.

He immediately pushed the ball down the outside and accelerated.

The change caught the right-back before he could turn properly. He twisted his hips and tried to recover, but Rafael’s next stride carried him past the defender’s shoulder, leaving him chasing towards his own penalty area.

Rafael reached the left corner of the box with the ball still close to his foot.

A centre-back was moving across to cover, while Renaud occupied the other defender near the middle. Rafael had enough room for one more touch, and he used it to open his body before driving a low shot towards the far corner.

Dunkerque’s goalkeeper dropped quickly towards his left and stretched out a hand, pushing the ball beyond the far post for a corner.

The travelling Metz supporters rose with a shout, their reaction carrying across the ground as Rafael slowed near the byline.

Perrin was already jogging across to take the corner, and Rafael made his way into the area alongside Renaud. The delivery reached the middle, but Dunkerque’s centre-back rose above his marker and headed clear.

Metz recovered the loose ball briefly before losing possession, allowing the home side to push out of their penalty area.

Dunkerque responded by moving the ball through midfield, trying to draw Metz’s central players forward before finding their attackers between the lines. One promising move ended when their striker failed to control a pass near the penalty spot, while another broke down after Metz’s nearest midfielder stepped across to intercept.

Rafael remained available on the left whenever his teammates recovered possession.

During another attack through his side, he received with the right-back closing and carried diagonally towards the centre. A Dunkerque midfielder moved across to support the defender, narrowing the space ahead of him, but Rafael released the ball inside before either could challenge.

The supporting Metz midfielder received facing forward and continued the move through the centre, allowing the visitors to switch possession towards Perrin.

Perrin took the ball near the right corner of the penalty area, moved inside and attempted a shot from distance, only for his effort to pass narrowly wide.

Dunkerque created their first opening a few minutes later, when their attacking midfielder combined with the striker near the edge of Metz’s penalty area. The return pass allowed him to turn and shoot, but he couldn’t generate much power, and Metz’s goalkeeper gathered comfortably.

The match remained competitive, with neither side enjoying complete control of possession.

Dunkerque’s right-back had begun positioning himself a little deeper after his opening encounter with Rafael, keeping enough distance to avoid being beaten down the outside again. Whenever Metz moved the ball towards the left, he approached carefully rather than committing to an early challenge.

Rafael continued offering himself for passes, sometimes coming short to receive before turning towards the defender.

In the twenty-fourth minute, Metz recovered possession near halfway after Dunkerque attempted to force a pass through midfield.

The ball reached Renaud with a centre-back pressing into his back, and the striker protected it long enough to return possession to a supporting midfielder.

The midfielder turned into the space ahead before releasing Rafael towards the left.

Rafael received several yards outside the penalty area, with Dunkerque’s right-back already moving across to protect the outside channel.

He advanced without increasing his pace, giving the defender time to retreat two steps before settling into a side-on stance.

Rafael dropped his left shoulder and shifted his hips towards the touchline, carrying his next step in the same direction.

The right-back reacted, moving his weight towards the outside to block another burst of acceleration.

[BODY FEINT ACTIVATED]

Instead of continuing down the line, Rafael brought the ball sharply across his body with his right foot.

The defender tried to change direction, but his momentum was already carrying him towards the touchline, and by the time he planted his other foot, Rafael had slipped beyond his inside shoulder.

A Dunkerque midfielder was approaching from the centre.

Rafael saw him coming and carried his next touch across the midfielder’s path, moving beyond the attempted challenge before the opponent could get his foot to the ball.

The midfielder stretched out a leg but couldn’t reach him.

Rafael accelerated into the penalty area as the right-back chased from behind, while the nearest centre-back stepped away from Renaud to close the shooting lane.

There was only a narrow opening towards the far corner, and the defender was already preparing to block.

Rafael planted his left foot and struck low across goal with his right.

The centre-back lunged, but the shot passed beyond his outstretched leg. Dunkerque’s goalkeeper dived towards the far post, stretching as the ball travelled across him, but he couldn’t get his hand to it.

The shot struck the inside of the far post and went in.

USL DUNKERQUE 0–1 FC METZ