Plot[]
First Selection Arc[]
Team Z vs Team Y[]
Kuon tells Team Z that Team Y is in a similar situation with them. Like Team Z, if Team Y loses, they will be up for elimination and unable to recover. Also, Kuon warns the team to watch out for Hibiki Okawa, rank 254.
Okawa lacks involvement.
During the spirited match between Team Z and Team Y, Isagi noticed that Okawa has not been moving for some time. Then, suddenly, Okawa moved. Okawa was precisely waiting for the right time to attack. Isagi concluded that Team Z was able to attack only because Team Y allowed them to attack. All this time, Okawa was waiting for Niko to give him a signal to attack. [1]
Okawa scores a goal.
Okawa, in possession of the ball, runs towards the goal. Isagi believes that Team Z fell into Team Y's trap. Iemon, new to the position of goalkeeper, failed to block Okawa's pass. This inexperience inevitably resulted in Okawa scoring a goal. The score is now 1-0.
To avoid another goal by Team Y, Team Z decided on having two players mark Okawa. Isagi deduced that Team Y's tactic was to hold out and wait for the perfect opportunity to strike. Isagi believes that to defeat Team Y, they must stop Okawa from scoring. [2]
Several minutes passed, but Team Z still has not made any breakthrough. In the middle of the fierce match, Isagi realizes that he was wrong. Not just mistaken, the whole Team Z was tricked. Isagi learned that it wasn't Okawa who they need to keep watch of. Instead, it was Niko pulling all the shots for Team Y. The core of Team Y was Niko, not Okawa. Niko has been maintaining Team Y's defensive and offensive stability. Niko has been Team Y's secret leader.
Several minutes have passed, and only a minute is left before the game comes to an end. Niko tells Isagi that it is almost time for Team Y's last resort. To prepare for any instance of a tie, Team Y made a defensive revenge tactic. The signal for this is when Okawa takes possession of the ball. Also, unlike in the previous plays, everyone from Team Y will attack with everything they got. [3]
With only a minute left, every player from both teams went on an all-out attack. This one minute is the last chance for both teams. Since everyone in Team Y will be on the offensive, Team Z is having difficulty defending. Fortunately for Team Y, Niko has the ball. Although Niko is in front of Iemon, Niko chose to pass to Okawa instead. Before the ball reached Okawa, Isagi stops it with his leg.
Isagi notes that Niko always sends the ball to Okawa since he emits the goal scent more than anyone. Since Isagi and Niko have similar weapons, they had the same train of thought towards Okawa. Isagi then informs Niko that this is his and Team Z's win. Isagi considered Niko as a talentless striker for passing at a critical moment.
After Isagi scored, the buzzer rang, signaling the end of the match. The speaker announced the win of Team Z and the loss of Team Y. After the announcement, players from Team Y lie on the floor exhausted and frustrated about their loss. [4]