God Of football

Chapter 390: Against the Best [Golden Ticket]

The crowd inside SoFi Arena collectively gasped at the moment of brilliance from the substitute but Endo wasnʼt finished.

He drove the ball forward, making a sprinting run through the heart of the midfield.

He looked up and saw Curtis Jones open on the left.

With a sharp pass, Endo fed Jones into space just outside the box. The Liverpool fans around the stadium held their breath as Jones controlled the ball.

He cut inside with pace, looking to get a shot off, but William Saliba was quick to close him down, forcing Jones to take a shot from a tight angle.

But the ball ricocheted off Salibaʼs boot and found its way to Mohamed Salah near the edge of the 18-yard box.

Salah, ever clinical in these situations, seized the moment.

He fired at goal with venom, but just as the ball was about to strike the net—David Raya launched himself at the ball, diving low to his right.

The Spanish-born goalkeeper stretched, his fingertips grazing the ball just enough to push it past the post causing the fans in the stands to groan.

”What a save! What a save!” Lee Dixon shouted in disbelief. ”Salah thought he had it, but Raya keeps Arsenal in front!”

The SoFi Arena shook with the roar from the Arsenal fans, while the Liverpool supporters let out an audible groan of disappointment.

Rayaʼs save was a moment of redemption, denying what would have been a crucial goal for Liverpool at a pivotal point in the game.

Endo, having seen the chance slip away, continued to press, as did Curtis Jones, who had been lively since coming on.

After the close call, Arsenal quickly regained composure.

Rice took the ball off Endo, sending a long, sweeping pass towards the feet of Martin Ødegaard, who flicked it to Havertz, creating a new wave of attack.

But Liverpool wasnʼt about to back down. Endo and Jones kept up their relentless press, trying to smother the ball from Arsenal, trying to break their rhythm.

The tension in the air was palpable, as each side battled for dominance.

The midfield was an explosive battleground, with every pass, every tackle, a crucial battle in the war.

Izan, still the centerpiece of the attack, made his way into space once more. He took control of the ball and eyed the goal.

Curtis Jones, watching his every move, stepped in to close him down—this time more cautiously, as he knew how dangerous Izan could be in open spaces.

But Izan wasnʼt about to give up an inch. He feinted to the right, then shifted left, dragging the ball away from Jonesʼ reach.

The young midfielder lunged but missed as Izan carried the ball forward, his eyes scanning the pitch.

The SoFi Arena seemed to hold its breath, waiting for the moment that would change the course of the game.

But just as Izan prepared to release the ball, Endo stepped in once again—this time making a crucial interception.

His timely challenge forced the play to break down, as Arsenalʼs momentum slowed.

The ball was quickly cleared, and Liverpool pressed forward, countering with renewed energy.

But Arsenalʼs defense was ready. The tactical discipline shown by Saliba, White, and Zinchenko had strengthened after those early setbacks.

As Liverpool attempted to push forward again, Raya calmly swept up the loose ball in his box.

The intensity of this match was now in full swing, as Arsenalʼs defense solidified and Liverpoolʼs press became more desperate. It was evident that both teams were tiring.

The first real momentum shift that came with that chance from Salah and with Endo and Jones pressing were forcing Arsenal to step up their game.

The challenge now was to keep control while constantly watching for those dangerous breaks from the likes of Salah and Diaz.

As the game moved towards the 70th minute, both teams were showing their teeth—neither willing to give up without a fight.

”Seventy minutes on the clock, and while this match has been anything but dull, it certainly hasnʼt carried the same spark we saw in the first half,” Peter Drury noted, his voice carrying the weight of the gameʼs shifting momentum.

”And a large part of that comes down to the fact that Izan has been relatively quiet since Endo and Curtis Jones entered the fray. Whether by design or simple fatigue, Arsenalʼs brightest light in the first half has dimmed just a little.”

”Thatʼs the thing about controlling a game like he was,” Lee Dixon chimed in. ”It takes so much energy, mentally and physically.”

”And credit to Liverpool—Endo and Jones have done well to suffocate his influence. Arsenal still look dangerous, but the tempo has changed.”

As if on cue, Liverpool pounced again.

Endo intercepted a weak clearance just outside Arsenalʼs box, quickly shifting the ball to Curtis Jones, who wasted no time driving forward.

With a sharp burst of acceleration, he skipped past Declan Rice, leaving the England international momentarily flat-footed.

Jones lifted his head, scanning the options in front of him. Luis Díaz was already making a run to his left, while Salah lurked on the right, waiting for a split-second of hesitation from the Arsenal defenders.

Jones chose Díaz, threading a crisp pass into the Colombianʼs path.

The forward took a delicate touch to bring it under control before cutting inside on his stronger right foot.

White stepped in to challenge, but Díaz feinted, selling the dummy, and the defender took the bait.

With White off-balance, Díaz surged forward, angling his run towards the box.

Saliba reacted, shifting over to cover, but Díaz wasnʼt slowing down. He flicked the ball past the Frenchman, a perfectly weighted touch that sent him clear into the penalty area.

”Liverpool on the attack here! Luis Díaz—heʼs through!” Druryʼs voice climbed as the SoFi Arena stirred, the red-clad supporters roaring to their feet.

Ben White scrambled back, Zinchenko desperately cutting inside, but Díaz had already spotted his target. Salah had peeled off towards the far post, waiting for the cutback.

Díaz squared it, rolling the ball into the path of Liverpoolʼs talisman.

Salah, meeting the ball, opened his body, eyes locked on the far corner.

Then he struck.

The ball curled beautifully, destined for the inside of the post—until David Raya once again flung himself across goal, stretching every inch of his frame to get a hand on it.

A collective gasp erupted in the stadium as his fingertips brushed the ball, sending it crashing off the post instead of rippling the net.

The rebound fell to Nunéz, who lunged forward, trying to poke it home—but Saliba was there, blocking the shot with a last-ditch effort.

The ball deflected wildly and pinballed in the six-yard box for what felt like an eternity before Declan Rice arrived to smash it clear.

The Arsenal fans erupted in relief.

”How have they not scored?!” Dixon shouted, almost in disbelief. ”First Raya, then Saliba, then Rice—itʼs a miracle Arsenal are still leading!”

”Liverpool are throwing everything at this!” Drury added, his voice still laced with excitement.

”That was inches away from being the equalizer, but Arsenal, somehow, someway, survive! But wait—” Peter Druryʼs voice hitched mid-sentence, caught in the sudden, violent shift of play.

While Liverpool had been lamenting their missed chance, Izan had already taken the loose ball and was running.

Cutting through the field in half like a Samuraiʼs Kitana.

A burst of acceleration sent him exploding into space, weaving through the scattered bodies of Liverpool players still recovering from their attack.

The Arsenal fans in SoFi Stadium roared, their cheers a crashing wave as they realized what was happening.

”And now, here comes Izan! Look at him go!” Druryʼs voice surged, mirroring the electricity in the air.

Curtis Jones and Endo—both fresh off trying to shut him down—scrambled to catch up, but Izanʼs first touch had already taken him past them.

The Englishman lunged, reaching out in desperation, but he got nothing but air.

”Heʼs left, Curtis Jones! Endo is chasing, but Izan is flying!”

The sheer pace ripped through Liverpoolʼs defensive shape like a blade. Robertson and Konaté backpedaled furiously, but Izan was already past the midfield line, Havertz breaking forward alongside him, Martinelli flying up the left.

A glance up. Izan saw the whole pitch like a grand puzzle unfolding.

Options everywhere.

The easy choice would have been to slide it left, where Martinelli had acres of space. But that wasnʼt Izanʼs style. He wanted to cut deeper.

He pushed the ball forward, Konaté stepping out to engage, but the Frenchman mistimed it.

A lightning-fast feint—right, then left—sent the defender stumbling, his balance thrown off.

”Heʼs left Konaté eating grass! Heʼs going straight at Van Dijk!”

And suddenly, it was Izan against Liverpoolʼs captain, one-on-one.

A/n: Hello guys. Konichiwa, Ni Hao, Bonsoir, Anyeonghaseo, Hello.

Okay so next chapter will probably end the match and begin preparing us for another season of Izanʼs awesomeness.

I donʼt want to keep you guys waiting any longer so have fun reading and iʼll see you with tomorrowʼs chapter. Also check out Harbinger of Glory. A new novel. Same old same old football but with a no system. Just pure footballing grit and goodness. Love yʼall and as always, thanks for the supports.