The defender followed for two steps, leaving space on the right side of the defensive line.
Yanis passed inside to an advancing midfielder. The midfielder looked across the pitch and released Metz’s left winger into the opening before the opposition could close it.
Rafael continued toward the penalty area while the winger carried the ball forward.
The nearest centre-back moved across to stop him. The other remained close to Rafael, preventing the return pass through the middle.
The winger entered the box and shot from a narrow angle.
The ball struck the side netting.
Rafael lifted one hand toward him as they turned back. The winger had been entitled to take the attempt. Demanding every attack end at his feet would not improve the decision after it had already been made.
Near the technical area, the assistant coach said something to the coach and pointed toward Rafael’s position.
The coach watched Rafael move between the two centre-backs but gave no instruction.
The visitors kept committing players forward.
Their full-backs advanced beyond the halfway line whenever they had controlled possession. The defensive midfielder began joining attacks outside the Metz penalty area, leaving both centre-backs with more space in front of them whenever the ball changed teams.
Rafael noticed the distance growing.
For several minutes, Metz could not exploit it. One interception bounced directly back to the visitors. Another recovery ended when Yanis was forced toward the touchline and dispossessed.
The opposition’s willingness to attack still created chances.
Their right winger delivered a cross which passed over the striker and dropped near the far post. The substitute stretched for it but could only touch the ball behind.
A minute later, their advanced midfielder received outside the penalty area and struck low through two bodies. Metz’s goalkeeper dropped behind the shot and held it against his chest.
The score remained 2–1.
In the seventieth minute, the visitors attempted to build another attack through the centre.
Their defensive midfielder received ten metres outside Metz’s penalty area and passed square toward a teammate. The pass travelled slowly enough for the nearest Metz midfielder to step forward.
He intercepted it with his right foot.
An opposition player closed immediately, but the Metz midfielder took his first touch away from the pressure and lifted his head.
Yanis had already started running into the open right channel.
The pass found him beyond the halfway line.
Rafael remained between the centre-backs.
Both defenders turned toward their own goal as Yanis carried the ball forward. Rafael matched their retreat without sprinting past them. Running too early would either take him offside or allow both defenders to track him while watching the ball.
Yanis crossed into the final third.
The left centre-back looked toward him. The other moved closer to Rafael, trying to keep contact without losing sight of the winger.
Rafael slowed for half a step.
The small hesitation placed him behind the defenders’ movement.
When Yanis reached the right side of the penalty area, both centre-backs turned their attention toward the ball.
Rafael accelerated between them.
Yanis drove a low cutback behind the retreating defenders.
The pass arrived near the penalty spot.
Rafael opened his body and met it first time with the inside of his right foot.
He did not strike through the ball. He guided it away from the goalkeeper and toward the bottom-left corner.
The goalkeeper pushed off his right leg and stretched across goal.
His hand fell short.
The ball rolled inside the post.
For a moment, the coach did not move.
Rafael had already scored twice before halftime, but the visitors had changed their shape, pressed higher and reduced the lead. The match should have become more difficult for a striker returning to the starting eleven.
Instead, Rafael had completed his hat-trick.
The assistant turned toward the coach.
"That’s three."
"I can count."
The coach punched one fist into the air.
The substitutes rushed toward the edge of the technical area, shouting as Rafael turned away from goal. The coach waved them back before the assistant referee could complain, although the smile remained on his face.
Yanis reached Rafael first and grabbed both sides of his shirt.
"Three, Rafa. You actually scored three."
Rafael pushed him backward with a grin. "You sound surprised."
"I watched you play last week."
"And I’ve watched you pass for years. We’ve both improved."
The first teammate to reach them laughed. Another struck Rafael across the back of his head before several more surrounded him.
Yanis continued claiming the assist while Rafael was dragged farther into the celebration.
There was no blue light at the edge of Rafael’s vision.
No notification interrupted the noise around him.
The match had not finished.
Metz led 3–1.
The visitors restarted with more aggression than control. Their first forward pass was forced between two midfielders and intercepted. When Metz attempted to counter, Rafael received near the halfway line and returned the ball before the centre-back reached him.
The defender arrived late.
His boot caught Rafael across the ankle after the pass had gone.
Rafael fell onto his side and immediately pulled the struck leg away from the ground.
The referee’s whistle sounded.
Several Metz players moved toward the defender, but Rafael remained where he was and tested the ankle carefully. Pain spread above the joint before beginning to fade. The contact had been late rather than dangerous.
The referee called the centre-back over and showed him a yellow card.
Yanis stopped beside Rafael. "Can you stand?"
Rafael accepted his hand. "Yes."
He placed weight on the ankle, took two steps and felt no instability.
The referee checked that he could continue before restarting play.
Metz no longer needed to chase the visitors high across the pitch. Their midfield narrowed and moved closer to the defence, closing the routes through the centre.
When the visitors passed sideways, Metz shifted together. The nearest midfielder stepped out only when the ball entered his area, while those farther away moved inside to protect the space he had left.
Rafael positioned himself between the centre-backs and the defensive midfielder. He could not prevent every pass, but his position discouraged the easiest route through the middle and left him available if Metz recovered possession.
The visitors were forced toward the wings.
One cross travelled over every player inside the box and went out near the opposite corner flag. Another reached the striker, but the Metz centre-back pressured him closely enough that his header passed above the crossbar.
A low attempt from outside the penalty area was held comfortably by the goalkeeper.
Metz still had to defend, but they were no longer being pulled apart.
In the seventy-eighth minute, Rafael saw the number nine displayed on the substitution board.
The academy striker waiting beside the fourth official had already removed his training top.
Rafael looked toward the coach.
The coach pointed toward the touchline.
Rafael jogged off without delaying the change. Applause came from the parents and academy spectators standing behind the barrier. It was not loud enough to resemble a professional stadium, but it followed him until he crossed the line.
The coach met him beside the technical area and gave him a brief nod.
Rafael accepted it and continued toward the bench.
A substitute handed him a bottle of water as he sat down. Rafael drank, wiped his mouth against the back of his wrist and stretched both legs in front of him.
The teammate beside him leaned closer.
"You were saving all that for today?"
Rafael kept his eyes on the pitch. "I wanted to make sure you stayed on the bench."
The substitute laughed and pushed his shoulder.
Rafael smiled before taking another drink.
The final minutes passed without another goal.
Metz’s defenders cleared two late crosses. The midfielders carried the ball toward the corners whenever they recovered it instead of immediately searching for a fourth. Their goalkeeper came through a group of players to claim the last delivery into the box and remained on the grass until the referee told him to stand.
When the final whistle sounded, the score remained 3–1.
Rafael rose from the bench and joined the handshake line. The centre-back who had fouled him offered his hand without meeting his eyes. Rafael accepted it and moved on.
Yanis found him before they entered the academy building.
"You understand that two of those goals came from my side."
"One pass reached me."
"It was the most important pass of the match."
"The midfielder won the ball."
"And then gave it to me."
"You should ask him for an assist."
Yanis continued arguing as they entered the changing room.
The other players joined in. One asked whether Rafael intended to score three every Sunday. Another warned Yanis that a single assist did not make him responsible for the entire victory.
Rafael changed at his seat while the argument moved around him. His legs felt heavier now that the match had ended, and the ankle struck by the centre-back had begun to ache. Neither sensation disturbed him.
He had played seventy-eight competitive minutes.
He had scored three times.
More importantly, his body had survived everything he asked of it.
The coach entered after the last player returned.
Conversations faded.
He waited until he had everyone’s attention.
"I liked what I saw today. When they made it 2–1, you stayed together and took control again."
His attention shifted toward Rafael.
"Morales, good movement and three good finishes. That’s what I want from my striker."
Rafael nodded. "Thank you."
The coach looked around the room once more.
"Good work, boys. Get changed."
The noise returned as he left.
Players collected their towels and moved toward the showers. Yanis was pulled into another argument over whether his assist had been better than Rafael’s finish.
Blue light appeared at the edge of Rafael’s vision.
[MISSION COMPLETE: RETURN TO COMPETITION]
[Bonus Objective Complete.]
[Rewards Available.]
[VIEW REWARDS]
Rafael continued changing.
He did not stare at the panel while teammates moved around him. He placed his match shirt with the rest of his kit, pulled on his training trousers and waited until Yanis and the others had started along the corridor.
Then he followed several steps behind.
At the toilets, Rafael checked that nobody was watching and entered the nearest stall. He closed the door, lowered the lid and sat.
The blue panel remained where he had left it.
He pressed the button.
[Free Attribute Point ×1]
[Skill Acquired: Two-Touch Finisher.]
[VIEW SKILL]
Rafael selected the second option.
[Two-Touch Finisher]
[Improves finishing accuracy inside the penalty area when shooting within two touches.]
[CLOSE]