Free Kick by Tom Palmer (that summer book .TXT) 📕

down.

But they weren’t ready for what he did next. Without looking up, Jake crossed the ball high to the near post. How many times this season had he looked across to see Yunis there, ready to score?

Loads.

So this time he didn’t even look up.

After he crossed the ball he fell over, his thigh cramping painfully. But he managed to look up to see what had happened.

The Arsenal keeper was on his back. The ball was in the net.

The Deadly Duo had struck again and Yunis was sprinting towards Jake, grinning.

Arsenal 1 United 1.

Jake raised his arms and shouted.

Six minutes later the referee blew his whistle. One–one was the final score.

James felt OK. He’d had a good game and his dad looked happy. He noticed that Ryan had been talking to Steve, but now Ryan was running towards the players.

Jake had gone down on to the pitch, holding his thigh. It was still painful and he dreaded playing extra time.

Ryan stopped as he reached the ten lads.

‘Penalties,’ he said.

‘I thought it was extra time,’ Chi pointed out.

‘No, it’s penalties. Steve and the Arsenal manager have agreed it. What with the match tomorrow too. Who wants it?’ Ryan asked. ‘Step forward if you do. I need five.’

Yunis and Will stepped forward straight away, then Ben. Ryan joined them.

Chi shook his head. So did most of the others.

Jake said, ‘I can’t. My leg. I would…’

Ryan nodded. ‘One more,’ he said.

Then James stepped forward. ‘I’ll do it.’

Penalties

Both teams gathered near the centre of the pitch, Arsenal to the left of the centre circle, United to the right.

The referee called the captains over and tossed a coin. Ryan called out heads and it was heads.

‘We’ll go second,’ Ryan said, patting the United keeper, Tomasz, on the back. Tomasz was Polish and had been with the team less than two years, but he was a great keeper – and had already proved that he could save penalties this season.

But when the first Arsenal player stepped up to shoot, Tomasz dived left. The ball went right.

Arsenal 1 United 0.

Then Will – Yunis’s striking partner – placed the ball on the spot. He eyed the Arsenal keeper, who was huge for his age – as big as a grown man.

Will hit the ball to the right. The keeper went to the right too, palming the ball round the post.

Arsenal 1 United 0. Still.

As Will came back to the team, Ryan put his arm round him. ‘Don’t worry,’ he said. ‘It’s hard.’

Then the second Arsenal player scored his penalty.

Arsenal 2 United 0.

It wasn’t looking good.

Jake wished he could take a penalty, but his leg was still cramping. He had it stretched out, with Chi holding his foot to help relieve the pain.

Then Yunis stepped up and Jake smiled. He knew Yunis would score.

And he did.

Arsenal 2 United 1.

Ryan went over to Tomasz and whispered something in his ear. Tomasz grinned, then nodded.

The third Arsenal player took the ball and placed it on the spot.

Then Tomasz smiled at him.

Ryan had talked to Tomasz about the final. If they won this shoot-out, they’d be playing Chelsea to win the Christmas Cup. And they’d be the first team from outside London to do it, according to Steve. That was what he’d told Tomasz, to motivate him.

The Arsenal player drove the ball straight down the middle. Tomasz stood still and caught it.

Arsenal 2 United 1.

Ryan went up to Ben and James. He repeated what he’d said to Tomasz. They could reach the final, be the first northern team to win this cup.

Ben stepped up – and scored. Two–two.

But the next Arsenal player scored too. Three–two.

Then Ryan scored. It was three–three.

There were two players left to shoot: the Arsenal striker who had come on as a substitute, and James.

The Arsenal striker swaggered up to the ball. He looked like he’d already scored. He smirked at Tomasz and Tomasz smiled back.

Then – without taking a run-up – the striker stroked the ball to the far-left corner of the goal. Tomasz leaped, his legs propelling his long arms to tip the ball on to the post.

The ball came back into play and the Arsenal striker thrashed it into the net.

But the referee shook his head.

No goal, no rebounds – and everyone knew it.

Ryan jumped into the air and ran to Tomasz, putting his arm round his back. If United scored their last penalty they’d be in the final to play Chelsea.

Jake was pleased with what he saw. Ryan was being a really good captain now. In the past he’d not been so good, but now he was a real leader. It was great to see him being so friendly with Tomasz. Only weeks ago they’d hated each other.

James picked up the ball. I’m going to score, he said to himself. I’m not going to worry about being a United player. I am just going to put the ball on the spot – and score.

He put the ball down. Stepped back. Glanced to the left of the goal. Took two steps. And hammered the ball as hard as he could high into the centre of the net.

The keeper dived left.

The ball hit the net so hard a shower of rain came down off the crossbar, soaking the Arsenal keeper.

Arsenal 3 United 4.

United were in the final.

Wednesday 21 December

Arsenal 1 United 1

United win 4–3 on penalties

Goals: Yunis

Penalties: Yunis, Ben, Ryan, James

Bookings: none

Under-twelves manager’s marks out of ten for each player:

Tomasz

9

Connor

7

James

9

Ryan

9

Ronan

7

Chi

7

Tony

7

Jake

9

Yunis

9

Will

7

Ben

8

Like Father, Not Like Son

When James came out of the dressing room, he saw his dad was surrounded by his old friends again together with the West Ham coaches – and staff from Chelsea and Arsenal.

James was used to this. Whenever they went anywhere – especially to do with football – his dad would get lots of handshakes and pats on the back. It even happened in