CHAPTER 60 — "When the Game Hunts You" (Part 1)
Date: August 14, 2020
Competition: Paulista Youth Cup — FINAL
Venue: Arena Barueri
Árman Azvedo — Age: 10
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A Different Kind of Morning
This morning felt different.
Not heavier.
Sharper.
Árman woke before the alarm, eyes already clear. No lingering sleep. No stiffness. His body had learned match days.
He sat at the edge of his bed, feet on the floor, breathing slow.
Today wasn't about proving anything.
That phase was over.
Today was about responding.
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The Opponent — Santos U-15
Santos.
A club that lived and breathed youth football.
They didn't fear São Paulo.
They didn't idolize Árman.
They studied him.
Three days earlier, during the tactical briefing, Coach Carvalho had been blunt.
"They will man-mark you," he said, eyes on Árman.
"Two players. Sometimes three."
Árman nodded.
"Then someone else will be free."
That answer alone changed the room's mood.
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Arrival — No Whispers This Time
At Arena Barueri, there were no murmurs.
No curiosity.
Just attention.
Opposition players watched him openly.
Not in awe.
In calculation.
One of Santos' midfielders leaned toward a teammate and whispered something.
Árman didn't hear it.
But he understood it anyway.
Stop him first. Worry about the rest later.
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Kickoff — Immediate Pressure
From the first whistle, Santos executed their plan.
Whenever Árman touched the ball—
Contact.
A shoulder.
A leg.
A body in the lane.
They didn't foul recklessly.
They fouled professionally.
The referee allowed it.
This wasn't about dominance.
It was about endurance.
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Minute 6 — First Adjustment
Árman dropped into his own half.
A defender followed.
Good.
That opened space.
São Paulo's left winger suddenly had freedom.
Árman played a diagonal pass without even turning his head.
The winger sprinted.
Shot.
Saved.
But Santos' bench stiffened.
The trap wasn't airtight.
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Commentary Booth
> "They're hunting him."
"But he's leading them away from danger."
"That's veteran movement."
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Minute 12 — The First Message
A rough tackle.
Late.
The referee warned the Santos midfielder.
Árman stayed down for three seconds longer than needed.
Not for pain.
For timing.
When he stood up, the midfielder avoided eye contact.
The message had landed.
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Minute 18 — Football IQ Over Flash
Corner for São Paulo.
Everyone expected Árman outside the box.
Instead—
He walked into the six-yard area.
Dragged two defenders with him.
The corner came short.
Shot from the edge.
Goal.
1–0 São Paulo.
Árman didn't touch the ball.
And yet—
He had created the goal.
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Minute 24 — Santos Responds
Santos adapted.
They stopped chasing him high.
Instead, they cut passing lanes.
Blocked angles.
Forced him sideways.
The game slowed.
Tension rose.
This wasn't free-flowing football anymore.
This was chess.
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Minute 31 — The Equalizer
A mistake.
A rare one.
A mistimed press from São Paulo.
Santos countered with speed.
One touch.
Two passes.
Finish.
1–1.
The Santos bench erupted.
Árman didn't react.
He clapped once.
Looked around.
Made eye contact with three teammates.
They nodded.
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Minute 36 — Calm Under Fire
Now the crowd leaned forward.
The final had teeth.
Árman began playing with fewer touches.
One-touch passes.
Wall passes.
Movements without receiving the ball.
He wasn't trying to escape the marking.
He was using it.
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Minute 41 — The Shift
Santos overcommitted.
Three players pressed him near the right flank.
Árman let the ball roll past his foot.
Stepped over it.
Ran without the ball.
The defender hesitated.
The passing lane opened for half a second.
That was enough.
A threaded pass split the midfield.
Striker through on goal.
Finish.
2–1 São Paulo.
The stadium roared.
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Halftime Whistle
Players walked off sweating.
Breathing hard.
Santos' coach gestured furiously.
São Paulo stayed quiet.
Árman drank water.
Eyes distant.
Already thinking about patterns.