Chapter 49 - 47: Rainbow Pass

Chapter 49: Chapter 47: Rainbow Pass

"GOAL!! A brilliant attacking combination! From the moment Suk began his run, the entire Mostar Zrinjski team fell into their tactical formation. Kosopech dropped back to act as a pivot, completing a give-and-go with Suk to completely tear apart the opponent’s defensive line."

"Everyone’s attention was drawn to Suk. Then, Kosopech’s forward surge drew the focus of the opposing center-back and full-back, which allowed Billiar to make a lateral run."

"This was a brilliant combination of passing and movement. This is Mostar Zrinjski! They’ve pulled out another stunning, brand-new tactic!"

Basodachi cheered nonstop.

Every time he watched a Mostar Zrinjski match, it felt like a breath of fresh air.

Unlike the simple, brutish style of play common in the Bosnia and Herzegovina League, Mostar Zrinjski placed a much greater emphasis on teamwork and link-up play.

Just like with this goal, the moment Suk initiated the attack, the entire Mostar Zrinjski team sprang into action.

The attacking sequence was incredibly fluid.

And during this attack, Suk became the primary playmaker.

He first found open space to receive a pass from Modric near the center circle, then turned and began to sprint.

Then, using Kosopech as a pivot, he shook off the midfielders, charged forward at high speed to break through the defensive line, and finally delivered a killer pass to assist Billiar for the goal.

Fluid link-up play, brilliant passing and movement—how could anyone not be amazed?

The Mostar Zrinjski fans in the stadium also erupted in thunderous cheers.

They might not have understood all the nuances, but they could see just how brilliant and fluid the attack had been.

This wasn’t some mindless, head-down rush, or a simple cross from the wing.

The moment Suk launched the attack, the entire Mostar Zrinjski team had been set in motion.

"We have to give credit to Van Stiake, a young and incredibly creative Head Coach. It’s only through his constant tactical reinventions that Mostar Zrinjski can play football like this. And I believe this will inevitably have a huge impact on tactical development in the Bosnia and Herzegovina League."

The camera cut to Van Stiake, who was excitedly pumping his fist in celebration.

Nothing made him happier than a newly developed tactic succeeding.

This tactic was built on the strength of their midfield, combined with the concept of a center-forward dropping deep.

However, unlike Suk who would also drop back, Kosopech functioned more as a pivot up front and wasn’t responsible for playmaking.

The offensive playmaking was the job of Suk, who was positioned on the wing.

Meanwhile, Modric dropped deeper into his own half, ensuring stability in their passing and build-up from the back.

With one positioned forward and the other deep, the two of them connected Mostar Zrinjski’s entire attacking structure.

Under this system, Mostar Zrinjski’s entire framework became much more solid.

However, this formation placed extremely high demands on the midfielders.

It required reliable passing, the ability to deliver threatening balls, and intelligent movement off the ball.

These were all the fruits of a full month of practice.

For this system to take shape, Suk and Modric were the key.

One advanced and one deep-lying playmaking hub.

That’s right. In Van Stiake’s tactics, Suk was never just a winger. He could make threatening forward runs, but he was primarily responsible for organizing and directing the attack, using his vision and passing ability to tear open the opponent’s defense within just a few touches.

"Van Stiake, you’re a true genius!"

Assistant Coach Fandier couldn’t resist pulling Van Stiake into a fierce hug.

Watching this formation take shape, this was absolutely Mostar Zrinjski’s most threatening tactical system to date.

It could work against any team, and it was impossible to replicate!

Well, you could try to replicate it, but you’d need to find not only a deep-lying playmaker like Modric but also a player like Suk who could initiate threatening passes in the final third.

That was just too difficult!

Even Van Stiake was feeling fortunate that he had brought Suk to Mostar Zrinjski; that single decision had created all of this.

"Finish them off!"

Van Stiake commanded with a sweep of his arm, his spirits soaring.

On the pitch, Mostar Zrinjski’s offense went into full swing.

Relying on Suk and Modric as the advanced and deep-lying passing pivots, the duo continuously controlled the tempo of the match.

They even began to use the half-spaces to launch threatening attacks.

Suk typically made diagonal forward runs, positioning himself in the half-space.

This created opportunities for the full-back to surge forward on the wing, and once the full-back drew the opponent’s attention, other passing channels would open up for Suk.

Even if Suk couldn’t get into that position in time, Modric could appear there instead.

This was even more of a nightmare for their opponents.

Just now, for instance, Modric received the ball and immediately threaded it into open space.

Suk surged down the wing at astonishing Speed, blowing past the opposing full-back. Just as the defender was about to pull him back, Suk lofted the Ball into the air for a cross.

The pass had a high, looping arc, aimed right at Kosopech’s head.

Kosopech barely even had to jump. Holding off the opposing center-back, he just had to flick his head, and the Ball bounced off the ground and into the net for another goal.

In 10 minutes, Mostar Zrinjski had scored two consecutive goals.

Suk had completed a brace of assists.

Kosopech and Billiar each scored a goal.

But it wasn’t over. As Mostar Zrinjski pressed forward as a unit, they managed to create a long-shot opportunity for Modric, who had no one around to challenge him.

Modric drew back his leg and fired a low shot. The Ball skimmed off the post and flew into the net, leaving the opposing keeper with no chance.

minutes, a three-goal lead.

Mostar Zrinjski had opened the floodgates!

Just minutes into the second half, Mostar Zrinjski had already dealt three heavy blows to Tuzla Slobođa, the team sitting third in the league standings.

By now, the Tuzla Slobođa players were completely stunned.

They didn’t even know how to defend or how to play anymore.

But Mostar Zrinjski’s assault continued.

It was another attack initiated by Suk. After a series of Dribbling moves, Suk spotted an opening and viciously curled the Ball with the outside of his right foot.

The Ball hugged the ground, tracing an outrageous arc. Like a beautiful rainbow painted across the pitch, it spanned half the field, curving around the opposing center-back and full-back before arriving at Billiar’s feet.

"MY GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!—"

Basodachi felt the hair on his arms stand up. His eyes bulged as he clutched his head and screamed, "THAT PASS BENDS!!!!!—"

It wasn’t just the commentator; the fans in the stands were equally dumbfounded.

When had they ever seen such a magnificent pass? It was nothing short of a masterpiece.

On the bench, Van Stiake also grabbed his head, utterly stunned.

"Oh, my God!"

Everyone else was completely in awe.

Billiar was just as shaken, but he stayed focused. He accelerated furiously, caught up to the Ball, and cut inside with the momentum.

After entering the penalty box, he swung his right foot, and the Ball shot past the keeper’s feet.

Mostar Zrinjski had scored yet again.

They were ahead by four goals!

But more than the goal itself, it was that outrageous, curving pass that left everyone breathless.

When Suk saw the goal, he leaped into the air.

’That was De Bruyne’s signature swerving pass!’

’You’ve never seen one of those before, have you!’

Of course, this was the only time Suk had ever successfully pulled it off. In training matches, he often ended up passing the ball straight to an opposing defender, leading to plenty of embarrassing moments.

’Since our lead is solid,’ Suk had thought, acting on a whim. He never expected he would actually pull it off.

"You’re a passing god!"

"Incredible! How did you do that?"

"That was insane! Absolutely brilliant!"

"That pass spanned half the pitch!"

His teammates were all expressing their awe. After all, anyone would react that way seeing such a pass for the first time.

Of course, there were also some who were skeptical.

"Was that a fluke?"

Billiar was highly suspicious. After all, in training, Suk had shown signs of attempting such passes, but none of them had ever come off.

Suk pointed an accusing finger at Billiar, displeased.

’You still want to get passes from me, don’t you!’

Billiar immediately backed down. Discretion was the better part of valor.

He shot both thumbs up, an expression of pure astonishment on his face, and yelled, "A GOD!!—"

Only then did Suk withdraw his hand, satisfied.

A single ’Rainbow Pass’ had completely shattered Tuzla Slobođa’s morale.

That’s right, the Rainbow Pass. This was a term coined by Basodachi.

In this era, it was popular to give nicknames to the signature moves of star players.

But the most important thing was that Tuzla Slobođa had been played off the park.

Not only were the players dumbfounded, but so was their Head Coach, Old Moerst.

That goal was the final nail in the coffin, causing them to collapse completely.

For the remainder of the match, Mostar Zrinjski took their foot off the gas. The game was already won; the priority now was to avoid any injuries.

However, there were still blockheads like Billiar, who kept relentlessly charging the opponent’s defensive line, wanting to take the opportunity to pad his goal tally.

At first, the guy actually managed to score another one.

It wasn’t until he was taken down by an angry sliding tackle from the opposing full-back that he finally started to calm down.

Finally, the 13th round of the 2002/2003 Bosnia and Herzegovina Super League season came to a close.

Mostar Zrinjski crushed Tuzla Slobođa 5-0 at home, dealing a heavy blow to the league’s third-place team, both physically and psychologically.

At the final whistle, the players went over to the stands to thank the fans.

The passionate fans waved, expressing their adoration for the team.

And as the man of the match, Suk naturally became the focus of their attention.

His Rainbow Pass, in particular, left the fans in awe.

"What a pass!"

"Suk, more passes like that in the future!"

"What a brilliant match!"

"A win! Another win!"

"Suk! Suk!"

Seeing how excited the fans were, the players were also overjoyed.

Of course, they needed to refocus. The real challenge was about to begin.

Bosnia and Herzegovina Super League, Round 14, Sarajevo vs. Mostar Zrinjski.

They were about to challenge the team at the top of the league table, and this was also Mostar Zrinjski’s biggest challenge to date.