When Tony Gustavsson want to prove his team worthy of winning, he knew who to play, and when to play them. It was always preferred that the older, more experienced players competed with a few high-achieving miracles of the younger Matildas. Tony knew who he could risk, and who would have to sit off to watch an important game unfold.
Although Aurelia was twenty six years old, and she had been playing for the Matildas for almost a decade. It always suprised her when Tony announced she would start in an important match. For nine years, she continued to grow happier every time her number was shown on the announcement board, until the game ticked by. The nerves kicked in, and reality set itself straight.
She lightly bounced on her heels, awaiting for the anticipating whistle of the start of the match. Her palms began to grow thick with sweat, she tried to keep her eyes souly on the ball metres away from Caitlin Foords feet. Rory tried to ignore the screaming crowd of seventeen thousand fans behind her, if she looked at them, she would grow with nothing but fear to fail them.
She adjusted the yellow and green clips in her hair, sending a small smile to her opposing Spanish player. Silently telling the latter that all Rory could say or do within game was nothing but a competitive matter, that none of it held a grudge. And she was normally, a kind person.
The whistle blew loudly and the game began. Caitlin passed it along to Charli, it was then kicked over to Hayley before being intercepted by a Spanish player.
The ball ran back and fourth between the two sides, neither making it all too close to their goals. Until Spain had made their first move, sending the ball down the line to their main forward. The Spanish player kicked it straight to goals, easily being deflected by Mackenzie and an offside call is called.
Nine minutes into the first half, Spain tried their chance again. The main foward for Spain moved her feet effortlessly around the Australian defenders, but as she went to kick, she had kicked it wrongly, causing the ball to fly over the netting.
Mackenzie looked around, holding the ball in her hands. Being the only player on field that could do that. She looked at every teammate, wondering who she could pass it to, before she decided on Kyra.
Kyra took it halfway down the field, with a simple shouting call from Rory, Rory continued to run, keeping the ball in front of her at all times.
From the corner of her eye, Rory could spot a alonesome Hayley Raso. Knowing that her own defender was coming up behind her, Aurelia kicked it towards the latter.
Hayley moved towards the box, before passing the ball to Cortnee, who kicked it with her right foot from the top right corner of the larger box, into the goal.
Aurelia cheered alongside her other teammates, giving the other girl a small hug as a group began to from around her. The number five player for the Matilda's had already made an major impact.
Fifteen minutes into the first half, the ball was successfully back down at the Matildas goal. Charli tried to kick it towards the three girls lined up in the middle of the box, Aurelia, Sam and Clare, yet it was easily deflected by a Spanish defender. Who kicked it back, landing near Kyra.
Kyra tried the same thing her blonde friend had. Kicking it towards the same three girls, it managed to bounce upon Sam's head, falling short of the goal and into a defenders gap. Clare worked around the defender, her glorious footwork causing an insane goal to come flying out her kick.
Clare celebration was kept more on the low than Cortnee had, when the younger one of the pair ran around the field. Aurelia jogged towards Clare with Sam. Holding both her hands up, letting Clare finish off the hi-five.
It was 2-0, the girls were erupting the crowd behind them. The fans could see how much they all had improved, especially from their last loss against spain being 7-0. They had flipped the table.
Thirty six minutes in, Hayley took the ball from the left side, catching Rory free, she kicked it towards the other curly haired. Who didn't waste a moment kicking it toward Sam.
Sam bashed her head against the ball, successfully getting it to hit the back of the neck. Yet before she could celebrate, the umpire blew her whistle again, holding up an offside flag. Confusing everyone as to how it occured.
They girls watched on the big screens of the stadium the replay, where it was not seen at all, that Sam was anywhere near an offside call.
Rory shook her head frustrated, Sam deserved that goal. And Aurelia felt like she hadn't been doing anything all game. That was a moment for her, she was more known for assist then goals, and yet she couldn't even assist a goal.
All of Spains other failed attempts continued to draw the game as a 2-0.
Fourty minutes in, a free kick was called. Kyra and Steph lined up against the ball as they usually did. Kyra running across it to confuse the players when Steph kicked it towards the goal square everyone else was in.
The ball harshly hit the side of Caitlin's head, giving the Matildas their third goal.
Fourty three minutes in, Aurelia found the ball at her feet, halfway through the field. Two defenders quick on her tail. Sam was running at a fast pace just metres in front of her, yet before Rory could pass it off. A Spanish player stuck out their leg, crashing their body into Rory. Sending the two of them to the grassy ground.
Aurelia cried out as she fell, feeling a tight pull on the back of her knee. She laid on the ground, digging her face into the grass, squeezing her eyes shut in pain. She moved onto her side, pulling her knee towards her.
The two Spainish players squatted down either side of her, the referee sounded her whistle. The two opposing players calling the medical staff over.
Sam and Caitlin were the first two Matildas players to her. Sam squatted down in front of the curly haired, removing any free strands of hair from the girls face. A worried gaze covering hers.
The medical staff ran over, forcing the other players to step away. Sam stayed in her spot.
"Where do you feel the pain?" One of them questioned.
Aurelia squeezed her eyes further shut as a sharp pain sparked up her body "the back of my knee" she answered quietly.
The other medical staff nodded her head "are you able to get up? Or would you like the stretcher over?"
Aurelia forced herself to take deep breaths "I can do it" she announced. Releasing her hands from her knees. She opened her eyes, catching a concerned Sam Kerr starring back at her.
The whistle blew for the first half to be over. Sam wrapped one of Aurelia's arms over her shoulders, Caitlin jumping up to take the other one. The two walked the injured girl across the field. Rory felt like her body was broken at that point. She could barely move, all she felt was tightness and pain.
The two continued to help her walk down to the locker rooms. Sitting her down on one of the seats. "Do you need a medical expert down here Stella?"
Aurelia shook her head "no — no." She answered. She felt pathetic, almost crying over a simple knee injury. "I'm fine. Just give it a moment"
Sam shook her head in return, bending down, placing her hands on Aurelia un injured knee "Stell. You can't continue this game. We're winning, you need to rest."
"We can't risk any further injury" Caitlin agreed.
"I'll be fine" Aureli gritted painfully through her teeth. She could see a dark red patch begin to grow around her knee. If it had been anything major she would've been carried off, she would be over it soon.
Sam and Caitlin shared a look. Caitlin shrugged back, there was two possibilities they could do, let Aurelia happily walk back onto the field, and come off later while on a stretcher, and run the risk of never playing again. Or they could lock her in the locker room, and have her hate them for weeks.
Sam patted Rory's knee "I'll be back. I'll talk to coach about it" she lied. Standing up. Following Caitlin out of the room, they closed the door behind them. Sam crossed her arms "what do we do?"
Caitlin shrugged "man she's Rory. She's not gonna give up until she gets what she wants." Caitlin smirked "I say, she's your problem. You can deal with her."
Sam rolled her eyes "that's your bestfriend."
"That's the girl you would risk your whole life for" Caitlin replied "trust me, she's only gonna listen to you. Chances are; you'll have to bribe her. But she will cave in."
Caitlin gave Sam a reassuring pat on the shoulder "good luck Sammy. I'll call 000 if you're not back on the field soon." With that, Caitlin turned on her heels beginning to walk off "please don't let her back on the field though, she scared the shit out of me earlier" Caitlin finished.
Sam scoffed "you're not the only one"
Sam watched as Caitlin turned the corner, before she walked back into the empty locker room. Catching a glimpse at the free flowing tears travelling down Aurelia's flushed cheeks, Rory leant her head against the back wall, hearing Sam back in. She tore her eyes open.
Sam crossed her arms "argument was settled. You're not going back on the field."
Rory's shoulders slumped "I have to Sam. I haven't down anything all game—"
"You had an assist. Before the fucking blind dickhead took it away" Sam reminded her. "You have played awesome today, like you always do. And if you want to continue playing amazing. Then you need to realise that your body needs to rest itself Stell. You can't go back on."
Rory sighed. Thining her lips into a straight line, she looked anywhere but in the direction of Sam.
"I'm sorry Stella." Sam sympathically called out "we're looking out for you, we can even watch titantic tonight while eating happy meals and mcflurries."
Aurelia tried to smile at her suggestion, but she couldn't get anything out of her. "Thank you Sammy" She replied softly. Her eyes turning to her own fingers, which had distracted themselves with picking at her purple painted nails.
Sam chuckled "maybe I can convince Tony to take me off aswell. I can fall onto the ground and fake my injury."
Rory shook her head "as funny as that would seem, they need you out there Sammy."
Sam nodded one final time. "Okay. . . But if you need me, you let it be known. I'll come off within seconds. I'm sure I'll be amazing at faking an injury. It can't be that hard?"
Aurelia chuckled for the first time since entering the room, picking up a half filled plastic water bottle from beside her, she threw it at the older girl. Giggling harder as she watched a panicked expression cover Sams face as the twenty nine year old ducked.
"You're evil!" Sam exclaimed
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The game finished with a 3-2, in favour of the Australian Matildas. After hours of signing away at fans and constant checkups from the medical staff, the girls are able to head back to their hotel.
Sam placed the two mcflurries in the small mini fridge of the room, placing the two McDonald's bags on her bed "bon appetit" she smiled.
Rory, who had been laying in Sam's bed as she waited for Sam to get back with dinner, sat up, careful not to move her knee in an uncomfortable matter. "Happy meals?"
Sam nodded with a small "three chicken nuggets, sweet and sour sauce, apple juice for the drink and apple slices instead of chips. Your favourite go to meal. Hangover or not."
"Thank you" Aurelia smiled great fully
"Anything for you" Sam sheepishly replied. Taking a seat beside the latter. She grabbed her remote, turning on the titantic.
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MAISIE SPEks
Sam and Rory are Sam and Odessa, just in another lifetime. Giggles. I love worried Sam. Giggles again.
Can't wait to put these girls through pain. I actually want them to be leas angsty then Sam and Odessa ( be happy ) but I'll still giggle as I send them through a traumatic rollercoaster