Soccer Duel: There Are Two Sides To Every Story... (2000) - Plot & Excerpts
Renny was late for his soccer game in the morning. His alarm didn’t wake him up. Renny just rushed out of the house so he won’t get more late then he already was. Renny’s parents got divorced a year ago in Haverford so thats why Renny and his mother moved to Crestmont. Renny played center striker in Haverford but when he moved he didn’t play at all he just sat on the bench and played a little bit of defense. When Renny got to the game he was late to the game hadn’t started yet. But something terrible happened during the game Blue Hornets center striker Isaac Mendez broke his ankle. So Renny got to play center striker for the first time on the Blue Hornets. The team that they were competing with was the Yellow Jackets. They had a winning streak. Bryce McCormack was easily the best player on the Yellow Jackets. No one in the Blue Hornets knew that Renny was really good at center striker. Renny played really good and broke the streak for the Yellow Jackets. Everybody was impressed at Renny. After the game Renny and his friend Norm went to Conroy’s. Renny saw Bryce there. Bryce told Renny he was really good, Renny told him the same back. Bryce told Renny that they had two more teams to defeat and they were in the finals with the Yellow Jackets. When Bryce was at Conroy a player from the high school team told Bryce that the high school coach was going to be there so he should try his best. Bryce played the next game and won 7 to 3 Bryce made 6 goals. The high school coach was impressed at him. Next game was Blue Hornets against the Red Scorpions. Th high school coach was also impressed by the way Renny played. The Blue Hornets won the game. The next day of school Bryce sat next a player that the Blue Hornets were going to play with. He told Turk Walters about Renny and asked him to foul him during the game. Turk said I will have him crushed by the end of the game Bryce agreed.tRenny’s father called him and told him that he couldn’t do the trial cleanup. Renny said it was okay with and he could do it by himself. The next day of school the principal called Bryce in. She told Bryce about the fight with Chris Brown. They had to either write an essay or do the trial cleanup. Bryce chose the trial cleanup. Bryce and Renny saw each other at the trial clean up. They also had to be partners because neither of them had a parent with them. Bryce thought if he was going to be partners with Renny then he should of taken the essay. When Bryce and Renny were talking Bryce noticed that Renny isn’t a bad kid at all. Bryce remembered what he had told Turk. So he gave Renny a little advice. Bryce said try to be more aggressive in the game Renny took his advice. Bryce went up to Turk the next day and told him not to hurt Renny. But Turk wouldn’t agree with Bryce. When it was practice for Blue Hornets Renny’s teammates were all thinking negative saying that they were going to lose the game because of Turk. Renny said don’t think negative just because they are bigger than us doesn’t mean were going to lose. We have to take advantage said Renny we are smaller than them and we can run faster then them said Renny lets try to do that and see what will happen. Turk went up to Renny during practice hold him by his shirt and said you better be ready for tomorrows game and pushed. Renny didn’t know whether tell his coach or not. So he just left practice early. The next day it was the game Orange Crush against Blue Hornets. Bryce had came to watch the game. Turk got a really dirty hit on Renny and Renny’s knee started bleeding a couldn't walk well. So he just wiped the blood off and went back in the game. Renny saw Bryce and waved as if he was okay. When renny got in Turk hit Renny again and the back of Renny’s head hit the ground really hard. Bryce left the game and went to Conroy’s after. Wen first half was over Blue Hornets were losing. Renny told his coach that # 8 Turk was fowling him when no one looked The coach said I will tell the refs to look at him carefully. Then they went back to play. This time when Turk fowled Renny he got a penalty. Renny made his penalty. Then when Turk fowled him again Turk was out of the game and Renny scored again. The Blue Hornets had won and went to Conroy’s to celebrate. Renny saw Bryce there and told him that they won Bryce said it was great. But Bryce felt bad about what he had said to Turk and injuries that Renny got. tThe next day right before the Championship game Turk had told Renny what Bryce had done and it wasn’t his idea. Renny got really angry and played aggressive. He made a lot of goals and gave the Hornets the win of the first Championship game. When it was the second game Renny felt tired and Bryce played the opposite of Renny so the Yellow Jackets won. Then that afternoon Bryce and Renny ran into each other and became friends again they talked about their fathers Bryce told Renny he hadn’t seen his father in two months so Renny asked were he lived. Then thy told each that they played angry the last two games. Bryce apologized to Renny and Renny said it was okay. Then they said tomorrow lets both play confident and may the best man win. They made a deal on who ever wis the soccer game doesn’t mater we still go to Conroy’s together. Renny went home and called the place were Bryce’s father ha lived he told them names then finally he got the number and left a message to Bryce’s father saying that he had a big soccer game. When ti was time for the soccer game every body gathered and the whistle blew. Both Renny and Bryce played really good. When second half was over they added extra minutes. No body scored during those minutes. So it was time for penalties. The Blue Hornets won the penalties. Bryce saw his father at the game. The teams shook hands and go their medals. It was time for MVP and Renny won it. The high school coach was there and told Renny he wanted him as center striker next year Bryce was a little sad at that moment but then the coach told Bryce that he was going to play for varsity. The boys were both happy. Renny and Bryce walked to Conroy’s with Bryce’s father.The conflict of this story is that there is a kid Renny who plays center striker in the Blue Hornets for the first time and helps the Blue Hornets win a lot of games. Bryce on the other hand is a really good soccer player for the Yellow Jackets and has to become friends with Renny. One possible theme for the story “Soccer duel” is that if you be dishonest to a friend always tell them and apologize to them. It is better than not being there friends anymore.I really enjoyed reading this book because you really learn a lot about life and what can happen in the future. It was really interesting reading it. I would recommend this book to other young readers because you really get to find out about how other people think and why its good to think before you do something. The autor was also really good I read many of his books and I enjot all of the them.
Soccer Duel talks about the story of Renny, a middle schooler who just moved to a new town, and plays backup for his center striker. His dream is to be as recognized as a soccer player as he was in his old town, and he tries to be unselfish and nice to everyone he meets. Soccer Duel also talks about the story of Bryce, a selfish ball-hog who is known to be the “best in the league”, and has a real rough attitude, thanks to his father leaving him when he was young. (view spoiler)[ During one match, Renny gets to play center striker, and scores a few goals, but makes many assists, causing his team to beat Bryce’s. Bryce, in retaliation, tries to find out about this “new kid” and realizes that he’s the exact opposite of Renny. Determined to win the League Championship, he sends a high schooler to roughen Renny up. Although Bryce hates Renny, Renny sees Bryce as a role model, and when he tells Bryce this, Bryce feels that he may have underestimated who Renny was, and he feels guilty that he sent someone to bully him on the field. Renny gets injured a bunch of times from Bryce’s man, and Renny gets the referee to see it happening, which costs the other team the entire game. Renny finds out that Bryce wanted to hurt him, and he didn’t feel like talking to him again. On the day of the championship, where both Renny and Bryce’s team making it to the finals, they become rivals, and things start to heat up. Renny suddenly forgives Bryce, as he knows that Bryce is guilty for his mistake, and wants to be friends. The two boys face off during the championship and during the end, Renny gets Bryce’s father to come see his game for the first time in ages, and Bryce really feels like Renny is his true friend. Renny and Bryce play a tough championship game, but Renny ends up winning the game for his team, and gets the MVP award, but Bryce feels happy he got his father back and a best friend. (hide spoiler)]
What do You think about Soccer Duel: There Are Two Sides To Every Story... (2000)?
The book Soccer Duel by Matt Christopher is a great small book with lots of fun soccer games and a very interesting but sporty book. The main character is named Renny and he had just moved in to town. He loved soccer and was great at it, but his soccer coach didn't know that he was good because he just moved into town. Renny got a lucky but unlucky chance to play. their other player that played his position go hurt so Renny subbed in. After a while Rennys team went from the worst to the best. After that Renny found a new friend that was better than him at soccer. Renny was happy because they were becoming friends but they had to play each other in the finals for the championship. This book is a small easy book but it is good if you are in to sports and need something to read.
—Kalani
