Smash It for Me! The First Goal Arrives!

Smash It for Me! The First Goal Arrives!

August 28th, Bramall Lane Stadium.

At seven in the evening, with an hour still to go before kickoff, cars had surrounded the place, and fans from all across the city streamed in nonstop, packing the area until it was bursting.

Bang, bang. Bang-bang-bang-bang-bang!!

Toot, toot. Toot-toot-toot!!

They beat war drums and blew trumpets, bringing a fiery atmosphere to the outside of the stadium.

Plenty of vendors selling beer and hot dogs were hawking their goods everywhere too, determined to make a killing off today's huge crowds.

Thanks to them, quite a few beer-loving fans were already flushed and glassy-eyed before the match had even started, sitting by the roadside in a daze.

"Gareth Speed! Come on!!"

"We're taking our first home win of the new season! Charge!!"

"Let Preston lose everything at Bramall Lane!"

At seven in the evening, the Blades' die-hard supporters' group arrived. They chanted in unison and brought with them over a dozen imposing red-and-white flags, like battle standards from an ancient formation.

A light breeze stirred the flags, making them flutter and dance in the wind, bringing with them an aggressive, murderous momentum.

"OhOhOh!!"

The rest of the fans seemed to have found their organization as well, following behind those team flags, raising both hands high as they roared their way into the stadium.

Fans were lovable. When you lost, they would curse you with filthy language and mock you with rational sarcasm.

But when you needed them, they would still buy the club's season tickets and match tickets, and come wearing the shirt to cheer you on.

Today was the new manager's first match in charge!

The Starting Lineup announced before the match had also made it clear that quite a few new players would be making their home debuts!

Sheffield United fans were looking forward to seeing a brand-new team appear before their eyes, one that could shoulder the heavy responsibility of restoring the club's glory.

They lived on hopes like these, one after another. This was their football culture, an indispensable part of their lives.

"Beep, beep!"

At seven fifty-five, inside the players' tunnel, the three referees led the players from both sides out in orderly fashion.

Maël held the hand of a young mascot, following the team's pace as he stepped through the predominantly red players' tunnel, one step at a time, and walked out onto the pitch.

Looking out, fourteen glaring floodlights appeared directly ahead. Around them were many smaller spotlights too, and beneath them were two tiers of stands packed with people, most of them wearing red-and-white shirts.

"You are a light in the darkThat there's only the road down the dark!!"

The fans were loudly singing the club anthem, the voices of more than twenty thousand people combining into a deafening roar.

This was Sheffield's home ground, Bramall Lane Stadium! Goosebumps rose across Maël's skin. He had already experienced starting a match once, but this kind of home entrance ceremony was still his first time.

This was bound to be an unforgettable day as well. He had to strive to leave his own mark here in the best possible form.

Stepping onto the soft grass, he completed the brief entrance ceremony with his teammates. After the kickoff rights and choice of ends were decided, he stood in his position.

He exchanged a glance with the opposing fullback, then looked over at Gareth Speed on the touchline, who seemed slightly excited and nervous. After that, he closed his eyes and adjusted his mentality.

"Beep!"

At eight o'clock sharp, the referee blew the whistle to officially start the match.

Sheffield United, who had won kickoff for the first half, saw forward Evans tap the ball out from the center circle. The other forward, Bologanovic, kicked it back with one touch, and after Gilbert received it, he passed it farther into the backfield.

Thump!

Sheffield United center back Steven sent a Long Pass, kicking the ball toward Maël's Left Midfielder position.

Maël charged at high speed, and after matching up with the opposing fullback, he turned his back to him and jumped as much as he could to challenge for the aerial ball.

He did not reach the ball, but his strong body also blocked the opposing fullback until his center of gravity was unsteady. The man could not jump high either, and likewise failed to head the ball.

"Press, press, press! Get up!"

Sheffield United's entire line pushed forward rapidly. Everyone moved toward the left flank, launching a high press and aggressive counterpress after the opponent threw the ball in.

Seeing that the situation looked bad, the Preston defender received the throw-in and immediately released the ball with one touch toward his own midfielder. The football bounced along unevenly, anything but steady.

"Mine!"

An excited shout rang out. Gilbert, starting for the first time, arrived behind the opposing midfielder, went to ground, and made a clean sliding tackle, stretching out his foot to poke the ball away before the opponent could receive it.

The football flew toward the wing. This was a fifty-fifty ball between Maël and Preston's fullback.

With the latter not holding much of an advantage in speed, a contest of physical strength inevitably took place.

Bang!

Maël's shoulder slammed hard into the opposing player's shoulder. This time, he did not feel much shock through his own body before he saw the other man bounce away as if struck by a heavy hammer.

Most teams' fullbacks were the speed-overlapping type or the ball-playing type. Their ability in physical duels simply could not compare with his current self.

Maël passed the ball with one kick to Evans, who had come short to receive, and immediately felt adrenaline surging wildly through him, his whole body boiling with hot blood.

Winning this kind of pure-power contest really did make it easy to get excited!

"Oh!!"

A roar erupted from the Sheffield United supporters' section. From the opening whistle, they had seen a completely new spirit in the team, and now they had witnessed a passionate, successful challenge. Of course it felt exhilarating.

In the middle, Evans was swept up in that blazing atmosphere. Naturally, he could not hold himself back. He turned and unleashed a thunderous shot.

The ball flew straight toward the near corner of the goal, only for the opposing goalkeeper to make a desperate save at the last possible moment.

So close! A wave of regretful "Ah!" cries rose from the stands, and quite a few fans clutched their heads.

Evans covered his face too, then shook his head and raised both hands, signaling for everyone to get fired up. "Again, again!"

The team really was different now. Even the commentators sitting in the media area could see that.

"Judging from the opening, since Gareth Speed took over, the team really has shown a completely different look.

"Perhaps this has something to do with the previously exposed conflict between the players and Kevin, and also with Gareth Speed's personal charisma.

"Preston seems to have been stunned. Their manager Landers looks anxious and heavy-faced.

"Let's take a look at Sheffield United's first Corner Kick of the first half. Janu Hans will take it. The camera is focused on their tall Center Forward, Bologanovic. He's a major aerial target.

"The Corner Kick is taken! A scramble in the center of the box, and it's cleared! The ball is controlled by Ward in the second-ball area. He glances at the penalty area. Is he going to cross? No, it's a square pass, completely catching them by surprise!!

"Maël! The youngster Maël is standing right in the passing lane!"

On the pitch, as Ward made a fake crossing motion, Preston's defensive line quickly squeezed into the penalty area, leaving space at the edge of the box.

Bang!

But the real square pass that followed accurately picked out a vacuum of space and found Maël in the gap.

At that moment, Maël looked extremely calm. He did not rush to strike it first time.

He lowered his center of gravity and stopped the ball in the most comfortable position. The shouts of the surrounding fans seemed to be automatically blocked from his ears, and the world contained only him and the football.

In that state of ultimate focus, he took two steps in his run-up, planted his supporting foot firmly to the left of the ball, then swung his left arm, folded his right leg, and snapped it out with force.

"Whoosh—" Only then did the sounds around him return to his ears.

One of them came from the coaches' bench on the touchline. It was Gareth Speed's excited voice. He must have already risen from his seat. "Smash it for me!"

Bang!! A muffled blast rang across the entire stadium. The ball lifted off the ground, flew straight toward the far corner of the goal, and smashed into the net with lightning speed. Swish!!

Goal! One-nil!

Maël scored from long range, claiming the first goal of his professional career!

A ball of fire burst from his heart and lungs, making him raise both hands high and sprint with all his might toward the fans by the touchline before sliding out on his knees at full speed.

"Yeah!!" At that moment, he heard more than twenty thousand fans inside Bramall Lane erupt in a celebration that seemed ready to tear the roof off the stadium. Before his eyes, thousands of figures rose as one.

All the dissatisfaction was released in that instant. He felt as if he had fallen into a blissful, mind-stealing dream, surrounded entirely by crowds dancing for him.

The feeling of scoring really was pretty good!

"I knew you could do it! Easy assist!"

Ward, who had already been over on this side, was the first to run over. He leaped high and jumped onto his back.

"Maël, my God!"

Gilbert was the second to run over with a smiling face. He spread his arms and celebrated his best brother's goal with a huge hug.