"Oh...!!"
In the Sheffield fan section of the South Stand, thousands of fans wearing red and white Sheffield United jerseys erupted in deafening cheers, igniting the area around the South zone, "Yeah...!!"
In the first two matches, the team swallowed six goals without scoring any.
They even had the humiliating experience of being shut out by a National League team.
Their emotions were already in a state of extreme repression, supported only by the unwavering love for their team that kept them traveling to away games.
Now, they finally saw a goal!
"Who is it? Who's that lad?!" Someone raised their hands in celebration, hope flashing in their eyes.
"Evans! Evans scored the first goal of the new season!" Someone answered excitedly.
"No, I meant the one who assisted! He's got great flair, his nimble breakthrough and crossing were done in one go!" The inquirer both asked and praised in amazement.
"Number 31, never seen him before!"
"I haven't seen him either."
"Seventeen years old, on loan from Arsenal, seems to be named Ma'el, making his debut today!" Someone who had checked the pre-match information enlightened the others.
Due to their curiosity about the 'assist player,' Ma'el's name rapidly spread across the entire stand like a whirlwind, and the elements of his career debut were also well known by Sheffield United fans.
To let that young lad on the field remember this wonderful moment and enjoy the treatment he deserved, some fans spontaneously organized to shout his name.
"Ma'el... Ma'el!"
At first, the voice was small until more and more people joined in, and the sound gradually echoed through the sky, "Ma'el... Ma'el!!"
On the substitutes' bench by the field.
"Brilliant!"
Gilbert, wearing a substitute bib, had already had a heated gaze, and now he was the first to rush out, clenching his fists and shouting: "Ma'el, you did it!!"
After spending two months together day and night, whether it's the other scoring or himself, it's almost the same now.
Gilbert was genuinely happy, knowing that after today, his friend would step up to a new level.
"Come on...!!"
Following him was Garrispeed, the young coach who had recently experienced an emotional outburst, did not expect the team to score a goal at this time.
His emotions were reignited, clenching his right fist and punching into the air to release his emotions, venting all his previous dissatisfaction.
After celebrating, Garrispeed turned his gaze to a section of the fan area, where chief scout Jorson happened to turn his head.
It was a face glowing with excitement, too far to tell if his eyes were brimming with tears, but one could imagine he was certainly excited.
Garrispeed gave him a thumbs-up, seemingly saying well done.
As for the team's head coach Kevin beside him, his face showed more surprise and complex expressions, various emotions mixed up inside him, making it hard for him to express anything.
...
Within the arena, a fiery atmosphere surrounded the place.
"Here it comes!"
Ma'el's body hair stood up, eyes wide open, sprinting towards Evans, who had completed the goal, a flame seemed to rise in his chest, forcing him to breathe heavily.
The first record on the professional field, the first assist in the Championship!
These were what he had long awaited, and today finally came on this important day!
Seeing Evans running towards him, Ma'el stood still, lowering his center of gravity because he clearly captured Evans preparing for a leap.
"Well passed! Well passed!"
Evans shouted as he ran, leaping towards Ma'el about a meter away from him.
"Brilliant shot!"
Laughing, Ma'el complimented before feeling a huge impact bump into him, instinctively lifting his hands to embrace Evans.
Then, they put their arms over each other's shoulders, charging towards the fan area by the field.
Their other teammates quickly followed, most of them congratulated the two.
"This must be a day you will never forget."
The team's midfielder Janu came smiling beside Ma'el, putting an arm around his shoulders and asked, "What else do you want?"
"Victory."
Ma'el replied with a smile, voicing his true thoughts; he didn't want to bear the pain of defeat on a day supposed to be joyful until the end.
His answer surprised many, they thought Ma'el would have said he wanted a goal or a second assist.
"Let's work hard together."
Evans voiced his position, ready to give his all, not sure about others, "How about the rest of you?"
"I don't want Ma'el to have a bad memory of this first time."
Janu also shared his thoughts, looking towards a few close teammates, seeing them all nodding.
The group headed towards their half of the field, cheering each other and boosting their morale significantly.
"Good job, lad!"
Back in his position, Ma'el heard a voice from the backfield, turned his head to see goalkeeper Robert applauding him with both hands raised.
Robert, one of the few successful veterans in the team, is also the captain of Sheffield United, who is normally very kind and takes much care of him.
He thanked him and turned back, feeling that everything was great, new hopes, and goals awaited him ahead.
"Beep!"
The referee blew the whistle for the third kickoff, the Cardiff City striker kicked off at the center circle.
Ma'el again moved his legs, dashing into the opposing field, this time, his fighting spirit even more uplifted.
......
Korni Training Base, youth team conference room.
There was some delay, but they had already seen Ma'el's cross and Evans closing in from the center.
"Bang!"
At the moment the football hit the net, Coach Hans couldn't hold back and thumped the table, then raised both arms, "First assist! Ma'el's pass leveled the score! That's really something, it was brilliant!"
Surprises like waves hit again and again, impacting their hearts.
"Oh....." Other Arsenal U17 team members couldn't help but stand up in amazement, shouting or clapping, already engaging in Ma'el's role.
From initially hearing Ma'el would play, to discovering Ma'el started, to now achieving an assist contribution!
Everyone seemed to be in a magical painting, unable to extricate themselves, yet the familiar and delicate face on the TV told them it was real.
"Don't block me! I want to see him celebrate!"
"I'm watching too!"
"Weren't you also kicking balls at him before? What are you watching?"
"That was ages ago!"
"So cool, if it were me, I would knee slide."
The players craned their necks, watching Ma'el's celebration, many of them even spasmed, bodies tingling.
They desperately wished the person on the screen was themselves!
After all, it was the Championship, the value of achieving an assist there was immeasurably higher than their youth league!
"Is there a bonus for an assist in the Championship?" a player asked curiously.
"1500 pounds!"
Hans turned his head smiling and replied, "Moreover, bonuses from professional teams are generally after-tax amounts."
More people fell into spasms, this one kick was worth more than half their monthly salary, valuable from every aspect.
...
France, Aix.
In the Clément household, a family of five sat in front of the sofa, attentively watching the match.
"Got the ball, go past him, good!"
Clément shared most male fans' habits when watching football, liked to act like a coach, as if holding a controller, "Pass, if you don't score I'll... ah... scored! Ma'el's assist!"
He raised a beer can high in his hand, excitement glancing across to the others, "A toast for my nephew!"
The household's eldest and second child, along with his wife, raised their glasses, smiled and clinked them excitedly.
"Big brother is amazing!"
Eva didn't drink and didn't quite understand the accomplishment her brother achieved, just kept clapping, "Big brother makes big money, he has to buy me eight pizzas!"
She belonged to the atmosphere group, each time Ma'el appeared on screen, she would flail around to remind everyone.
"I knew he could make it!"
Clément drank too much, boasting with a flushed face: "Back in my day..."