THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME
A Good Start

Zachary smiled as he expertly flicked the ball between the legs of the last defender using the outside of his boots. He made a small touch that pushed the ball just about a meter from the defender, into the box.

A figure ran towards bola―itu Kasongo! Defender Riga was beaten and did not react. Kasongo remained unnoticed until he fired a missile shot towards the goal.

The ball exploded and shot past the goalkeeper. But Zachary was disappointed, it bounced off the post and rebounded onto the pitch. Kasongo has missed a good goal-scoring opportunity. He held his head between his hands in anguish.

"The ball is still in the game" Zachary shouted as he chased the ball that had just bounced off near the penalty spot. His heart pounded heavily on his chest as he tried hard to reach it in front of goalkeeper Riga.

But he's not fast enough. The goalkeeper swooped superbly towards the bouncing ball and punched it out of the box, out of Zachary's reach. He jumped like an acrobat, with a distance of about two metres— to get the ball in front of Zachary.

"A free kick," Zachary heard one of his teammates, possibly Magnus, shouting from behind him. "He pulled our captain's shirt right in front of the box."

*FREEEE!*

Hope blossomed inside Zachary as the sound of the whistle followed the plea. He turned only to find the referee, in a yellow uniform, pointing to the spot where the defender had pulled his shirt. He realized he still had a chance to put the ball into the goal. The referee has allowed the advantage to play just because of the scoring chances. He had recalled the ball for a free kick as soon as Kasongo missed the opportunity. And better yet, the setpiece is right on the edge of the box.

The referee indicates a high central defender who committed a foul with a yellow card. The player tries to complain in a language that Zachary cannot understand, maybe Latvian or Russian—but the referee doesn't take out his nonsense. He kicked him out and started to set up the NF academy free-kick.

"Zachary" shouted Coach Johansen from the sidelines. "Try to test their goalie."

Zachary nodded to show that he had received the message. He took the ball from the referee and put it on the ground, a few yards from the edge of the box.

"I'm sorry I couldn't score" Kasongo walked up to him and apologised. "I just don't know what's gotten into me."

Zachary smiled gently at his friend and replied: "Don't mind that. Focus on the game for now. We need you to stay sharp throughout the game. Even the best players in the world sometimes miss opportunities. You'll do better at the next opportunity." He suggested.

"I will," Kasongo swore, hit his chest. "May succeed. I'm sure you'll score." He added before walking away, leaving Zachary standing alone in front of the ball.

Zachary sighed and shook his head. He understands Kasongo's state of mind. Scoring a free kick would reduce his guilt of missing a golden opportunity.

[I will try my best.] He swore in his heart.

Zachary calmed his mind and took a few steps back from the ball. He was in the moment of truth. He was finally able to test the fruits of all his past training in the official match.

He felt his heart pound harder inside his chest. However, he suppressed his anxiety of — with sheer desire, and focused on the setpiece.

He then focused his mind and scanned his surroundings, trying his best to pick out details that would give him an edge for free kicks. Goalkeeper Riga is a little short, maybe 5 feet 9, according to Zachary's estimates. He chanted an order to his team-mates to better position themselves to prevent a free-kick from reaching the goal.

The walls were long and tall, with a taller player in the middle. Zachary decided to keep the free-kick high. That way, the guards would have no chance of saving him. He had to use his left foot because his free kick was slightly to the right of the goalpost.

As the referee blew the whistle, Zachary ran towards the ball at a measured speed. He set his sights on the ball, made the final jump, and smashed the ball with the inside of his left shoe.

He aims to curl the ball over a six-player wall. The accuracy is somewhat left to chance. He has not perfected his Bend-it like Beckham Juju to a level where he will reliably hit the target every time he takes a free kick.

His shot past the defenders, seemingly heading straight outside the post, until it suddenly curled into the top left corner at the last moment. The ball goes into the back of the goal.

Goalkeeper Riga did not manage to react. He just turned around and watched the ball spin behind the net. 1:0. The NF academy scored the first goal in the 15th minute.

Zachary celebrates like Paul Otterson, clenching his fists, sharing his joy of scoring with his team-mates. There is nothing like the excitement of working hard towards something and finally achieving it. His setpiece technique—finally formed after months of practice.

Meanwhile, silence struck Skonto Arena for the first time since the start of the match. Zachary's goal silenced the cheers of the home supporters.

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"I didn't expect to find such a player in a simple Norwegian academy" said the German VfB Stuttgart player. He was in the stands and just watched Zachary score from a free kick.

"What do you expect" replied his friend beside him, who was several inches taller. "Josh, the world is big—and talent always appears from everywhere. Just get used to it." He added nonchalantly.

"I would love to compete with him. But unfortunately, he won't make it past the group stages. His team looks like a one-man squad type."

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