Chapter 13: The First Start

The day of the match had arrived.

Jason sat in the locker room, his heart pounding in his chest.

He had played in big matches before, but today was different.

This wasn't a youth game. This wasn't a trial.

This was his first official start for the academy's senior team.

Rodrigo sat next to him, bouncing his legs. "You ready?"

Jason exhaled slowly. "Yeah."

Rodrigo grinned. "Good. 'Cause if you mess up, I'm taking all your goals."

Jason chuckled, shaking his head. "We'll see about that."

Across the room, Coach Moreno stood in front of the squad.

"Listen up," he said, his tone sharp. "We've trained for this. We've worked for this. Now, it's time to prove it."

He turned to the whiteboard, displaying the starting lineup in a 4-3-3 formation.

Jason's name was there.

Right at the top.

Moreno's eyes locked onto him.

"Jason, you're leading the line today. Play smart, play sharp, and don't hesitate to take your chances."

Jason nodded. "Got it, Coach."

Moreno turned to the rest of the team. "Everyone, play your roles. Work for each other. And remember—this match is ours to win."

The energy in the room shifted.

It was almost time.

Jason clenched his fists.

He was ready.

The Walkout

The tunnel was buzzing with tension.

Jason stood at the front of the line, feeling the eyes of the opposing defenders on him.

Their team was physical, their center-backs tall and imposing.

One of them, a guy named Bianchi, smirked at Jason.

"First start, huh?" Bianchi said. "Hope you're ready for a long night."

Jason smirked back. "Nah. Hope you're ready for a long highlight reel."

Rodrigo laughed behind him. "Damn. I like this version of you."

The referee signaled.

The teams walked onto the field.

The stadium wasn't massive, but the crowd was loud.

Jason took a deep breath, feeling the grass beneath his boots.

Then—

The whistle blew.

The match had begun.

A Tough Start

From the first minute, Jason could tell—this was going to be a battle.

The opposing team pressed high, making it difficult to build from the back.

Jason kept moving, trying to find pockets of space.

But every time the ball came near him—

Bianchi was there.

The center-back stuck to him like glue, shoving him, tugging his jersey, and whispering taunts.

"Where's that confidence now, rookie?"

Jason gritted his teeth.

Fine.

If they wanted to make this a fight, he'd fight back.

A Moment of Brilliance

At the 30th minute, Jason finally got his chance.

Rodrigo intercepted a pass in midfield and quickly sent a long ball forward.

Jason exploded into action, sprinting past the last defender.

The goalkeeper rushed out.

Jason had one second to react.

He chipped it.

The ball sailed over the keeper's outstretched hands—

And landed perfectly in the back of the net.

Goal.

The stadium erupted.

Jason stood still for a moment, soaking in the roar of the crowd.

Then, he sprinted toward the corner flag, fists clenched.

Rodrigo tackled him in celebration. "What did I tell you, man?! You were born for this!"

Jason grinned, heart pounding.

1-0.

His first goal as a starter.

And he was just getting started.