sealing the victory

---

Dundee United had done it again. Another goal, another blow to Aberdeen's hopes of salvaging the match. The visiting team was growing desperate—this wasn't how things were supposed to go. They had come here expecting an easy win, looking to pummel a struggling opponent and walk away with three points. Instead, they found themselves backed into a corner, scrambling for a way back.

With the restart, Aberdeen threw everything they had into the attack. The next ten minutes saw them create two solid chances, but Dundee United's defense, bolstered by the confidence of their lead, held firm.

The 81st minute brought Aberdeen's best opportunity of the half. Their forward, Chris Maguire, broke through on the right side, just outside the penalty area. Spotting a gap, he fired a powerful shot toward the far post.

For a moment, it looked like Aberdeen might claw their way back into the match.

But Dundee United's Slovakian goalkeeper, Dusan Pernis, had no intention of letting that happen. He read the shot perfectly, diving at full stretch and managing to push the ball away with his fingertips.

The home crowd erupted in cheers. Aberdeen's frustration boiled over. Their attacks became reckless, their defense increasingly exposed as they pushed forward in desperation.

They had come here expecting to punish a wounded team, but instead, they were the ones drowning.

Then, in the 86th minute, the final dagger was struck.

Aberdeen had committed too many players forward. A misplaced pass near the edge of the box allowed Dundee United's midfielder David Robertson, a product of Leeds United's youth academy, to pounce on the ball and immediately launch a counterattack.

Robertson surged forward with speed, carrying the ball past the halfway line before laying it off to Craig Conway on the left flank.

Conway sprinted down the wing, evading a defender before swinging a precise cross into the penalty area.

Jon Daly was waiting in the center, perfectly positioned to meet the delivery. He lunged forward and struck the ball cleanly.

Aberdeen's goalkeeper, Mark Howard, reacted quickly, dropping low and managing to block the shot with his thigh.

The commentators' voices rang out over the stadium speakers.

"Howard reacts quickly and denies Daly's shot!"

"But the attack isn't over yet!"

"Carter! He's following up as well!"

Liam Carter had been sprinting forward as soon as the counterattack began. He wasn't the fastest player on the pitch, but his awareness and positioning set him apart. As Daly's shot rebounded into open space, he arrived at the perfect moment.

Without hesitation, he swung his right foot at the ball.

The net rippled.

"Goooooooooooal!"

"Carter finds the back of the net!"

"Dundee United extend their lead—this game is over! Liam Carter has sealed the win!"

"This 17-year-old has had an inconsistent start to the season, but tonight, he's rediscovered his form. One goal, one assist—what a performance off the bench!"

"A player like this has an incredibly bright future ahead of him. Congratulations to Dundee United—they've found a young star who could lead this team for the next twenty years!"

The Scottish commentator was full of praise, and on the sidelines, Peter Houston celebrated wildly. Liam Carter's goal secured the victory and, for the moment, kept Houston's position as manager safe.

Liam performed his signature celebration—taking two quick strides forward before leaping into the air and throwing a punch.

The stands erupted with chants of his name.

"Liam! Liam Carter!"

Scoring a goal and providing an assist in a derby match was the kind of moment fans lived for. He had gone from an unproven teenager to a game-changer in just 45 minutes.

At 3-1, the match was effectively decided. Aberdeen, sensing the inevitable, made no further efforts to mount a comeback.

Though the New Firm Derby was still considered one of Scotland's biggest rivalries, the years had dulled its intensity. Both clubs had seen better days, and while the fans remained passionate, the players no longer viewed it with the same life-or-death urgency.

A derby without blood and thunder would never match the sheer ferocity of the Old Firm Derby between Celtic and Rangers. Still, winning was winning. And tonight, Dundee United had claimed their first victory of the season.

---

After his stellar performance, Liam Carter was named Man of the Match—his first time receiving the honor. He also attended his first official post-match press conference.

Peter Houston, looking more alive than he had all season, took the opportunity to shower praise on his young player.

"Liam is a fantastic player. He's had a rough start, but we've been working with him, helping him find his rhythm. And tonight, in an important match, he delivered when it mattered most."

"This win will help get us back on track. That's the most important thing."

As the standout player, Liam was naturally bombarded with questions.

"Liam, you struggled in the first few games. What changed tonight?" asked one of Dundee United's in-house reporters.

"I felt like if I didn't step up tonight, we might lose this derby at home," Liam answered with a small smirk before quickly adding, "I'm kidding. My teammates and coaches have been supporting me, and I've been working hard to adjust to the pace of the league. Tonight, it all came together."

A professional, polished response.

A journalist from a British tabloid then asked, "Liam, can you tell us a bit about your family? And why the name Liam Carter?"

Liam chuckled. "I figure if I keep playing well, you lot will dig up everything about me anyway. So, no need for me to explain."

"As for my name? I've always liked Liam Neeson, and I think Carter has a nice ring to it."

The press conference continued with more standard questions before Liam finally stepped outside.

---

Despite the late hour, a few fans were waiting outside the stadium.

"Liam, you're finally out! Can you sign this for us?"

A stocky man and a younger fan stood eagerly holding Dundee United jerseys, each bearing the number 36—his squad number. Young players like him rarely got prime numbers, and for now, 36 was his identity.

"Of course," Liam said with a smile, taking the marker and signing the jerseys.

This was his first time giving an autograph, and writing on fabric felt completely different from paper. His signature came out slightly crooked, the letters uneven.

"Sorry about that—first time signing a shirt," he admitted.

He then turned to them, curiosity piqued. "You guys were waiting for me specifically? How did you know I didn't drive off?"

The stocky man grinned. "Oh, we've been following you since you joined the club. We know you and Old John live near the stadium and always walk home after games. So, we figured we'd wait."

As they walked alongside him, the younger fan added, "Liam, you should start driving to the stadium. When you get famous, people are gonna be waiting for you every game. Signing autographs could take you ages."

Liam laughed. It was a small city, and Dundee United was a small club. Their training ground was close to the stadium, and since he lived with Old John, walking was simply easier.

Before they left, the fans left him with parting words that caught him off guard.

"Liam, remember us. I'm Daniel, and he's Oliver. We're your first real fans. We're even setting up a fan website for you!"

"We'll always support you, mate."

Liam stopped for a second, watching them disappear into the night.

His first fans.

He smiled to himself.

This was just the beginning.