August 28, Bramall Lane Stadium.
At 7pm, one hour before the game, a large number of cars surrounded the stadium, and fans from all over the city came in an endless stream, making the place crowded.
"Bang... Bang... Bang!!"
"Toot... Toot!!"
They beat the drums and blew the trumpets, bringing a warm atmosphere outside the stadium.
Many vendors selling beer and hot dogs also hawked their wares here, trying to make a fortune from the huge flow of people today.
They caused many fans who love beer to sit on the street with ruddy faces and blurred eyes before the game started.
"Gary Speed! Come on!!"
"We want to win the first home win of the new season, charge!!"
"Let Preston lose everything at Bramall Lane!"
At 7pm, the Blades' diehard fans came, shouting uniform slogans and bringing dozens of majestic red and white flags, like the flags of ancient battle formations.
The breeze blew the flags, making them flutter and dance in the wind, bringing a fierce and solemn feeling.
"Oh...OhOh.....!!"
The rest of the fans seemed to have found their own organization, followed these team flags, and entered the stadium with their hands raised and roaring.
Fans are lovely. They will insult you with dirty words and mock you with rational ridicule when you lose.
But when you need them, they will still buy the team's season tickets and wear jerseys to cheer.
Today, the first show after the new coach took office!
The starting lineup announced before the game also clearly pointed out that many new players will have their home debut!
Sheffield United fans are looking forward to a brand new team appearing in front of them and taking on the responsibility of restoring the team's glory.
They live in such expectations. This is their football culture and an indispensable part of their lives.
......
"Beep!"
At 7:55, in the player's tunnel, three referees led the players from both sides into the stadium in an orderly manner.
Maher, holding the little ball boy, followed the team's pace, step by step through the red player tunnel and walked out of the stadium.
Looking ahead, fourteen dazzling headlights appeared in front of him, and there were many small spotlights around. Below them were two-story stands full of people, most of whom were wearing red and white jerseys.
"You are a light in the dark....That there's only the road down the dark....!!"
The fans were singing the team song loudly, and the voices of more than 20,000 people combined together, deafening.
This is Sheffield's home stadium, Bramall Lane Stadium!
Maher's skin surface had some goose bumps. He had already experienced a starting appearance, but this was his first time to have an appearance ceremony at home.
This will definitely be an unforgettable day. He will strive to leave his own mark here with the best appearance.
Stepping on the soft grass, he and his teammates completed a brief appearance ceremony, and stood in their positions after dividing the right to kick off and the right to choose the side.
He exchanged a glance with the opponent's full-back, then looked at Gary Speed, who was a little excited and nervous on the sidelines, and then closed his eyes to adjust his mentality.
"Beep!"
At eight o'clock, the referee blew the whistle to officially start the game.
Sheffield United striker Evans, who got the kick-off right in the first half, kicked the ball out of the center circle, and another striker Borodanovic kicked the ball back. Gilbert received the ball and passed it to the backcourt.
"Bang!"
Sheffield United center back Steven made a long pass and kicked the ball to the left forward position where Maher was.
Maher rushed at high speed, turned his back after facing the opponent's full-back, and jumped as much as possible to compete for the aerial ball.
He didn't head the ball, but his strong body also made the opponent's full-back unstable and didn't jump high, so he still didn't head the ball.
"Press, press, press! Come on!"
Sheffield United quickly pressed forward, everyone leaned towards the left, and launched a high-pressure pressing after the opponent threw the ball out of bounds.
Seeing that the situation was not good, the Preston defender kicked the ball directly to his own midfielder after receiving the throw. The ball bounced and was not stable.
"Mine!"
An excited voice sounded, and Gilbert, who started for the first time, came behind the opponent's midfielder, slid cleanly and kicked the ball away before the opponent received the ball.
The football flew to the side, which was a half ball between Maher and Preston's full-back.
In the case that the latter's speed was not much ahead, a physical strength confrontation was inevitable.
"Bang!"
Maher's shoulder hit the opponent's shoulder hard. This time he did not feel too much body vibration, and saw the opponent bounced away like a heavy hammer.
Most team full-backs are speed-inserting or ball-passing types, and their confrontation ability is not comparable to his current one.
Maher kicked the ball to Evans who was receiving it, and then felt the crazy secretion of adrenaline, and his whole body was boiling.
This kind of pure strength confrontation victory is indeed easy to arouse people's excitement!
"Oh.....!!"
The Sheffield United fans cheered. They saw the team's new spirit from the start, and also saw a passionate and successful confrontation, so they naturally felt refreshed.
In the middle, Evans was enveloped in this fiery atmosphere, and naturally couldn't help but turned and shot.
The football flew straight to the near corner of the goal, and finally the opponent's goalkeeper saved it.
Almost!
"Ah..." A regretful sound came from the stands, and many fans hugged their heads.
Evans also covered his face, then shook his head, raised his hands to signal everyone to get excited, "Come on, come on!"
The team is indeed different, and even the commentators sitting in the media area of the stadium can see this.
"From the start, the team has indeed shown a completely different look after Gary Speed took office.
"This may be related to the conflict between the players and Kevin that was exposed before, and also to Gary Speed's personal charm.
"Preston seemed to be stunned, and coach Landers' face showed anxiety and heaviness.
"Let's take a look at Sheffield United's first corner kick in the first half, which was taken by Januhans, and the camera was aimed at their center forward Bolodanovic, which was a high point.
"Corner kick! In the center of the penalty area... Melee, one kick to clear the ball!
"The football was controlled by Ward in the second area. He looked at the penalty area. Was he going to pass it? No, it was a cross-kick, which was unexpected! !
"Maher! Young player Maher is standing on the passing line!"
.......
On the court, with Ward's fake cross, Preston's back line quickly squeezed into the penalty area, releasing the front position of the penalty area.
"Bang!"
But the real cross-kick that followed accurately captured a vacuum area and found Maher in the empty position.
At this moment, Maher seemed very calm and did not rush to kick directly.
He lowered his center of gravity and stopped the ball in the most comfortable position. His ears seemed to automatically block out the shouts of the fans around him. The world was just him and the football.
In this state of extreme concentration, he took two steps to run up, placed his supporting foot firmly on the left side of the football, then swung his left arm, folded his right leg and popped it out heavily.
"Wow..." Only then did the surrounding sounds reappear in his ears.
One came from the coaching seat on the sidelines, which was the excited voice of Gary Speed. He should have stood up from his seat, "Smash it for me!"
"Bang!!" The muffled sound spread throughout the field, and the football took off from the ground, flew straight to the far corner of the goal, and hit the net at lightning speed, "Shua!!"
The ball went in!
One to zero!
Maher scored a long shot and scored his first goal in his career!
A ball of fire burst out from his heart and lungs, making him raise his hands high and rush to the fan area on the sidelines with all his strength, sliding out at high speed.
"Yeah...!!" At this moment, he heard the cheers of more than 20,000 fans at Bramall Lane, which were like the roof of the stadium being overturned. Thousands of figures in front of him stood up in unison.
All the dissatisfaction was released at this moment, and he felt that he had fallen into a gentle place that made him lose his mind, surrounded by people dancing for him.
The feeling of scoring a goal was really good!
"I knew you could make an easy assist!"
Ward, who was already here, ran over first and jumped high on his back.
"Maher, my God!"
Gilbert ran over second with a smile on his face. He spread his hands and celebrated the goal for his best brother with a big hug.