THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME
First & Final Yellow Card of the Match

"You shouldn't have done that, my friend," Mikael Dorsin, Rosenborg's acting captain, said to Zachary as soon as they finished celebrating the goal.

"Done what?" Zachary asked, trying to understand the intentions of the veteran defender.

"Open your clothes" Mikael replied as he pointed at Zachary's bare chest which was shaped like a tank. "You get a useless yellow card for that. Congratulations!" He added, shaking his head.

"Oh, shit," Zachary couldn't help but curse out loud at Mikael's conclusion. He tilted his head and looked back into the middle of the field. He noticed that the referee was obediently waiting for him with a yellow card in hand. "It was only in the heat of the moment. I completely forgot about FIFA's laws about not taking someone's shirt off for goal celebrations." He tried his best to explain to the acting captain.

The other Rosenborg players around him whistled and laughed at him. They were still in an excited mood after achieving a perfect comeback with just a minute before the final whistle.

"Oh, well, I understand because I would have done the same if I had been in your position" Mikael said, grinning and patting her on the back. "I'm sure the coaches will do it too. However, you will get in trouble with the sporting director and the publicity people. It was the match-winning shirt you just gave away without consulting the club. They'll handle you, because they'd rather use it at one of the promotional events."

"Oh!" Zachary frowned, stealing glances to the stands, where one of his fans—a teenage boy had just grabbed his shirt. He had already folded it up like a precious item and seemed ready to store it. "Should I ask him to give it back?" He asked the acting captain.

"Oh, no, you can't do that," said Mikael, his voice slightly raised. "Once a jersey goes to the fans, then it is no longer ours—but theirs. It was an unwritten rule that everyone followed. So, forget it and pick another jersey from the bench. You better hurry because the referee seems impatient."

"OK, then," Zachary agreed before walking out of his team-mates and running towards Rosenborg's technical area. Without wasting any time, he took the new number-33 black Rosenborg jersey from the grinning Trond Henriksen, who said a few words of congratulations to him. In just a few seconds, he returned to his position in the middle third of the pitch and was ready to restart the game.

*FREEEE*

However, not long after he sat in his position, the referee blew his whistle and ran towards him. Zachary could only smile wryly as the resolute-faced referee handed him the first yellow card of his professional career. He can't believe he got his first yellow card from goal celebrations. Nonetheless, the card did not dampen his mood in the slightest. He still feels drunk happiness after scoring goals.

The match restarted seconds after Zachary received a yellow card. The Rosenborg players did not give Aalesund a chance to dictate the game. They fought hard to regain possession immediately after the restart. When the ball returns to them, they slow down the tempo of the game by exchanging a combination of one-touch passes or two touches in the defensive third and the middle third of the field of play. That way, they manage to hold off opponents and maintain their one-goal advantage.

When the referee blew the final whistle, every Rosenborg player on the pitch went crazy for the excitement. Some of them ran around the field like a bunch of kids who saw Santa on Christmas Eve. Others came to Zachary and hugged him to celebrate the victory.

Zachary feels like he has integrated further into his team after playing the game. He has grown to love some of the Rosenborg fans who have travelled so far to give their team their support and feel at home among his team-mates.

The celebration ended after a few minutes. The Rosenborg players began to leave the pitch after shaking hands with the referee and opponents. Zachary followed some of them, intending to return to the dressing room, shower as quickly as possible, and cool down his aching muscles. However, Coach Johansen intercepted him at the entrance of the tunnel.

"Good game" said the coach, hugging Zachary. He seemed much happier than before. "It was an amazing performance. You are the man of the match for this game. How do you feel?"

"Great, of course," Zachary replied with a grin. "However, more than anything, I want to quickly take a shower and then swallow a few sticks of water and energy."

Coach Johansen laughed at that. "It had to wait for the call of duty. You are with me for post-match interviews and press conferences. Come along. The press is waiting for us." He said, leading the way.

Zachary followed him, frowning. "Do I really have to go? Can't anyone else, like the captain, for example, leave?" He asked after he got into the step with the coach.

"Of course not" replied Coach Johansen non-stop. "Pers wanted to interview new star Rosenborg—one who helped us make a comeback after coming on as a substitute. That person is you and there is no other way. You can be absent for the press conference, but you have to take the post-match interview because you are the man of the match."

"Oh," said Zachary, continuing to match Coach Johansen's move.

Coach Johansen seemed to realize that he was not so eager to meet the press and paused for a moment. "Why do you look moody when you're about to do your first interview?" He asked, leaning his head slightly to observe Zachary's face.

"It's not that I'm afraid of the press or anything like that" Zachary replied. "Only am I not happy with the press conference after the game. What use? The fans and pundits have seen it all on the playing field! Why ask the player about it again after the game? Moreover, I have seen some journalists ask disturbing questions during press conferences and interviews. I don't want to be on the other end."

Coach Johansen laughed at that, patting him on the back. "Honestly. Are you sure that you are not just afraid to imagine being in front of the camera? That's a lot of words for a simple question!"

"Not at all" Zachary replied, making sure his voice remained firm. "Let's go for the goddamn press conference." Of course, he would not admit that he was 'a little' afraid of standing in front of the camera. This was the first time he had been called up for a post-match interview in both of his lives. So, he was confused as to how to approach her.

"Okay, then," Coach Johansen said with a smile. "Don't worry about anything unnecessary. Be yourself, and respond with a short answer. I'm sure you'll be fine." He then led the way to the designated area for the press.

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