THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME
The Perfect Start I

As usual, Kristin was present for the match in the Lerkendal stands with her flatmates. He jumped off his seat and started cheering with the rest of the fans when Nicki Nielsen, Rosenborg's highly clinical number 9, slotted the ball into the back of the net.

"It's only the fourth minute, and Rosenborg is already one goal ahead" he heard Kjell Roar, commentator, say. His merdunya sound boomed through the stadium loudspeakers, beating the loud cheers of Rosenborg fans in the stadium.

"Thanks to the quick thinking of Zachary and Nicki, the Rosenborg players had a perfect start to this highly contested Tippeligaen match" the commentator continued as cheers began to subside. "What a wonderful thing about Rosenborg number-33, Zachary Bemba. The vision and calmness to see that possibility and take a free-kick quickly while Molde's players are still sleeping is genius. I'm at a loss for words about the ingenuity of this 18-year-old player."

"No, you don't" Kristin heard the voice of Harald Brattbakk, the scholar of the day, interjecting. "If you are at a loss for words, then what about the Molde fans or even Coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer himself? ? One look at it on the guest bench, and you'll understand what it means to be at a loss for words."

Kjell Roar laughed at that. "However, I won't blame the coach" he said, his voice condescending. "The goal was without a doubt the fault of all Molde's players. Why didn't any of them keep an eye on Zachary when he picked up the ball? Instead, they kept arguing with the referee and didn't even care.to mark Rosenborg's two most dangerous players. I'm really confused."

"Why do you sound like a Molde fan?" Harald, the Rosenborg legend and expert of the day, asked.

"No, no" Kjell Roar replied quickly. “It's only been a long time since I've witnessed such a goal. While there, I thought the referee would cancel because he had not set the wall when Zachary took that lightning-fast free kick. "

"That must be the thought that goes through the heads of all Molde fans watching the game both live in the stadium and at home on their screens" Harald said. "But, let me assure you: the goal is one hundred percent legitimate. Zachary managed to make that assist without breaking any rules of the game."

"Think for a moment" the scholar continued. "Zachary just took advantage of the situation and sent the ball to Nicki while Molde's players were still sleeping. He didn't commit a punishable offense, like an offense, during the whole process."

"Nicki, who was clearly onside, took that opportunity and did her best. He put the ball behind the goal without pressure. So, remind me why the referee has to cancel the goal."

Kristin heard Kjell Roar chuckle at her. "Tell that to the Molde players" he said. "They were around the referee, still arguing about the free-kick being taken quickly. But the referee still stands firm about his decision."

Harald laughs. "I watched two post-match interviews with Zachary" the scholar replied. "And as you said, Zachary is quite outspoken about Molde. I understand that some people may think that he is a bit arrogant in the interview, but I have a different opinion. Have you ever considered that he may not be very important but directly? confidently yourself?"

"Look at today's game" the scholar continued, without giving Kjell the opportunity to answer that question. “She stated that it is unlikely Molde beat Rosenborg given their last match, especially in Lerkendal. In the fourth minute, Molde had made a mistake and conceded a goal. And the goal was partly created by him. So, tell me: is he arrogant or confident?"

"Well," said Kjell Roar. "The game has just begun, and we'll have an answer to that question at the end of 90 minutes. For now, let's go back to live-action. The game has just restarted with the Molde kick-off. However, the players in blue still looked confused. They have not managed to finish the game after conceding an early goal. Their passes and positions were in immeasurably messy, and they found it difficult to hold possession. Is this really Molde , the reigning champion of Tippeligaen and a team coached by one of the Norwegian sports legends?"

Kristin returned her full attention to the field after the cheers subsided. He watched Molde try to maintain possession, passing the ball into the middle with quick one-touch and two-touch passes. Over the next few minutes, they gave the impression that they were trying their best to adjust to the game and dictate the tempo.

But the Rosenborg players didn't let them. The troll boys have taken the counter-pressing strategy to the extreme. They ran into each Molde player with the ball as if their lives were at stake, trying their best to win back possession as quickly as possible. They do not allow players in blue every second to calm down with the ball. Thanks to that, they managed to force defensive midfielder Molde to play the ball high to the other side of the field.

Expectations fluttered inside Kristin as he watched Mike Jensen, one of Rosenborg's double shafts, control the ball as it passed Molde's players. Without wasting any time, he kicked it towards Zachary, who had already opened himself outside the strong rival pressure zone in the middle circle.

But when Zachary was about to receive a pass, Jo Inge Berget, Molde's attacking midfielder, immediately approached him. He collided aggressively into Zachary's back, trying to snatch the ball back for his team.

Kristin grimaced despite thinking Zachary would soon lose possession due to pressure from Jo Inge. But he was once again surprised after a while.

Zachary received the pass beautifully with a simple deft touch, while successfully holding down the bearded Jo Inge with his incredible physique. He then faked a pass on the pitch before turning and started a beautiful Cruyff turn that threw the midfielder away, leaving him confused and unaware of what had happened.