A Cameo Of Greatness

It was the day of the match and Izan

had woken up early because of the excitement he was feeling overthe possibilityof him playing his first senior team match. It was a Saturday and the match was going to be played at 5:30 pm.

The match would be played at the Camp Mestalla which was the stadium of the Valencia CF. The stadium had a capacity of 49,430.

Izan had already gotten two tickets from Coach Moreno and he had given them to his mum and Sister.

The team Valencia CF would be playing were one of the giants of Barcelona and thats was Espanyol CF.

Since it was a Saturday, Izan went for his daily task as although they weren't giving him stat points anymore, he still got lp points from them.

Izan,entered the shower after he came back from completing his tasks. He stood under the shower head as water streamed down his back.

Izan after the shower came out with a towel around his waist. After drying himself,he put on a sweatpant and a big black shirt.

"I thought you'd go for training,in the morning since it's your senior debut and all" Komi said as she saw Izan descending from the stairs.

"Well the Coach said we will meet at the complex, 4 hours before the start of the match for some light training session " Izan responded.

"Ok but can you go and wake up your sister" Komi added.

Izan stood up from the couch before heading upstairs again. He got to Hori's door and knocked but got no reply.

He tried opening it and it opened as it wasn't locked. Izan saw her sister sleeping peacefully and decided to play with her a bit.

He held her nose not allowing her to breathe until she woke up. She was still feeling groggy and Izan decided to go further.

He pulled down the blinds and the sunlight which fell on Hori made her feel like a thousand year old vampire that had just come out of her sleep.

She woke up and annoyed while Izan told her to freshen up and come down.

Komi had already finished making breakfast by the time Hori came down. The family of 3 slowly enjoyed their break fast.

Izan after breakfast drank a conditioning and recovery pill to be in the best of state he could be before the match.

After that,Izan just sat there with his phone reading about the transfer rumours happening in the world of football.

The mbappe to madrid transfer saga was at its highest as the latter was trying to bring the superstar to the club.

They had already offered the parent club of mbappe 160 million euros for the services of the of the player but the offer had been rejected.

Izan stared at his phone as he read on and thought "very soon, teams are going to be offering a lot of money for me to play for them".

Izan surfed the Internet some more before deciding to rest for match a bit.

...

Izan was woken up by his mum when it was getting to 1' o'clock. Izan stood up washed his face with water before heading downstairs with his football bag.

He sat in the car quietly as Komi drove

to the cuidad deportiva de paterna.

"Miura" komi said after they had reached the location. "I'm very proud of you and I'm sure your dad would be proud too".

Izan sat there listening as he tried to remember his father's face from memory but couldn't.

"Go out there and play your heart out Miura,and know that no matter what happens we're there for you" Komi added.

Izan looked at his mum and smiled before she kissed him on the forehead. Izan got out of the car and walked to the complex.

He saw some of the players training before he went inside to change. After changing,Izan came out with a ball to do his own targeted practice with the ball.

The Coach had told them to take it easy with their training. After a while, most of the players arrived and the training session started.

The drills were relatively light today as no one wanted an injury ahead of a game.

After the training session,the players went to wash up before joining the coach in the tactical room for the tactical session of the match.

The players sat there as the Coach explained their roles to them. After about 30 minutes, the starting lineup for the match was put on the board and Izan walked towards it.

Izam stopped infront of the board and inspected the sheet.

Formation: 4-3-1-2

Gk: Javier cillessen.

Left-back: Jésus Vasquez, Right-back:Thierry Correià .

Centre backs:H. Guillamòn, Mark montes.

Midfielders: Pietro Luis Cava, Yunus musah, Helder Costa.

Center forward: Maxi gomez

Strikers: Hugo duro, M. Andre.

....

Substitutes: Marco vallejo, Carlos soler,

O. Alderete,Dennis cheryshev, A. Blanch, Izan Hernandez, C. Piccini, D. Wass. Jaume domenéch[GK], illaix Moriba.

Izan stood there staring at the substitutes and when he saw his name, Izan couldn't help but smile.

"Welcome to the team brother " Yunus musah,one of the starting youngsters on the team said.

Izan turned around and gave him a nod. Pietro and Mark who were both starting also came to Izan and started making small talk.

The players after this packed their bags and started heading towards the bus that would be taking them to the stadium.

Izan sat with Pietro in the bus and really regretted his decision as Pietro couldn't stop talking. Izan didn't know if it was because he was nervous or if there was another reason.

Izan put on his earbuds as they headed towards the camp mestalla. Pietro who saw this felt a bit sad but kept quiet.

The players got down from the bus when they reached the stadium and walked to their locker rooms.

After changing into their training kits,they went out for a quick warmup session. Izan after he got onto the pitch started looking around to see if he could find his mother and sister.

He had memorised the seat number and section so he quickly found them.

He waved at them as they were a bit nearer to the pitch.

Komi and Hori who saw this also waved back drawing a bit of stares to themselves.

" Wow you know one of the players" one of the Valencia fans said to Komi. "Yes, he's my son " Komi replied.

"Oh then we wish him goodluck" the fan added before minding his own again.

The players were called back to the locker room. Izan after he got there this time saw the jerseys on each player's locker.

He was a new player and therefore he had inherited someone's locker. Izan stood there stunned as he saw his name on the white kit with black sleeves.

Izan had been assigned the number 22 since it was one of the free numbers no one was using.

Izan knew someone had a hand in him getting this number because mostly, Academy players or youth players that had been recently promoted had jersey numbers that were in the 30s range.

Izan smiled as he looked at Coach Moreno who was busy with the Manager,Ruben Baraja.

"Ok guys,starters to the tunnel and the substitutes to the bench. Izan took his boots, his shin guards and water bottle and started walking towards the bench.

The Kit manager would bring his jersey Pietro said when Izan tried to take the kit.

He looked at the kit once more and his name at the back which said [M. Hernandéz] which made use of his middle and surnames.

Izan walked out of the locker room and headed towards the bench. Izan was wowed by the fans this time.

The stadium was buzzing with sounds as the fans continued to sing and chant.

Izan was loving the atmosphere and the noise. The stadium hadn't been filled that much when they came for the Warm-Ups but now it had been filled.

The attendance was shown on the screen and Izan turned to look at the screen showing the attendance.

45,782 out of the 49,430 capacity had been occupied. Izan smiled before finding his seat on the bench.

The starting teams of both sides came out of the tunnel and lined up as the pleasantries began.

The anthems of both teams sounded and the players shook hands before the referee looked at his watch.

Fweeeeee fweeeeeeee.

The referee blew his whistle after the clock hit 5:30.

[COMMENTATORS POV]

'[Buenas noches a todos y bienvenidos al Campamento Mestalla que comienza el partido entre el Valencia Cf y el RCD Espanyol. Mi nombre es julio salinas y Andres aguìla me acompaña en este encuentro de Laliga.(Good evening everyone and welcome to the Camp Mestalla as the match between Valencia CF and RCD Espanyol begin. my name's Julio salinas and I'm joined by Andres aguìla in this laliga fixture.)

(So commentary is going to be in English and other languages are going to be indicated by Either italics or block letter)'

After the commentators finished with the lineups,the match started.

The Espanyol team were on fire,shooting from all cylinders in the first 15 minutes. They controlled the game relentlessly and tried to make it count right from the start.

The defence of the Valencia team however was solid. Mark was doing a good job alongside the spanish centre back, H.guillamòn.

After a while,the match balanced out as Valencia Cf were settling into the game. They got possesion and tried an attack of their own but was thwarted by the opponents.

The first real chance of the game came in the 22nd minute when Pietro sent a through ball to Maxi Gomez who sent a pass across the box to Hugo duro whose shot was saved but the keeper.

The Fans who were ready to celebrate could not help but sigh and shake their head dissapointingly.

The corner was taken quickly as Mario gomez made a short pass to Yunus musah who made a splendid cross to the box after seeing Hugo.

His cross was met with a well timed finish from the head of Hugo duro.

The keeper tried to reach it but could only watch as the ball sank into the back of the net sharply.

Izan raised his fists on the bench as the Valencia players celebrated. Mark and Pietro were doing well as the latter even initiated the attack leading to the corner.

Izan knew he could perform at this level but at the same time,he was nervous and a bit scared.

He shook the useless thoughts out of his head and focused on the match trying to study the opponents.

The referee restarted the match after the celebrations and this time the momentum was with the Valencia side.

The wanted to capitalise on their goal that they just scored to make it double however as hard as they tried,they couldn't make it 2 to the good.

The Espanyol players started pressing high up the pitch. This tactic could rather help them or destroy them as the Valencia players could start playing long balls and they could counter.

The Valencia players however didn't and kept playing like they had in the first 22 minutes.

Izan looked on as the opponents defended relentlessly. The first half of the match was coming to an end and the Barcelona based club wanted to make it one all before the end of the first 45 minutes.

Their prayers were heard when Jésus vasquez,the left back of Valencia made a bad pass to the keeper cillessen.

Josélu being fast enough got to the ball before Cillessen could. Mark who had already anticipated a bad pass due to a bad feeling had already retreated back.

Josélu with a nice ball roll flicked it to the right with cillessen's tackle missing him.

Mark had gotten infront of the goal to try and block the shot but Josélu faked a shot making Mark act to block the faked shot.

Josélu with a smile tapped the ball into the goal.

Jésus Vasquez stood there a bit out of it. The blunder he had just made had cost his team.

The Espanyol's travelling fans erupted into shouts and cheers. Their team had just equalised the score.

Izan couldn't help but shake his head. The Valencia Manager, Ruben stood there poker faced like he cared less about the match.

The match ended a few minutes after the referee restarted the it and the players headed towards the dressing room.

Izan stood up and followed the other guys to play around a bit with the ball on the field to try and get a feel for the match.

After a few minutes,they also headed back to the dressing room.

Ruben Baraja clapped his hands to get their attention. "Okay guys,we fought well and got one goal but we should not have conceded a goal. I know the pass from vasquez was bad but aside Mark,none of you even moved to tackle the ball".

Ruben Baraja talked about the mistakes of the half and what they should do to prevent them.

The players sat there for a bit after he finished speaking. Some were making conversations whiles others were just on their phones.

After sometime,they were told to come back for the second half to begin. Izan stood up and walked to the bench.

He knew he wouldn't get subbed in at half time since the team were doing well.

The referee restarted the match after the players got into position and the second half began.

The Espanyol players were rejuvenated after the second half as they defended nicely.

There were no unnecessary tackles that would give away freekicks to the opponents and this made the match a bit difficult for the Valencia side.

The match was full of attacking plays as neither side relented and the fans were having the time of their lives even though the match was still a draw.

17 minutes after the start of the second half,the substitutions began. Espanyol brought on their leader on the pitch, Sergi Darder to control the midfield.

Valencia on the other hand made two changes as they took out Pietro and brought on Dennis cheryshev.

They also took out helder Costa before bringing on Carlos soler . Izan looked on as the match continued at the same pace .

He was itching to play and as if sensing it,Coach Moreno approached Izan and told him to warm up.

Izan quickly stood up to warmup. The other reserve players on the bench stared at him with envy and jealousy.

[In the stands]

"Mum when do you think Miura will come on. We mainly came to see him play but he hasn't even played" hori said just as Izan started to warm up.

Komi spotting Izan on the touchline pointed to him. Hori following the direction his mother was pointing to saw Izan warming up.

She smiled as she looked at her brother who looked like he was destined for greatness.

In the 72nd minute, Izan stood on the touchline waiting to be subbed in. Fortunately the ball went out and the substitution was made.

Izan came on for Maxi gomez as the Espanyol also made a substitution.

[COMMENTATOR POV]

' And Valencia makes a change and folks history is being rewritten here. Izan Miura Hernandéz comes on for Maxi gomez

The former is a youth player who has very great statistics for the youth team scoring 69 goals and 27 assists in 42 matches for the youth side and he was even the mainstay in Valencia Under-19s triumph in the uefa youth league. He was also an integral part of the team that won the copa de campeones juvenil last year.

Izan Miura at 15 years 5 months and 24 days becomes the youngest player to play in the laliga dethroning former mallorca player Luka Romero who is currently at S.S.C Lazio.

Although, I wouldn't make this change,let's see what Valencia Manager Ruben Baraja has seen in this young player that made him trust him so much to be bring him on '

"What is the Coach thinking,bringing on such a young player in this match. Even though this match won't change our status in the league table. It will still be nice to bag a win. Come on i bet on this" a fan said.

"Well lets see what he has to offer " another said.

Komi and Hori clapped as Izan came on. Unknowingly this incited a number of claps from the other valencia fans who clapped for Izan.

Izan couldn't find his footing,the first few minutes that he came on. He was getting pushed around a bit and this made him nervous. But just then 'ding'

[System has noticed that the host is nervous. FOCUS Lv 2 has been activated]

Izan with the focus skill activated went to ask for a pass. Hugo duro who had been watching the kid in training over the past few days knew one of Izan's habits.

He sometimes used his hand to ask for a run. Hugo looked at Izan's hand which was telling him to make a run.

Just as Izan received the ball,Hugo started to make a run. One of the Espanyol players tried to sneak up on Izan from the back and tackle the ball but Izan sneakily nudged the ball through his legs for a nutmeg.

The Valencia fans who saw this started laughing a bit .

Izan after this raised his head and sent a raking pass to Hugo duro. The pass was spectacular and Hugo duro didn't want to waste it.

Unfortunately for Hugo, one of the Espanyol defenders fouled him and brought him to the ground for a freekick.

The referee blew the whistle before showing the Espanyol defender a red card since it was a clear goal scoring opportunity that was denied.

Carlos soler stood behind the freekicks to take it. Izan wanted to take it as this freekick was within his range but kept quiet.

Carlos soler with the run up smashed the ball over the goal for a goal kick. A chance was wasted.

Coach Moreno who knew Izan could have made it count sighed at the bad attempt of a freekick.

Manager Baraja who stood on the touchline was also about to call for Izan to take the freekick but stopped.

Izan didn't mind and played marvellously after the goal kick. Izan made dribbles and very cool passes causing trouble for the defenders and midfielders alike.

"Wow that kid has been causing problems for the opponents" a spectator said.

"Yeah,the pressure had been on the other team since he came in" Another added.

Izan unaware of the talks behind him got the ball and started worming his way through the midfield of the Espanyol side.

The match was in the late stages as added time was on. The referee had added 4 minutes to regular time and it was now the 93rd minute.

Izan playing a one-two pass with Marcos Andre freed himself and was about to take a shot.

Before he could go through with the shot,Izan was brought down by one of the Espanyol midfielders.

The referee blew the whistle and gave the player a yellow card. A change was made on the Valencia side and Daniel wass came on for Jésus Vasquez.

He approached the freekick area and told Carlos soler a message from the Manager.

Ruben baraja had told him to tell Carlos to let the kid take the freekick. Carlos looked at him and nodded before taking the ball towards Izan.

Izan stood there confused as he saw Carlos soler coming his way.

"Can you make it count when it matters" he said before tossing the ball to Izan.

The ball was in a positon where Izan could use any of his legs. Izan being strong with both feet decided to use his left.

Ruben knew that Izan was good with both feet but he heard that his right foot was his strongest.

Izan put the ball down and took three steps back before activating [focus lv2]

He had deactivated it when he got settled into the match.

"Wait they're betting the last chance on the kid. Has the Valencia manager and players gone senile "a fan said in a sharp tone.

"What is wrong with the team" another added.

[COMMENTATOR POV]

'Izan was brought down a few moments ago and now he seems to be the one to take the freekick. The young man has been showing glimpses of greatness ever since he came on but how good is he from setpieces for the manager and his teammates to entrust this opportunity to him. '

[Izan's Pov]

'Wow, a goal would be a great start to a debut. Shush, I have to focus on scoring from the setpiece. I haven't said this but the focus skill is very good. I can even see the valve of the ball from here. Well lets make it count then '

With this Izan made the run up before curling the ball over the wall that had been setup infront of him.

The ball dipped with curl as it went over the the wall. The Espanyol keeper who thought that the chance was a waste after the ball rose high quickly ran to save the ball after he saw it descending dangerously.

The ball,with a mad curl on it sank into the goal,rustling the net. The stadium went eerily silent before the Valencia fans erupted into cheers as the goal they had just seen was simply beautiful.

Izan ran up to the area in the stands where his family was and bowed to them.

____________________________________

A/N:Hey guys author here. its going to be a while before I post. Im in my final year in highschool and we have a mock test that lasts a month.please I won't drop this novel just so you know so share this novel with your friends. I want to reach chapter 40 before I go premium so let's make this one of the best football novels on webnovel. Thanks Francis_olobogno for the powerstones