Chapter 11
Chapter 11
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Translator: Silver Dragon
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: Old Trafford Debut Match (4)
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A mass substitution in the 3-3 deadlock.
Manchester United also used three substitution cards.
Excluding one kept in reserve for any potential injuries, they'd used them all.
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IN Jack Fletcher, OUT Finley McAllister
IN Tyler Fletcher, OUT Toby Collyer
IN Harry Amass, Patrick Dorgu
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The two midfielders, exhausted from covering for Ban Yeager's low work rate, were subbed off, and the Fletcher brothers came on.
As their names suggest, they were the twin sons of current manager Darren Fletcher.
Dad Darren Fletcher actively deploys Ban Yeager, while the Fletcher brothers cover his running and feed him passes.
Later, the Fletcher family earned the nickname "Yeager Faction Family."
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There were 8 minutes left in regular time in the second half.
Factoring in stoppage time, at least 10 minutes remained.
The current score was 3-3.
Leeds had hammered in three goals in the first half.
United fired back with three in the second.
Since it was a league match, if it ended like this, no extra time or penalties—just a draw.
No one would be thrilled about a classic draw where both sides played well.
Both teams' sole goal for the remaining 10 minutes was to rip the net in enemy territory.
Beep—!
The game restarted after a whopping six substitutions.
I needed to clock not just the opponents but our own fresh legs too.
Harry Amass, who'd just come on, was surprisingly nimble.
Good form plus fresh stamina—he seemed prime to target on the left...
But Mason Mount was holding down the left.
So I turned my eyes to the right winger, Shea Lacey.
Give him the ball, and he delivers good plays, so we'd been favoring the right—but it wasn't without flaws.
His stubborn solo play over link-up was a slight downside.
Still, at least he held onto the ball better than Mount.
So my plan: Exploit the right more, but without me drifting over there myself.
No one's perfect on this squad—everyone was a tool for me to wield.
The midfield was a brutal warzone.
Despite the 3-3, Leeds United were the desperate ones.
Haunted by letting a sure win slip away.
Iliya Gruev still glued to me to shut down counters.
Minus Joe Rodon manning the offside line from midfield, everyone else was pushing forward.
Basically, I had Gruev and Rodon on lockdown.
No guilt here—I just surveyed the pitch coolly.
The chance would come.
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90th minute of the second half.
Lukas Enmecha's shot mishit, floating perfectly into the keeper's mitts.
Swoosh—
Two Leeds players watched Bayindir snag it.
I'd already broken sideways, primed to sprint.
Paang—!!
Bayindir's punt sailed past midfield easy.
No duel now—a flat-out speed race.
Joe Rodon and Iliya Gruev clocked it late and chased, but way too slow.
Waaaaaaaaah—!!!
The ball bounced on the pitch, shedding speed, but it was deep.
Gabriel Gudmundsson the keeper rushed out to claim it.
'This is mine.'
Eyeballing the distance, I'd get there first—no stopping.
Thud—thud—
The keeper realized too late he was done for, backpedaling hesitantly.
Open goal yawning.
Paang—!
Perfectly timed shot as the bouncing ball dipped.
Clean instep strike lofted it high.
Fans leaped up, heads craned skyward.
Grit-teeth keeper charging.
Leeds defenders streamed past me back into the box.
As hoped, the ball dropped, bounced once, and kissed the top netting.
Waaaaaaaaaah—!!!
Aaah... I nailed it!
Glory! Glory, Man United
Glory! Glory, Man United
Glory! Glory, Man United
(Glory! Glory Manchester United)
Manchester United's anthem filled the stadium.
I had no dedicated chant yet, so just my name chanted over and over.
I bolted to the home end packed with United fans.
Flags waving, roaring at me.
The mad RED DEVILS ready to shred any foe.
Fans brimming with fierce loyalty—no fear needed.
"Ban!!!"
"Come closer!!!"
I vaulted the board, plunged into the stands.
Finally embraced by the crowd.
"Glory Man United!!!"
Red jerseys swarmed me.
"Aaah...!"
I was fated to run for these Red Devils.
——
Ban Yeager's hattrick made it 4-3.
Regular time over; 3 minutes added.
Game essentially done.
Darren Fletcher burned his last sub to run clock.
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IN Antony, OUT Shea Lacey
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Lacey, stellar today, exited to fan applause.
One minute after timewaster Antony entered.
Beep—beep—beeeeep!!!
Final score 4-3, match over.
The War of the Roses reborn on the pitch: United's epic comeback drama.
The 16-year-old Korean prospect's debut crushed rivals, heralding United's revival.
——
"Nice to meet you, Ban Yeager! Perfect debut—congrats! A word on your thoughts?"
MOM award meant a solo interview.
Debut hattrick demanded it.
"Thrilled to ease fans' worries and meet expectations. Truly glorious day. I'll never forget it."
"Great answer~ Fans won't forget you joining United."
"Haha, you think?"
"Absolutely. I guarantee it."
"Thanks for the kind words."
Textbook fan-pleaser.
Perfect play meant turning every viewer into my fan.
"You joined mid-season, but this win bumps us to 4th. Goals or vows?"
"Victory in every match I play."
Reporter nodded.
Turning 3-0 loss to win? Natural.
"Championships in every tourney. So."
Paused, stared dead into camera.
"The moment I signed with Manchester United, I vowed to put this team at the top of the world."