Lover- Alessia Russo

14. Chelsea

As the whistle blows signaling the start of the game Kim passes off towards Lia.

Within the first five minutes I make a run and Alessia finds me. The ball lands right at my feet. Damn that was nice.

I run faking out defenders. As I get about 5 yards behind the penalty box I can't go any further. With two defenders in front of me I take glance to my left. There's no one to pass to. Fuck it. I pull the ball back causing the defender in front of me to slip up. I take a step to the right and smash the ball with my right foot.

It's like time slows down in that moment. Until I see the ripple of the net from the ball hitting the back of the net. Holy shit. Holy shit. Holy shit.

I run to corner by all the arsenal fans. Well some... there everywhere. As I reach them I hit the badge on my chest. Just like I had always dreamed of.

With a big smile on my face I turn around. My arms open as I know Lotte is about to jump on me. She runs and jumps onto me and she yells and cheers. She jumps down and all the girls huddle around patting my head or back and yelling.

"What a fucking goal!" Katie yells with a heavy accent. I just smile and turn back to the fans.

"Come on!!" I yell as I pump my arms up making them get louder. I smile and run back to position as I run back with Alessia I say "Incredible assist." She smiles at me at we get into position. My first goal at arsenal...

*time skip*

Either team hasn't been able to come up with anything until now. It's fucking frustrating.  A small slip up in the midfield causes Guro to take the ball. Before she even looks up I know where it's going to. I start running. I see Kerr making a run and just as I thought Guro makes an absolute dime of a pass and it lands right at Sam Kerrs feet.

When I catch up to Kerr Manu comes out and crouches down with her arms out. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck...

The aussie takes advantage of manus positioning and chips it over her. The crowd goes silent after she pulls the move... It's a free goal.

I quickly bust my ass to speed up to her as she goes around Manu. Now it's a race for the ball. I know she's gonna get to it before I can. So I run in front of the open goal diving with my hand behind my back as she hits the ball with a large amount of force but I make it the ball in time deflecting it with my stomach. The ball goes soaring in the air before it lands out of bounds. I land on the pitch with a thud as the crowd goes wild. I get up as quick as possible and yell "FUCK YEAH!!"

I look around and see a few of the girls with shocked faces as they make their way to me.

As Leah makes her way to me she keeps covering her face trying to hide her smile.

"You are crazy." She says with a laugh as she puts an arm around me.  I barely can hear her the crowd is so load. The is fucking crazy.

"Thanks?" I say with a laugh. I look around as I see fans jumping and yelling.

"COME ON ARSENAL!!" I yell still pumped from my save. How the fuck did I even do that?  I turn around looking back toward the pitch and give the girls some high fives as we get into position for a corner. As Chelsea's set up the formation I mark Millie bright tightly knowing the ball is going to be coming for her head. I've seen them set this formation up before. As the ball is kicked I see it coming right for Millie just as I suspected. But since I'm defending her so tightly she has no chance as I jump up and head the ball away.

*time skip*

The first half was over and done.

We come out of the tunnel 1-0 against Chelsea. I couldn't be more excited to get back in the game. Let's fucking go...

I'm putting constant pressure on Chelseas back line causing a few slip ups until Leah gets the ball off one of them and passes it up to Alessia. Alessia starts dribbling the ball up the pitch toward our goal. I immediately sprint down the pitch as Alessia and Beth pass it back and forth.

Before I even raise my hand to ask for the ball Alessia catches my eyes and nods already knowing what I'm planning. I take a few steps up before Alessia makes a perfect cross and I dive into the box to head the ball. As the ball hits my head I guide it towards the goal before flipping into a summer salt to land. Just as I land and spring to my feet I watch as the ball slides right past the keepers hands. The crowd goes nuts. I immediately run towards Alessia to celebrate with her.

"Another great assist less!" I say excitedly as the girls all start piling onto us.

"What a game you're having!" She says and I see her smile wide before the girls all start patting our heads and yell.

As the girls let go of us I l pat Alessia's back once more as some of the other girls all say some sort of praise or just yell but it's so hard to hear. I've never played in front of this many fans. I mean don't get me wrong the fans are usually loud but the gooners are a different breed. I fucking love it.

Soon enough the final whistle blows and we all run to one another and celebrate. 2-0 against Chelsea's is celebration worthy. I congratulate all the girls and tell them how well they played separately before I do the same with the Chelsea players. But I soon get pulled to Lottes side as the stadium full of fans start sing north London forever. Wow.

"Dream come true." Lotte says as I look down at her and smile. We both start singing along as we stand in the middle of the pitch just taking it all in. Soon after the song ends the crowd start chanting something I've never heard before...

"WE'VE GOT IZZI!"

"SHE'LL MAKE YOU REALLY DIZZY."

"WE TOOK HER FROM CITY!"

"BUT WE DON'T FEEL GUILTY!"

"Oh shit." I mutter. That might be a bit controversial but it's definitely funny. I look at Lotte with wide eyes and a surprised face.  My face matching hers. We both start laughing and we start making rounds together. As soon as we get near the stand fans start screaming and yelling trying to get our attention.

"IZZI! IZZI!"

I walk with Lotte around the stadium trying to sign and talk to as many people as I can. It's crazy to think at one point Lotte and myself were these kids in the stand watching footballers wishing to be them someday. Now we're those footballers. It's just crazy to think about. As we continue our rounds I get called over for an interview with Alex.

"Hello." I say with a smile. A smile that hasn't come off my face since the whistle blew.

"Another great performance!! Especially as it's your first game with the group!! Do you think you'll ever stop?" She asks and I laugh a bit.

"Nah not any time soon I think people tend to forget I'm only 25 since I've been playing for so long. But I love playing for this club and with the girls. They've given me so much trust and confidence to be able to play the way I do since I've joined and I couldn't be more grateful." I say with a smile trying not to sound big headed.

"I think everyone here is thinking the same thing! So one last thing before you have to head out..." she says and I nod.

"When did you become a goal keeper?" Alex teases.

I laugh and say "Defiantly NOT a keeper but I'll do whatever is needed of me in order to get a win."

"Well what a save that was!" She says with a laugh.

"Thank you! I couldn't really believe it myself to be honest." I say truthfully as we close out the interview.

"Well keep doing what you're doing you are our Barclays player of the match today!!" Alex says and I thank her before I run back to join Lotte who's now standing with Alessia.

"He-" I got to say but I'm cut off my fans screaming. Myself and the girls just laugh.

"I'm gonna go sign a few things." I say and walk up to the fans all of them immediately asking for me to sign things and take picture which I do for a few minutes before I decide to head to the locker room with the rest of the girls. I give the crowd a few waves as I leave.