Leo climbed onto his plastic seat and peered over the railing. The stadium roared with drums and shouting. He gripped the cold metal bar and smiled, his eyes wide.
Leo watched the Leeds players pass the ball in a circle, never letting it drop. He mimicked the motion with his hands. The ball thudded softly against the turf.
Leeds conceded a goal and the crowd groaned. Leo stood up and shouted, 'Keep going!' His voice joined a chorus of other fans.
A player near the touchline wiped sweat from his forehead. He nodded toward the stands, acknowledging the crowd's spirit. His jersey was damp with effort.
A Leeds player tripped and fell. He tumbled on the turf, but he got up quickly. Leo gasped and covered his eyes with his scarf.
He kept running. A long pass flew toward the goal. A teammate vollied it past the keeper. The net rippled.
The net rippled. The stadium erupted in cheers and confetti. Leo jumped up and down, screaming with joy. His scarf flew in the air, a blur of red and white.
After the match, the players lined up and clapped the fans. Leo waved his Leeds scarf and jumped up and down. A player spotted him and gave a thumbs-up.
The crowd sang together as they left the stadium. Leo clutched his scarf, happy and tired. The stadium lights flickered on, illuminating the empty seats.
Leo made his way down the stairs, still buzzing with excitement. He clutched his scarf tightly. Fans milled about, talking animatedly. The smell of grass and popcorn lingered.
As they reached the exit, Leo looked back at the pitch. The players were still clapping. He waved again, hoping to catch someone's eye. A stray confetti piece landed on his shoe.
Leo walked home, dreaming of the goal he'd witnessed. He could still hear the cheers echoing. His scarf felt like a lucky charm. Tomorrow, he would practice his own vollied kicks.