Chapter 91: Number 33
The referee blew the final whistle at 90+4'.
Final Score: LA Galaxy 5 – 4 Opponent
For a split second the entire stadium seemed to freeze. Then it exploded.
The roar that erupted from 28,000 throats was raw, deafening, and completely uncontrollable. It was a wall of sound so loud it felt like the stands themselves were shaking. Fireworks of noise rolled across the pitch as every single fan in the Galaxy end rose to their feet, jumping, hugging strangers, and screaming at the top of their lungs.
"Ace! Ace! Ace! Ace! Ace!"
The chant started instantly in the south stand with the ultras and spread like wildfire through every single section of the stadium. It grew louder, faster, more powerful with every repetition. The giant screens around the arena flashed the final score in massive glowing letters, then immediately switched to highlight the moment — Alex's iconic long-range free-kick curling into the top corner, followed by the two perfectly weighted assists that turned a 0–4 deficit into a 5–4 victory.
Number 33 had just delivered one of the most dramatic comebacks in league history.
Alex Rivera dropped to his knees on the grass and slid forward toward the away stand, arms wide open, head tilted back, a wide, genuine smile breaking across his face. The floodlights above him burned brighter than the sun. The grass beneath his knees felt alive. The entire stadium was chanting his name.
He had started his first game.
He had scored a hat-trick (including the iconic long-range free-kick that bent like Roberto Carlos at his peak).
He had provided two assists.
He had turned a 0–4 deficit into a 5–4 victory.
He had given the team the three points they desperately needed to stay in 6th place in the Western Conference — still just one single point above the playoff cut-off line, but now with momentum and breathing room. The team below them still had a game in hand, but this win had kept Galaxy alive in the playoff race.
Teammates sprinted toward him from every direction.
Captain Marco "El Rey" Delgado reached him first. He dropped to his knees beside Alex, wrapped his arms around him in a massive hug, and screamed in his ear over the roar of the crowd, "You did it, 33! You turned 0-4 into 5-4! Hat-trick, two assists, the iconic free-kick! You saved us! Number 33! You're a fucking legend!"
The experienced striker who had honestly said he wasn't 100% sure on the free-kick piled on next, laughing and shouting, "Kid, you called your shot in front of all of us! You said 'give it to me and I will score it' and then you scored it! Then you assisted the next two goals and scored two more! You're a monster, 33! You won the game for us!"
Diego "The Beast" Torres crashed into the pile, followed by the entire attacking line and half the defence. The celebration became a massive, chaotic dogpile of white and blue jerseys. Players were shouting, laughing, crying tears of relief, slapping Alex's back, ruffling his hair, and screaming his name. The pile grew bigger and bigger as more Galaxy players joined, jumping on top of him.
The crowd kept chanting louder and louder:
"ACE! ACE! ACE! ACE! ACE!"
It was no longer scattered. It was the entire stadium. The ultras in the south stand led it, and it spread until every single section was screaming his name. The giant screens kept flashing 33 – A. RIVERA in massive letters while replaying the iconic free-kick and the two assists in slow motion over and over.
The commentator on the broadcast was losing his mind:
"What a moment! The 15-year-old starter Alex Rivera has done the impossible! From 0-4 down to 5-4 up! A hat-trick, two assists, and an iconic long-range free-kick that bent like Roberto Carlos in his prime! This is not normal. This is generational talent. The rise of a star right in front of our eyes! Galaxy were dead at 0-4. Now they are alive and fighting for the playoffs. Alex Rivera has just announced himself to the world!"
Coach Victor Morales walked onto the pitch, moving through the chaos with purpose. When he reached the pile, the players parted to let him through. He stood in front of Alex, looked him straight in the eyes, and gave him a firm, proud handshake that turned into a tight hug.
"You did it, kid," Morales said, voice thick with emotion. "You started your first game, scored a hat-trick, gave two assists, and won the match when we were 0-4 down. You gave us the three points we desperately needed to stay in sixth place — one point above the playoff line. You saved our season tonight. Welcome to the first team permanently, Number 33. You belong here. You earned this."
Alex could barely speak. The roar of the crowd was too loud, the emotion too overwhelming. He simply nodded and hugged the coach back.
The players lifted Alex onto their shoulders. Delgado and Torres carried him around the pitch like a trophy. The crowd went absolutely wild, chanting his name even louder. Alex waved to the fans, a wide smile on his face, still trying to process everything that had just happened.
The league table situation flashed in his mind again:
Western Conference Standings (after tonight)
LA Galaxy — 49 points (now three points clear of the danger zone)
The win had given them breathing room, but they were still fighting for their playoff lives. This victory had changed the momentum.
The players finally put Alex down near the centre circle. They formed a circle around him, clapping and cheering. Delgado shouted over the noise, "You're one of us now, 33! You earned this! The whole stadium knows your name!"
The crowd refused to stop chanting. "Ace! Ace! Ace!" echoed around the stadium for a full ten minutes after the final whistle. Some fans stayed in their seats, refusing to leave, still screaming his name as the Galaxy players waved and clapped back.
Coach Morales walked up to him again and put an arm around his shoulders.
"Go enjoy this moment with the fans, kid. You earned it. But remember — this is only the beginning. We need you for the rest of the season. We're still fighting to stay in the playoffs. You just proved you belong in the first team permanently."
Alex nodded, eyes shining.
The players began walking toward the tunnel, but the crowd kept chanting his name. Many fans were still standing, refusing to leave, still screaming "Ace! Ace! Ace!" as the Galaxy players waved and clapped back.
Alex walked off the pitch last, number 33 on his back glowing under the floodlights. The stadium was still rocking. His name was still echoing.
He had arrived.
Number 33 had just announced himself to the entire stadium in the most dramatic way possible.