"Why is Suker playing center forward?"
"Suker's speed can't be fully utilized in the center!"
"What is Ancelotti thinking?"
"Paolo at center-back? God, Milan has changed so much this season!"
"Stam's gone, and we're short on central defenders, so Paolo has to fill in!"
"Can Paolo even play center-back?"
Milan fans were buzzing with discussion.
Although they knew Maldini was strong as a full-back, he had always played that position and never center-back.
Now, this season, Maldini had been shifted to center-back.
Given his age, fans wondered if too much defensive pressure was being placed on him.
And indeed, that was the case.
Maldini was uncharacteristically tense.
Having played as a full-back for most of his career, the sudden switch to center-back required changes in play style, vision, and decision-making.
Granted, switching among defensive roles isn't uncommon.
But Maldini is old now!
Suker also turned to look at Maldini.
It really was hard on the old captain.
At an age when he should have retired, due to the Calciopoli scandal, he had to play for another season or two.
Maldini was already 38 this year!
Yet he was still giving his all for AC Milan.
Even Suker couldn't help but admire: "A true legendary captain."
Suker extended his fist toward Maldini.
"Old man! You got this!"
Maldini smiled, took a deep breath, and shouted, "Focus! Stay sharp!"
"Get your heads in the game—we're getting our first win of the season!"
Suddenly, a serious atmosphere descended over the Milan squad.
Suker yelled, "Captain! The soul is on fire!"
"Shut it!"
Maldini barked, though he couldn't really sound harsh.
"Play well!"
Suker grinned and turned to face Lazio's half.
Through the dense crowd, he stared straight at the goal.
"Right now, I'm the closest to it!"
Whistle!
The match began.
Lazio kicked off.
As soon as play resumed, Suker charged forward.
He charged straight at the Lazio player with the ball.
Lazio passed the ball backward under pressure, but Suker kept pressing forward.
When the ball reached central defender Zauri, Suker twisted his body to block the passing lane and charged toward right-back Oddo.
At the same time, Seedorf joined the press from the other side.
With passing options shrinking, Oddo started to panic.
He cleared the ball with a big kick.
"Chaos in the back!"
Italian commentator Aldo Serena shouted.
"Oddo with the long clearance—Gattuso jumps to challenge for the ball. It falls to Pirlo, who passes it to Kaka. Kaka turns and begins his sprint!"
"Kaka's on the move!"
Kaka surged down the half-space, glancing toward the middle.
As expected, Suker was already holding the defensive line.
Kaka tapped the ball forward, using his explosive speed to create space and sent in a waist-high cross.
Suker immediately darted in. Lazio center-back Zauri tried to apply pressure with his body.
As they approached the six-yard box, Suker lunged forward, trying to reach the ball with his head.
"This ball…"
Aldo Serena gasped.
Just as Suker was about to head the ball, Zauri shoved him down.
Suker's head barely grazed the ball—it slid past the goal, no shot made.
"He pushed me! How can the ref not see that!?"
Suker sat in the six-yard box, protesting to the referee.
Zauri frowned, visibly troubled.
From the early exchanges, it was clear Suker wasn't intimidated by physical challenges.
If he hadn't used all his strength to stop Suker at the last second, that would've been a dangerous chance.
But Suker didn't press too hard—just enough to put pressure on the ref.
No point annoying the official unnecessarily.
"Great pass—do it again!" Suker gave a thumbs up to Kaka.
Meanwhile, in the commentary booth, Aldo Serena blinked in surprise at Suk's movement.
He's got a feel for this!
"Zauri's challenge was risky. If the ref had called it, it could've been a penalty. This also shows how much of a threat Suker is with those forward runs."
For a center-forward, two instincts are vital:
Where's the ball?
Where's the goal?
Then, when the ball and the player arrive at the same time—not too early, not too late—that's the magic.
Suker nailed that timing.
Serena was genuinely surprised.
Could it be… Suker can play center-forward?
Three minutes later, Seedorf delivered a 45-degree cross.
Suker went up against Lazio's other center-back Siviglia and powered a header toward goal.
The ball skimmed past the post.
After landing, Suker turned back in frustration, ruffled his hair, and shouted at Seedorf:
"Great pass—I was so close! I can feel it now! Next one will go in!"
He shouted as he tracked back.
Meanwhile, the two Lazio center-backs were in shock.
Two clear goal threats.
The second header barely missed.
This guy's insane!
Even Shevchenko in his prime had this level of threat!
Seeing Suker explaining things animatedly, Seedorf couldn't help but laugh: "Don't rush, take your time!"
Suker waved him off. "No way! You don't 'take your time' when it comes to goals. Gotta keep the pressure up. I mean it! Keep passing to me—I'm really feeling it!"
Suker was feeling it.
He wanted that goal.
Badly.
This fire—that hunger—is what drives strikers to score.
Suker kept applying pressure up top, while Seedorf and Kaka pushed forward with the ball.
Sometimes Suker dropped deep, just outside the box.
But he always stayed within striking distance of the defensive line.
Lazio's center-backs couldn't relax.
One eye on Seedorf and Kaka charging the flanks…
Another on Suker lurking in the center…
Their heads were about to twist off from tracking everything.
Then, Kaka suddenly burst forward with the ball.
The opposing full-back had to close in, but Kaka slammed the brakes.
At that moment, Suker sensed the opportunity.
He threw off Siviglia and got in front of him.
Kaka passed immediately.
The ball was fast, aimed at Suker's trailing foot.
Suker planted his left foot, used his body to shield off Siviglia, and instinctively used his right foot to hook the ball.
Still holding off his marker, he pivoted on his left foot, spinning half a circle…
And sent the ball rolling toward the far post.
The Lazio keeper was covering the near post. He reacted quickly and dove—
But he couldn't reach it.
The ball rolled into the net.
Goal.
San Siro erupted.
"GOOOOOALLLLLLLL!!!!!!"
"Suker!! A strike full of imagination!"
"He spun like a compass and bent it into the goal!"
"In the first half, AC Milan kept up the pressure, and in the 18th minute, Kaka assisted Suker for the opener!"
Aldo Serena cried out in delight.
When Suker got in front of Siviglia, everyone assumed he'd go near post.
Even the Lazio keeper expected that.
But who would've thought Suker would spin and shoot to the far corner like a compass?
After scoring, Suker dashed toward the corner flag and dropped to his knees in celebration.
The crowd of tens of thousands of Milan fans erupted in wild cheers.
WOOAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!
The roar was deafening.
Applause thundered.
"Suker! Suker! He's absolutely brilliant!"
"He's amazing!"
"Who could say no to this Suk?"
"On the wing, he can dribble and drive!"
"Dropping deep, he can organize and create!"
"And now as a center-forward—he can score too!?"
Aldo Serena roared: "With that goal, Suker sends a message: no matter the troubles and chaos, AC Milan is still the Rossoneri!"
"18 minutes into the first half, AC Milan leads Lazio 1-0!"
"Suker opens the scoring for Milan!"
Soaking in the applause and the cheers, Suker celebrated with his teammates.
After the celebration—
Suker pointed at Kaka. "What kind of pass was that? If I hadn't improvised, that chance was gone!"
To be honest, Suker originally wanted to shoot near post. But by chance, it turned into a turn-shot to the far post.
Kaka paused for a second.
"Have you considered… I wasn't even passing to you?"
Suker blinked.
Kaka: "Seedorf was right behind you—he had a better angle."
Seedorf stood next to Suker and shrugged.
It didn't matter. The goal went in.
"You're not getting your seafood rice anymore! Sauce's gone too!"