It was 4:00 PM when the team bus rumbled out of the hotel's driveway and merged into the wide avenues of Brasília.
The sun was still high, casting a golden filter across the skyline.
Palm trees swayed gently along the boulevards, and the rhythmic hum of the tires was occasionally interrupted by the beat of music leaking from various sets of headphones.
Inside the bus, the atmosphere was quiet but charged—like a gathering storm that hadn't quite broken.
Gabriel Silver sat by the window, his cheek resting lightly against the cool glass.
His earbuds pulsed with the subtle harmony of Brazilian samba infused with the crispness of modern beats—a playlist he'd curated over months, always saving it for moments when he needed clarity.
His eyes traced the curving road ahead, the tall modernist buildings of Brasília slipping past like a dream.
This was a long way from the gritty backstreets of Curitiba.
He adjusted his sunglasses, but his mind wasn't on the scenery.
He was thinking of what was coming. In just under an hour, he would step onto the pitch wearing the green and white of Palmeiras—not just for training, not a youth game, but for his debut in front of thousands of fans, under the lights, in one of the biggest stadiums in the country.
As they neared the stadium—just five minutes out now—the street began to narrow with people.
Palmeiras supporters lined both sides of the road, shouting, singing, and waving flags.
They held scarves aloft, the air shimmering with their chants. With the nicknames of Palmeires,
VERDÃO ( big green)
AVIVERDE(green and white)
WE BELIEVE IN YOU, GABRIEL SILVER was also written on scarves.
Gabriel leaned closer to the window, the lump in his throat rising.
His face was on banners. His name was on the lips.
He knew it then: This night isn't just football. It's a story. My story.
His seatmate, Felipe, nudged him with a smirk.
"You're a star already and you haven't even touched the ball."
Gabriel chuckled softly.
"Then I'd better make it worth their while."
The Estádio Nacional Mané Garrincha stood like a colossus—its modern design a mix of grandeur and history.
As they pulled into the player entrance, the noise was almost physical.
A bassline of drums, voices, and clapping, all layered on top of each other.
It didn't matter that it was just a pre-season match. To the fans, it was a celebration.
As they stepped off the bus and walked the concrete corridor to the dressing room, Gabriel noticed the flutter in his stomach grow. Butterflies, nerves, excitement—it was all the same.
But he didn't shy away from it. He embraced it.
In the locker room, jerseys hung neatly, a line of fresh green and white waiting for warriors to claim them.
His eyes found it—Number 46
G. SILVER
He stood there a moment, just staring at it. It looked surreal.
He reached out and touched the badge. Then, as if on instinct, he kissed it. And something shifted in his chest.
A memory hit him—age four, barefoot on the cracked pavement of Curitiba, dodging potholes and imagining they were defenders.
Back then, the "crowd" was a group of neighbors leaning on windowsills, or random pedestrians who'd slow down just to watch. But even then, he believed.
That belief had led him here.
As he pulled on the jersey, it felt like armor.
Coach Abel Ferreira gathered the squad. His voice was firm but not rushed. He was calm—a tactician who knew how to mold pressure into performance.
"You've all trained for this. This isn't just pre-season—it's the foundation. I'll be watching everything tonight. You're playing for each other, for your spots, and for that badge."
Ferreira revealed the starting lineup.
He divided them into two, the first half line-up and the second half line-up.
The first half line-up. In the 4-2-3-1 formation
Miguel
Bruno Puchs
Miceal
Piquerez
Khellven
Moreno
Martinez
Paulinho
Soda
Pereira
Roque.
The coach did not put Gabriel in the first half squad.
Andreas Pereira would take the central attacking midfield role in the first half.
"Second half," lineup
Weverton
Murilo
Gomez
Jefte
Agustin
Lucas
Figueiredo
Rodrigues
Gabriel Silver
Felipe
Lopez
Gabriel's name was there. Center attacking mid, behind striker Jose Lopez.
The formation was familiar. He knew the role by heart. Link the midfield and attack. Find the pockets. Create. Control.
Abel Ferreira's side is facing one of the best teams in the Serie B.
The coach for Brasilia Futbol Clube lined up in a shape of 5-3-2.
With Jennerson keeping the goal
The Backline
Edimar
Dante
Juan
Crystian
Marquinhos
The midfield trio
Antonio
Careca
Santoro
The front two
Henrique
Ricardo.
Back in the hallway leading to the pitch, Gabriel stood side by side with his teammates.
The sound of the crowd filtered through the tunnel like waves crashing on a distant shore. The vibrations shook the concrete.
The smell of cut grass lingered in the air. Everything felt sharp and alive.
His name was on a banner in the stands. He hadn't even kicked a ball yet, and the fans had already given him their faith.
He whispered something to himself. Just a sentence.
"Don't waste the moment."
The tunnel lights flickered. The announcer's voice boomed through the stadium speakers, naming the starters. The roar grew louder with each name.
He wouldn't step on until the second half, but his heartbeat was already in sync with the stadium's rhythm.
This was it.
A night that started in the streets of Curitiba.
Now, it was his debut.
And the world was watching.
The referee whistled for the game to kick off under the blazing lights of the packed Estádio Mané Garrincha.
The crowd was buzzing with anticipation — this wasn't just any match, it was a test of resilience for Brasilia FC and a challenge of consistency for the dominant Palmeiras side.
Andreas Pereira took the first touch, laying it off to Roque, who calmly played a long back pass to his goalkeeper, Miguel.
Miguel, under no immediate pressure, controlled it and made a short, precise pass to Bruno Puchs. Bruno quickly spotted Khellven in space and sent it out wide.
Khellven returned the ball to Bruno, who advanced with purpose and slid it into the middle for Moreno.
Moreno received the ball cleanly, turned, and threaded a short, sharp pass to Martinez.
Martinez barely looked up before finding Pereira again, who had drifted into space.
With one sweeping motion, Pereira lofted a long diagonal pass out to Paulinho on the left wing.
The Palmeiras winger, full of energy, cut inside his marker with ease and whipped a dangerous cross into the penalty box, aiming for Roque.
It was a threatening delivery, but Jennerson, Brasilia FC's alert goalkeeper, jumped off his line and claimed it confidently.
Jennerson wasted no time, launching a quick throw-out to Crystian on the right-back flank.
Crystian surged forward with intent, taking a touch before firing a pass into the midfield.
Antonio, receiving the ball under pressure, pulled off a lovely pirouette turn to escape his marker and drew applause from the stands.
With momentum behind him, Antonio launched a long through-ball intended for Henrique, who had timed his run well.
But Piquerez, reading the play brilliantly, stepped across with composure and made a clean interception.
It was a solid piece of defending — experienced, calculated, and exactly what Palmeiras needed to snuff out the danger.
Despite being considered the underdogs and statistically the weakest side, Brasilia FC came into the match with a clear plan.
They weren't here just to make up the numbers. They had a disciplined shape, stuck to their defensive structure, and relied heavily on catching Palmeiras off guard on the break.
For most parts of the first half, that strategy worked.
They made life difficult for Abel Ferreira's men, closing down space, intercepting passes, and occasionally threatening with their pace on the counter.
Palmeiras, however, were undeniably the better side overall.
Their technical quality, tactical structure, and attacking transitions were on full display.
From Moreno controlling the tempo in midfield, to Paulinho's trickery on the wings, and Roque's movement upfront — the São Paulo giants were a class above in most departments.
They held possession, created space with intelligent movement, and pressed high when out of it.
Victor Roque opened the scoring midway through the half with a cool finish after a brilliant low cross from Khellven.
He timed his run perfectly and tapped in from close range, giving Jennerson no chance.
Not long after, Andreas Pereira doubled the lead with a thunderous strike from outside the box, a shot that kissed the crossbar on its way in.
It was a goal worthy of the highlight reels and showed just why Pereira is such a top player for Palmeiras.
But credit where it's due — Brasilia didn't fold. They fought back and found a goal before halftime.
Ricardo, their captain and talisman, was in the right place at the right time to slot home after a scrappy clearance in the box.
It was a lifeline and a well-deserved one, given their effort.
The first half ended 2-1 in favor of Palmeiras.
Brasilia had shown heart, organization, and grit.
As the players made their way down the tunnel, both sets of fans applauded — one side proud of their team's dominance, the other inspired by their side's fight.
The second half promised more. With Palmeiras looking to kill the game off and Brasilia eager to push for an equalizer, the stage was set for a thrilling 45 minutes.