Xerém shines: youngsters impress, Tricolor fans filled with hope | OneFootball

The ball is rolling again, and with it, a feeling that only a Fluminense fan can understand. The wait to see our armor on the field is over, but yesterday's game was much more than just quenching the longing for our colossal Fluminense. It was the chance to witness, for many firsthand, the crown jewel of the tricolor: the youth from Xerém.

From the initial whistle, our boys were already in the spotlight. On the right flank, a brave Júlio Fidelis showed he has grit. In the second half, when Madureira tried to slow the game down on his side, he didn't shy away from challenges, closed the corridor, and made the right tackles. He was a lion in defense. Earlier, he had already shown his skills in support.

In the heart of the field, Wallace Davi was the pendulum, the maestro of containment. With an enviable game reading, he dictated the defensive balance, always with his head up, distributing and protecting the defense. Once again, he proved that being in the "professional" team doesn't weigh him down. He showed the personality to be the "owner of the midfield" and has the skill to fight equally for a starting position throughout the season. Or at least to fight to be the first option on the bench.

On the right wing, our jewel Riquelme Felipe started the game a bit more discreetly, perhaps overshadowed by the solid debut of Guilherme Arana and the participative re-debut of Santi Moreno on the left. However, in the second half, the boy "asked for the ball." He took responsibility, went for one-on-ones, sought the byline, and started delivering dangerous passes into the area, looking for the target.

And what a target! John Kennedy, our Boy King, was back dancing with the ball at his feet. The youthful joy, which enchants us so much, was evident on his face. But make no mistake: behind the smile, there is a veteran's commitment. The decision to cut short his vacation and his dedication in training were not just words. We saw this in every sprint, in every contest. In the first half, he was a textbook false 9, dragging the defense, creating space for the wingers, and, crowning his performance, did a pivot job worthy of applause to assist Lezcano, who seems more comfortable and promises much for 2026.

If the first half was already a beautiful representation of Xerém, the second half was an apotheosis. The entries of Matheus Reis and Agner were the spark that ignited the match. In a first-touch play, with the audacity of the destined, they crafted the masterpiece that ended with John Kennedy hitting the back of the net. Art football with the tricolor DNA.

Then, more fuel to the youth fire: Luiz Fernando and Léo Jance came in hungry for the ball. In the dying moments, Davi Schuint came in to lock the gate and secure the three points.

Once again, Xerém showed its inexhaustible strength against an organized and spirited Madureira. Does this mean everyone is ready to be absolute starters? Far from it. But they certainly showed they have what it takes: talent, personality, and, above all, an immense desire to evolve. Each with their own story, each at their own pace of maturation, but all rowing in the same direction: for a victorious season for our Fluminense. The first page of this book has been written, and it filled us with hope.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.