Major League Soccer side grant major wish for cystic fibrosis sufferer

Major League Soccer side Seattle Sounders have granted an 18-year-old cystic fibrosis sufferer the chance to live out his dream of becoming a professional athlete.

Xander Bailey lapped up a standing ovation from the 55,000 strong crowd on hand to witness the preseason friendly between the Sounders and English Premier League giants, Tottenham Hotspur.

Earlier in the week, Bailey’s dream of becoming a professional football player had been granted when the Make-a-Wish Foundation organised for him to be signed on as a Seattle Sounders player.

After signing the contract, Bailey attended a press conference sporting the team kit and trained with the players in the lead up to the match.

On game-day he was given the green light that he would be starting against Tottenham.

After going through the pre-game preparations alongside his hero Clint Dempsey, Bailey ran out with the team and lined up in the centre of the field.

To huge roars from the crowd, Bailey was allowed a clean run on goal and a registered shot before he was subbed from the game, ending one of the most short lived, but highly memorable stints for a player in professional sport.