Rise of a Football God

FWEEEE!

The referee's whistle sounded again to continue the game.

In this game, Sam had been insulted, fouled, and challenged, but it was only after Cole Palmer's incredible freekick goal did he truly feel desperate.

Sam was not about to be upstaged!

It was a rare selfish moment on his part.

At this moment, Sam was not thinking about Fulham, nor about the team's victory, all he cared about at this moment was his pride, he was not about to be upstaged by the Englishman!

It was selfish but like they say, sometimes, it's that little bit of selfishness and arrogance that separates legends from the mere elites.

After Cole Palmer's goal, Sam became the devil's incarnate.

After that goal, for the first time since last season, Sam felt his teammates truly lose hope in a game. Afterall, they've given far beyond 100% in this game, this was already their best football and to still lose with that? They lost hope.

But Sam did not lose hope.

The game continued. Cole Palmer continued playing at an extraterrestrial level, Moises Caicedo kept on keeping tabs on Sam, while Enzo Fernandez kept on stretching Fulham's defense with his passing range.

At some point, the Ecuadorian International was tasked to mark Sam, limiting the influence of the Nigerian International in Fulham's attack.

Coach Marco Silva already made multiple changes, switching almost his full starting offense but yet, it was not bearing fruit.

80 minutes, no goal…

82 minutes, no goal…

85 minutes, no goal…

It seemed like Fulham was about to suffer its second defeat of the season, but then in the 87th minute, it happened.

It was a Chelsea corner kick.

After the ball was floated into the box, Sam helped his team defend, rising highest as he cleared the ball out only for a scramble to start just outside the box.

After the chaotic scramble, as Sam charged out of his box, the ball was sent in his direction and immediately, he leaped high, taming the ball with his chest.

Bam!

Sam felt an opposition player slam into his back, having jumped after him to vie for the ball.

He lost his balance in mid-air but quickly spreading his arms like a bird floating in the sky, he was able to barely stabilize himself as he landed.

As soon as Sam landed was when he learned that the player that jumped after him was Moises Caicedo, his bodyguard during the second half of this game.

Like him, this guy was already in the zone state.

His tackling skills were sharp and at an ultra-instinct level, his battle with Sam this game was legendary, having been torched a few times and having stopped him a few times in his tracks too.

But this time, Sam refused to be stopped.

As Moises Caicedo threatened, Sam held the ball, patient, teasing and luring the Ecuadorian International in and as soon as Caicedo bought it, sticking his leg out, Sam erupted like a Phoenix.

Bam! Bam!

Moving with lightning-fast speed, Sam kicked the ball twice in rapid succession, deleting this player with a silky la croqueta.

Moises Caicedo slipped, falling to his butt but instantly, almost as if he bounced off the ground, the Ecuadorian International sprang back to his feet and went on the chase.

Sam already exploded away with speed, abusing his pace but Moises Caicedo was no weakling either when it came to a speed war.

Moises Caicedo chased Sam all the way from the Fulham 18-yard box, crossing the half-way line, and going deep into Chelsea's half.

"BOOOOO…!!!" Sam endured a chorus of loud boos from the Chelsea fans, but to him, they all felt like background noise.

His brain easily abstracted it all out, focusing on only what was before him, his ball, the pitch, and his opponents.

Running with the ball was slower than running without it, this was why Moises Caicedo eventually overtook Sam just before they got to the Chelsea 18-yard box, forcing Sam to slow down as he scanned around for options.

To Sam's dismay, there was no help, he was the fastest Fulham player since Adama Traore was not on the pitch.

There was no support for him and unless he wanted the rest of the Chelsea players to recover, he had to go at it alone.

That was all that Sam needed to know.

His eyes briefly clashed with Moises Caicedo's, and sparks of electricity seemed to explode between the both of them.

Whoosh!

Caicedo stuck out his leg again but reacting faster, Sam dragged the ball backward and as Caicedo pushed forward, Sam did this player dirty.

Ping! Pang!

His leg moved in a blur, hitting the ball rapidly with the same leg twice as he deleted the Ecuadorian International a second time within just a few seconds with a skill move, this time the elastico.

Moises Caicedo staggered unsteadily, losing his balance as Sam charged past him into the 18-yard box finally, clashing with Chelsea's last man in defense, Adarabioyo.

Fully acknowledging his former teammates' threat, Adarabioyo paid full attention to Sam's movement, marking him perfectly till Caicedo reacted again, recovering for the second time despite being torched.

Moises Caicedo was a beast this game.

As the Ecuadorian International charged in this time, Sam flicked the ball to his right, about to set himself up and finally, Caicedo made a mistake.

Being torched twice in such convincing fashion definitely already got to his nerves and this time, unwilling to let Sam squirm away, he stuck his leg out recklessly. He did not catch the ball, instead catching the player.

Wrapping his legs around Sam's ankle, this Chelsea player collapsed with Sam in tow as Sam fell down in an awkward angle.

"Woah! What a nasty fall!" The commentator exclaimed.

"Is it just me or did Sam's ankle seemed to twist there?"

"Hope it's not serious, but what will the referee make of this?"

FWEEEE!

"He's done it now!" The commentator screamed. "Red card to Moises Caicedo, penalty kick to Fulham!"

Immediately after, Sam stood up to his feet, bumping fists with his teammates that finally arrived at the 18-yard box.

Moises Caicedo didn't stay in the pitch for long, trudging off with his head down to a loud round of applause from the Chelsea fans.

The fans didn't seem to care that he just got a reckless red card and forced Chelsea into a penalty situation.

While Caicedo walked off, Muniz walked towards Sam with the ball and whispered to him, handing the ball over to him. "Take it".

This time, Sam did not stand on ceremony.

Placing the ball down, he waited for the referee's whistle to sound even as the home fans drowned him in the loudest tirade of boos.

FWEEEE!

Calmly, Sam ran towards the ball and then…

BAM!

Sam hit this ball with power with his right foot towards the top left corner. Robert Sanchez dived the right way, but still, he stood no chance.

"GOALLLLL…!" The commentator screamed.

"What a game! Oh freaking gods…, what a game this has been!"

"Cole Palmer scored the first goal, Sam got the equalizer, what a game!"

For the first time this game, Sam finally managed to briefly silence Stamford Bridge as the home fans glared at him in resentment and resignation.

Charging towards the corner flag, Sam pointed at his head in celebration but as the adrenaline started dying, that was when he felt it, a sharp pang of pain.

Suddenly screaming, Sam collapsed to the pitch, clutching his ankle.

"OH! What is this? An emergency, Sam is down!"

"He's clutching his ankle; I did say it looked like he twisted his ankle!"

Sam could not even hear the commentator anymore as he was in a whole world of pain, he felt like he would die. The medical staff rushed into the pitch as Sam was stretchered off the pitch in tears.

Again, Stamford Bridge was silenced as this happened.

With Sam out of the game, the fire in the game died. A few more minutes later, the game finally ended 1-1, a draw.

It was an unforgettable game.