Rise of a Football God

Sam felt rejuvenated. Enjoy new tales from empire

"Hey bro, you look really happy, what happened?" Emile Smith Rowe asked as he could not help but notice the strange situation of his friend.

Sam was always lively, but this, this was different.

"I'm happy bro, things have been so smooth lately".

"Really?" Smith looked at him. "I followed the Nigerian games because of you. I saw what happened bro, sorry".

"That?" Sam chuckled, waving his hand dismissively. "I'm already long over that, I'll redeem myself in my next game for Nigeria after my suspension".

"I think that's the first red card of your career, right?"

Hearing that, Sam deflated a bit. "Now that you say it, yeah, I think so but it doesn't matter. It got nothing on me". He grinned.

"I like your mood bro; I hope it reflects on our game in 2 days".

Hearing that, Sam grinned again. "Rest assured bro, it will surely show".

Training, rest, reset…, going through this circle for 2 more days, the D-day finally came. It was time for matchday 4 of the English premier league.

(Premier league:)

(Matchday 4 of 38:)

(Southampton – Man United)

(Date: 14th September, 2024)

…

(Man City – Brentford)

(Date: 14th September, 2024)

…

(Fulham – West Ham)

(Date: 14th September, 2024)

…

(Crystal Palace – Leicester City)

(Date: 14th September, 2024)

…

(Brighton – Ipswich Town)

(Date: 14th September, 2024)

…

(Liverpool – Nottm Forest)

(Date: 14th September, 2024)

…

(Aston Villa – Everton)

(Date: 14th September, 2024)

…

(Bournemouth – Chelsea)

(Date: 14th September, 2024)

…

(Tottenham – Arsenal)

(Date: 15th September, 2024)

…

(Wolves – Newcastle)

(Date: 15th September, 2024)

It was another exciting matchday of the English premier league immediately after the international break and this time, Fulham was taking on West Ham at home. The players in white, black, and red were fired up.

Today, Adama Traore was benched as Raul Jimenez started as the striker, while behind him was the trio of Sam in attacking midfield, while Emile Smith Rowe and Alex Iwobi started in the wings.

Pereira and Lukic started in midfield. Tete, Andersen, Bassey, and Robinson started in defense, while Bernd Leno started in between the posts.

In a packed Craven Cottage filled with tens of thousands of excited Fulham supporters, the referee's whistle went off.

FWEEEE!

The first play of an exciting game was made.

Bam!

Wolves passed to kick off this exciting game.

With the likes of Michail Antonio, Mohamed Kudus, and Jaren Bowen leading from the front, West Ham was a dangerous side.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka, the ex-Manchester United player was their wildcard in defense and this fullback was clearly in form today.

During the first few minutes of this game, both sides were even as they struggled for domination. They shared the possession percentage, threatening at intervals as both sides played their football.

The most exciting battles though were in midfield as the players of both sides slugged it out.

Raul Jimenez though was the star of the opening minutes of this game as Fulham settled, slowly tightening their grip on the game.

After making a rare start in a long time, the striker seemed to have a point to prove as every touch, ever pass, and every movement from him was so threatening that he left the West Ham defense on tenterhooks.

And eventually, he got his moment as from the right, Emile Smith Rowe played a pass for the determined striker to run into.

Winning the physical battle with his marker, Raul Jimenez stood his ground, maintained his cool as Areola, the West Ham goalkeeper charged towards him before calmly lobbing the ball above the goalkeeper to score a sumptuous goal in the 24th minute of this game.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

"GOALLLL…!" Craven Cottage exploded.

These days, the fans in black, white, and red were used to shouting this a lot. Their team was in truly terrific form.

Charging towards the corner flag energetically with pupils dilated in excitement, Jimenez jumped before bumping his chest with his fist excitedly. "Come on!" He roared.

That goal sent the atmosphere in Craven Cottage fever-high.

The referee's whistle soon sounded to continue play.

This game was not Michail Antonio's game as Fulham's defense locked him out completely, but the duo of Mohamed Kudus and Jaren Bowen worried. All of their dribbling and playmaking was yet to result in a goal though.

"Emile Smith Rowe is so terrific today, while I dare say this is Raul Jimenez's best game in the whole year!"

"Sam is not feeling it yet, but he's not playing bad either. He seems to be enjoying himself on the pitch".

"Fulham are absolutely deadly recently".

"But don't write West Ham off yet, they can still score".

"And oof! What a horror tackle from Rodriguez. He's taken a yellow card for his troubles and conceded a freekick in a truly dangerous position!"

"Jimenez doesn't seem too badly hurt though".

In the 43rd minute of the game, Raul Jimenez won a freekick for his team just outside the West Ham 18-yard box in a dangerous position.

Like in training, Sam stepped up for this freekick.

Walking up to the ball and setting it up, Sam had a teasing smile on his face throughout. He seemed to be enjoying himself a lot today.

As soon as West Ham set up its wall and the referee's whistle sounded, Sam took one last look at goal, did a short run up to the ball, and then…

BAM!

Sam's shot synchronized with the West Ham wall of players' jump.

Well, they paid for their complacency of not putting an extra man to lay down as the ball rolled underneath the wall of players and straight into the bottom right corner of the West Ham net.

The goalkeeper dived but his hand could not reach the ball.

"GOALLLL….!" Craven Cottage roared again.

Smiling brightly, Sam spread his arms as he whirled towards the corner flag in celebration.

"What a goal!" The commentator raved. "Another game, another Sam goal, it's routine at this point".

"Is there anything that Sam cannot do?"

"He can score headers, he can score freekicks, he can score absolute bangers, he can score tap-ins, and he can still assist, and his work rate is so high".

"Ladies and gentlemen, you're seeing a legend in the making".

"Sam is the complete package".

Running to the corner flag, Sam stopped and spread his arms wide, doing the Jude Bellingham celebration as a familiar chant in Craven Cottage started.

"Sam!" "Sam!" "Sam!"

It was 2-0 to Fulham in the 43rd minute of the game.