Rise of a Football God

(Premier league:)

(Sheffield United – Fulham)

(Date: 30th March 2024)

One game played, another game incoming.

This was the sentiment of the Fulham players as the league season heated up towards its final stages.

Despite the fact that this season, Manchester United was infamously in an inconsistent period and form, the win against the top English club was undoubtedly still a confidence booster to the Fulham players.

If they could beat Manchester United, they could beat anybody!

With this mentality, the Fulham players quickly forgot about the past games, focusing on their next fixture in the league against Sheffield United.

Again, it was an away game in a tough stadium.

In the build-up to the game, Sam stayed diligent, constantly being the first player to report to training and putting more than 100% in every training session.

After all the preparations, the days moved fast and finally, it was D-day.

Sam made his first trip to Bramall Lane, Sheffield United's home stadium.

This stadium had a historic significance. Bramall Lane is the oldest major league ground in the world, having hosted its first game in 1862, in a match between Hallam and Sheffield Club.

Sam did not enter this stadium to pay attention to some piece of history though, like he trained for, he approached this game to win.

Having stringed together a winning run already after downing the likes of Tottenham and Manchester United in the league, Sam was determined to continue the winning run against Sheffield United.

And like usual, both teams approached this game with their strongest lineup.

Muniz started again as the striker ahead of Raul Jimenez, and behind him, there was Iwobi who started as the right winger today, Willian on the left, and Sam directly behind Muniz.

These days, Pereira was a stranger to the Fulham starting XI as the young Nigerian already monopolized his spot in the lineup through sheer brilliance.

Behind the 4-man attack were the 2 defensive midfielders, Lukic and Palhinha playing as the pivots and behind them, the 4-man defense comprised of Robinshon, Calvin Bassey, Adarabioyo, and Castagne.

And of course, Bernd Leno started in between the posts.

Unlike most games in the premier league where Fulham FC approached as the underdog on paper, this time, on paper, they were the superior side.

And as soon as the referee's whistle sounded to kickstart this game, that superiority showed as Fulham started on the front foot, dominating possession.

Sam had been putting more than 100% so much in games, pursuing the ball so much that he almost forgot what it meant for his team to hold majority of the possession already. This game reminded Sam of that joy, that feeling of dominance.

Despite the fact that they were playing in a hostile stadium, the changed mentality of the Fulham players reared its head as they managed to shut out all the noise, playing their football.

Sam, Muniz, Willian, and Palhinha were all playing at an elite level this game as they took the game by the helm, dictating it.

Leading from his area in the attacking midfield position, Sam orchestrated the offense with his passing range and his incredible vision for his age.

He kept on prying the Sheffield United defense open like it was not there.

This was one of those games where Sam thoroughly enjoyed himself. But despite Fulham's clear dominance on the pitch, it didn't show on the score line.

Sheffield United's 3-5-2 formation enabled them to bombard the midfield with players, and this moment, all these midfield players played defensively, neutralizing any attack before it could threaten their defense.

With the Fulham players playing at such an elite level though, they were cut open occasionally by defense splitting passes.

And this was when their 3-man defense reared its head.

Muniz was having an amazing game, having multiple chances to score already but the Sheffield United's defense made it hard for him. Not just them, Grbic, the Sheffield United goalkeeper was on top of his game.

He kept on trying to no avail.

After 40 minutes, Sam took matters into his own hands and tried an incredible effort from outside the box but somehow, Grbic still managed to tip the ball away from his net for a corner.

And when the corner was played, the in-form goalkeeper snatched the ball from the air before it could pose any significant threat to his team.

Despite all of Fulham's dominance in the first half, it ended goalless.

In the dressing room, Marco Silva took it easy, praising his players for their dominant performance but sternly, this coach demanded more.

"You can do more, so go out there and do more!"

"We need goals!"

Motivated, the Fulham players charged back into the pitch but as soon as they entered the pitch again was when they noticed something different about the Sheffield United players.

Clearly, Marco Silva was not the only one who did some Jose Mourinhoish stuff, the Sheffield United coach did the same thing.

The Sheffield United players approached this second half with a do or die mentality, they were determined to win by all means.

FWEEEE!

As soon as the referee's whistle sounded to restart play, the game started and immediately, it was clear that the intensity of the players in red and black changed.

Led by Brereton, one of the 2 Sheffield United strikers, this team fed on the energy of their fans all over this stadium that now rose to a crescendo as they played like a pride of injured Lions pouncing on their prey.

The Fulham players did not buckle though, matching their energy but 13 minutes after the restart, the deadlock was broken.

In the 58th minute of this game, Sheffield United broke the deadlock.

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The Sheffield left winger received the ball in the left wing before driving forward resolutely with it, skipping past the first challenge then the second and just as he approached the goal, forcing Leno to rush out to meet him, he kicked the ball with the outside of his boot, passing it across goal.

Calvin Bassey, the Nigerian international reacted immediately but someone else reacted faster with poacher instincts, Brereton.

The Sheffield striker pounced before the Nigerian international could clear the ball, tapping the ball into an empty net.

"GOALLLL…!!!" Bramall Lane exploded!

The Sheffield United fans erupted in ecstasy.

And that became the start of an unforgettable classic.