Rise of a Football God

Could Fulham hold on to their lead?

This was the prevailing question all across Old Trafford as the 2 teams went into the tunnel for half-time. For the fans in red, they certainly wished for their team to orchestrate a turn-around in the second half.

When the Fulham players entered the away dressing room, all of them were in good spirits as they faced their coach.

They knew that coming to Old Trafford was always going to be tough, but they managed to execute the game plan so far, defending like a team.

By the end of the half, they could tell that the players in red where already becoming flustered; that was exactly what Coach Marco Silva predicted.

Marco Silva faced his players, he smiled. "Congratulations boys, you managed to complete 50 meters of the 100-meter race, and you're in the lead".

"In the second half, I want you all to stick to the game plan".

"Stay tight, zonal mark them to block all dangerous passing lanes. Let your work rate remain high, and remember to keep Bruno Fernandes on a leash".

"I don't know why their coach played him as the striker today," Marco Silva grinned. "But it's clearly not working, and if they don't change things up, we just need to keep him stifled for the rest of the 45 minutes".

He looked at his 2 center backs. "Bassey, Diop, I want the both of you to keep up with your antics, keep on harassing him".

"Fernandes is notorious for losing his cool. Make him lose his cool and we'll have the advantage".

And then he clapped. "That's all boys, let's go out there and create more history!"

"Yeah!" The fired-up Fulham players emerged from the tunnel.

After 10 minutes of half-time, the players of both clubs finally lined up on the pitch again in opposite sides, and then the referee finally restarted the proceedings.

FWEEEE!

This time, Fulham started kick-off and almost immediately, a lack of concentration on the part of the Man United players almost let Fulham score a quick goal as after receiving a long pass from Alex Iwobi, Muniz's lethal shot just grazed against the bar, sneaking behind for a goal kick.

That shot definitely rattled nerves but after it, Man United finally calmed down. Whatever Erik Ten Haag told his players during halftime, it was clearly working as after 5 minutes, this team asserted their authority again.

As the minutes progressed, the Man United players kept on pressing high up into the Fulham half, showing their intent to desperately score a goal.

In front of their home fans, in the first game of the season, Man United did not want to start with a loss, or even a draw, they wanted to win!

Bam!

Bruno Fernandes tested Bernd Leno time and again with his lethal shots.

Marcus Rashford was largely kept out of the game at the left-hand side of this pitch, but when he went on that occasional mazy run, dribbling past players, his final ball let him down as he gave the ball to Fulham players far too easily.

As the half wore on, buoyed by the loud noise being made by their fans, the Manchester United fans played high octane attacking football.

Changes finally started being made as Erik Ten Haag introduced Joshua Zirkzee, Alejandro Garnacho, and eventually Scott McTominay to revive his attack.

The substitutions made sense as the game wore on, Man United's threat visibly increasing, but then again, they didn't have all the time in the world.

70 minutes passed, no goal…

80 minutes passed, no goal…

85 minutes passed, still no goal…

And just as infuriated Manchester United fans started leaving the stadium, a lapse of concentration by the Fulham defense after playing impressively for almost 90 minutes eventually opened them up.

"Garnacho…!"

"Scott McTominayyyyy!"

"What a goal!"

"It's Zirkzee celebrating! Oh, the new boy was the one who got his leg to the ball, a goal on his debut! A dream debut!"

That goal definitely seemed to swing the momentum back in Man United's favor as the players in red began running with even greater urgency after the restart, chasing the winner as the Fulham players were finally made to panic.

Throughout most of this second half, even as Manchester United held on to most of the ball, Fulham was still confident as they defended doggedly.

After that 87th minute goal though, canceling Sam's effort in the first half, the Fulham defense in the absence of Adarabioyo finally became a bit shaky.

But then again, in recent times, they already had a beacon to look up to for courage when the going gets tough for them.

Mere 2 minutes after Zirkzee scored the goal for Manchester United, Sam won the ball back in midfield before spraying a pass to the right towards Emile Smith Rowe even as he immediately started a rampaging run towards the United box.

The United players saw his run, Martinez reacted, tracking his run but then again, no one thought his teammates would pass to him.

The game was too tight to play such a risky pass.

But Sam did not hesitate, he continued his run deep, having full confidence in his teammate's trust in him. 'Give me the ball Smith'.

'Give me the ball, you know where I want it'.

'Just like we did in training'.

And then, to the shock of the other Manchester United players, Smith Rowe took one touch of the ball to control it, shifted it a bit from McTominay's press before floating the ball into the 18-yard box.

As soon as Sam heard the ball being hit, his eyes gleamed. 'Yes!'

He was running with his back to the ball towards Manchester United's goal, Sam did not see the ball coming but he trusted in the passing ability of his teammate. And he was right, it was a pin-point accurate cross.

As Maguire and Martinez tried to sandwich him, with eyes widened in intense concentration, Sam still didn't see the ball but he saw the shadow of its descent.

Bam!

Kicking the ground, he leaped into the air.

Rising into the air above the 2 Manchester United center backs, Sam raised his weaker left foot up and with the tip of his boot caressed the ball as it descended.

Bam!

It was a touch that screamed treachery.

Sam's delicate touch killed all the momentum on the ball, taming it on top his leg even as his wide eyes glowed with fire.

"What a touch from Sam!"

"He's in the air! What can he do?"

Thud!

Your journey continues with empire

Landing on the ground even as Martinez shoved his body aggressively, Sam stood his ground with his physicality as he raised his right leg, using his lap to control the ball again that was still in the air.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

Sam didn't just use his lap to hit and control the ball once, he juggled it, using his lap to hit it 3 times.

While Sam juggled, he was not in one place.

He moved, turning just beyond Martinez's reach of the ball even as he was still sandwiched between the 2 players and then…

BAM!

Sam's right leg hit the ball in mid-air with pure venom, unleashing a volleyed shot that left Andre Onana fumbling in his near post.

For the second time this game, Old Trafford was silenced.

"SAMMMMMM…!!!" The commentator screamed.

"The Nigerian Zidane is back!"

"What a touch! What a piece of skill! What a goal!"

"First game of the season and he's still the same boy we know!"

"That pass from Emile Smith Rowe was also straight out of the top drawer, what telepathic chemistry between the 2 wonderkids!"

"It's joy for Fulham and woe for Manchester United!"

That goal in the 89th minute sent the world of football reeling in shock.

Manchester United could do nothing in additional time, the game ended 1-2 in Fulham's favor, dooming Man United to a loss in their first game of the season.