Rise of a Football God

Chapter 79 FIFA Club World Cup [4]

FWEEEE!

Second half started.

Sam's incredible solo goal in the first half was clearly unexpected, briefly affecting the Fluminense momentum but it didn't last long.

During halftime, the Fluminense coach definitely told his players some crazy words because they came out for the second half firing on all cylinders.

What Sam's goal did was rile up this strong team even more.

In the second half, the Fluminense players increased their work rate, running all over the pitch as for the first few minutes of this half, they dominated and it was not without fruit as they got a result in a short time.

After 5 minutes of dominating possession, they scored from their first shot.

POW!

The sound as the leg hit the ball was like that of a bullet leaving a gun's muzzle, evident of the power behind the shot!

The Fluminense left winger started the move, dribbling through multiple Enyimba FC players through the left wing as he penetrated into their 18-yard box after displaying impressive flair with the ball.

He didn't try to shoot though, nor did he pass to his lethal striker, rather, this winger's intelligence showed as he passed to the only player with no marker who was just outside the 18-yard box.

The Fluminense attacking midfielder did not miss his chance, hitting the ball first-time with pure venom as it shot towards the middle of the post with power!

The ball was sent towards the top center of the post, but its power was too much and its speed was too fast.

Ojo, the Enyimba FC goalkeeper could only dive awkwardly as the ball shot past his arms with fear-inducing force!

It was a thunderous goal!

"What a rocket shot!"

"And Flumimense are back in the game!"

"Drake I'm telling you, that was straight out of the Universal Soldier playbook, what a venomous shot!"

"1-1…, game on!"

In the 50th minute of the game, the game was tied 1-1.

That also served as a wake-up call for Enyimba FC as the whole team were roused from their slumber, turning the game into a pound for pound bout.

In the midfield, Farouk became a stalwart, rushing after and tackling every loose ball even as Austin played as the anchor, rotating possession.

Emeka's hold-up play improved.

As for Sam, he was all over the pitch, winning back possession, spraying passes left and right, playing crazy defense-splitting passes while unleashing that occasional rocket shot that left the Fluminense goalkeeper always on his toes.

The tension of the game was palpable.

Having won the man of the match award of the second-round game, Sam's performances today rose above every other player, putting him forefront for the award again, till a moment of shock stunned Enyimba FC.

After receiving a pass from Ojo, the Enyimba FC right center back was immediately subjected to the Fluminense aggressive press as left with no choice, he passed back to his goalkeeper, and then came the blunder.

The Fluminense striker didn't just press the center back as predicting his pass option, before he passed, he already charged towards Ojo.

And the pass was a weak pass.

Thud! Thud!

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Hearing the thudding sounds of the striker's boots as he rapidly charged towards the ball, Ojo panicked.

This goalkeeper felt his body fill up with adrenaline.

He also charged out, the only thought in his mind being to kick the ball far away from his box, but then, the pressure of the game got to him.

Having been subjected to the loud roar of the fans since the first minute of the game, in this moment of truth, Ojo made his first blunder.

His left leg kicked, but he missed the ball completely!

"…!" This goalkeeper was stunned.

The ball rolled in-between his legs, going behind him and straight into the post. It crossed the line…, it was a goal.

"GOALLLL…!"

Roaring loudly, the Fluminense striker celebrated exuberantly.

This striker charged to the touchline, jumping over the barrier as he waved his arms up and down, charging up the Fluminense supporters as they roared.

In the 68th minute of the game, Enyimba FC lost their lead, going 2-1 down.

The tension increased, becoming even more palpable.

The whole Enyimba FC team could already stare at the jaws of defeat. Most of them succumbed to it, surrendering to the superior Fluminense spirit but a certain player refused to succumb.

Staring at his opponents as they celebrated, only one thought went through Sam's mind. 'It's not over yet!'

'We can still do it; we can still win!'

FWEEEE!

When the game restarted, desperate to score again, Enyimba FC's ball progression became disorderly and rushed as they began losing possession of the ball rampantly to the frustration of a certain coach.

"Calm down, calm down!" Coach Yemi Daniel kept on yelling from the touchline but his players could not hear him anymore.

The game already got to them, seeping into their head like a virus.

After that 2nd goal, riding the momentum, Fluminense finally claimed superiority over their opponents as they started dominating possession.

"Calm down!" Coach Yemi Daniel kept on yelling, frustrated.

This coach watched as the minutes passed and as his team's play kept on becoming more atrocious. He watched as the game slipped away from his team's grasp, and amid it all, only one player in blue stayed playing his game.

His name was Samuel Moses.

Even while all his teammates seemed to transition into Sunday league players, having succumbed to the pressure already, Sam remained locked in.

With red eyes filled with fanatic focus, he ran, pursued, tackled, passed, moved the ball with zeal and a singular purpose, to score.

80 minutes passed…

By now, Fluminense already came close to doubling their lead a few times as some Enyimba FC away supporters in the stadium were already reduced to tears.

They watched as their team capitulated under the pressure.

In the end, the pressure cascaded as in a moment of madness in the 86th minute of the game, the same Enyimba FC center back who scored the own goal pulled the Fluminense striker in the box, causing a penalty.

The player also received a red card as the Fluminense striker flailed his arms wildly again, riling up the Fluminense fans even more.

Enyimba FC's misery piled on in loads, the team now reduced to 10 men while facing a penalty kick.

At this point, disappointed Enyimba FC supporters started leaving the stadium, too devastated to watch the game more.

The confident Fluminense striker stepped up to take the penalty.

FWEEEE!

This striker did a short run, took a look before placing this ball perfectly towards the bottom right corner. It was a perfect penalty kick, but…, it was an even more perfect dive.

No one saw it coming!

Going on a full-stretch dive towards the right side of the pitch, after his previous blunder, Ojo managed to pull off a miracle, saving the perfect penalty!

Ojo pushed the ball out of his net!

Austin was the first player to react, rushing at the ball before clearing it without looking high up into the pitch.

As soon as the ball was cleared, the first player to react was… Sam!

Thud!

He moved!