Rise of a Football God

"VIRGIL VAN DIJK…!!!" The commentator screamed at the top of his lungs.

"When Liverpool needed a goal the most, their captain responded, what a captain fantastic moment!"

"And with that, Liverpool are up ahead!"

Virgil Van Dijk pumped a fist in celebration, inviting a chorus of boos from incited Fulham supporters even as the tension in this stadium increased even more, rising to a crescendo.

That goal seemed to have ignited a dynamite in this game.

FWEEEE!

When second half started, the Fulham players resumed play and this time, they were even more aggressive in chasing the goal.

Mohamed Salah was bundled down by Antonee Robinson, becoming the first yellow-carded player of this game. And before half-time, 2 other Fulham players got yellow cards for rash tackles as emotions started cascading in this game.

During half-time, the coaches were expected to calm their players down but in the dressing room, Coach Marco Silva did the exact opposite.

On this matchday, this coach decided to channel his inner Jose Mourinho.

At this point, all that mattered was winning, this coach didn't care how his team did it. If they did it dirty, he was fine with it, anyhow so long they won.

When the Fulham players came out of the tunnel for the 2nd half, they didn't feel like players at all, but rather gladiators ready to kill for glory!

BOOM!

Sensing their rabid energy, the fans erupted, going behind their team.

The atmosphere was absolutely electric.

FWEEEE!

As soon as the referee's whistle sounded again, chaos started.

Liverpool was dubbed the Kings of chaos but at this moment, Fulham no longer cared. They were ready to take their opponents to the trenches, duke it out the old way and fight to the death to get a result.

The confrontation became physical, intense, and highly controversial but somehow, the referee still had control of this game.

Despite Fulham's high intensity, Liverpool never let up as they matched them energy for energy, Mohamed Salah even coming closest to score the second goal of this game as his effort hit the crossbar.

The tension was at its highest.

Fulham could feel themselves losing control of this game to a rampant Liverpool side who were unwilling to let an inch.

50 minutes, no goal…

60 minutes, no goal…

70 minutes, no goal…

'Win!' 'Win!' 'Win!'

That voice already started since; Sam was already becoming desperate.

Fulham's full season rested on the outcome of this game and at this moment, they watched it slipping out of their grasp.

But then in the 74th minute, it happened.

Having just stopped another rampant Liverpool attack, Calvin Bassey rashly cleared the ball up field but in a stroke of luck, the ball floated towards the path of the pitch where Alex Iwobi lurked.

Thud!

Muniz who was already substituted into this game at some point reacted, sprinting after the winger as Alex Iwobi ran with the ball.

It was a 2 on 1 scenario as Fulham suddenly caught Liverpool off-guard.

Other Liverpool defenders retreated but they would not get back on time, leaving Ibrahima Konate isolated at the back with the 2 Fulham players rushing towards him.

Just before they entered the 18-yard box, instead of dribbling, Alex Iwobi passed to Rodrigo Muniz and having expected it, Konate reacted immediately, closing the Fulham striker down.

But before this defender could tackle the ball, in one touch, Muniz hit the ball back to Alex Iwobi, obliterating the Liverpool defender in the process as Konate tackled him to the ground but the ball was already gone.

"…!"

Tensed, Fulham fans rose up around the stadium in anticipation, watching and hoping as Alisson Becker charged out of his post, making himself big.

Alex Iwobi did not try anything fancy, hitting the ball first time with the inside of his boot as he raised and curled it past Alisson Becker and then into the net.

…for a moment, the home supporters failed to react and when they did, emotions cascaded in Craven Cottage.

"GOALLLLLL…!!!" The fans blasted at the top of their lungs, roaring, hugging each other as they felt like they were finally vindicated.

A few Fulham fans even broke down in tears of joy in the stands.

"And they've done it!" The commentator screamed.

"It took them 74 minutes but Fulham finally have that goal, that goal they've been desperately searching for! What a moment to score it!"

"And Alex Iwobi is the hero this time!"

"Now the scores are level, will Liverpool be ok with this?"

"There's still 16 minutes to the end of this, a lot of time, is there still more action to be seen in it?"

Well, yes, there was still action, a whole lot of action.

Alex Iwobi's goal… well, unlocked this game.

Since, the tension, the pressure, it was getting to the players, subtly restricting their play but that Alex Iwobi goal acted as a catalyst.

The catalyst that accelerated the chemical reaction of this game.

The first player who got unlocked was Mohamed Salah.

Just 2 minutes after Alex Iwobi's goal, Alexis Mac Allister floated a ball to the right side of the pitch and as the ball floated in with the Egyptian tracking it with his focused eyes, that was when he entered the zone state!

Salah felt electricity and adrenaline coursing through his body, energizing his body and pushing him into a state of ultra-instinct.

Antonee Robinson, Fulham's left back rapidly closed the distance to the winger but almost as if in ultra instinct, Salah reacted with his first touch.

Bam!

Instead of just controlling the ball, with his first touch, he pushed the ball forward, completely obliterating Robinson as he blitzed past him speedily.

The Fulham left back was left grasping at shadows!

Suddenly inside the box, Salah staggered, his quick feet dancing to a tune that only footballers with the flair trait could understand.

Like a slippery eel, he cut the ball, weaving past Diop and with a drop of his shoulder, he made Calvin Bassey lose his balance, making the Nigerian International fall to his butt and that was when he did it.

With needle accuracy, Salah set his sights to the far-left corner post before hitting the ball, sending it across the face of goal.

Bernd Leno reacted, diving but the low-driven shot was just too accurate.

Salah made it look easy; it didn't seem like a shot at all, but rather it seemed like he passed the ball into the net!

"GOALLLLL…!" The away stands erupted again.

"My God! What am I bearing witness to?!"

"The Egyptian King strikes!"

"This game does have more drama in it after all!"

Yes, and there was still more drama. Find exclusive stories on My Virtual Library Empire

Salah scored in the 76th minute after Alex Iwobi's goal and then in the 80th minute, Sam struck!