Rise of a Football God #Chapter 328 A game of sweat and blood - Read Rise of a Football God Chapter 328 A game of sweat and blood Online - All Page

Chapter 328 A game of sweat and blood

During half-time, facing his players, Eric Chelle paced up and down, rubbing his sweaty palms together as the pressure already got to him.

Afterall, his job was on the line here.

"Come on guys!" He clapped his hands. "We have to win!"

"And to win, we have to score a goal". It was clear from the look on his face that he was desperate for his team to win today.

"Come on guys, we can do it!"

He said a few more words to motivate his players and after 10 minutes, they had no choice but to come out into the pitch and meet the Lesotho resistance again.

This game was grueling, not just physically but mentally.

Playing in away ground was not easy, and it was even more crazy when playing internationally as the will of a nation was packed into it.

But then again, the Nigerian players were resilient, motivated by a singular purpose. 'We can't afford to lose!'

'We can't afford to lose oh!'

In this second half, Sam did not just take on the identity of the core of this team, he took on the identity of a makeshift captain.

"Come on guys!" He clapped his arms on the pitch, gesticulating at his teammates to do more. "We can do this!"

"Just a little bit more and we'll score!" Sam was desperate.

That voice already started chanting in his head.

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

Sam's approach to this game was slowly morphing, changing.

From just we must win, it became we must die to win!

On this pitch, in the 2nd half, he was everywhere as he flexed his incredible stamina in this big game for his country again.

Whoosh!

He went on sliding tackles, winning back balls when Lesotho went on their dangerous counter-attacking breaks.

And in possession, he was a menace.

BZZZ!

Like a prime Kaka, Sam weaved through the midfield with silky dribbling skills, cutting through players like they were not there, penetrating tight spaces with his incredible mastery and use of the la croqueta.

He nutmegged players, leaving them on their butts and scrambling in the wake of his passage like some God of martial art.

With his elastico dribble, he sent whoever dared face him head-on on a pilgrimage to the shadow realm.

Anytime that he got the ball close to the 18-yard box, the whole Lesotho defense was left scrambling backward in panic as they defended against him with desperation, intent on keeping the scoreline like this.

Sam tried everything in his repertoire.

Every few intervals, he made use of his Power Shot legendary inheritance, unleashing absolute piledriver shots that sent trepidations through this stadium.

He was unlucky, he hit the bar 2 times already.

As for those that didn't hit the bar, the goalkeeper suffered as he already received medical attention after being stung by 2 of such Sam's piledriver shots.

As for the 3rd and most dangerous one, one of the Lesotho defenders sensing the danger bravely put his body on the line, diving and blocking the ball with his head. It was a brave but reckless act.

BAM!

The ball hit the defender's head, and instantly, he was concussed!

The players and fans almost panicked till when a few seconds later, the player came to, panting heavily.

The Lesotho defenders viewed Sam with more wariness and fear after that crazy encounter. The defender didn't leave the pitch though as with a bandage tied around his head, he bravely continued.

They would do everything in their power to keep Nigeria and Sam quiet today.

By now, it was clear that Sam was the out and out best player on this pitch but he was not the only one who was performing.

Other Nigerian stars also rose up to the occasion.

From the left and right, Ademola Lookman and Moses Simon dazzled with their silky dribbling skills, repeatedly penetrating into the Lesotho defense and causing chaos only to stumble at the last moment.

The Lesotho defense was just too tight-knit.

The Super Eagles striker, Victor Osimhen also had a solid game as with his physicality, he worried the Lesotho defense while also letting a few powerful shots loose as Sam sprayed through passes for him here and there.

Yes, Sam did not just dominate with his dribbling and shooting this game. Afterall, he was a great passer of the ball too.

With his elegant passing skills, he sent through passes that cut the Lesotho defense open like a hot knife through butter, setting up his teammates but yet, the Lesotho goalkeeper and his defense held firm.

It was a wonder how the Nigerian team was yet to score a goal.

BAM!

Another Victor Osimhen shot, and the 3rd shot on target that hit the bar.

"F*ck!" Victor Osimhen screamed and grabbed his head in frustration.

"Damn!" Sam cursed behind him, biting his lips even as sweat dripped down his body, his jersey already drenched with sweat.

'These bastards…!'

The more this game wore on, the more riled up he got as his competitive spirit to win this game by all means continued acting up.

Your next chapter is on My Virtual Library Empire

Lesotho frustrated Nigerians worldwide.

70 minutes, no goal…

75 minutes, no goal…

80 minutes, no goal…

85 minutes, no goal…

90 minutes, no goal…

5 minutes of additional time was added by the referee.

90 plus 1 minute, no goal…

90 plus 2 minutes, no goal…

90 plus 3 minutes, no goal…

90 plus 4 minutes, no goal…

And then, in the 90 plus 5 minutes, a miracle happened at the Setsoto Stadium in Lesotho.

Whoosh!

Sliding to break another Lesotho counterattack in the last minute even as tension rose high and nerves were stretched taut, before the loose ball could be intercepted by another Lesotho player, Sam rose back on his feet and pounced.

Thud!

He was like a Tiger going on a hunt.

He arrived at the ball first, protecting it with his tall frame as he bashed shoulders against his opponent, shoving him aside.

And then, Sam pushed forward.

Lesotho sensed his threat even in the last minute and reacted.

Whoosh!

A Lesotho player slid in aggressively but flicking the ball up, Sam jumped after it, above the sliding player.

After evading the first player, with a body feint, he sent the next Lesotho player to no man's land, and then with a rainbow flick, he sent another Lesotho player to the shadow realm.

BZZZ!

One touch with his lap to control the descending ball, and another touch to flawlessly execute the elastico as Sam sent another Lesotho player to dreamland.

And then as he entered the 18-yard box, as 2 Lesotho players charged towards him with obvious malicious intent, Sam flicked the ball to the right where a certain Moses Simon lurked.

The Nigerian winger raised his leg to shoot and as Lesotho defenders desperately jumped in front of him to block, he cut the ball instead.

It was a feint!

"…!" Fans rose up around this stadium.

With that cut, Moses Simon left 2 Lesotho defenders for dead and just as he got set to shoot again, he hit the ball.

Bam!

It was not a shot, rather, it was a pass.

The ball floated high in the air, above defenders, above Victor Osimhen, to an empty space but as the ball floated past, a figure ghosted in.

"Sam…!" The commentator roared. "How did he get there? So fast?!"

With veins popping all over his neck and body, exerting 110% of his body's potential, Sam went on a diving header.

BAM!

His head struck the ball perfectly just before it could sneak away, hitting it with all the power that he could generate as it homed towards the net.

The Lesotho goalkeeper reacted, flailing his arms towards the ball but the ball did it, squirming past his grasp and into the net.