Rise of a Football God

Kayla was a model, but she was also a student.

She schooled in the Netherlands, a prestigious university where she studied theatre arts, the course of her dream.

Kayla hoped to make it in Hollywood.

It was hard, extremely hard, but it was her dream. And when Sam learned about it, despite the many unpleasant stories that he already heard about Hollywood, he didn't try to kill her dream, rather he supported it.

Sam would support her in the best way he could.

This was why in the 2 days building up to Fulham's EFL Cup game against Preston in away ground, after spending another day with her boyfriend, Kayla finally returned to the Netherlands to focus on her school.

Sam wanted Kayla close after his first intimate encounter with her, but he did not let his emotions override his logic.

He knew that they had to focus on their budding careers and school.

This was why he let her go. Of course, they would still be communicating daily on their phones but with Kayla gone, Sam was able to focus 100% on football again.

He spent the most time with Emile Smith Rowe these days as they jogged together, worked out together, trained together, and played football together.

In this climate, both of their football senses became sharper every day, their chemistry truly becoming telepathic.

Physically and mentally, Sam and Smith Rowe were in their best state.

And then, D-day finally came.

Sam didn't get to play in the last EFL Cup game against Birmingham but this time, Sam started. Coach Marco Silva heavily rotated his starting XI again, but he gave Sam the opportunity to play his first EFL Cup game of the season. Enjoy new stories from empire

Since the beginning of the season, Fulham already played 5 games and they were in a crazy winning run of 5 games played, 5 games won.

Even if they eventually drew a game, it would still be an unbeaten run and to Fulham fans who were not used to this, this was unprecedented.

Against Preston, their 6th game of the new season, Fulham had the opportunity to extend their winning run and with Sam starting, the Fulham fans had extremely high hopes of doing it.

Today, Muniz led the line as the striker and behind him was the attacking trio of Reiss Nelson, Sam, and Cairney. The midfield comprised of Berge and Reed.

Behind them in defense were Sessegnon, Cuenca, Diop, and Castagne, while the Fulham back-up goalkeeper, Benda started in between the posts.

In paper, Fulham had the slight superiority over their opponents today.

But a major fact of this game was that this was Preston's home.

FWEEEE!

When the whistle sounded, the loud noise of the Preston fans drowned this stadium as they tried to suffocate the Fulham players and disrupt their game.

At first, it worked in the early stages of this game as Preston troubled Fulham, occasionally testing their goalkeeper.

It was a nervy opening for Fulham but they eventually settled into the game, buoyed by Sam's calming presence upfield. The game briefly became even and as time wore on, both sides had their chances.

In the end, the home side drew first blood.

After an incredibly-worked team sequence from the Preston players, the ball found itself in the back of the Fulham net as Benda was rooted to the spot after a pile driver of a shot from outside the box by the Preston midfielder, Ledson.

Preston entered the lead 1-0.

For the rest of the first half, Fulham tried everything to turn the tides around. They dominated but they could not get a goal as Preston defended tightly.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

"And what a half we just witnessed!"

"Against all odds, Preston are leading! Well, we should have expected it, this is not a full throttle Fulham team, most of their star players are on the bench".

"Are we going to experience an upset from Preston today?"

"Surely not, right?"

"Surely, Marco Silva is going to bring in the big guns in the 2nd half".

But unlike what the commentator predicted, Coach Marco Silva stuck with his starting lineup, leaving them to continue the second half.

His decision was almost spat on when Preston almost scored an instant second goal just after second half started.

Despite the threats from Preston, Fulham held their nerves and when it was time, they didn't need their stars in the bench, they did it led by their star on the pitch in Samuel Moses.

In the 61st minute, Sam opened the game up as receiving the ball deep, he went on a mazy run into the Preston half.

The Preston midfield was congested as they played with a 4-4-2 formation, but the mercurial midfielder wiggled through them like they were not there.

Sam did not do anything complicated, all he did was a few drop of the shoulders, feints, and a pass that set Reiss Nelson in one-on-one with the Preston goalkeeper.

The winger did not miss, chipping the ball over the goalkeeper to even the score line back to where they started.

In the 61st minute, it was back to 1-1.

All the Preston effort was seemingly deflated like a balloon but unwilling to give up, the Preston players played the game of their life against Fulham.

They threatened, defending like a team but then again, they were playing against a team that had Sam, a generational prodigy of the game.

After introducing Raul Jimenez into the game already at some point, the striker used his impressive strength to good use in the box, holding up play perfectly and once he spotted Sam's run, he chipped the ball into his path in the box.

It was not a perfect pass, it had too much force and it was too high, but then…

Bam!

Jumping and raising his right leg high, Sam displayed unreal technique, bringing the ball under control with a gentle touch and as he descended, the ball descended with him.

By the time Sam's legs touched ground, Preston defenders were already all over him but that was when he did his thing.

Tik! Tak!

With the tip of his boot, he took 2 delicate touches of the ball and that was all it took as the ball evaded them like a snake's deadly bite.

"Uhhhh! An elastico! So cheeky!"

The Preston defenders were made to see stars.

With that elastico, Sam cut through the Preston defense like a hot knife through butter, now one-on-one with the goalkeeper.

Due to his burst of speed after the elastico, he was still unbalanced and noting it, Woodman, the Preston goalkeeper charged out aggressively but Sam's reactions were faster than he expected.

Bam!

A delicate touch from Sam and the ball gently rolled in between the legs of the onrushing goalkeeper.

"Uhhh!" The commentator exclaimed again. "What a cheeky nutmeg! The goal is exposed, it's Sam with the ball now!"

One of the Preston defenders tried to recover and clear the ball but Sam did not let him, using one last burst of speed to charge past the goalkeeper and after the ball then calmly, he poked it in.

The ball rolled into the net.

In the 75th minute, Sam scored the winner, Deepdale stadium was silenced.

Jogging to the side of the post, Sam sat down on the pitch, doing the iconic meditation celebration that was made popular by Erling Haaland.

His teammates swarmed him.

"An assist and a goal, what a player!"

"A generational talent!"

"The silence of this stadium is testament to his greatness. And Oh! The Preston fans have risen, they're giving him a standing ovation!"

"What a wholesome moment, Deepdale Stadium is appreciating greatness!"

"Samuel Moses, what a player".

In the 80th minute, Coach Marco Silva subbed Sam and others out of the game, introducing Emile Smith Rowe and Alex Iwobi.

The game ended 1-2 in Fulham's favor.

And unsurprisingly, Sam won another man of the match award.

Fulham extended their winning and unbeaten run to 6 games.