(FA Cup!]
(3rd round fixture:)
>Fulham – Rotherham<
>Date: 5th January, 2024<
…
Sam did not make Coach Marco Silva's starting XI, but he was not that discouraged though. This was because even bigger nas in the Fulham FC squad did not make the coach's starting XI for the FA Cup ga.
The likes of Raul Jinez, Willian, Alex Iwobi, Calvin Bassey, and even Bernd Leno, the Fulham no. 1 goalkeeper were not in the starting XI, telling Sam that the coach had no intentions of playing with his strongest squad.
In hindsight, it made sense, Fulham was playing against a club from the lower divisions; the coach would want to rotate his team.
(Fulham FC starting XI:)
(M. Rodak: Goalkeeper)
(K. Tete: Right Back)
(T. Adarabioyo: Right Center Back)
(I. Diop: Left Center Back)
(T. Castagne: Left Back)
(H. Reed: Center Midfielder)
(S. Lukic: Center Midfielder)
(H. Wilson: Right Winger)
(A. Pereira: Center Attacking Midfielder)
(B. De Cordova-Reid: Left Winger)
(R. Muniz: Striker)
It was not Fulham FC's strongest lineup but it was still a strong team on paper compared to the starting XI from Rotherham.
For the next few days in the prelude to the ga, Sam was not disappointed, even more motivated by the coach's decision as he put in more than 100% in every training session, always being the first player to report to training since he arrived.
And in every training session, he was consistently always among the best performing players, showing his ability in every ga.
And with his performances, his teammates finally started opening up to him, recognizing his ability with the ball on his leg.
Sam was slowly building prominence in the squad with his displays and hard work during every training session. His hard work finally paid off a day to the ga as Coach Marco Silva called him aside.
"You're doing well, Sam, keep it up. I didn't want to rush you into gas, to observe you more first but I think I've observed enough".
"Sleep early today and get ready, tomorrow, you'll play".
Hearing that, Sam smiled with gratitude on his face. "Thank you, coach, you won't regret this decision".
"That is up to ," the coach stared at him. "You just do your thing".
"Yes coach".
He was still not in the starting XI but that little assurance from the coach was all that Sam needed to sleep well that night.
Returning ho, he followed the coach's advice, sleeping early.
In the blink of an eye, he woke up, it was already a new day, the D-day.
Craven Cottage was filled to the brim with the ho supporting fans as they ca out in droves to support their club.
Once the players lined up on the pitch, the referee's whistle went off, kickstarting the ga.
Since they were playing at ho, the Fulham players had the advantage of ho support against their opponents. Stacked against their already nurous advantages, they started the ga on the front foot.
For the first few minutes of the ga, Fulham FC dominated possession, pressing the lower division team but an early goal didn't co though.
Rotherham remained defensively disciplined, defending doggedly until they finally grew into the ga, making the ga even.
Both teams had their chances, probing with attacks and finally, Fulham was the one to open the scoring first in the 24th minute.
After Lukic won the ball back in midfield, he passed to Pereira, the Fulham attacking midfielder who imdiately skipped past challenges with his mastery over spatial awareness, bombing down the Rotherham half.
When he was close to the 18-yard box, one of the Rotherham center backs ca closing him down with malicious intent and this attacking midfielder finally passed to his left where the Fulham left winger, De Cordova-Reid lurked.
The pass was not perfect but the left winger reacted imdiately, pouncing before the nearest Rotherham player could clear the ball.
De Cordova-Reid pushed the ball away from the outstretched leg of the Rotherham player, cut into the box 18 from the right, then took a look at goal before hitting a curled shot towards goal.
Wrapping the inside of his right leg around the ball, it flew high, rotating rapidly as it curled into the top right corner of the post, leaving the Rotherham goalkeeper ruing his luck since he ca so close to pushing the ball out.
"Goal!" De Cordova-Reid pumped his fists in excitent before rushing towards the corner flag to celebrate.
In the 24th minute of the ga, Fulham finally took the lead.
That goal seed to embolden the Fulham players, making them even more confident as the montum fully swung in their favor. Enjoy more content from empire
It was just the final touch remaining for the floodgates to open as Fulham beca rampant, going on one attacking raid after the other, launching floods of attacks against the Rotherham defense line.
Despite Fulham's dominance throughout the first half though, especially in the final stages of the first half, they failed to extend their lead, going to halfti with the score line still 1-0 in their favor.
When second half started, Fulham resud the ga with the sa montum, dominating their opponents, only lacking the final touch to put the ball into the opposition net a second ti.
De Cordova-Reid ca close to doubling his goal tally this ga a few tis, but he just fell short at the last mont.
Muniz, the Fulham striker for this ga also ca close with half-chances, but the Rotherham goalkeeper was on top of his ga.
At the 60th minute, Coach Marco Silva finally made a few changes, subbing De Cordova-Reid out of the ga after an impressive performance so far.
Sam still had to wait for his turn though.
The ga continued, the second half with no goals till the 75th minute when the Fulham manager, Marco Silva pulled the plug on his substitutions again.
This ti, he made a triple change, taking off Muniz, the striker, Pereira, the attacking midfielder, and Wilson, the left winger.
Sam and Alex Iwobi were introduced into the ga at the sa ti in the 75th minute, 15 minutes to the end of the ga.
Sam jogged into the ga with a slight smile on his face, only one thought was on his head. 'There's still ti to make my mark'.
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