"Sam!" "Sam!" "Sam!"
While the Enyimba FC fans chanted at the top of their voices, still celebrating their goal, a few of the Akwa United defenders laid down on the pitch.
That unexpected goal clearly doused their enthusiasm after defending doggedly for 87 minutes of this ga.
That goal made all their efforts useless.
Their coach was not about to let his players stay demotivated though as from the touchline, he clapped his hands, roaring at the top of his voice. "Co on! The ga is not over yet!"
"There's still 3 minutes to the ga, we can still equalize!"
"Co on! Let's go attack!"
Yes, there were still 3 minutes to this ga, plus additional ti that the referee would definitely add to this fiery ga.
'The ga is not over yet'. Sam reminded himself after celebrating his goal as forcefully, he managed to focus back on the ga.
FWEEEE!
Imdiately after the referee's whistle sounded, the ga restarted with Akwa United playing and it was clear instantly that this team already changed.
A goal down already, there was no more use defending since losing this ga ant that they already lost all 3 points.
The only way to reward their efforts throughout the past 87 minutes was by playing attacking football in these final minutes, hopefully scoring a goal to end the ga 1-1 to rescue a point from this difficult stadium.
This was why imdiately after the ga restarted, multiple Akwa United players rushed into the Enyimba FC half of the pitch as they passed the ball round, trying to penetrate the Enyimba defensive shape.
For 2 minutes, they retained possession but they could not make the most of it, unable to penetrate the Enyimba FC backline as the defenders held their lines staunchly, putting their bodies on the line.
The Akwa United attackers didn't even have the chance to shoot a shot.
In the 89th minute of this ga, Farouk Mohamd won back possession as imdiately, he passed it sideways to his captain, Austin Oladapo who was on the other side of the pitch.
With a deft touch using the outside of his boot, Austin brought the ball under control and evaded an aggressive challenge from an opposition player before driving forward so more with the ball.
After beating another player, closer to the Akwa United 18-yard box, he looked before playing the ball to the right where Sam lurked.
Sam did not hesitate, touching the ball once to lower its montum before pushing it forward into the box for his swift center forward to run into.
Eka dug into his reserves, accelerating past the opposition defenders as in no ti, he was one-on-one with the goalkeeper!
Most of the fans around the stadium rose up on their feet.
Hearing the thudding footsteps of the onrushing goalkeeper, this center forward could not hesitate as he hit the ball first ti straight at goal.
The Akwa United goalkeeper pulled off an incredible save though as his sprawling left arm hit the ball, rebounding it back into the box, where Sam lurked.
The fans groaned in disappointnt, most sitting back down.
Thud!
As soon as the ball landed on the pitch inside the 18-yard box, being the player that was closest to the rebounded ball, Sam felt adrenaline surge through his veins as he moved, reacting first.
2 Akwa United players reacted imdiately after he moved, one tugging at his shirt from behind, while the other charging in from the side to block him.
With his tall figure, Sam dug in, forcing his way forward as with a wild swing of his right arm, he shoved the player tugging at him from behind, making him lose balance as he collapsed helplessly on the pitch.
By now, the player rushing in from the side was now very close but just as he stuck his leg out to intercept the ball, Sam pushed it slightly with his left leg through the legs of this player as he executed an unreal nut-g.
The fans in the stands jumped up to their feet again, anticipating.
By nutgging that player to the right, Sam just created a shooting space for himself and he did not think twice, hitting the ball with his right leg with force.
BAM!
He blasted the ball with force towards the bottom left corner of the post as it rolled on the pitch between 2 players.
The Akwa United goalkeeper jumped on a full-stretch dive but he could only watch as the ball rushed past his arms into the welcoming embrace of the net.
"GOALLLL…!" Sam roared at the top of his lungs, charging towards the corner flag while pumping his fists excitedly in sheer euphoria.
On getting to the corner flag, he slid as he pointed 2 fingers to the sky in gratitude. Behind him, his teammates approached, all jubilating.
"F*cking yes!" They scread, jubilating.
In the 89th minute of the ga, just 2 minutes after laying on the assist for the first goal of the ga, Sam scored his first professional goal, making the score line 2-0 in favor of his team.
This ti, truly defeated, almost all the Akwa United players laid down on the pitch as they looked at the sky, devastated.
Today's outing was a lost battle.
"Sam!" "Sam!" "Sam!"
The fans kept on cheering at the top of their lungs.
A few minutes later, the referee's whistle went off again as he restarted play before adding 4 additional minutes to the ga shortly after.
By then, the Akwa United players already gave up, only playing basic football as Enyimba FC caused the most threat for the final few minutes.
Eka ca close to adding a second goal to his na as Austin also hit the post with an outside the box shot, but in the end, after 4 minutes of additional ti, this incredibly tense ga finally ca to an end.
Despite a dogged defensive performance from Akwa United, Enyimba FC managed to snatch the win due to their new signing's incredible display.
Of course, Sam won the man of the match award, his first in a professional football setting.
Sam felt on top of the world.
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