Latest news with #SahalAbdulSamad
The Hindu
30-04-2025
- Sport
- The Hindu
Sahal Abdul Samad eyes return to Indian national team with Super Cup success
When Mohun Bagan Super Giant's Sahal Abdul Samad deftly scored the opening goal against Kerala Blasters FC in their Super Cup 2025 quarterfinal fixture, the midfielder's face had a sense of relief. His arms went up as he stared into the sky and exhaled deeply before breaking into a smile. It was his first goal in almost eight months for his club. 'Finding the back of the net always brings happiness to a player. Especially, in a tough match, it's obviously an amazing feeling,' noted Sahal. While MBSG secured a historic Indian Super League double (League Shield and Cup), Sahal had his own setbacks to overcome. Sporadic injuries took their toll on the 28-year-old and allowed him to play for only 816 minutes, which is the second-lowest for him after the 2019-2020 season (not including debut season). However, rather than drowning in despondency, Sahal chose to take it on the chin and look ahead. READ | Mohun Bagan SG eyes maiden Super Cup final 'Injuries are always part of football, and I always see it that way,' Sahal told Sportstar during an exclusive chat. 'The physios, the team medicals, they all supported me through this tough time. It was a lesson for me to be patient and keep working harder, and to do the necessary things outside of football,' he added. Ever since he made his first appearance for KBFC back in 2018, Sahal has been deemed as one of the most remarkable talents the country has produced. He quickly became a mainstay for the Blasters, making 92 appearances for the club while also playing a major part in the 2021-22 campaign, where it reached the final before losing to Hyderabad FC on penalties. His performances earned him a big-money move to Mohun Bagan in 2023, where he won the ISL League Shield twice and the ISL Cup and Durand Cup both once. Speaking about the transition between the clubs, Sahal said that he was content with the decision that he took, while also explaining the differences that he experienced. 'Like every team, when I was playing there (KBFC), we were all fighting for the trophy. You know how close we were. But, when I came here (MBSG), there was a feeling that this is a champion team,' Sahal noted. 'The players around, the mentality, the management, it is all different here. I am happy about the step I took, which is a difficult step. But thankfully, I could handle it well,' he added. With MBSG fielding essentially a reserve side for the ongoing Super Cup, Sahal, one of the few seniors in the side, said that he is trying his best to set an example. 'At first, it was a little bit difficult during training because we didn't know the junior players that well. But then, from the second and third day, they were all doing very well. And the best thing to motivate them is for us to work harder than they do,' Sahal explained.. 'So, then, they will be eager to fight back. That is one thing I always tell them. Fight for everything. Give everything in your training, and success will come around,' he added. National team and the future ahead Since his national team call-up in 2019, Sahal has earned 39 caps, scoring three goals and assisting two in that period, while also lifting the Intercontinental Cup (2023) and two SAFF Championships (2021, 2023). However, commenting on the national team's recent below-par performances, Sahal said that one of the main reasons could be the limited time the players get to gel with each other. 'I think it's the lack of time we have together. The training period is comparatively less. And then, it's all about mentality. Playing matches with different countries, top level players, all that makes a difference. ALSO READ | Chhangte: I believe something good will happen this year for Indian national team However, Sahal had words of praise for the current national team head coach, Manolo Marquez, and appreciated the boss's demand to play attractive football. 'We all know what he (Manolo) is capable of. Even when he was with Hyderabad, he won the trophy. He wants to keep playing beautiful football and fight for the ball. That's a huge plus point for our national team,' said Sahal. Now, with India's AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifier match against Hong Kong coming up in June and the camp likely to begin late in May, Sahal will hope to make his return to the squad after missing out on the last four matches. The Super Cup, in which he awaits Manolo's FC Goa in the semifinal on Wednesday, could be just the platform Sahal needs to prove that he is back to his best and reclaim his spot in the national setup.
Time of India
27-04-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Kalinga Super Cup: FC Goa set up semifinals date with Mohun Bagan
Put to test against a full-strength Kerala Blasters in the Super Cup quarterfinals on Saturday afternoon, an Indian-heavy Mohun Bagan Super Giant side came out with flying colours in Bhubaneswar. The young side – in many ways the reserve team of the ISL double winners – put up a gritty display of football at Kalinga Stadium to carve out a 2-1 victory over the Blasters. In doing so, they booked a place in the semis against FC Goa , who beat Punjab FC 2-1 with a stoppage-time winner from Mohammed Yasir. Sahal Abdul Samad opened the scoring midway through the first half for the Mariners, while Suhail Ahmad Bhat doubled the lead early in the second. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Thousands Are Saving Money Using This Wall Plug elecTrick - Save upto 80% on Power Bill Click Here Undo Constant pressure from the Blasters bore fruit when MS Sreekuttan pulled one back four minutes in added time. Despite a barrage of attacks made by the Blasters frontline, Bagan stood firm with Nuno Reis – the only foreigner on Bagan roster on Sunday – showing leadership quality on debut.
Hans India
26-04-2025
- Sport
- Hans India
Kalinga Super Cup: Mohun Bagan SG sail past Kerala Blasters to seal SF spot
Bhubaneswar: The young guns of Mohun Bagan Super Giant defeated Kerala Blasters FC 2-1 in the quarterfinals of the Kalinga Super Cup 2025 here on Saturday. The ISL Shield and Cup-winning Mariners, fielding an all-Indian squad except for Portuguese defender Nuno Reis, scored once in each half through Sahal Abdul Samad (22') and Suhail Ahmad Bhat (51'). Sreekuttan MS (90+4') pulled one back for the Blasters, but it was too little, too late as Mohun Bagan SG, helped by a solid performance from goalkeeper Dheeraj Singh Moirangthem, entered the semifinals. Bastab Roy's side will face the winners of the clash between FC Goa and Punjab FC in the semifinal on April 30. The game began at a leisurely pace, with both teams not committing many bodies in the opposition half. After 20 minutes of no goalmouth action, Mohun Bagan SG churned out the opener with their first meaningful attack of the match. With some lightning-quick footwork, Salahudheen Adnan twisted and turned past left-back Naocha Singh and slipped a cross into the six-yard box. Getting on the end of it was Sahal Abdul Samad, who, with a drop of a shoulder, swiftly evaded Ruivah Hormipam's challenge and dinked the ball over goalkeeper Sachin Suresh to make it 1-0 in the 22nd minute. From then on, it was all Kerala Blasters, who were left rattled by the Mariners and grew desperate for the equaliser. Noah Sadaoui, scorer of a stunning long ranger against East Bengal, tried the same trick once again, cutting in from the right and shooting from distance. But he didn't get enough elevation, and the ball landed straight into the gloves of Dheeraj Singh. The Blasters became increasingly dangerous from short corners. In the 30th minute, after playing a one-two with Vibin Mohanan, Sadaoui drilled a low cross that was hacked clear by Dippendu Biswas. Later, from another short corner, Hormipam's cross-turned-shot almost landed in the top corner, with Dheeraj doing well to tip it over. In the first half of added time, Mohammed Aimen was fed on the left wing by Vibin. The midfielder cut in from the left before seeing his right-footer swerve over the bar. Before Kerala Blasters could even get into gear for the second half, Mohun Bagan SG scored another goal. When Sachin produced a wonderful one-on-one save to deny Salahudheen in the 47th minute, it wasn't enough of a wake-up call for David Català's side. Just four minutes later, Ashique Kuruniyan created the second goal from the left flank. The Indian international skipped past Hormipam and squared an inch-perfect ball into the six-yard box for Suhail Ahmad Bhat to guide it into the net with ease. The rest of the second half was all about Dheeraj Singh keeping the Kerala Blasters forward at bay, but it wasn't until after Jesús Jiménez missed a couple of gilt-edged chances – half-volleying over the bar in the 65th minute and then curling it wide of the far post after going clean through on goal in the 67th. Three minutes later, Dheeraj palmed over substitute Kwame Peprah's right-footed shot from a narrow angle. With just five minutes to go, Peprah tried to set up Jiménez with a low cross into the six-yard box, but the Spaniard couldn't sort his feet out quickly enough and missed it completely. Dheeraj again made himself big to deny Peprah from six yards before Ebindas Y's attempt on the rebound was cleared off the line by Amandeep. The Mohun Bagan custodian was finally beaten in the 94th minute when Jiménez slipped a neat ball for Sreekuttan on the right. The substitute thrashed it over Dheeraj and into the back of the net, but it only turned out to be a consolation strike.
The Hindu
26-04-2025
- Sport
- The Hindu
Sahal and Suhail help MBSG prevail over KBFC
Mohun Bagan Super Giant's youngsters justified their selection for the Super Cup 2025 after beating Kerala Blasters 2-1 in their quarterfinal clash at the Kalinga Stadium here on Saturday. Former KBFC man Sahal Abdul Samad and youngster Suhail Bhat scored in either half, while Sreekuttan M. S. got a consolation goal in added time for the Blasters. After over 20 minutes played without an attempt at either end of the pitch, it was Sahal who made full use of MBSG's first chance in front of the goal. Debutant Salahudheen Adnan K. showcased some silky footwork on the right to get past Huidrom Naocha Singh and dribble into the box before laying the ball off to Sahal inside the six-yard box. The midfielder did well to take a touch away from R.V. Hormipam before producing a composed chip past Sachin Suresh to take the lead. The Mariners doubled the lead in six minutes into the second half when Ashique Kuruniyan skipped past Hormipam on the left wing before delivering an inch-perfect pass into the middle. Suhail, the youngest player on the pitch for MBSG, made a run ahead of Drincic and guided the ball into the back of the net. KBFC got one back through Sreekuttan in the fourth minute of added time, who drilled the ball into the net after reaching a defence-splitting through ball from Jesus Jimenez. The result: Kerala Blasters 1 (M.S. Sreekuttan 90+4) lost to Mohun Bagan Super Giant 2 (Sahal Abdul Samad 22, Suhail Bhat 51).
