Page 4 - ISL 2018/19, Kerala Blasters 3-0 Chennaiyin FC: 5 Talking Points - Poplatnik brace ends Kerala's winless streak

#4 Sahal Abdul Samad's dominance overshadows Chennaiyin's midfield

There was a loud cheer at the consortium when the local lad Sahal Abdul Samad's name was heard once again this season. The 21-year-old midfielder has been one of the best performers for Kerala Blasters this season and did no harm to his reputation by putting in another exemplary performance against the arch-rivals Chennaiyin FC.

He was the best midfielder for the Blasters and ran the show by doing his duty both on the defensive and offensive end. Even though it was a tough task to compete against the likes of Raphael Augusto and Anirudh Thapa, his fine passing and ability to rely on press resistance were the major factors that helped Kerala in attacking the opponents on counter-attack.

For his excellent display, he got rewarded with a goal in the second half. Even though it came off an opponent without his knowledge, Sahal's long bursting run was the reason for a simple tap in from five yards out.

About the author

Sudarshan has been covering European and Indian football for Sportskeeda for
around 9 years. An Information Technology graduate and a post-graduate in International Business Operations, he has previously worked with Chennai Super Kings, Chennai City FC and the SunRisers Hyderabad handling their social media for OPN Advertising and Ting Labs. He has also travelled with the SunRisers for around 2 years, shooting content and interviewing stars such as David Warner, Bhuvaneshwar Kumar and Jonny Bairstow.

An ardent Liverpool supporter since 2008, Sudarshan's favorite footballer is Steven Gerrard, who impressed with his unmatched leadership during the Reds' challenging periods. His favorite manager is Jurgen Klopp as the German's connection with fans and preference for high-intensity football resonates with him. Sudarshan aims to better analyze football matches by relying on websites like FotMob and DataMB and excels in swiftly covering breaking news events.

Mario Gotze's winner in the 2014 final is Sudarshan’s favorite FIFA World Cup moment, and believes that Jamal Musiala and Jude Bellingham could emerge as the successors to Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. When not writing, he enjoys binge-watching movies, learning new skills to enhance his professional development, and participating in marathons.

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Edited by Raunak J