KOLKATA: In Igor Stimac's football factory, one of the key features is the former Croatian World Cupper's distinct focus on future. In a team that boasts of veterans like Sunil Chhetri and Gurpreet Singh, Sahal Abdul Samad represents the face of young India: Vibrant, determined and fearless. And it's this mixture of experience and youthfulness that has marked India's Asian Cup qualifying campaign so far here at the Salt Lake Stadium.
The 25-year-old Sahal not only produced the stunning stoppage-time winner against Afghanistan on Saturday, he gave Chhetri's goal five minutes earlier a true meaning on way to scripting the 2-1 victory, keeping on track India's hopes for qualifying for football's biggest stage in Asia for the second edition running.
