Amid the loud cheers that have often been reserved for talismanic Sunil Chhetri, two young footballers were quietly making their mark during India’s Bangabandhu SAFF Championship campaign so far.

It’s not that Sahal Abdul Samad and Naorem Mahesh Singh are unfamiliar names to Indian football afficionados, but they validated their potential to carry forward a rich legacy in Indian football.

The duo were impressive against a gritty Nepal whom India beat 2-0 on Saturday night at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bangalore to book a semi-final berth.

Nepal had erected a defensive hurdle in front of India for a good one hour and the home side needed a moment of inspiration to break free. It came in the 61st minute.

Mahesh made a run through the left flank and made a pass to Sahal, who pushed the ball back to the former around a Nepalese defender, setting him free.

With oodles of space to work with, Mahesh sent the ball to an unmarked Chhetri inside the box with a laser-guided cross and the India captain was never going to miss a simple tap-in past Nepal goalkeeper Kiran Limbu.

India’s assistant coach Mahesh Gawli was effusive in his praise for the 24-year-old Mahesh.

“I think Mahesh’s cross was the turning point. He is an excellent talent and a future star for India. He is a quality player and very passionate about his game. I think he’ll become a very good player in the future,” said Gawli in the post-match news conference.

The 2022-23 season has been an absolute dream for the East Bengal player. While donning the national team colours is a massive privilege for anybody, doing so in your hometown is even more special. So, when Mahesh stepped onto the Khuman Lampak pitch in Imphal during the Tri-Nation tournament, it was already the biggest moment of his career.

On Saturday, he topped it with his first goal for the country. Before showing more purpose and precision in the second half, Sahal was banking on his dribbling skills to tear through Nepal defence without much avail.

Sahal drew the inevitable ‘oohs and aahs’ from the crowd when he evaded three markers with some brilliant close control. But he held on to the ball a touch longer to eventually lose he possession just outside the box, infuriating Gawli at the touchline.

Gawli said a half-time chat with the 26-year-old from Kerala prompted him to change the individualistic approach.

“Sahal was instructed to release the ball sooner and not give it away so cheaply by dribbling excessively. He did exactly that in the second half,” said the former India defender.

The transformation was fructified in the 70th minute. Sahal won the ball from a Nepal defender to dash through the centre before passing the ball at the first opportunity to Chhetri.

Chhetri, for once, could not go past Limbu but Mahesh was in the right position to head in a deflection off the Nepal custodian.

However, Sahal might rue the fact that he could have been on the scoresheet in the first half itself. It was also the first time the Mahesh-Sahal combination looked threatening in the match. Mahesh lobbed the ball into the box but Sahal could not find the target as his shot brushed past the side net in the 21st minute.

India’s Naorem Mahesh Singh (right) goes past his Nepal marker on Saturday. PTI