TILAK MAIDAN: Malayali player Sahal Abdul Samad has been excluded from the Kerala Blasters squad for the crucial second quarter semi-final of ISL. The team sheet released for today's match did not even include Samad in the list of substitutes. Blasters management has not officially announced why the player was left out of the crucial match.

However, sources close to the team said that the player was injured during training on Monday. At an online press conference on Monday, coach did not mention anything about Sahal's injury. Therefore, it is possible that he may have been injured during yesterday's training or this morning. Blasters won the first quarter against Jamshedpur by Sahal's goal.

Apart from Sahal, Sanjeev Stalin has also been ruled out of today's match. But Sanjeev has been included in the list of replacements. Sandeep and Nishukumar replaces both Sahal and Sanjeev. Coach Ivan Vukomanovic has not made any other significant changes in the team.

But there are indications that the Blasters will enter the field with some minor changes in the regular formation. Khabra, Sandeep and Nishu will join Hormipam Leskovic in the defense while Ayush Adhikari and Puitea will play in the middle order. Luna, Diaz and Vasquez are the strength of the forward line.