Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club clinched the Bhutan’s King’s Cup title with a narrow 1-0 win over Indian side Pune FC in the final at the Chanlamithang Stadium, Thimpu on Tuesday. Defender Yeasin Khan scored the all important goal in the 25th minute to confirm the second ever international silverware for his club. The trophy also erased the memory of their ill-fated final of Kolkata’s IFA Shield, which they lost to Kolkata Mohammedan 0-1 despite dominating the tournament.
Jamal won their first international trophy when they claimed the Nepal’s Safal Pokhara Cup in 2011.
Jamal put pressure on Pune defense form the beginning through their foreign forward trio —Wedson Anselme, Emeka Darlington and Landing Darboe.
Wedson, who missed the semi-final for receiving a marching order in the last group match, was the main architect of the crucial goal.
The Haitian took a carling corner from the left flag in the 25th minute and unmarked Yeasin headed the ball home past Pune goalie.
Pune got a golden chance six minutes later as Jamal keeper Mazharul Islam Himel miss passed to their forward Ryuji who saw his placing shot was cleared by defender Rayhan Khan from the goalline.
Wedson’s selfishness in the 41st minute denied his team a chance to double the lead four minutes before Pune keeper produced a stunning save to deny Gambian Landing’s powerful attempt.
In the last moment of the first-half, Himel rescued Jamal from conceding the equaliser.
In the second-half, Pune created some real chances but Jamal’s defenders did some brilliant job to keep the lead intact till the last whistle.
Jamal played counter attack-based football in the later half and also created some chances to double the lead.
In the 70th minute Nigerian Emeka saw his head off a Wedson cross went just inches wide.
Keeping the lead, Jamal’s forward also joined the defending act allowing Pune to put an immense pressure on them.
Jamal’s holding midfielder Jamal Bhuiyan received the marching order in the dying moment for losing his temper when he punched Pune forward Sueoka in the face.
Nepalese referee Sudis Pandey showed him a straight red card, which did not cost the team as the game had barely a minute left.
This was the third time a Jamal player received the marching order in the last three matches.
‘The boys showed full professional attitude in the field,’ a proud coach Maruful Haque told reporters after the match.
‘They [players] defended well in the last moment and they were matured enough to handle the pressure situation. All credit goes to the players.’
-With New Age input
