Arambagh Krira Sangha stunned holders Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club to move into the semi-finals of the Federation Cup with a dramatic 5-4 win on penalties at the Banganbandhu National Stadium on Friday. The match went into tie-breaker after stipulated 90 minutes finished at 2-2 and neither of the side able to find the net in extra-time. Both the sides tied at 4-4 after the initial five penalty kicks, taking it to sudden death.
Monsur Amin of Arambagh found the back of the net in the sixth shot but Jamal defender Kesto Kumar failed to convert from the next spot putting Arambagh into the last four of the competition.
Arambagh, the recently promoted premier league club, will face the winners of the fourth quarter-final between Team BJMC and Muktijoddha Sangshad Krira in the semi-final.
Earlier, Jamal dominated the first-half with veteran midfielder Enamul Haque and Haitian marksman Wedson Anselme scoring a goal apiece for the holders.
However, Arambagh made a great comeback with two second-half Cameroonian Yoko Samnick and Nigerian Kester Akon goals.
Enamul broke the deadlock in the 42nd minute when he fired the ball into the near post after a defense-splitting through from Wedson.
The Haitian doubled the margin in the added time of the first-half after receiving a pass from Gambian midfielder Landing Darboe, Wedson broke into the penalty area before slotting the ball home past Arambagh keeper Mitul Hasan.
Yoko Samnick reduced the margin in the 61st minute with a glancing header following a neat cross from Jafar Iqbal from the left flank.
Kester Akon restored the parity just nine minutes later placing the ball over the Jamal keeper following a pass of Yoko Samnick.
Arambagh keeper Mitul produced some brilliant saves in the latter part of the game which kept them in the game.
In the shootout, Hemel saved the first penalty of Arambagh taken by Yoko Samnick. But Issha Yussif, Palash, Bashani and Kester scored for Arambagh while Enamul shot Sheikh Jamal’s third penalty wide after Emeka and Wedson converted their chances.
Yeasin Khan and Landing also converted their chances but Kesto’s shot went wide in the sudden death to award Arambagh a memorable win.
-With New Age input
