The deadly combination of Mamunul Islam and Zahid Hasan Emily ensured another piece of silverware for Sheikh Russell as they got the better of their arch-rivals Sheikh Jamal by 3-2 in the final of the Independence Cup at the Bangabandhu National Stadium on Tuesday.
A curling free kick was delivered from the left flank by Mamunul and an unmarked Emily headed into the net in extra time to seal another championship for Sheikh Russell after the duo had helped their side claim the Federation Cup in October last year.
Sheikh Jamal though were the brighter side early on as they made most of the running down the two flanks in the first half-an-hour while Sheikh Russell were happy to sit back and go on the counter-attack, which were few and far between.
Sheikh Jamal’s Nigerian duo Sunday Chizoba and Alfred Emoefe were ineffective for large parts of the game despite dominating possession as they were heavily marked by the Sheikh Russell defenders.
On the other hand, Sony Norde, the Sheikh Russell striker, who was playing as a winger on the left flank rather than his usual position of centre-forward, had the Sheikh Jamal defence in tatters with his bursting pace and mazy dribbles.
It took Russell less than ninety seconds after the restart to take the lead, when a clever through ball from Linkon found Emily in front of goal.
National forward Emily rounded the keeper Biplob Bhattacharjee nicely before releasing the ball for Mithun in front of goal. Mithun took a powerful shot which, despite striking the leg of defender Nasir, ended up at the back of the net.
Sheikh Jamal however hit back only five minutes later in the 52nd minute through a penalty converted by Sunday Chizoba. The penalty was awarded after Ibeji Okemirri’s powerful shot hit the hand of Sheikh Russell defender Abbas Inusah inside the box and the referee did not hesitate to point to the penalty spot.
Chizoba chose to send the spot-kick towards the left side of the net to equalise the scores at 1-1.
Jamal took the lead against the run of play as substitute defender Rayhan Hassan’s long throw-in from the right wing hit Arup before it took a deflection off Sheikh Russell defender Abbas and ended up at the back of the net to make it 2-1 for Jamal in the 76th minute.
Sheikh Russell’s Ghanaian defender Abbas Inusah was at fault for both of the goals conceded by his side. Inusah committed a blunder for the first goal as the ball hit his hand while the second goal came when he inadvertently deflected Rayhan’s throw-in inside his own net.
Sony Norde though made it 2-2 for the night three minutes later in the 79th minute when the Haitian playmaker found a through ball from Mamunul, dribbled past two defenders and placed a low shot at the near post as the goalie was guarding the other post.
Mamunul and Emily then combined to end Jamal’s hopes as Russell claimed another major title after the Federation Cup triumph in October last year.
Things got worse for Jamal as their Nigerian coach Joseph Afusi left the field before the game ended to make it a night to forget for the Dhanmondi-based outfit.
-With New Age input
