Sheikh Russell KC registered a final date with arch-rivals Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club after identical semi-final wins over Muktijoddha Sangsad KC and Mohammedan Sporting Club Limited respectively in the Independence Cup at the Bangabandhu National Stadium on Sunday.
Defending Federation Cup champions Sheikh Russell defeated the freedom fighters’ side by a single goal while Sheikh Jamal also prevailed by a solitary goal against Mohammedan in the first semi-final of the day to book a ticket for the final on Tuesday.
Haitian playmaker Sony Norde scored the all-important goal for Russell in the 52nd minute after a fine through pass from Mithun to continue their 100 percent record in the competition. Russell will be featuring in their second consecutive Independence Cup final.
Meanwhile in the first semi-final of the day, Sheikh Jamal broke the deadlock in the 74th minute through a header from Nigerian forward Alfred Emoefe but the goal was officially declared as an own goal by Mohammedan’s Cameroonian defender Bayback.
This was Jamal’s third win in four encounters against Mohammedan this season. Even though Jamal failed in the semi-final hurdle to eventual champions Farashganj in the last edition of the Independence Cup, this time they made no mistakes.
As far as Mohammedan are concerned, it was third time unlucky for the Motijheel-based outfit as they also lost the last two semi-finals of the last two editions.
Mohammedan posted the first chance of the game in the 4th minute when Nigerian midfielder Sesan Idowu cut the ball back to Mobarak from the left flank but Mobarak took far too much time to react allowing the Jamal defenders to pack the defending area.
Mobarak got another chance in the 20th minute but did not manage to curve out anything productive from that opportunity as well. He got a through pass from Sohel Rana and saw his chip from close range saved acrobatically by the advancing Jamal goalkeeper Sultan Ahmed Shakil.
In the 74th minute, Jamal took the lead against the run of play through Alfred but the goal was ultimately awarded as an own goal after Bayback got perilously close to Alfred’s header from a fine delivery by Alamgir Kabir Rana.
Sheikh Jamal’s Nigerian coach Joseph Afusi thanked the intervention of luck as his side marched on to the final.
`It was a tough match. It is always difficult to score against a team like
Mohammedan. We are lucky that we got the winning goal. I am elated and content with the boys’ performance,’ said Josef in the post-match press conference.
On the other hand Mohammedan coach Saiful Bari Titu expressed his frustration with the second half performance of his charges.
`Jamal were technically better and faster than us on the field. We failed to take our opportunities, especially in the first half. They played better in the second half so they went through,’ said a down-trodden Titu in the post-match press conference.
-With New Age input
