Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club reached the semifinals of the Federation Cup for the fourth successive time when they coasted to a 3-1 win over Mohammedan Sporting Club in the first quarterfinal at the Bangabandhu National Stadium on Friday. Haitian playmaker Sony Norde was the source of inspiration for Sheikh Jamal once again as he continued his patch of good form with a brace while national captain Mamunul Islam also got himself on the scoresheet for the Dhanmondi-based outfit.
Mohammedan’s Nigerian striker Chuka Charles grabbed the consolation goal.
Mohammedan’s shaky defence failed to thwart Norde’s runs throughout the game and the Haitian’s two goals meant he was now the leading scorer of this season’s opening tournament with five goals from three games.
The Black and Whites were also vulnerable in midfield due to the absence of young midfielder Hemanta Vincent Biswas, who is now in the Netherlands for a trial with top flight club, FC Twente Enschede.
Habibur Rahman Sohag, who replaced Vincent in the line-up, failed to fill in the absence of the young prodigy while national footballers Zahid Hasan Ameli and Zahid Hossain were helpless in attack as the striking duo were brilliantly marked by the Sheikh Jamal defenders throughout the entire last-eight clash.
Mohammedan’s Egyptian forward Mostafa Seddik was featuring in his first game in Bangladesh but the Pharaoh could not live upto expectations.
All was not plain sailing for Sheikh Jamal though as they received a minor scare in the 60th minute of the game when Norde was stretchered off after a foul by Mohammedan’s Nigerian midfielder Sesan Idowu.
Norde injured his right knee in the process and was immediately admitted to hospital.
Sheikh Jamal went ahead in the 33rd minute, courtesy some individual brilliance from Norde who dodged past three Mohammedan defenders – Mintu, Baybeck and Idowu – before slotting the ball into the back of the net.
The Blue and Yellow outfit came close to doubling their lead one minute before the end of the first half when Norde broke into the penalty
area and dispossessed Baybeck but the Haitian playmaker’s chip shot went over the bar.
Sheikh Jamal did not have to wait long for the second goal as it arrived 10 minutes into the second half, this time Norde skipped past two Mohammedan players – Idowu and Tapu – and fired the ball home.
The game was briefly halted for a couple of minutes in the 60th minute when Idowu brought down Norde with a clumsy challenge which prompted an angry reaction from Sheikh Jamal manager Afusi Joseph in the dugout.
Mamunul made the tie safe when he scored in the 83rd minute to make it 3-0 as he powered a shot past Mohammedan goalkeeper Mamun Khan from 20 yards after a fine Sohel Rana pass.
Chuka reduced the margin for Mohammedan in the very next minute when he latched onto a through pass from Manik and sent the ball crashing into the back of the net.
Sheikh Jamal will face the winner of today’s second quarterfinal between Abahani Limited and Feni Soccer Club in the last four on December 4.
The second quarterfinal will kick off at 5:00pm at the Bangabandhu National Stadium. State-run Bangladesh Television will telecast the game live.
-With New Age input
