Nigerian striker Sunday Chizoba slammed a hat-trick to guide Mohammedan Sporting Club into the final of the Grameenphone Super Cup with a pulsating 4-2 win over Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club at the Bangabandhu National Stadium on Tuesday.
Sunday struck twice in the first half to give Mohammedan a 2-0 lead at the interval before guest striker Nche Francis added another one to make it a dead contest 20 minutes into the second half.
Cameroonian striker Stephan Loga Bouga and defender Mohammad Sujan scored two goals in two minutes for Jamal to bring life into the game, though the depleted Bangladesh League champions could not avert the defeat.
The crucial win gave Mohammedan supporters some hope to end the season with at least one trophy after their miserable run in the Federation Cup, Bangladesh League and Independence Cup.
In the final, Mohammedan will face the winners of Abahani-Muktijoddha second semi-final on August 6.
Mohammedan’s morale was high after dominating both of their group matches against Muktijoddha and Sheikh Russell earlier in the tournament, though they could not win none of these games.
Things looked completely opposite in the first 10 minutes of the game when Jamal controlled the play before Mohammedan had their first attack when Sunday, after being set up by Touhidul Alam, struck the crosspiece.
They, however, did not take too much time to take the lead thanks to a penalty converted by Sunday. .
Jamal goalkeeper Aminul failed to grip a Shafiqul Islam Bipul cross and the ball fell to Touhidul who attempted to strike but defender Nasiruddin tackled him from behind prompting the referee to point to the penalty spot.
Sunday scored his second goal in the 34th minute when Jamal defender Nasir misjudged the flight of ball allowing the Nigerian to take control and chip it over the onrushing Aminul.
After resumption, Sheikh Jamal sent on their on-loan striker Sohel Rana instead of Zahid Hasan but the striker made little impact on the game as Mohammedan made it 3-0 from a counter-attack in the 66th minute.
Receiving a long ball from winger Shariful Islam, Francis played a one-two with Touhid before the tall striker nicely curled the ball from the middle of the box past Aminul.
Jamal looked down and out after conceding three goals but Bouga suddenly brought excitement back when he wriggled past defender Hasan Al Mamun to fire home in the 69th minute and one minute later Sujan converted a spot-kick to reduce the margin to 3-2.
Jamal pressed hard for an equaliser but they had nothing to do when Sunday completed his hat-trick in the 90th minute taking control of a corner-kick.
-With New Age input
