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118th IFA Shield

Sony fires Sk Jamal into semis

Sports Reporter
Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club moved into the semifinals of the 118th IFA Shield tournament in Kolkata with a 1 -0 win over local giants Mohun Bagan, thanks to a wonderfully curled freekick from their inspirational Haitian striker Sony Norde in their last group match at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata yesterday.
The Dhanmondi outfit needed an outright victory over Mohun Bagan to qualify as they were one point behind the Kolkata giants, and Sony's sublime effort made the difference in a match where Mohun Bagan were denied by the woodwork three times. Sony's free kick came in the 23rd minute after a spell of persistent pressure from Sheikh Jamal as they controlled the midfield with crisp passing and earned a number of free-kicks in the early exchanges. Sony curled with his right foot from three metres outside the box and the ball swung in viciously before kissing the right post and nestling in at the back of the net, leaving Mohun Bagan 'keeper Shilton Paul completely baffled and eluding the desperate jump of the defender at goalline.
For the next five minutes, Sheikh Jamal unleashed their very own tikitaka as they passed the ball around themselves, leaving the opposition mere spectators.
Sony was proving the danger man upfront, partnered by compatriot Wedson Ansel me and Nigerian Emeka Darlington in a three-pronged attack while skipper Mamunul Islam pulled the strings from behind.
But Mohun Bagan coach Karim Bencharifa soon made two substitutions in the midfield which changed the course of the game as the hosts established more command, splitting the Sheikh Jamal backline - made of Yeasin, Didarul, Yeamin and Linkon -open quite a few times.
Mohun Bagan were denied by the woodwork in the 34th minute when Sabeeth hit the right post with a leftfooted shot from inside the box while his shot at goal ten minutes later was deflected for a corner. Then on the stroke of half-time substitute striker Shankar Orao found himself unmarked inside the danger zone, but his shot sailed way over the bar.
Sheikh Jamal went close to increasing the lead in the 47th minute when Sony raced onto a clever through ball from Emeka and rounded off the keeper, but failed to keep the shot on target from an acute angle. Mohun Bagan were denied by the woodwork once again in the 50th minute when Pankaj Maula's header brushed the outside of the post before Ziaur's outstretched legs saved a shot from Shankar.
Afusi took off Wedson and brought on Ali Abdullah in midfield while Nasir Chowdhury, who was playing in the centre of midfield, was pushed back to make a five-man defence. That move gave the defence more solidity, but they had to be thankful to the righthand post for a third time in the 86th minute. Goalkeeper Zia's shot hit the back of Mohun Bagan forward Eche and the Nigerian chipped the rebound over the goalie, only to find the right poston the way.
That miss summed up Mohun Bagan's misfortunes but Sheikh Jamal were happy to become the first Bangladeshi side to beat the Kolkata Maroons in the IFA Shield and at their home.
Club president Manzur Kader gave away a bonus of 10,000 dollars after the match, as he had promised, and said he was looking for more.
This is my biggest win as Abahani could not do it under my managership in 1974. Mohammeddan too failed in their endeavour. But my Sheikh Jamal managed to beat Mohun Bagan, which is not only the club's success, but also a success of the country's football," said Kader in his instant reaction.
The Dhanmondi Club will now take on another Kolkata giant in East Bengal in the semifinal on Tuesday.