Holder Dhaka Abahani Limited set up a final clash with Chittagong Abahani Limited after edging Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club Limited 1-0 in the second semi-final at Bangabandhu National Stadium on Saturday.
New recruit Gambian midfielder Landing Darboe scored the only goal of the game against his previous club minutes after the hour mark which was enough for the Sky Blues to secure a berth in the Walton Federation Cup final for the second consecutive season.
The result also means Abahani extended their unbeaten run to 30 matches in all competitions, including the 2017 Federation Cup and the Bangladesh Premier League, where they finished as unbeaten champion.
The Sky Blues will take on rising powerhouse Chittagong Abahani in the grand finale at the same venue on Tuesday.
Abahani's Croatian head coach Drago Mamic played the same starting XI from the previous match, leaving Nigerian striker Emeka Darlington on the bench to provide space for Landing and veteran defender Samad Yussif, who led the defence line admirably. Both Emeka and Landing played for Sheikh Jamal in the last two seasons.
Young striker Nabib Newaj Jibon started as a lone striker but missed a series of chances throughout the game. The first one came in the 17th minute when Jibon chipped over the onrushing Sheikh Jamal goalkeeper Shahedul Alam Shahed but his effort went wide off the top right corner of the far post.
Sheikh Jamal’s Gambian winger Momodou Ba and new signing Jabed Khan tested the Abahani defence on a couple of occasions but failed eventually. The first half ended with no more notable attacks.
Four minutes into the second half, substitute Sheikh Jamal midfielder Zahed Parvez Chowdhury unleashed a powerful strike from 30 yards but it was tipped away by Abahani custodian Shahidul Alam Sohel for a corner.
Jibon went close again in the 54th minute but failed to connect a lovely cross from Waly Faisal from the right flank.
Landing finally gave the Sky Blues the lead in the 66th minute. A Sohel Rana shot from outside the box could have been griped easily by Shahed but the Sheikh Jamal netminder fumbled. An unmarked Landing was in the perfect position to send the rebound home.
In the 83rd minute, Jibon ran through the opponent's terrain, entered into the box, skipped past his marker but shot straight into the hands of the keeper in a one-on-one situation. Jibon had his last opportunity in the 90th minute and this time, his volley was blocked by the Sheikh Jamal goalkeeper.RESULTAbahani 1 (Darboe 66) 0 Jamal FINALAbahani v Ctg Abahani, BNS, Tuesday, 7:30pm
Thursday, April 25, 2024
