Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club were pushed to their limits as the defending champions had to toil hard before sealing a 5-4 victory in a dramatic quarterfinal of the Federation Cup against Brothers Union yesterday.
The giants, Jamal, crawled back in the game with a late equaliser to make it 2-2 to take the game to extra time. After a goalless 30 minutes, it was Habib Mia’s failed effort that saw Sheikh Jamal’s supremacy saved by a whisker.
The Bangladesh Premier League champions will face the winners of the third quarterfinal on Thursday between Sheikh Russel and Chittagong Abahani.
The Dhanmondi outfit started the game at the Bangabandhu National Stadium brightly and threatened to score from the right flank with Haitian forward Leonel Saint Preux while his compatriot Wedson Anselme’s header came off the woodwork in the 31st minute to keep the champions waiting. However, Leonel’s good work paid off as he broke the deadlock right at the stroke of half time with a clever finish.
Gambian Landing Darboe’s effort from 25 yards out slipped out of Biplob Bhattacharjee’s grip as Leonel pounced on the opportunity, rounded off the Brother goalkeeper and slotted home in an empty net.
The Oranges appeared fresh and more focused after resumption and it took them only six minutes to cancel the lead. A counter attack saw Haitian forward Augustine Walson and Rabby combine to score for Brothers. Augustine’s lobbed cross was neatly received by Rabby who fooled the onrushing Jamal custodian Hemel with a chip over his head.
Brothers’ refreshing energy surprised the holders and before they could re-settle, the Motijheel-based club stunned them by taking the lead after four minutes. It was a powerful header from Nigerian defender Adams Jankasa that struck the inside-edge of the cross bar before bouncing in the goal.
As expected Jamal went all out in the remaining minutes in search of the equaliser which eventually came in the 82nd minute. In between, Biplob made up for his earlier mistake and put a brilliant save to deny Wedson from close range in the 71st minute before the Haitian squandered his second decent chance five minutes later.
The attacking strategy opened up the game and Brothers midfielder Rajon Mia missed a sitter in the 80th minute when he chipped wide of an empty net.
Rajon’s silly miss cost the Oranges heavily as former Feni Soccer Club midfielder Landing Darboe dented Brothers defence with a calm finish just two minutes later. Receiving a clever pass from Rubel Mia, the Gambian rounded off the keeper and placed home from six-yard box.
In the penaltu shootout, Brothers’ Imtiaz Sultan Jitu was the first to miss before Yeasin Khan of Sheikh Jamal repeated the sin to set the tiebreaker for a sudden death finish. Wedson’s strike gave Jamal the upperhand, before Hemel denied Habib to save their day.