Sabuj sends Sk Jamal in final

SUPER-SUB: Sheikh Jamal striker Towhidul Alam Sabuj makes a popular gesture to the crowd after scoring the all-important goal against Muktijodhha Sangsad in their Grameenphone Federation Cup semifinal at the Birshreshtha Mostafa Kamal Stadium in Kamalapur yesterday.Photo: STAR

A late strike from substitute Towhidul Alam Sabuj took star-studded Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club to the final of the Grameenphone 23rd Federation Cup with a loan-goal win over Muktijoddha Sangsad in the second semifinal at Birshreshtha Mostafa Kamal Stadium in Kamalapur yesterday.
It will be a battle of brothers in the final when, seven time champions Abahani, founded by Sheikh Kamal, will take on their next door neighbours, recently named after Sheikh Kamal's younger brother Sheikh Jamal, on Saturday.
Having earlier spoiled two chances from one-on-one situations inside four minutes, Sabuj found the back of the Muktijoddha net four minutes from time much to the relief of a new look Dhanmondi Club that virtually broke the bank to form a star-studded team.
It is for the first time this club made it to the final in any domestic top-flight competition.
The national striker received a defence-splitting pass from Zahid Hossain inside the box and made space on his right foot before firing a grounder from the edge of the eight-yard box which Muktijoddha keeper Biplob Bhattacherjee could only lay a hand on way to the net.
“It is always a tough battle to find your place in the starting eleven from among 16 national players. But I waited for my chance and proved myself by striking the winner,” said Sabuj who replaced Shakil Ahmed after the break.
The game got off to a sparkling start when Sheikh Jamal striker Zahid Hasan Emily snatched the ball from Motiur Munna right after the kick-off and passed it to strike partner Enamul Haq inside the danger zone before defender Dami Emanuel made a timely intervention to keep Sheikh Jamal at bay.
However, after that initial pressure, they struggled to muster any threatening attacks against a rigid backline marshalled by Rajani Kanta Barman, Dami Emanuel, Luciano Theiler and Firoz Mahmud Titu.
Muktijoddha, who came into the semifinal on the back of a staggering 17 goals in five matches and with a hope of making it to the final after three seasons, might have got ahead, but for the superb saves from man-of-the-match Aminul Haque, the veteran goalkeeper who now stands under the Sheikh Jamal post.
Aminul foiled three successive attempts inside a minute as he first fisted a placing shot from Alamgir Kabir Rana, then blocked a Mithun Chowdhury tap from a close range before stopping the follow-up from James Moga in the 55th minute.
Two minutes later, Muktijoddha were again deprived of an opening goal when Alamu Bukola raced past defender Ariful Islam to cut it back to Moga at the touch-line, who saw his fierce drive cleared by defender Atiqur Rahman Meshu from the goalline.
Bukola left the field limping in the 64th minute which curbed Mukti's cutting edge and Sheikh Jamal grabbed the opportunity with both hands launching attacks one after another.
Sabuj was on the end of few of the attacks and failed to beat the Mukti keeper Biplob from a one-on-one situation in the 68th minute. Four minutes later he drove inches wide of the post. However, the young striker made amends when he beat the former Abahani goalkeeper from eight yards out in the 86th minute to sweep the Sheikh Jamal supporters into celebration.
“After the first half, I just told the players that you are all national players and play your usual game and the boys did just that,” said Sheikh Jamal's Serbian coach Zoran Kraljevic after the game.
Muktijoddha coach Maruful Haq believes squandering chances in the first half made the difference in the end.
“We should have taken a three-goal advantage in the first half but all our efforts went in vain. The withdrawal of injured Bukola gave an advantage to Sheikh Jamal too,” said Maruf, who had helped Mohammedan win the season's curtain-raising tournament in the last two seasons.
TEAMS
SHEIKH JAMAL DHANMONDI CLUB: Aminul Haque (GK), Dragan Perisic, Ariful Islam (Wali Faisal), Rezaul Karim Reza, Zahid Hasan Emily, Enamul Haq, Nasirul Islam, Zahid Hossain, Shakil Ahmed (Towhidul Alam Sabuj), Atiqur Rahman Meshu and Mamunul Islam.
MUKTIJODDHA SANGSAD: Biplob Bhattacherjee (GK), Rajani Kanta Barman, Firoz Mahmud Titu, Motiur Munna, Mithun Chowdhury (Nasir Chowdhury), Alamu Bukola Olaleken (Zahed Parvez Chowdhury), Alamgir Kabir Rana, Maruf Ahmed, Luciano Theiler, Dami Paul Emmanuel and James Moga.
Referee: Abdul Hannan Miron.