Players of Team BJMC celebrate their berth in the final of the Federation Cup for the first time by defeating Muktijoddha Sangsad 2-0 in their semifinal clash at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday. PHOTO: amran hossain

Team BJMC reached the final of the season's curtain raising tournament Federation Cup for the first time as they inflicted a 2-0 defeat on star-studded Muktijoddha Sangsad in the first semifinal at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.
Coming back to the top-flight football after a 29-year hiatus, BJMC impressed one and all in the tournament and now became the eighth team in the history of the tournament to make it to the final. They will face the winners of the second semifinal between Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club and Sheikh Russel KC in the final on Tuesday.
But it was Muktijoddha who started bright. Despite a 3-2 drubbing at the hands of BJMC in the group-stage match, Muktijoddha were favourites on papers and dominated the match until conceding the lead. Former national midfielder Abdul Hossain, who sat out last season at Abahani following an injury, gave BJMC the lead in the 68th minute with a brilliant solo effort inside the box before Rony Islam, who replaced Abul, sealed the match striking in the stoppage time of the second half.
“I must admit we paid a heavy price for missing a lot of scoring chances. Luck was not on our side as Mithun (Chowdhury) and Sunday (Chizoba) missed two easy chances in the last moments,” rued Muktijoddha coach Shafiqul Islam Manik.
BJMC were under pressure from the beginning and survived several attacks as Mithun and Sunday indulged in a misfiring spree. But BJMC -- comprising veteran players like Alfaz, Abul, Shuvro, Jonny, Saif were determined to turn in on the act and they did so by snatching two late goals to create history.
“Actually we felt the absence of holding midfielder Iganka, who was not available due to suspension, which resulted in huge pressure on our backline. But the available players were able to foil their attacks before coming out as a winners,” said BJMC coach Jakaria Babu, who is guiding a professional side for the first time.
Having survived a few scares, BJMC went ahead in the 68th minute against the run of play. Abdul, who also struck one of the three goals in their group stage match against the same oppositions, controlled an Ismael Bangoura header with his chest and created space on his favourite right foot before driving a low-shot from outside the box to find the near post.
In an effort to step up the attack, Muktijoddha coach Manik brought three changes but all their efforts went in vain as Mithun and Sunday spurned two chances at the fag end of the match by driving wide from inside the box. BJMC found more space to attack and succeeded again as substitute Rony found the back of the net with a deflected shot to end the last rays of hope of Muktijoddha.