Arambagh stun reigning champs
Arambagh KS produced a stunning upset in the Walton Federation Cup to move into the semifinals after dispatching reigning champions Sheikh Jamal 5-4 on penalties at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.
Newly-promoted Arambagh, who surged from two goals behind, took the match to the sudden-death stage after playing out a 2-2 draw through regulation and extra time in the tournament's first quarterfinal.
Sheikh Jamal goalkeeper Mazhrul Islam Himel stopped Arambagh's first spot-kick from Yoko Samnick as it seemed like the Dhanmondi giants were heading for the final. However, Himel's teammates ruined the back-to-back champions' chances of clinching a third title as they squandered their penalties.
Unshaken by the initial miss, Arambagh converted their next five penalties, while Sheikh Jamal's Enamul Haque and Kesto Kumar sent their efforts wide, sparking raucous celebrations in Arambagh's dugout.
Smarting from a 1-2 drubbing at the hands of Brothers Union in the previous match, Sheikh Jamal came out strong against a defensive-minded Arambagh, whose five-man backline had to tread on the path of caution with the deadly trio of foreigner attackers -- Emeka Darlington, Wedson Anselme and Landin Darboe -- aided by locals Enamul Haque and Mohammed Linkon threatening time and again.
However a sensational performance from goalkeeper Mithul Hasan frustrated Sheikh Jamal's forwards whenever they broke free from the defense's shackles. He thwarted their attacks till the 42nd minute when Linkon broke the deadlock with a clinical finish after availing a cross from Wedson.
Shortly afterwards, Wedson doubled the margin in stoppage time after bringing a through-ball from Enamul under his spell beautifully before blasting home.
After resumption, Arambagh came out of their shell and went all-out with Cameroonian defensive midfielder Samnick playing as an attacking midfielder with the aim of creating more chances.
Abdullah, who made the jump to top-flight football after playing in the third division last season, came close to reducing the margin just a minute into the second half, but the promising midfielder failed to beat Himel from the six-yard box.
Samnick then headed home a cross from Jafar Iqbal -- another third division player -- in the 61st minute, before turning provider for the equaliser in the 69th minute as his ball found former Sheikh Jamal player Kestor Akon, who scored over the advancing Himel.
With parity restored, Sheikh Jamal created a few scoring chances, but Wedson, Emeka, Linkon and substitute Rakib Sarkar failed to beat Arambagh shot-stopper Mithul Hassan, whose brilliant performances saw him being adjudged man of the match.
“All credit goes to the players, who played really hard in the second half after conceding two poor goals. Yoko Samnick and Mithun Hasan really put up some bold performances to keep the margin level in the regulation and extra time,” said Arambagh coach Saiful Bari Titu, adding that they had practiced for the shootout for the past three days.
“After taking a two-goal lead, the players looked relaxed in the second half and the opponents grabbed these opportunities with both hands. Besides that the forwards failed to capitalize on some scoring opportunities in the latter part of the game,” said Sheikh Jamal coach Shafiqul Islam Manik.