Abahani pip Jamal 1-0

Dhaka, June 3: Reigning champions Dhaka Abahani Ltd. moved into the final of the Walton Federation Cup 2017 beating Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club 1-0 in the second semifinal at the Bangabandhu National Stadium on Saturday evening.

Abahani sent the first chill through the Jamal spine in the 16th minute. Gambian defender Landing Darboe cut a nice chip to Nabib Newaz Jibon whose right footer missed the sidepost by a few inches.

Just two minutes after the re-start, Jamal midfielder Jahed Parvez Chowdhury unleashed a fierce drive from 25 yards that was tipped over the bar by Abahani goalie Shahidul Alam Sohel.

The very next minute, Abahani’s overlapping left back Waly Faisal danced down the flank and cut a low cross to onrushing Nabib Newaz Jibon who failed to tap the ball in much to the dismay of the sky blue camp.

The deadlock was finally broken in the 67th minute by Nigerian forward Emeka Darlington. Midfielder Sohel Rana let loose a left footer from the top of the box that was blocked by Jamal goalie Samiul Islam Masum. However, the ball slipped out from his gloves and unmarked Nabib Newaz Jibon pushed it but Masum thwarted it again but his heroics came to an end when Emeka Darlington curved the ball into the far post net (1-0).

Nabib Newaz Jibon let his team down in the 75th minute off an over confident effort. Running more than 35 yards and getting past his marker, he put the ball into the lap of onrushing Masum with fellow midfielder Emon Babu standing unmarked at the far post.

In the stoppage time, Mamadou Bah, the Guinean forward of Sheikh Jamal, saw his fierce left footer punched to safety by Sohel.

Dhaka Abahnai will lock horns with Chittagong Abahnai in the final scheduled to take place at the Bangabandhu National Stadium at 7:30 pm on June 6.