IFA Shield 2014:Sk Jamal storm into final

Xtratime:Photo courtesy

Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club waltzed into the 118th IFA Shield final with a thumping 3-0 win against East Bengal at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata today.

The new leviathans in Dhaka football enjoyed a 2-0 lead in the first half with their Nigerian forward Emeka Darlington opening the scoring in the 23rd minute before star Haitian striker Sony Norde added the second seven minutes before the break.

Wedson Anselme, who set up both goals up for Emeka and his compatriot Norde, sealed an astonishing victory hammering the third in the 67th minute.

It was the first win for any Bangladesh side against the Kolkata giants in the century-old competition.

Sheikh Jamal will now wait for the winners of the second semifinal between Kolkata Mohammedan and United Sports Club, now being played at the same venue.

The grand finale will be held on February 15.

Sheikh Jamal, who broke the bank to build the strongest possible side on paper this year and had snared Norde from Sheikh Russel for a record pay of 73,000 dollars, are the second Bangladesh side to make it to the IFA Shield final after Dhaka Mohammedan Sporting Club.

Mohammedan lost the 1995 final against East Bengal 4-2 in tiebreaker.

PTB