Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club (DC) cruised into the final of the 118th IFA Shield when they composed a crushing 3-0 victory over East Bengal Club of India in the first semifinal at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata of West Bengal on Tuesday.
The Dhaka based outfit had a comfortable 2-0 lead in the first half.
Darlington of Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club put his team ahead in the 23rd minute using a pass of his teammate Wedson.
Ace striker Sony Norde made it 2-0 capitalizing a pass of his teammate Wedson just seven minutes before the lemon-break.
After the intermission Wedson sealed the fate of the match in the 67th minute of the play.
It is mentionable that it was for the first time a Bangladeshi football team beat this Kolkata giants in this prestigious football meet.
Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club will play against the winners of the second semifinal between Kolkata Mohammedan Sporting Club and United Sports Club which took place at the same venue on the same day.
The gala final will be held on February 15.
It is noteworthy that earlier, only one Bangladeshi football team got tickets of the final of this prestigious football competition of the sub-continent.
Dhaka Mohammedan Sporting Club reached the final of this football tournament in 1995. The stipulated ninety-minute match ended in a 1-1 draw. Then, the extra time was ended in a goalless draw. Thus the fate of the match was decided in the tie-breaker and Dhaka Mohammedan Sporting Club lost to East Bengal Club by 4-2 goals.
