Dhaka – Defending champions Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club and Chittagong Abahani Ltd reached the 12-team Independence Cup semifinals from Group-A playing 1-1 draw at Bangabandhu National Stadium here on Friday.Sheikh Jamal DC confirmed the semis as the table topper collecting 13 points from five matches, including fours and one draw, while Chittagong Abahani followed them bagging 10 points from five matches with three wins one draw and one loss. In the day’s match, Nigerian forward Emeka Darlington put Sheikh Jamal DC ahead converting a penalty shot correctly in the 19th minute.Referee awarded the spot kick to Sheikh Jamal DC as Ctg Abahani goalie Ashraful Islam Rana brought down Darlington in the danger zone. Making no mistake, Darlington converted the spot kick, 1-0. Nigerian defender Alison Uduka leveled the margin in the 74th minute by a header that fired the net edging the near post utilising a free kick pass off Moroccan midfielder Tarik El Janaby, 1-1. Ctg Abahani forward Leonel Praux spoiled an opportunity in a one-on-one situation in the very 2nd minute as his shot from the box went wide. Ctg Abahani could level the score-line in the 66th minute, but Leonel Praux’s powerful shot was punched by Jamal goalie Maksudur Rahman for the cost of a corner. (UNB)
