Mohammedan Sporting crowned IFA Shield champions for the first time since 1971

Mohammedan Sporting clinched the Durand Cup earlier in the season

Mohammedan Sporting defeated Bangladesh club Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi 4-3 on penalties to win the IFA Shield for the first time since 1971. The final of the 118th IFA Shield finished 1-1 after 120 minutes but Mohammedan Sporting’s substitute goalkeeper Naseem Akhtar proved to be the unlikely hero as he made two saves in the shootout.

Dhanmondi went in front midway through the first half through Sony Norde but the Kolkata giants equalised through Mehrajuddin Wadoo just before the halftime break. Both teams had chances to win the game in regulation time but crucially each side was reduced to ten in the second half after an altercation between Norde and Luciano Sobrosa saw both players sent off by referee Santosh Kumar.

Mohammedan Sporting were ahead in the shootout initially but Dhanmondi were one successful conversion away from winning the final when Nassir stepped up. But former India goalkeeper Naseem saved Nassir’s effort and then following Mehraj’s successful spot-kick in the sudden-death, the custodian saved Tibarul’s effort to start the Mohammedan celebrations.

The 123-year-old club have now done the double this season, having already lifted the Durand Cup earlier in the campaign.

A huge crowd gathered at the Salt Lake Stadium to witness Mohammedan Sporting’s first appearance in the final since 1990. Bangladesh Federation Cup champions Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi were also eyeing their own piece of history as no other club from their country had won this competition despite participating several times in the past and they too had around hundred supporters, who made the trip to Kolkata.

Just like their previous three games against Kolkata opposition in this tournament, Dhanmondi went in front in the final as well. Norde, who had scored in each of those three fixtures and is reportedly on the radar of Kolkata’s big three, scored from a free-kick which he had won after being sandwiched between Manish Maithani and Rakesh Masih.

Mohammedan Sporting keeper Luis Barreto could and should have done better but Norde deserved a bit of luck for another great piece of skill that brought up his fourth goal of the competition.

The Bangladesh club deserved their lead as they looked the more dangerous side going forward in the early stages but Mohammedan slowly grew into the game as their crosses created problems for Dhanmondi’s defence.

Predictably the equaliser came from a cross which Josimar expertly chested down for an unmarked Mehraj who coolly found the back of the net much to relief of the thousands of Mohammedan Sporting fans in the stadium.

The early stages of the second half saw a cautious approach from both sides but there were chances at each end with Penn Orji wasting Mohammedan’s best opening while Norde and Wedson went close for the Bangladeshi outfit.

The big moment of the game came in the 80th minute when Norde and Luciano had a scuffle with the former poking his finger on the Brazilian’s face. Norde was shown a straight red but bizarrely Luciano also received his second yellow to make it a 10v10 contest.

Mohammedan Sporting could have gone in front in extra time when Penn was put into a one-on-one situation with the Bangladesh goalkeeper after some brilliant work by Josimar. But the Nigerian medio could only manage a weak effort which was cleared off the line by the Dhanmondi defence.

The Bangladesh club looked fitter in the second half of extra time and went close on a couple of occasions. There was more controversy too as Dhanmondi were made to realise that they can’t bring on another foreigner unless he replaces a fellow outstation player as Norde had been sent off. Mohammedan held on to take the final to a shootout with Naseem replacing Barreto a few minutes before the end of extra time.

Naseem had been out of top flight football in recent years and even won an off-field battle with the Uttar Pradesh federation, who had banned him for life. But in the shootout, he proved to be Mohammedan’s lucky charm as he used his experience to make two vital saves and land the club’s sixth IFA Shield crown.