The second big match of the league turned out to be a cracker of a contest with fortune fluctuating from one end to the other from the onset. Abahani's Mahmudul Hasan saved his team from a costly defeat when he equalised from a Saiful Islam Khokon pass three minutes from time. Earlier, midfielder Abdullah Parvez had put the Sky Blues ahead within 15 minutes of the start. But Brothers' Ugandan recruits Francis and Okelo replied for the star-studded team. And when national forward Alfaz Ahmed cancelled out Maxim's equaliser to take Brothers 3-2 up, Abahani were looking down the barrel until Hasan's late strike.

Despite the draw, Abahani still lead the table in the 10-team league with seven points from three games. Brothers are tied in the second spot with defending champions Mohammedan Sporting Club with five from three outings.

With two comfortable wins from their previous two matches, a confident Abahani started off in dream fashion when Parvez shot them infront with a sudden right-footer in the 14th minute.

Parvez's dipping left-footed attempt from outside the box entered the far corner of net after country's number two custodian Biplab Bhattacharya committed a fatal error by trying to grip the ball instead of parrying it. The ball slipped through his hands and rolled into the net (1-0).

Brothers' response to the goal was electrifying as they took control and scored twice within three minutes before the first half had ended.

Defender Francis, who made his first appearance for Brothers yesterday in place of the injured stalwart Rajani Kanta Barman, leveled the margin in the 37th minute. Veteran playmaker Arman Mia curled in a corner which Abahani's custodian Nizam only managed to fist to an unguarded Francis who took no time in sending the ball home with a powerful shot (1-1).

Two minutes later, Abahani were stunned by the brilliance of Alfaz. After receiving the ball on the left flank, Alfaz dodged past his marker, saw Nizam out of his line and unleashed a curving right footer from the top of the box that crashed against the net (2-1).

But there was still time for more drama before the breather. In the 45th minute prolific Russian striker Maxim, the son of Abahani coach Anatoly, pounced on a defensive lapse and placed the ball past an advancing Biplab (2-2).

It was Maxim's fourth goal in three outings.

Undaunted, Brothers took the lead once again when Okelo headed in a trademark rainbow corner taken with the outside of the right boot by master midfielder Arman in the 65th minute.

With the clock ticking away, Abahani launched a comeback effort reminiscent of their famous 3-2 victory against the same opposition way back in 1985.

Maxim was fouled by Brothers' national defender Mohammed Sujon apparently inside the box in the 86th minute. Although it looked suspiciously close to a penalty, referee Ramkrishna Ghosh however thought otherwise and awarded a free kick to Abahani.

Maxim took the free kick which was half cleared by a diving Biplab. But the ball went to Khokon who unselfishly passed it to Hasan and the defender didn't make any mistake from point-blank range (3-3).

Yellow cards: Joy, Sila (Abahani), Parvez Babu, Liton and Gomez (Brothers Union).

TEAMS

ABAHANI: Nizam, Osamanu, Sila, Mahmudul Hasan, Masood Rana, Abullah Parvez (Faisal), Pranotosh (Nayan), Joy, Sandro, Maxim and Khokon.

BROTHERS UNION: Biplab, Francis, Nazrul, Sujon, Parvez Babu, Arman, Iqbal, Liton, Gomez (Tito), Okelo and Alfaz.

Referee: Ramkrishna Ghosh.