The Sky Blues' slip up comes a day after arch rivals Mohammedan Sporting Club had lost two vital points in an unexpected draw with bottom team Dhanmondi.

The much-vaunted Abahani attack, which had hit 18 goals in five games before yesterday, were found wanting against an overly cautious Arambagh who seemed determined not to lose the match at any cost.

Despite the tie, Abahani still stayed atop with 12 points from six games. Arambagh are in mid-table with eight points also from six matches.

Yesterday's outcome however left surprise-setters Sheikh Russell Krira Chakra with the enviable prospect of taking a solo lead in the league. But to do that, the youthful Russell side, who have 11 points from five matches, must overcome struggling giants Muktijoddha Sangsad in today's match.

An apparently over-confident Abahani, still on cloud nine after their 7-3 demolition of Dhanmondi, started the game as if they only needed to turn up to ensure three points. But Arambagh had other ideas. They employed every man behind the ball and left little space for Abahani to play in their usual flamboyant style.

Still Abahani had their fare share of openings. Striker Saiful Islam Khokon, the top marksman of the league with seven goals including two hattricks, was guilty of reacting late to a Alessandro minus from the left and allowed a diving Arambagh custodian Tareq to grip the ball in the 10th minute.

Brazilian playmaker Alessandro then just failed to connect his foot to a pass from Parvez with an open goal post beckoning.

In the final seconds of the first half, Alessandro received a great through ball from an overlapping Masud Rana inside the danger area. But his goal-bound shot deflected off Arambagh's Guinea defender Mustafa Kaba.

Totally against the run of play, Arambagh came up with the best opportunity. Kenyan forward Oinu found himself only needing to beat Abahani 'keeper Nizam in the 40th minute after Ugandan midfielder Dominique had split the defence with a classy pass. But Oinu in his haste shot the ball miles over the crosspiece.

Abahani came out with more purpose after the breather and earned as many as eight corners. But with the normally deadly duo of Khokon and Russian forward Maxim having an off day, scoring was always going to be tough.

They can also thank their lucky stars for not losing the match as Arambagh forward Johnny was denied by the bar in the 52nd minute following a Nizam blunder.

A nervous Nizam almost committed the fatal mistake when he decided to take the ball on the bounce after Johnny had lobbed it inside the Abahani D. But the goalkeeper missed the flight completely as the ball eluded his outstretched hands, hit the metalwork and returned to play.

Yellow card: Tareq (Arambagh).

TEAMS

ABAHANI: Nizam, Osamanu, Nikolai, Mahmudul Hasan, Masood Rana, Parvez, Joy (Pranotosh), Rakib, Alessandro, Khokon and Maxim (Uzzal).

ARAMBAGH KS: Tareq, Khaled, Anupam, Ashraful, Kaba, Shamsher, Araman, Asad (Hasan), Dominique, Johny and Awal (Oinu/Anwar).

Referee: Ramkrishna Ghosh.