The farcical finish at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium happened in the 84th minute after a right side throw from Muktijoddha defender Belal went into the net taking a deflection off substitute Mohamme-dan defender Shuvro's chest.

The goal cancelled out Mohammedan's 54 minute lead given by prolific Cameroon marksman Etigo. But no sooner had referee Ram Krishna Gosh blew the whistle it prompted Mohammedan players to protest the goal.

Led by captain Jewel Rana, the players demanded that the goal be nullified as they believed that the throw by Belal went straight into the net without any connection being made.

But Ghosh refused to bow to the players and officials of the Motijheel club. The situation was rapidly getting out of control when a ntv camera crew somehow entered the ground and showed footage of the incident. And that was evidence enough for the Mohammedan team to become more agitated and they were desperate to show the match officials the same replay. This was something never experienced anywhere in a football ground and Ghosh waited for the regulation 40 minuets before blowing the final whistle.

According to the League byelaws if a team disputes a goal and refuse to play that team will lose four points including three from that game. If things stand as they are then Muktijoddha will be declared winners by 2-0 margin.

The ugly episode was open for all to see including the members of the AFP and FIFA delegation, who are now in the city to conduct a series of seminars as part of the Vision Asia project.

"I tried my best to bring Mohammedan back into the filed, but they refused. So, I had to blow the whistle after 40 minutes," said Gosh after the ill-fated match was over.

Thursday night's mayhem hot on the heels of Muktijoddha's last match against Abahani once again showed how a free-flowing encounter can end up into nothing.

The game came alive after the barren first 45 minute with both the giants trying to end the cycle of draws for big teams.

Mohammedan took a deserving lead when they found enough space down the left flank from a swift counter attack. With Hasan-al Mamun not in his position, Farhad galloped down the other end before passing it a sprinting Etigo, who stormed into the box and curled in a low right-footer past a hapless Muktijoddha custodian Aminul.

Etiog, the leading marksman with eight goals, missed a golden opportunity to double the lead when shot the ball wide off the right post with Aminul at his mercy. At the other end Muktijoddha's substitute Sahajuddin Tipu failed to gather the ball properly after receiving it in the open, leaving Mohammedan custodian Nadeem to make a clearance.

From the very next attack Muktijoddha equalised when Belal's swerving throw-in silenced the boisterous Mohammedan crowd.