With two rounds to go, Mohammedan remained top of the table with maximum 21 points. Abahani's hopes of re-entering the race were dashed after suffering their first defeat.

They slipped to third place with 14 points. City Corporation Ekadash are currently second with 16 points.

Before a 10,000-strong crowd, national striker Saifur Rahman Moni shot Mohammedan into the lead five minutes after the start. He split the Abahani defence on a solo run and put the ball into the net even before the rivals could settle down.

Moni was in the thick of things when he doubled the lead with a spectacular header after Burundian recruit Kabua Dewdoni sent a perfect lob from the right flank in the 18th minute.

Abahani tried to fight back in the last five minutes of the first half but failed to make an impact when the match resumed after the breather.

Kabua Dewdoni hammered the final nail when he made it 3-0 with a right-footer from close range in the 66th minute.

Two minutes later, Abahani midfielder Asif grabbed a consolation goal with a rising drive from the edge of the danger zone.

In the day's other match, Chittagong City Corporation Ekadash showed their supremacy with a comfortable 3-0 victory against last year's runners-up Agrabad Nowjoan Club.

Shahzuddin Tipu, who opened the account for City Corporation four minutes before the short whistle when he fired from a handshaking distance, added a second in similar fashion on 48 minutes.

Milon sealed victory with a powerful shot from inside the box in the 68th minute.