The Dhaka giants went into their last game needing a draw to complete the semifinal line up after holders Muktijoddha, Premier League champions Brothers Union and Abahani, but they eventually came out 4-3 victors thus ending Sheikh Russel's remote hopes.

Veteran marksman Nakib completed the Mohammedan goal-feast with two second-half strikes after Faisal Mahmud put the last year runners-up ahead in the 17th minute reacting first to a rebound and Monju doubled it after eight minutes finishing a superb solo run.

The Motijheel outfit started celebrating after taking a 4-1 lead going into the last ten minutes of the game. But they were given a real scare on a damp pitch when Chittagong Mohammedan's two second-half substitute Ridon and Zahid fired a goal each in the 86th and 87th minute.

Guinea striker Rafael scored the first goal for the Chittagong club at the stroke of the first half.

The victory raised Mohamme-dan's tally to six points. Muktijo-ddha lead the six-team table with 10 points. Brothers Union and Aba-hani, who play the final super six match at the same venue today, share the second spot with eight points each. The outcome of the match will decide the semifinal parings.

Both the semifinals will take place on September 7 with the final billed for September 9.

Mohammedan coach Abul Hossain was a relieved man after the victory without the help of a foreign player unlike the other semifinalists. And he was quick to say that he would love to face Muktijoddha if given the choice.

"The boys did not play as well as they did in the previous two matches against Muktijoddha and Abahani. But in the end it's the result that counts and I'm happy," said Abul adding that he wanted nothing better then a draw between Brothers and Abahani in the last match.

The long-serving Mohammedan coach, who is set to leave for the United States next month, also wished to bow out with a trophy against his name. But he was again lamenting the club's foreign recruitment policy.

"I think my team has already achieved their best result and I don't know how far we can go without any foreign player," said the former national right back.

His sentiment was also expressed in the stands where a section of Black and White fans displayed a giant banner that read: " We want the removal of inefficient Mohammedan officials for failing to bring foreign players."

While there were mixed feelings in the Mohammedan camp, Chittagong coach Nazrul Islam said that the better team won. He also dismissed rumours of match-fixing.

"There were whisperings about the match result but I can assure you that we played our best. I think Nakib's two goals in the second half made the difference," he said.

Yellow card: Titoo (Ctg Mohammedan).

TEAMS
Mohammedan SC: Tareq, Jewel Rana, Faisal Ahmed, Shuvro, Kaiser (Raju), Sentu, Pappu (Anwar), Amin Rana (Riyad), Faisal Mahmud, Manju and Nakib.

Chittagong Mohammedan: Titoo, Dulal, Apu, Nejmat, Prodip, Sanwar, Arman, Zahid, Pavel (Ridon), Yousuf and Rafael (Noor Hossain).

Referee: Abdur Rakib.