Nigerian midfielder Emeka Christiani separated the two sides with a spectacular strike at the Bangabandhu National Stadium early into the second half to take the Black and Whites into their first final of what has been an ordinary season.

However, like the previous day's first semifinal which Abahani won 2-1 over Muktijoddha Sangsad tempers also were lost and Brothers midfielder Liton was sent off in the second-half stoppage time for assaulting referee Tayab Hassan and the assistant referee, sparking more violence as officials joined in the attack.

Meanwhile, for the two local giants tomorrow's final would be their last shot to wrap up the season with a trophy and an attempt to give something to cheer about for their huge fans. Also, it would be the first Abahani-Mohammedan final since the two sides met in a title decider way back in the 2001 National Football League.

There will be more for the winners apart from lucrative prize-money and rewards as the NFL champions will represent Bangla-desh in this year's AFC Cup. Bro-thers have already qualified for the Asian club competition as Fede-ration Cup champions.

The victory in front of a 15,000-strong holiday crowd also came as a sweet revenge for Mohammedan, who were shrugged off by Brothers in the Premiership title deciding play-off after both sides finished level on the points table.

However, it seemed at the start that the Oranges -- who had won two out of five meetings with the remaining games being drawn -- were on course to maintain their impressive record over Mohammedan this season. They were the overall superior side and national midfielder Abul saw his scorching drive from 25 yards skim the Mohammedan crossbar after 20 minutes.

A lapse by Arman Aziz in the middle then saw Brothers' Nigerian recruit Felix snatch the ball and set up Abul again outside the box. But Abul's powerful right-footer was punched away for a corner by an airborne Biplab, the Mohammedan goalkeeper who went full-stretched to save his side. The flagkick, ten minutes from breather, almost broke the deadlock but Brothers' Cameroonian medio Gilsun struck the sidebar from six yards to waste a golden chance.

The curly-haired Emeka, who got the only chance for the Black and Whites in the first half but shot straight to goalkeeper Mohammad Ali, put Mohammedan ahead in the very first minute of the second half with a sublime volley from 30 yards. Skipper Alfaz back-headed a long ball from their own area to Emeka and the man-of-the-match unleashed a first-time right-footer into the top left corner, giving the diminutive Ali no time to react.

Mohammedan, who lost key defender Peter Odaf due to injury at the break, packed their defence in a bid to hold the slim lead when Brothers mounted heavy pressure to find an equaliser.

They survived a close call when Gilsun, taking a through from Parvez Babu, fired the ball wide of lone keeper Biplab in the 62nd minute. Biplab's legwork then saved a low drive by Felix from handshaking distance before Emeka almost made it 2-0 from a freekick but this time, Ali spotted the curling shot timely and fisted out for a corner.

Brothers paid for bringing youngster Emily and Liton too late in the match and even their inclusion could not find a hole in the tight Mohammedan backline and finally beat an outstanding Biplab.

Yellow cards: Munna, Arman Aziz (Mohammedan) and Siraji, Felix (Brothers).

TEAMS
MOHAMMEDAN: Biplab, Nazrul, Odaf (Kamal, 46th minute), Rezaul, Hassan, Arman Aziz, Munna, Divine, Emeka, Alfaz (Nakib, 72nd) and Francis (Asad, 89th).

BROTHERS: Ali, Siraji (Liton, 66th), Sujan, Shuvra, Masud Rana, Parvez, Hicham, Abul, Gilsun (Elimy, 79th), Felix and Paul.

Referee: Tayab Hassan.