The remaining 12 minutes of the match will be played today according to the bylaws. The match will resume at 2.45pm.

Forward Russell Mahmud Jimmy slammed the only goal of the match after a barren first half at the Maulana Bhasani National Hockey Stadium, brightening hopes of Abahani to bounce back in the title race ahead of the Super Five, which is due to start tomorrow.

At the start of the match, Usha were leading the table on 21 points with Abahani three points adrift after seven rounds.

And Abahani were on course to end the first leg on par when former Indian international Dhanraj Pillay in association with his compatriot Prakash Chalke inspired Jimmy to separate the two sides in the 41st minute.

Pillay, playing his first match of the league on his return to Dhaka after four years, picked Prakash at the right flank with a long ball and the latter sent a powerful cross inside the box. Jimmy, well guarded by Tabib-e-Noor, shrugged off his marker and unleashed a rocketing drive that brushed the pads of Zahid and went in through the goalkeeper's legs.

Usha looked the better side in the first half but it were Abahani who got clear-cut chances. However, Prakash mishit his chance in the sixth minute while an excellent one-to-one by Pillay and Jimmy went down the drains as Prakash and Musa Mia both wasted their chances to finish the move.

In the second half, Pillay set Prakash at the face of the goal but the forward failed to control the ball.

Usha's only clear attempt on goal came minutes before the play was stopped for the day when Kamal drove high during a penalty corner only to see national custodian Bappi thwart it.

The game came to a premature end following a scuffle when Abahani midfielder Khokon hit Usha's Pakistani Mohammed Saqlain on the hand in retaliation with his stick. Saqlain had hit Khokon on the chin with his stick but the two umpires did not notice the off-the-ball incident at first.

Kamal tried to stop the players but the former international was attacked by Jimmy as it sparked violence in the VIP stands where a former Usha player Guddu was attacked.

The situation got worse when Bangladesh Hockey Federation treasurer and Usha general secretary Abdur Rashid Shikder used abusing language against rival fans and provoked Usha supporters to attack them.

When the police took control of the situation, Abahani argued that Saqlain should also be yellow carded after the umpires had decided to hand Khokon a temporary ban. After a total of 25-minute halt, both sides were ready to play but it was near dusk and impossible to resume the game.

Earlier on the day, Mohammedan Sporting Club recorded the biggest victory of the season when they brushed aside pointless Bangladesh Sporting Club 10-0.

Ariful Haque Prince slotted four goals including a hattrick for the black and whites who led the first half 4-0. Shamim Reza scored the first two goals but his hopes of a treble was dashed when Prince found the mark in the 19, 21 and 36 minutes to complete his second hattrick of the league. He added another, his fourth of the game and overall 11th in the league, while Yamin Mia netted one and Maksud Alam Habul three goals to complete the rout.

After eight matches, Mohammedan pushed their collection to 16 points.