The tall centre-back's rare goal in the second half stoppage time maintained Abahani's winning run with a slim 1-0 defeat of Rahmatganj at the Bangabandhu National Stadium but it hardly satisfied their loyal fans who have seen just two goals in four matches from the most expensive team of the year.

Mohammedan, who had a tough fixture after two successive losses, drew goalless with Chittagong Mohammedan -- the surprise pack of the competition -- at the MA Aziz Stadium to remain in the middle of the table with five points from as many games.

Chittagong Mohammedan, who upset Muktijoddha and snatched one point from Abahani in their previous big matches, are still undefeated at home. They are also on five points like their Dhaka wing but have one match in hand.

After an equally poised first half, the visitors came lively to create several chances but suffered due to poor finishing.

Emeka, who returned to the side after missing the Abahani match last week, failed to beat the rival goalie on one-on-one in the 65th minute while fellow Nigerian striker and captain Paul wasted another good chance one minute from time.

Chittagong Mohammedan skipper told after the match that they are progressing gradually and success against the big names of Bangladesh football will make them more confident.

"All of our players have taken this league seriously and are trying to continue it," the veteran midfielder said.

Dhaka Mohammedan coach Shafiqul Islam Manik admitted that they have lost valuable points but hoped to come back to winning ways soon.

In Dhaka, it was frustrating for Diego Cruciani's boys who dominated the show from the start against bottom-table Rahmatganj but the pressure did not materialise.

Abahani gave Abdullah Parvez and Argentine recruit Mariano Sanchez their first starts in the league in the midfield and it was the local boy who showed good form with two good releases inside the first 15 minutes. However, Argentine striker Hector Parodi saw his powerful drive from 20 yards smother rival keeper Apel who made another good save when Emily nodded a Parvez corner from close.

The sky-blues won as many as 11 corners and two freekicks in the danger zone before the break but Rahmatganj captain and longhaired central defender Sony stood graceful under pressure.

The title aspirants' best chances came early in the second half with Parodi setting up Emily with a nice through but the off-colour national striker's low shot was parried by Apel's legworks in the 54th minute. A minute later, Parodi miskicked skipper Joy's square pass from the edge of the six-yard box.

Sanchez, who had a mixed day, caught Apel napping with a long-range shot but Emily failed to put the rebound into an open net as his weak lob from 25 yards was easily cleared by Babu from the goalmouth.

Abahani showed the urge to score making three changes but Rahmatganj, who lost three games earlier, packed their defence with nine men to handcuff the series of rival attacks including another nine flagkicks.

Substitute Tipu found the net with seven minutes remaining but the goal was ruled out for offside, a decision that seemed to be a bad omen.

However, a freekick ten yards out of the penalty area in the second minute of injury time gave Abahani the lifeline. Ujjal chipped the ball over the wall to find three Abahani players onside near the penalty spot but it was Nazrul who won the race and toe-poked the ball over Apel's head for the match winner.

Yellow cards: Parodi (Abahani) and Babu, Emrul, Apu (Rahmatganj)

TEAMS
ABAHANI: Biplab, Siraji, Nazrul, Caporale, Waly, Ujjal, Joy, Sanchez (Abul), Abdullah Parvez (Zahid), Emily and Parodi (Tipu).

RAHMATGANJ: Apel, Mahiuddin, Sony, Shipon, Hanif, Babu (Jahangir), Reza (Kochi), Mehedi (Apu), Emrul, Emon and Rizvi.

Referee: Abdul Hannan.