Ashraful Awal Apu separated the two sides at the Bangabandhu National Stadium with a sublime shot in the 25th minute as Rahmatganj recorded their only second win in the competition.

Having spent the entire first leg without a win, it was the revitalised old-Dhaka outfit's second consecutive win in the second leg that increased their collection to eight points, still two points behind Chittagong Abahani.

For Russel, who suffered their second overall loss to spoil a great chance to take solo lead and remained on 20 points, it was the third match in a row without a win.

However, Russel looked the dangerous side of the two as they took early control. But striker Younes and his partner Bulbul fluffed three easy chances inside the first ten minutes.

Still, they should have gone ahead after 17 minutes when Igir picked up his fellow Moroccan Younes with a superb cross but the header was misplaced.

Rahmatganj, who included three foreign players during the mid-season transfer, created more threatening opportunities on the break and their first counter attack was on target.

It was Francis, the Nigerian striker on loan from Mohammedan who cut the ball back from left and Apu, eagerly waiting on the edge of the rival area, hammered the ball into the roof of the net giving Shakil no chance to react at the Russel goal.

Seven minutes later, Younes -- a shadow of the striker who finished second best scorer two seasons back -- threw away the chance to equalise when he failed to beat goalkeeper Anwarul on one-on-one.

A series of saves by the Rahmatganj shot-stopper either side of the break frustrated the Russel attack, which intensified as the match progressed. After denying Sadaane on the stroke of the halftime, Anwarul made a spectacular save when he recovered from an advancing position to tip over Igir's chipped attempt midway through the second half.

Igir was on target again in the 75th minute but his effort was not good enough to beat Anwarul.

Rahmatganj, meanwhile, could have increased the margin had Charles Figo showed a little bit patience. The Nigerian forward caught the rival defence on counter attacks but hurried his shots from outside the box, only to miss the mark.

For Russel, the 12th round game was also a financial loss as they will have to pay a fine of Tk 10,000 for four players being booked.

Yellow cards: Rony, Rony (Rahmatganj) and Burdif, Sadaane, Younes, Rikta (Russel).