All of Emily's four goals came in the second half after Abahani had taken a 3-0 lead at the break through Cameroonian striker Nchouwat Souleyman's opener and a brace from Abul Hossain.

The sky-blues, whose previous best in the competition was a 3-1 win against fellow capital side Farashganj, finally put behind the goal drought with their seventh win.

The Dhanmondi outfit, having scored only a dozen goals in as many outings, also climbed to the top along side Mohammedan, Muktijoddha and Sheikh Russel. Level with the trio on 26 points, Abahani however, have the edge of playing one match less than the three title aspirants.

Even the inclusion of four foreigners did not change things for the league's whipping boys and bottom-table Rahmatganj, who have now conceded four hattricks out of total six in the competition.

The old-Dhaka club, who were humiliated 7-1 by Mohammedan in the first leg, showed signs of recovery with two wins at the start of the second leg but went down to Muktijoddha 3-1 in the last match before opening the floodgate to Abahani.

On a rain-soaked and uneven pitch at the Bangabandhu National Stadium, it were Rahmatganj who drew early blood in the second minute though. But Ikogho fired the ball straight to goalkeeper Biplab on one-on-one after racing in with a long ball by fellow Nigerian striker Francis.

The sky-blues, who edged Rahmatganj 1-0 with an injury time goal by defender Nazrul in the first leg, then mounted heavy pressure. It told in the 21st minute after rightback Siraji had forced a fine save by Anwarul at the rival goal.

Souleyman, playing his second match in Dhaka, showed a superb piece of skill to control the ball on the edge of the area and exchanged a pass with Abul before drilling a low drive through the diving keeper into the back of the net.

Anwarul then denied the Cameroonian a shot at the near post after Emily's low cross and spectacularly palmed out leftback Wali's curling centre out of his goal.

Abahani doubled the lead from the resulting corner in the 37th minute when Abul leaped high in the air to nod the ball home off opposition midfielder Felix's head.

Two minutes later, national midfielder Abul, who had scored only twice previously, tapped the ball in from close after Emily's effort came off the goalkeeper following a low cross by Wali.

A light drizzle began on the hour and Rahmatganj, who made twin changes at the break, had a chance to reduce the arrears but Felix's header on a corner by captain Jahangir missed the mark in the 67th minute.

Emily, who was not in the starting line-up in the last two matches, took just eight minutes to complete his hattrick after getting his first goal in the 71st minute with a dazzling solo.

The young national striker, also going through a lean patch, dribbled past four rival defenders to get inside the box and put the ball into the roof of the net for his third league goal.

He beat Anwarul at his near post five minutes later with a powerful header on an exquisite left-side freekick by substitute Abdullah Parvez to make it 5-0.There was no respite and another brilliant diagonal ball by Parvez inspired Ujjal to dash down the right and serve a square pass for an unmarked Emily to get the treble with a simple touch from the goalmouth in the 79th minute.

Ujjal fluffed two chances in the remaining time but Rahmatganj's agonies were not over as Emily, chasing a high freekick by substitute Mintu from their own half, outran the last defender and placed the ball past an onrushing Anwarul on the stroke of the final whistle.

Yellow cards: Joy (Abahani) and Felix (Rahmatganj)