The result heavily dashed Mohammedan's title hopes in the inaugural professional football league, pushing top-of-the-table Abahani within a whisker of clinching the trophy.

Abahani's match against Sheikh Russel yesterday in the capital was postponed due to inclement weather and the sky-blues will need just two points from their remaining two matches.

The Abahani-Russel fixture has been revised for today and even if Amalesh Sen's league leaders miss out full points today, they will get another chance against Muktijoddha in their league finale on July 30.

Only if Abahani lose both their matches, Mohammedan can win the title on the final day of the competition provided they beat neighbouring Arambagh on August 1.

Mohammedan, who raised their tally to 39 points, are still two points adrift of their archrivals Abahani. The draw was their sixth in 19 outings but Shafiqul Islam Manik's side were unfortunate not to get full points as their Nigerian striker and captain Mwach Ukwu Paul wasted a first-half penalty.

Mohammedan got the golden chance in the 35th minute but the league's second highest scorer (14 goals) Paul's feeble shot from the spot gave local goalkeeper Iran Sheikh no trouble at all.

There was chaos when some spectators used abusing remarks against Paul but the incident did not hamper the proceedings.

The black and whites, who had thrashed Khulna Abahani 6-1 at home in the first leg, went into the break 0-0 after Paul's missed opportunity but conceded the lead two minutes after resumption.

It was striker GM Mamun, who got his maiden national call earlier this month, put the hosts ahead with a header past a bemused Himel at the Mohammedan goal after rival defender Arif and midfielder Zahid hesitated to clear a long ball inside their area.

Mohammedan dominated the rest of the show and created numerous chances but managed just the equaliser on the hour when veteran Ariful Kabir Farhad took a right-side pass to beat Iran, who was brilliant under pressure throughout the second half.

Mohammedan coach Manik told The Daily Star over phone that they should have won the match after opening up the rival defence now and again.

"We created around ten chances in the second half but unlike the earlier matches, when we used to score one or two from four-five chances, we failed. Iran played superb but Paul's penalty was like a backpass," rued Manik.

Khulna Abahani, who end their campaign in Dhaka against Rahmatganj, will be braced for a great battle as both the teams would be eager to avoid a bottom-table finish.

Both Khulna Abahani and Rahmatganj are on 13 points but the port city side have an edge by virtue of a better goal difference.

Meanwhile, the B. League authority has decided to kick off the remaining matches at 4.15 pm.