Zahid Hasan Emily and Awudu Ibrahim found the mark either side of halftime as the sky-blues blanked Sheikh Russel 2-0 to ensure the B. League trophy with a match in hand.

Abahani, however, will have to wait to lay their hands on the new trophy as the Bangladesh Football Federation is expected to crown the champions on August 6 in grandeurs.

It was the Dhaka heavyweights' first major domestic success after a six-year drought, which saw their worst run ever after winning the first version of the National Football League in 2000 and the Dhaka Premier League next year.

With 13 wins in 19 outings, Abahani who play Muktijoddha in their last match on Monday, took an unassailable lead in the 11-team table with 44 points.

It also dashed the slim title hopes of their archrivals Mohammedan, who now settle for runners-up with 39 points with one match remaining against Arambagh on August 1, the concluding day of the league.

Russel, who drew their first leg match against Abahani 0-0, stuck to 32 points with a hope of a third-place finish. They had three Moroccan players on the unplayable pitch but without the steel of captain Bourdif in the backline and his fellow Moroccan Younes's skill up front, were reduced to mediocre.

The credit, however, should go to the rival midfield, which probably produced their best game of the season under the leadership of Arif Khan Joy. The holding midfielder and Abahani captain not only killed Russel moves but also generated a series of attacks for Ujjal, Abul and Abdullah Parvez who supplied regularly for striking duo Emily and Ibrahim to put constant pressure on the opposition.

Ibrahim fired a low drive wide and Emily was denied by Russel rightback Aminul in the first ten minutes but the sky-blues really threatened to score when Ibrahim got behind the opposition backline after 16 minutes. However, the Ghanaian forward, who came dangerously close, was dispossessed by an onrushing Zia and the waterlogged strip.

Emily then headed a chip by Ujjal just wide after hard work by Ibrahim and Abul, who failed to keep the ball on target minutes later.

Ibrahim, Parvez and Emily again frustrated the 5,000-strong Abahani fans fluffing opportunities on one-on-one before the latter broke the deadlock in the first half stoppage time.

Emily, whose constant rushing unsettled the rival defence throughout the first half, met a superb centre by leftback Mintu to put a glancing header past Zia from 15 yards for his 12th league goal.

Four minutes after resumption, Abahani sealed the victory with their first attack of the second session. It was Abul who created the chance with exquisite skill, dodging past two defenders outside the area before releasing Ibrahim free at the left side and the Ghanaian completed the job hammering in a low drive for his sixth goal.

The two-goal cushion put Amalesh Sen's side on the defensive and Russel came close to reduce the margin quite often.

Biplab, who was not required to make a single save in the first half with Abahani enjoying superior ball possession, palmed away efforts by stand-in Russel skipper Bulbul and Nayan while Moroccan striker Noureddine Zaim screwed his shot over the lone keeper after getting the ball near the six-yard box after Pradip's mistimed clearance.