Brothers crushed Youngmen's Club Fakirerpool 5-0 in the first match at the Bangabandhu National Stadium but the Muktis had to struggle before edging Sheikh Russel 2-1 under lights at the same venue.

The Reds lead the group with maximum six points while Brothers, who drew 1-1 with Sheikh Russel in their opener, have four points with the mouth-watering clash with the Muktis left. A draw from that encounter, which is due on Tuesday, would carry Brothers through.

MUKTIJODDHA-SHEIKH RUSSEL
Nigerian striker Paul Nwakwuchu scored either side of the break as Muktijoddha came from a goal down to snatch full points.

But it was Abu Yusuf's charges who dominated the whole show. Playing a flowing passing game, Sheikh Russel had most of the possession but poor finishing from their forwards let them down.

Inspirational Moroccan duo Rashid and captain Egir Mohammed kept the Muktis defence under constant threat and the pressure finally told after 28 minutes when Tanvir scored from a rebound. Rashid's drive from the top of the box was partially blocked by goalkeeper Aminul but a lurking Tanvir was there to tap the ball home.

Rashid was then twice denied by the Muktijoddha defence. Against the run of play, Paul then equalised. The prolific Nigerian forward shrugged off his marker Deen Mohammed following a through from Moni before placing the ball past goalkeeper Biplab four minutes before the breather.

With Sheikh Russell remaining wasteful in the second half, it was almost inevitable that the superior experience of the Reds would hurt them. And Paul confirmed that eight minutes from time with a poacher's finish. To rub salt in Russel's wound, the referee showed Tanvir a red card seconds before the final whistle.

BROTHERS-YOUNGMEN'S
Russian striker Victor Edwards struck twice while Emily, Abul and Liton Khan added the rest in a embarrassingly one-sided affair.

Brothers, who had failed to advance to the last four of the Fede-ration Cup last season, went ahead 11 minutes into the game when Victor swung a left-footed freekick from 25 yards into Youngmen's keeper Sumon's left hand post.

Emily made it 2-0 on the half hour when the young striker placed the ball into the far corner after a solo run down the left.

Victor converted a 49th minute penalty after Parvez Babu was fouled by Ismail inside the box. It was the Youngmen's defender's last act of the match as he was sent-off for his second bookable offence.

Down to ten men, Youngmen's haplessly gave away two more goals with midfielder Abul and substitute Liton Khan sharing the honours.

But there was bad news for Brothers ahead of tomorrow's big match against Muktijoddha. Moroccan midfielder Hicham Inani suffered a bad looking ankle injury and had to be carried out of the ground on a stretcher early in the first half.