Rony put the Reds ahead after 17 minutes but a spirited Youngmen's fought back against ten-man Muktijoddha in the second half to upset the local giants with skipper Robin scoring the match-winner after setting up the equaliser for Chanchal.

Muktijoddha ended their first leg campaign in third place with 16 points while Youngmen's remained second-from-bottom with seven after both playing nine matches.

Muktijoddha were without five key players and the players who came off the bench after a ling time showed lack of match fitness. With Saiful and Nigerian striking duo Jeremiah and Paul suspended and Rajani and Kanchan injured, they put Amin Rana and Rony up front.

They started brightly but after missing a few chances, Rony broke the deadlock when he took a back pass from Amin Rana seven yards out of goal and neatly placed home with an angular shot.

Rony spoiled a sitter and Amin Rana rattled the crossbar as Muktijoddha controlled the show but their miseries began when Iqbal, the defensive midfielder playing as libero for the second successive match, was sent off for picking up his second yellow card in the 28th minute.

Austrian coach Kottan, who replaced Muktis' long time coach Shafiqul Islam Manik last week, made two changes before the break but nothing seemed to go right.

Youngmen's equalised six minutes into the second half when their hard working midfielder Chanchal beat the onrushing national number one custodian Aminul with a grass-cutting shot from the top of the box after receiving a square pass from Robin.

It could have been 2-1 in the 70th minute but Robin, with only Aminul to beat, saw his placing shot parried by the goalkeeper. There was, however, no mistake from the Young-men's striker and captain who finished a combined move three minutes from time to hammer the last nail in Muktijoddha coffin.

The fresh legs of Ismail saw the substitute chase a long ball on the right flank and pass it back to Monaem who picked Robin on the top of the box with a fine low cross. Sandwiched by two defenders, Robin just got the time to flick a first-time right-footer that went in off the sidebar for his third league goal, ensuring their second win in the run.

After the defeat -- Mukti-joddha's third -- to Youngmen's, the only side without any foreign player which lost 10-0 to Sheikh Russel in the biggest defeat in the history of Premier League, Kottan was simply shocked.

"We did not have key players for suspension and injury and the substitutes were just not fit. Rony got cramp soon after scoring and the others were also not good enough," he said blasting the reserve players.

"Moreover, Iqbal's challenge far out of the goal was unnecessary that got him the red card. It cost us great," he added.

Red card: Iqbal (Muktijoddha)

Yellow cards: Shiplu, Monaem (Youngmen's)

TEAMS
Youngmen's: Shiplu, Mamun, Ariful, Shipon, Monaem, Masud (Rony), Chanchal, Dhiman (Ripon), Rajan, Robin and Nayan (Ismail).

Muktijoddha: Aminul, Titu, Iqbal, Harry, Belal, Haris (Riad), Biddyut, Pappu, Arman, Amin Rana (Al Arman) and Rony (Enamul).

Referee: Abdul Hannan.