Having exchanged the top position throughout the competition between them, it was a disappointing first session finale for the two contenders who saw Mohammedan climb up from the ashes to steal the first leg honours with 20 points.

Needing a win to topple the black and whites and become the midway-through champions, neither Abahani nor Russel showed any thrust for victory as they remained at second place with 19 points each.

Muktijodha had finished on 18 points to settle for fourth place in what has turned to be a tight championship race.

They are closely followed by the inaugural professional league's surprise package Chittagong Mohammedan, who blanked Dhaka outfit Arambagh 2-0 at home also yesterday for their fifth win. Liberian debutant Zubah Chris Momolu put the port city side ahead on the hour while Noor Hossain Daulat sealed the victory seven minutes later at the MA Aziz Stadium.

At the Bangabandhu National Stadium, sky-blues coach Amalesh Sen and his Russel counterpart Wajed Gazi both were ultra cautious.

Abahani had two holding midfielders in skipper Joy and Pranotosh with Ujjal and Zahed playing at the flanks. The ploy virtually killed the organised game they had played under Argentine coach Diego Cruciani till the eighth round. Their were no lethal neat passes through the middle -- the trademark under Cruciani who has been relieved -- and all efforts to break down the wings were stopped by a five-man Russel defence led by Moroccan centre-back and captain Burdif.

With no crosses coming in, striking duo Emily and Ibrahim hardly threatened to score but the latter's solo efforts gave Abahani a slight edge. Emily's only notable touch of the ball after a rival lapse set Ibrahim free after 19 minutes but the Ghanaian fired the ball wide from 20 yards.

In the next minute, Russel's first counter attack almost paid off when Burdif's long freekick got behind central defenders Nazrul and Caporale but Moroccan striker Younes failed to beat Biplab at the near post with his weak attempt.

Russel went for the long ball strategy but Caporale, who won every challenge in the air despite being about six inches shorter, magnificently marked the taller Younes.

Abahani will definitely miss the excellence of the former Monterrey (Mexican first division team) defender if he does not return for the second leg. Caporale will leave for home on May 19 and is expected to let the club know whether he would be available for the later part of the campaign.

The sky-blues had another opportunity to go ahead when a scoop by Ibrahim split the opposition defence in the 37th minute. But Zahed's overhead sidekick was blocked by Zia, who rushed out of his goal to challenge the lone midfielder.

Zia picked up an injury to leave the ground three minutes after the break and his replacement Shakil made a couple of important saves. The substitute shot-stopper kept a deflected freekick by Caporale out for a corner and made the save of the day in the 72nd minute.

Abahani's super-sub Tipu, who came in at the break for Emily, received a gem of a square-pass from Ibrahim who outfoxed three defenders at the left side. But the substitute striker's delay for a fraction of a second just near the six-yard box allowed Shakil to cover the angle and stop the placing shot from point-blank range.

Russel also fluffed their chances with Younes forcing a fine save by Biplab, who went airborne to hold a spectacular backvolley from the edge of the area while Ighir saw his dipping volley from 20 yards palmed over the bar by the national custodian midway through the second half.

The second leg is expected to begin on May 31.

Yellow cards: Caporale, Ibrahim (Abahani) and Fetah (Russel)

TEAMS
ABAHANI: Biplab, Siraji, Nazrul, Caporale, Wali, Ujjal, Joy, Pranotosh (Abul), Zahed, Ibrahim and Emily (Tipu).

RUSSEL: Zia (Shakil), Aminul, Pradip, Burdif, Hassan, Mishu, Nayan (Pappu), Fetah, Ighir, Tanvir and Younes.
Referee: Mansoor Azad.

TOP SCORERS
Double hattrick: Paul (Mohammedan v Rahmatganj)
Hattricks: Alfaz (Muktijoddha) v Rahmatganj, Junior (Brothers) v Rahmatganj)

12 goals: Paul (Mohammedan)
7 goals: Junior (Brothers)
5 goals: Nicodemus (Arambagh), Robin (Farashganj)
4 goals: Moni, Alfaz (Muktijoddha), Younes (Russel), Prashanta (Khulna Abahani)
3 goals: Mamun (Khulna Abahani), Ighir (Russel), Ibrahim (Abahani), Khokon (Ctg Abahani), Emeka (Mohammedan)
2 goals: Yusuf (Ctg MSC), Enock, Faisal (Brothers), Emily (Abahani), Brahim, Munna (Mukti), Ali Hossain (FSC), Abraham (Ctg Abahani), Md Rony (Mohammedan)