Former national striker Alfaz, who opened the account with his sixth league goal after a scoreless first half, shaped Muktijoddha's seventh win in 13 games to take their tally to 25 points, two ahead of joint-second Mohammedan, Sheikh Russel and Abahani.

For a revamped Rahmatganj, who reduced the arrears through Nigerian striker Nche Francis, it was the first defeat after two consecutive wins in the second leg. After 13 outings, they still remained at the base of the table with eight points.

However, the old-Dhaka outfit -- featuring four Nigerian recruits, fought neck and neck against Abu Yusuf's side who threatened to score after 13 minutes at the Bangabandhu National Stadium.

Alfaz, who scored the league's first hattrick, against the same opponents in a 4-1 first-leg victory, met a cross by Matiur Munna after 13 minutes but the veteran's shot near from the six-yard box was brilliantly parried by goalkeeper Anwar.

On loan from Mohammedan, Francis sliced the rival defence with a chipped pass over Muktijoddha centre-backs Rajani and Ghansah six minutes later but Nigerian forward Ikogho, unchallenged near the penalty spot, saw his volley rebound off the underside of the crossbar.

Moni should have separated the two sides midway through the first half but the Muktijoddha striker nodded the ball wide from a handshaking distance after Munna's left side centre found him in front of the open net.

Rahmatganj suffered a blow as their inform goalkeeper Anwar limped off the ground on the half hour to make way for Amjad, who was responsible for the side's collapse in the second half.

Francis kept the opposition backline under constant pressure but his hard work went in vain as midfielder Adeyinka and Ikogho fluffed easy chances inside two minutes.

Adeyinka was dispossessed inside the area after delaying a shot while Ikogho blasted his opportunity wide as the match went to the break.

Muktijoddha switched to a flat four-back format at the break as fullback Titu came in for Moroccan midfielder Brahim and the gate opened seven minutes after resumption.

Rahmatganj captain Sony and his Nigerian central defence partner Felix hesitated to chase Moni's through pass and Alfaz had a free run down the middle to shoot past a wrong-footed Amjad.

Still smarting from the first goal, the Rahmatganj backs and Amjad were caught napping two minutes later when Alfaz dashed down the right to cross for Moni who nodded the ball into the near post to make it 2-0.

Francis then threw a lifeline to Rahmatganj with his second goal in three matches when the Nigerian chested down the ball and hammered a right footer into Titumir's left hand post after leftback Jahangir's centre from the left was flicked by Ikogho's header.

Alfaz forced a fine save by an otherwise sloppy Amjad before Saiful, who replaced Arman, neatly placed the ball home after a long pass by Alfaz four minutes from time.