Arup Baidya gave Farashganj an early lead but Nigerian striker Emeka's tenth goal in the run brought back the black and whites before Zahid Hossain slammed a second half winner.

With ten wins in 17 games, Mohammedan pushed their collection to 35 points to come level with top-of-the-table Abahani who have a match in hand, against their Khulna namesakes today.

With Muktijoddha and Sheikh Russel rapidly disappearing from the scene, Abahani and Mohammedan seem to be the teams to beat for lifting the title of the B. League, which has three weeks to go.

The riversiders, who conceded a 3-1 defeat to Mohammedan in the first leg, rushed early blood when Arup broke the deadlock after nine minutes.

A darting run by Rony at the left found Robin and the young striker switched the ball to Arup who hammered a left footer into the back of the net before the Mohammedan backline and goalkeeper Himel could react. Arup had also pulled off a stunner against Abahani in the last match at home but from a further distance.

Shafiqul Islam Manik's side threatened to equalise midway through the first half but Emeka's freekick from a difficult angle was punched out for corner by Farashganj keeper Mamun.

The old-Dhaka backline kept things tight under pressure but it was unsettled in the 35th minute when Mohammedan leftback Kamal's long centre picked up forward Paul on the edge of the area.

The Mohammedan skipper turned the ball with a light header to his compatriot Emeka who pushed home from close to make it 1-1.

It was Paul who again set up Mohammedan's match winner in the 65th minute when the stout Nigerian controlled the ball well to dodge two rival backs inside the area and released a square-pass to right for a speeding Zahid who slotted the ball beyond Mamun. It was Zahid's second goal after scoring the first one in the opening round of the tournament.

Emeka was in thick of things but the second highest scorer of the competition fluffed an easy chance when he fired wide in the 74th minute after latching on to a superb through by Sharif.

Mohammedan, however, escaped narrowly three minutes from time when rival substitute Kutub's first touch on the ball set Puma in a good position but the Nigerian's shot on the cross was saved by shot-stopper Himel scrappily.

Emeka counter-attacked in the very next minute but failed to seal a bigger victory when he screwed his twin-shot. After his first effort was partially stopped by Mamun, the yellow-haired Mohammedan forward put the rebound wide of the open goal.

Farashganj, who suffered their seventh loss in 18 outings, remained on 21 points.