Virtually thrown out of the title-race after their 2-1 defeat against bitter rivals Abahani Krira Chakra in the Dhaka derby on Tuesday, Mohamme-dan needed a mountain to climb and all the luck in the world to stage a turnaround in the return leg.

But the holders not only lacked someone special to give that finishing touch but also found that luck was running against them in a season so far they would definitely try to forget.

Having already forfeited two of the three major domestic titles, the Black and Whites made a desperate effort to return to winning ways if not emulating their first round 3-0 success against a team known as a traditional giant-slayer.

But Arambagh custodian Atiqul Islam stood like an impregnable wall, making at least five brilliant saves in the second half. It was understandable when the tall custodian become the toast of celebration in the Arambagh camp after the game was over.

The result in the last match hot on the heels of Abahani's 1-1 stalemate with Dhaka Wanderers before going into a five-day Eid break was music to the ears of big-spending Brothers Union.

While Mohammedan stayed in an unlikely sixth position with 15 points, Brothers lead the 10-team table with 24 points. Abahani, on the other hand, have 18 points that gave an indication that the league race for the first time since Independence would not feature the two proven giants in domestic football.

At the moment Muktijoddha Sangsad Krira Chakra has the strongest possibility of challenging Brothers' bid to win a dream league title.

Back to the day's match, Mohammedan were often sluggish in the first 45 minutes. However, they picked up their game after the break with their talented midfielder Kaiser opening up the packed opponents' defence.

Kaiser curled in a superb cross from the right-flank that found striker Ariful Kabir Farhad, but his header was spectacularly fisted away by Atiqul for a corner.

Atiqul also denied Mohammedan's Cameroon striker Etigo after five minutes when he blocked a right-footed volley from the leading scorer.

He then foiled another Kaiser-Farhad combined effort in the 21st minute by tipping over a left-footed volley. Mohammedan had their last chance in the 72nd minute when Basala came up with a diving header, but the heroics of Arambagh keeper made the difference. This time Atiqul used his outstretched right leg to parry away the goal-bound head.

Yellow cards: Ashraful Karim and Masud Khan Johny (Arambagh)

TEAMS

Mohammedan SC: Bijon, Basala, Jewel Rana, Faisal, Rony (Sourav Raju), Afala, Kaiser, Etigo, Amin Rana (Monju), Pappu (Bakhtiar) and Farhad.

Arambagh KS: Atiqul, Khaled, Apu, Ashraful, Ratan, Shamsher (Obaidur), Aziz, Asadur, Johny, Dominic and Tabib (Wino).

Referee: Ibrahim Nesar.