The second successive defeat in the super-six all but ended premiership runners-up Russel's path to the last four. The dark horse will now need a miracle to keep their hopes alive.

The result also confirmed Abahani's passage into the last four before the blood and thunder clash against Mohammedan Sporting Club at the same venue today.

Muktijoddha sealed their victory even before the game reached the halfway mark thanks to strikes by Saifur Rahman Moni and Saiful Islam in the 26th and 41st minute respectively.

The win increased Muktijo-ddha's tally to ten points with a match in hand against Brothers Union. Abahani, who still have two games to play, were guaranteed a place among top four with seven points.

Moni celebrated his return to the field after serving a one-match ban stabbing home a rebound.

The Reds, who were in their defensive shell throughout the first phase and even in their last game against Mohammedan that they won 2-1, but for a change they came out all guns blazing last afternoon. And it was no surprise they scored twice in the first 45 minutes on a waterlogged pitch.

Moni got his fifth goal in the run when he tapped in a rebound after Kanchan's placing shot on a left-flank cross by captain Matiur Munna bounced off the sidepost.

Muktijoddha then utilised a half chance to seal the game when man-of-the-match Saiful drilled in a low drive from the top of the box past the blind-sighted Russel goalkeeper after the defenders partly cleared a corner.

Russel had their chances too but they missed their Moroccan marksman Younnes, who was serving a one-match ban for two yellow cards. Bulbul and Asif threatened to score for the National League newcomers but both wasted two good moves.

While the Reds looked ran out of gas after the break Russel picked up the pace and pressed hard after the one-hour mark. Bulbul and substitute Maruf tore the Muktijoddha defence during a ten-minute assault but their forwards wasted five easy chances including Jalal and Royal failing to beat national number one goalkeeper Aminul in one-on-one situation.

Russel KC coach Wajed Gazi rued the missed chances in the second half and said that he badly missed his 'finisher' Younnes.

"We should have scored from those chances. I admit that our boys did not compete well in the first half but we came back strongly in the second. I think we are out of the race," said a frustrated Gazi whose side have only one point with a match left against Chittagong Mohammedan.

"So many things will have to go our way that I don't see any chance of us qualifying for the semifinals," he added.

Muktijoddha coach Shafiqul Islam Manik was happy to see his boys make it to the last four with a match in hand against title contenders Brothers.

"We don't have to worry about that match but it does not mean that we will relax. Our target is the semifinal and I think many of my boys who have picked their second yellow cards today, will be free for the semifinal," Manik told after the match.

"We had the option to be attacking from the start because we had an extra forward in Moni. Getting two goals in the first half was sweet."

He however, denied that his players looked tired in the second half.

"They were desperate and played very spirited football after the first hour. Anything can happen under these circumstances but the way we survived proved that we can go further in this tournament," Manik added.

Yellow cards: Munna, Saiful, Kabua (Muktijoddha) and Narayan, Burdeep (Russel KC).

TEAMS
Muktijoddha: Aminul, Papel, Hassan Al Mamun, Pradip, Saiful, Ghansah, Munna, Belal (Kabir, 79th minute), Moni, Kanchan (Biddyut, 65th) and Kabua.

Russel KC: Biplab, Narayan, Burdeep, Rezaul, Nurul Islam, Asif, Asad (Maruf, 46th), Jalal, Mintu (Royal, 68th), Bulbul and Milon.

Referee: Abdul Hannan Miron.