Moroccan striker Twaiti Younnes, who was suspended in the previous fixture against Muktijoddha Sangsad, showed just what his side had missed with two first-half goals in two minutes while Milon added the other to keep Sheikh Russel's slim hopes alive in the competition.

But with just one win after two defeats in the Super-Six stage, Sheikh Russel's collection stands at four points which means they have to wait for the outcome of tomorrow's match between Dhaka Mohammedan and their brothers from Chittagong to know whether they will be in the last four.

Only a win for Chittagong Mohammedan in that game would see Russel through to join Muktijoddha, Abahani and Brothers Union in the semifinals. A draw will put Dhaka Mohammedan in the semis on better goal difference.

Played under sporadic showers, the match came alive midway through the first half. Younnes, who received the ball from a quickly taken corner by Maruf, fired a left footer into the top of the net from the right corner of the box to give Russel the lead in the 26th minute.

Barely a minute later, the tall marksman made it 2-0 when he chased a through pass from Asif from his own half and placed the ball into the open net after rounding off goalkeeper Raju and defender Dulal.

This was his seventh goal of the tournament for Younnes who tops the scorers' list. He was later adjudged man-of-the-match.

The Chittagong Black and Whites briefly came back into the game when captain Arman Aziz converted a 32nd-minute penalty after Russel defender Sharif had fouled his namesake Sharif inside the penalty area.

Russel however, sealed the victory four minutes later when Milon nodded home after substitute Maruf's cross from the right took a wicked bounce in the danger zone and dazed three defenders and goalkeeper Raju.

Yellow cards: Biplab, Nurul Islam, Maruf (Sheikh Russel) and Sharif (Ctg Mohammedan).

TEAMS
RUSSEL KC: Apel, Biplab, Narayan, Sharif, Nurul Islam, Asif, Jalal (Maruf and Apu), Royal, Mintu, Milon and Younnes.
CTG MOHAMMEDAN: Raju, Dulal, Ramjan, Anupam, Pradip, Israfil (Sanwar), Arman Aziz, Zahid, Sharif, Walid (Daulat) and Rafael (Ridon).
Referee: Abdur Rakib.