Goals by Alfaz, Faisal Mahmud and Rony helped the Black and Whites hand Arambagh Krira Sangha a 3-1 defeat in a 'battle of neighbours' at the Bangabandhu National Stadium. An own goal by Mohammedan's substitute defen-der Kamal helped Arambagh reduce the margin.

It was also perfect revenge for Mohammedan, who lost to the same outfit by the same margin in the Independence Day Cup in Rajshahi last month.

Mohammedan, who also suffered a premature exit from the season's first two tournaments, only looked impressive in the second half after Arambagh threatened to take the lead twice.

Halfway through the first half, Nigerian midfielder Dominic set up Ritu with a brilliant square pass from the left but the Arambagh striker's weak shot from close range was saved off the line by Mohammedan defender Nazrul.

Two minutes after the breather, Dominic found Ridon with another defence splitting through but the young forward mis-kicked the chance under pressure from rival back Hassan.

The wake-up call inspired captain Alfaz to shoot the side ahead in the 53rd minute with a solo effort.

Collecting the ball from the right flank, the national striker dribbled past Ramjan and Juku before drilling a low drive from almost an acute angle that went in off the goalkeeper's legs.

Faisal, who worked hard throughout the 90 minutes on the left side of the midfield, made it 2-0 six minutes later. The balding midfielder got the ball from Matiur Munna and dodged past his marker Dulal inside the box before neatly placing a left footer into the far corner of the net.

It should have been 3-0 minutes later but substitute Rony failed to connect a chip by Alfaz in front of a barren goal.

Arambagh were reduced to ten men in the 73rd minute when Rintu committed a serious mid-pitch infringement on Manju. Rintu, who had arrived on the pitch just four minutes earlier, was shown no mercy by referee Abdul Hannan who flashed the second red card of the league. The Arambagh player, however, ignored the rules of the game by sitting in the stands after getting his marching order with support from club officials.

Arambagh came back briefly in the 77th minute when Ritu's placing shot from the top of the box -- apparently going wide after beating goalkeeper Biplab -- was diverted into the post by two Mohammedan defenders. Nazrul tried to clear the ball but it deflected in off the legs of Kamal.

Mohammedan, facing a management crisis and playing under their third coach of the season, sealed the victory in the first minute of the injury time when Rony made amends for his earlier mistake. The young forward, who met a square pass from veteran Nakib in a tight angle, fired the ball home off the far post to put the side on the top of table with better goal difference than title chasers Brothers, Abahani and Muktijoddha, who all won their first round games 2-1.

Red card: Rintu (Arambagh)

Yellow cards: Hassan, Nakib (Mohammedan) and Russell, Imrul, Dominic (Arambagh).

TEAMS
Mohammedan: Biplab Sr, Hassan, Nazrul, Biplab Jr (Kamal), Zahid (Rony), Asad, Munna, Arman Aziz, Faisal, Manju (Nakib) and Alfaz.

Arambagh: Mitul, Russel, Ramjan, Dulal, Akram, Juku, Faisal (Morshed), Imrul, Dominic, Ritu and Ridon (Rintu).