The Sky Blues won the clash of the titans 1-0 to move atop the Group A table of the Nitol-Tata National League with maximum six points. But for an avid follower of the Dhanmondi-based club the statistics are more refreshing as the latest victory gave Abahani a 4-0 aggregate win over Mohammedan in the five meetings of the two Goliaths of country's football this season. The Black and Whites could only manage a draw in the Premier League against three defeats including an embarrassing 5-1 thrashing in the Independence Cup.

Midfielder Abdullah Pervez scored the all-important goal in front of a packed audience of the northern district of the country three minutes before the break.

Although Rangpur like other parts of the country has been gripped by fear of the recent surge in so-called Islamic militancy, the home fans for once turned their focus on a rare Abahani-Moha-mmedan battle in their own backyard. And they enjoyed every bit of the up and down encounter.

Abahani started at a brisk pace and they virtually pinned Moha-mmedan at their own half with a series of raids in the first 30 minutes.

Ndem, one of the three foreign recruits of Abahani, got the first real scoring chance in the 15th minute after he was fed a nice through pass inside the Mohammedan box. But the scorching shot by the Cameroon forward sailed over the cross bar. Two minutes later Ibrahim's powerful shot took a wicked deflection off a Mohamme-dan defender, but goalkeeper Shakil saved his side from an almost certain shock.

Parvez then struck the all-important goal with a first-time volley off an Ibrahim right-side cross.

Mohammedan, who looked a more organised side after the break, got a golden chance to level the margin in the 72nd minute when Francis broke open an off-side trap and had only Abahani custodian at his mercy. But his shot in front of an empty net came off the cross-bar much to the frustration of the loyal Black and White supporters.

The defeat cast a shadow over Mohammedan's progress in the six-team final round from what dubbed as the 'group of death' that also includes Muktijoddha.

Mohammedan drew their first match against Muktijoddha goalless in Khulna. Abahani on the other hand routed Khulna Town Club 5-1 in the league opener.

Yellow cards: Abdullah Parvez and Ibrahim (Abahani).

TEAMS
ABAHANI: Nizam, Prodip, Marshal, Faisal, Obaidur, Parvez (Tushar), Edem, Igir, Parvez Chowdhury (Nurul Amin), Ibrahim and Bulbul (Anwar).

MOHAMMEDAN: Shakil, Ronny, Hasan, Pitter, Biplob, Mintu, Dibain, Sharif (Nayan) (Sentu), Emeka, Nakib and Francis.

Referee: Mansoor Azad.