Needing a win to avoid a last-place finish, Rahmatganj showed signs of determination early in their league finale but failed to continue with the same spirit after captain Sony conceded an own goal five minutes from break.

Pikul and substitute Nazmul added the rest in the second half to ensure Khulna's third win in Dhaka after upsetting giants Brothers Union 4-2 and champions Abahani 2-1.

The home side, who had lost 2-0 to the Khulna sky-blues in their first leg match -- the opening round of the competition back in March -- ended bottom-of-the-table with 13 points while Khulna Abahani increased their collection to 16 points with their overall fourth victory.

The league ends today with runners-up Mohammedan facing neighbours and sixth-placed Arambagh and Sheikh Russel targeting a win against Chittagong Mohammedan in the port city in a bid to clinch third place.

Mamun fluffed a great chance after 12 minutes when the Rahmatganj forward took a headed pass from Rony on the edge of the six-yard box but screwed his shot wide.

Francis had only the last defender to beat from a melee on the half hour but the Nigerian striker failed to keep is chip under the bar as Rahmatganj's domination began to fizzle out.

A freekick by Abahani leftback Kabir broke the deadlock when his centre from the left side took a wicked deflection off Sony's chest, giving Anwarul no chance at the Rahmatganj goal.

Hemyaet Ullah's boys, the most impressive side on counter attacks, revealed their weapon properly in the second half to put the old-Dhaka outfit under constant threat with indefatigable runs by Pikul, Tajul and Prashanta, who had scored the very first goal of the competition.

The fact that Rahmatganj went more attacking in search of an equaliser, bringing Nigerian forward Ikogho in, helped the tourists to find more space but Tajul was denied by goalkeeper Anwarul on the hour before firing a shot over.

Substitute midfielder Hanif threw a lifeline to Rahmatganj in the 70th minute when he picked Adeyinka with a freekick but the Nigerian's header was cleanly collected by rival custodian Iran on the line.

Four minutes later, Pikul latched on a long ball from their own half to dribble past Rahmatganj centre-back Shipon and hammer a right-footer into the roof of the net for his fourth league goal.

Francis spilled another chance from close range before Nazmul made it 3-0 in the 84th minute. Tajul exchanged passes with Pikul before releasing a square-pass near the goalmouth where Nazmul dodged the keeper to place the ball into an empty net.

Despite an impressive performance, Khulna Abahani's future in the B. League, however, was uncertain. "We could hardly train in the second leg due to lack of fund. For many days we had to skip training. Not only us, the financial condition is very poor for all clubs in Khulna," told coach Hemayet Ullah.

"The regular source of income has been stopped for long and we could not even collect Tk 3,000 for our per day practice. Donors are also in trouble and we had to go door to door to our members and well wishers to raise fund. Our secretary Dr. Bahar has been really helpful.

"If this situation continues, we would not be able to participate in the professional league any further. Twenty players of our 23-member squad are local boys. That's why they gave everything behind the team. But we can't keep them next year because other teams will lure them with money," said the former Khulna Abahani player-turned-coach who has been with the club for 12 years.

"In the end, I am satisfied because the players gave more than they got from us. We should have treated them better.

About his success against the heavyweights of Dhaka -- Khulna Abahani held Muktijoddha, Russel and lastly Mohammedan at home -- he said: "We took the big matches seriously. We packed the defence and relied on quick counter attacks. But against other teams we played more attacking and paid the penalty."