Muktijoddha, who lost to Chittagong Mohammedan in their first trip to the port city in the first leg, have now failed to win a single match outside Dhaka after also being held by Khulna Abahani 1-1.

The Reds were without skipper Saifur Rahman Moni, who had to return to Dhaka in the morning after receiving the news of his father's death, and his replacement in the first eleven Rokonuzzaman Kanchan -- back to the side after a long lay-off -- fired the visitors ahead in the 49th minute.

However, Liberian striker Abraham Bobby equalised two minutes from time for his fifth league goal which gave the home team one point at the MA Aziz Stadium in Chittagong.

"We should have won this match," told Muktijoddha coach Abu Yusuf whose side thrashed the same team 4-0 in Dhaka.

"I feel that our players were a bit hot-headed towards the end and gifted the equaliser to Chittagong Abahani, who played tough for some time. Also, we broke their defence often but the final deliveries not accurate," said Yusuf.

Muktijoddha, who would have taken solo lead had they won, joined Mohammedan and Russel atop the table with 26 points after all three have played 14 matches while second from bottom Chittagong Abahani increased their collection to 11 points.

At the Bangabandhu National Stadium, the start was delayed by over an hour due to torrential rain and Farashganj held Russel to a goalless draw at half time.

The two sides drew 1-1 in the first leg but Russel finally got the reward for dominating the show when Zaim received a right side cross from fellow Moroccan midfielder Ighir Mohammad and hammered the ball into the far post to separate the two sides after 66 minutes.

After a slow start on a muddy pitch, Russel began to slice the rival defence midway through the first half but Bulbul, who did well to position himself behind Tanvir's left flank centre, screws his shot wide in the 25th minute.

A couple of minutes later, it was Tanvir's turn to frustrate the tent when he put Bulbul's pass wide.

Russel goalkeeper Zia survived a test by Farashganj midfielder Kabir, who unleashed a long range drive five minutes before the break while Farashganj custodian Mamun made a spectacular diving save from a Saad freekick, just before conceding the goal.

The riversiders had a chance to score level in the dying moments but their forwards failed to get the vital touch from a goalmouth melee to remain on 17 points.