Brothers Union stormed to the top of the Premier Football League table when the

defending champions edged Abahani 2-1 with first-half goals by Pranotosh and Victor Edwards in an eighth round clash at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.

It was Brothers' sixth win in the league and their third over Abahani in as many meetings in all competitions this season. However, it was the first in 12 years that they have beaten Abahani following the 3-2 victory in 1993. The defending champions are now on top with 19 points, two ahead of Mohammedan who have a match in hand.

Abahani, who suffered their second loss, finished the match with

ten men after their scorer Ndem's 89th minute sent-off. They remained stuck to 14 points.

The men in orange started with a flat-four backline in the absence of Masud Rana while Abahani, inspired by their 2-0 win over Sheikh Russel in the last round, stuck to a three-man central defence despite playing with four backs throughout the season.

But even an extra man did not help the Sky Blues as defensive midfielder Pranotosh put Brothers ahead after 25 minutes. The ex-Abahani player, completely unmarked in the penalty area during a quickly taken corner by Liton, headed Abul's right-flank lob into the near post.

Abahani had dominated the opening minutes but paid heavily for missing two sitters. Farhad met a perfect cross by left fullback Lajuk in

the 19th minute but headed the ball over the unguarded post while Cameroonian midfielder Ndem blasted his shot over from ten yards.

Brothers struck again at the stroke of the breather when an overlapping Parvez Babu raced past three Abahani defenders and cut the ball back for Victor who placed a left-footer into the far post.

Abahani pulled one back when Ndem coolly converted a 48th minute penalty which was given after substitute Obaidur was fouled by Liton inside the Brothers box.

Farhad and Ibrahim then deprived Abahani of at least one point. Farhad fired the ball into the side netting in the 52nd minute while Ibrahim, who was set free by an exquisite back-heel by Farhad, put the ball over the bar from a handshaking distance.

Brothers got their lone chance of the half three minutes from time when Emily snatched the ball from Ndem but the young striker's chip went out after kissing the top of the crossbar.

Just before the final whistle, Ndem was red carded by referee Mansoor Azad when the Cameroonian retaliated after a dangerous foul by Rikto.

Red card: Ndem (Abahani)

Yellow cards: Prantotosh, Liton, Rikto (Brothers)

TEAMS

Brothers: Tareq, Siraji, Sujan, Jewel, Parvez Babu, Abul, Pranotosh (Jahangir), Hicham (Rikto), Liton, Victor (tapu) and Emily.

Abahani: Anwar, Wali (Obaidur), Shawkat (Tipu), Pradeep, Shipon, Lajuk, Ndem, Joy (Parvez), Ujjal, Farhad and Ibrahim.