After leading Bashundhara Kings to Federation Cup title defence as captain, central defender -- even becoming the joint-top scorer -- Tapu Barman was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player.

What should have been a showpiece final in Mymensingh turned into another sorry chapter in domestic football's decline.

Smarting from a 4-2 defeat in a penalty shootout at the hands of Abahani in Qualifier-1, Kings were seemingly heading to another shootout with only seven minutes left of extra time, until substitute Insan struck at Bashundhara Kings Arena.

In the highly anticipated match at Shaheed Dhirendranath Datta Stadium, neither Kings nor Abahani could create any clear-cut chances in the first half, but the holders headed to the interval with an extra-man advantage.

The fiercely contested encounter at the Shaheed Dhirendranath Datta Stadium ended 1-1 after regulation and extra time, sending the match into a tiebreaker, where the Sky Blues held their nerve to prevail.

The back-to-back victory pushed Abahani to joint-top position with Rahmatganj MFS, with six points each from two matches. Both teams just need a point to confirm their second-round berth from Group B.

In their last meeting, Mohammedan edged past Abahani 1-0 in the Bangladesh Premier League, while the Sky Blues last beat the Black and Whites in the 2022-23 BPL season.

Tuesday's results kept Fortis FC at the top of Group A with seven points from three games, while second-placed Kings stay second with six points from as many games.

The 29-year-old repaid the coach’s trust with a brilliant performance, netting the season’s second hattrick.

Brothers, meanwhile, delivered a crushing 8-0 win over promoted Dhaka Wanderers Club in Mymensingh

Last season’s runners-up Mohammedan stumbled to a 1-0 defeat against Rahmatganj MFS in Dhaka, while 12-time champions Abahani showcased their dominance in a commanding 3-0 victory over Chittagong Abahani in Cumilla.