Dhaka: Dhaka Mohammedan kept their semi-final hopes alive with a fighting goalless draw against reigning champions Chittagong Abahani on Wednesday.

In the group B match of the Sheikh Kanmal International Club Cup, Mohammedan earned their first point with this draw while Chittagong Abahani took their tally to four points from their two matches.

In the day's match, Dawda Cisse of Dhaka Mohammedan sent a chill through the Chittagong Abahani spine in the 31st minute, as his cracking left footer from the left edge of the box was punched for a corner by Abahani goalie Ashraful Islam Rana.

Chittagong Abahani hit back with a number of counter attacks and in the 36th minute came close to a strike. Augustine Walson curved a free kick from the top of the box but an alert Mohammedan goalie Mamun Khan fisted the ball to safety.

Chittagong Abahani skipper Mamunul Islam had no clue what went wrong in the 63rd minute when his cracking left footer rocked the Mohammedan crosspiece and bounced back to the game.

The semifinalists of the group will be decided after the last round matches on Friday.