Despite down by one man in the second half, Dempo continued their unbeaten run as they rallied from an early two-goal deficit to hand out East Bengal 3-2 defeat to remain on top of the table in the eighth National Football League at Nehru stadium at Margao on Saturday.

Dempo's Stanley Colaco and Sunday Seah neutralised East Bengal's Cristiano Junior and Baichung Bhutia's early strike in the first half. Dempo's Nacimento Silveira scored the winner in the 75th minute with a header off R C Prakash to sea East Bengal's fate.

The Bengal giants, who had more of the exchanges and scoring opportunities were themselves to be blamed as Bhutia, Junior and Debjit Ghosh failed to cash on the chances that came their way.

Luck also did not favour them as Bhutia and Ghosh shot hit the woodwork as they pressed hard to find the equaliser in the last quarter of the match. Keeper Abhijit Mondal also gave good performance under the bar to deny East Bengal victory.

Dempo is leading the table with 16 points from six matches while East Bengal who lost their second match are on eight points from as many matches.

Earlier, Dempo were reduced to ten men in the 72nd minute when referee Walter Pereira gave marching orders to substitute defender Bolaji for a dangerous foul on Junior.

The referee showed yellow cards to Dempo's Valerian Rebello, Clifford Miranda and East Bengal's Mahesh Gawli, Cristiano Junior and Baichung Bhutia.