Defending Champions East Bengal slumped to their heaviest defeat of the NFL when maiden entrants in the super division of NFL Sporting Club De Goa outwitted them 3-2 on their homeground at the Salt Lake Stadium here today.

East Bengal remain on 27 from 13. The first coming against Dempo SC. Sporting move on to 23 from 14 with wins over East Bengal and Dempo in two successive matches.

Sporting went into lead in the 34th minute when Dudu Omagbemi converted from the spot kick after Edeh Chidi was felled inside the penalty box by M Suresh

They went up 2-0 when Joseph Perriera set up Bibiano Fernandez who in turn let the ball to Adewusi Adebayo who sliced home past a diving Sangram Mukherjee in the 44th minute.

East Bengal pulled one back immediately after halftime when Jeremiah’s stunner ricocheted of the cross piece and Rahim Nabi lurking nearby slotted home.

Sporting replied with Chidi magic leaving the red-gold defenders in the cold as the former Mohameddan Sporting player converted to give Sporting Clube de Goa a 3-1 lead in the 56th minute.

East Bengal scored a consolation goal in the injury time when following a Climax Lawrence cross a diving Baichung Bhutia headed home to make it 2-3 for the hosts.

Earlier, Jeremiah was denied a a goal when he was adjudged off-side while heading home from an Alvito centre four minutes into the match. The player was distinctly unlucky as he saw two of his efforts shuddering the crosspiece after defeating all and sundry.

Now East Bengal will have to swallow pride and brace of for greater challenge as the NFL becomes an intensely close affair.