Federation Cup champions Mahindra United overcame a strong fightback to get the better of Churchill Brothers 2-1 in an 18th round match of the National Football League at the Cooperage in Mumbai on Thursday.
The victory took the Mumbai champions two points adrift of second-placed Dempo (35) and and four behind league leaders East Bengal, who have 37 points.
Churchill are in fourth place with 29 points.
Hardworking midfielder S Venkatesh put Mahindra into the lead in the third minute when he converted a fine pass by winger Felix Aboagye.
The Goan team did not take long to restore parity, scoring nine minutes later through Roque Pereira, who was put through by Riston Rodrigues.
Churchill had a couple of chances to forge ahead after the goal but their strikers failed to capitalize on them.
A minute into injury time of the first-half, Odartey Lawson scored off a rebound after winger Felix Aboagye's attempt ricocheted of Churchill goalkeeper Mark Mascarenhas. That goal turned out to be the match-winner for the home side.
Churchill applied intense pressure in the second session but found Mahindra keeper Kalyan Chaubey a hard nut to crack.
Their best chance to restore parity and steal a point from the match came five minutes from time when Yusif Yakubu's long shot beat Chaubey only to crash into the crossbar.