Scoring once in each half, Churchill Brothers edged past Vasco 2-1 in an eighth National Football League match at the Nehru stadium in Margao, Goa, on Monday.
After Vasco's Marcos Pereira neutralized Benjamin Ansah's first-half goal, Yusif Yakubu, the leading scorer in the league, scored his 14th goal in the 55th minute to give Churchill full points.
Both teams started on an attacking note, with Churchill having more ball possession and creating the openings. They could have surged ahead in the third minute but defender Firoz's powerful header off Noel Wilson's flag-kick was saved by Vasco 'keeper Rogerio Ramos.
Ramos again came to his team's rescue midway into the first half when he charged out to thwart Yakubu from scoring.
After these two close misses, Churchill drew first blood a minute before the interval when Harvinder, from the middle split, the defence with a long through pass to Benjamin Ansah, who took a defender in his stride and chipped the ball over the onrushing Ramos.
Vasco restored parity after the break when Marcos Pereira, who was free inside the box, tapped a low shot off a free-kick taken by Kamal Thapa from the left.
But Churchill shot back and scored the winner three minutes later when Yakubu volleyed home a pass from Osamunu which came to him via Noel Wilson's flag-kick.
Churchill could have increased the lead but Ramos brought off some fine saves. Once he leaped high to save powerful left-footer from Ansah from close.
Churchill took their tally to 32 points from 19 matches, one point behind third-placed Mahindra United.
Vasco, who suffered their sixth loss, have 23 points from 19 matches.