It was heartbreak for Sporting Clube de Goa as they succumbed to a narrow 0-1 defeat against Dempo SC in an intense Goa Professional League encounter at the Tilak Maidan on Wednesday. Meanwhile at Benaulim, Churchill Brothers FC reignited their push for silverware with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Panjim Footballers.

Despite dominating proceedings for large periods, Sporting were undone by Faseen PK's 47th-minute strike as Dempo's young side held firm to secure all three points.

The opening exchanges saw Dempo's pacy attack cause all sorts of problems for Sporting's backline. Goalkeeper Bhaskar Jalmi had to be at his best to deny Arnold Oliveira after gifting away possession early on.

Dempo went close again in the 18th minute, but Aaron Baretto's effort struck the side-netting as Sporting slowly grew into the contest.

The Flaming Oranje upped the ante towards the end of the first half, with Doyal Alves and Lloyd Mascarenhas going close, but they failed to find the breakthrough before the interval.

Sporting were made to pay for their profligacy two minutes into the second period when defender Faseen's low drive evaded Bhaskar to hand Dempo the lead.

The goal seemed to galvanize Sporting, who threw everything at their opponents in search of an equalizer. Vidipt Dua's header was cleared off the line just before the hour mark, while vociferous appeals for a handball went unheeded.

Despite laying siege to the Dempo goal in the final quarter, Sporting just couldn't find a way through, as the young Dempo side held firm to secure a hard-fought 1-0 win.

Elsewhere, Roger Pereira broke the deadlock in the 14th minute for Churchill, before Shario Gomes doubled their advantage five minutes before the interval to seal all three points for the Red Machines.

It was a lively start to proceedings, with both sides seeing yellow inside the opening exchanges - Roger Pereira for Churchill and Maresto Fernandes for Panjim receiving cautions from the referee.

Despite that early caution, it was Pereira who drew first blood for Churchill, firing them ahead with a neat finish midway through the first half.

Panjim sought a response, but it was Churchill who continued to look the more threatening, and they duly extended their lead five minutes before the break through Shario Gomes' well-taken strike.

With a two-goal cushion, Churchill were largely untroubled in the second period, comfortably keeping Panjim at bay to secure the seventh win of their Goa Professional League campaign.

The win over the wooden spooners sees Churchill Brothers hop to the ninth spot, while for Panjim, the defeat leaves them still searching for their second win of the season.