Mohammedan Sporting stunned title aspirants Dempo Sports Club 3-2 to improve their chances of staving off relegation in the National Football League.

Preston Papai Corpoal struck twice while Eric Bolwe Mputu scored the other goal for the winners, at the Salt Lake stadium, in Kolkata, on Tuesday.

After 11 matches, Mohammedan Sporting have ten points, which puts them four points ahead of last-placed Hindustan Aeronautics Sports Club.

Dempo, who were second only to Mahindra United in the league standings ahead of the match, remain on 20 points from 11 outings.

The Goans seemed lacklustre for most part of the game and looked somewhat incisive only in the latter stages when they netted through substitute Joaqim Abranches and Ranti Martins.

Sporting, who put up their best performance in the league, drew first blood as early as the fifth minute as Jatin Bisht's corner was headed in by Eric from inside the box.

After the breather, Sporting consolidated their position in the 49th minute with Mir Farooq Hyder launching into a fine run up the left wing and essaying a measured centre for Preston, who out-jumped two rival defenders to head home.

Down by a brace, Dempo upped the ante and carried out several attacks into the opponent's box.

They tasted success in the 63rd minute as Beto's free-kick from the right edge of the box was nodded in from near the other post by Abranches.

As the Goan camp began nursing hopes for a turnaround in fortunes, Mohammedan Sporting put a dampner on their aspirations through a 79th minute strike.

Hyder did the spadework yet again with a searing left wing run and Preston was again in position inside the box to find the net.

As time wore on, the Goans looked desperate but in the end they only managed to reduce the margin, courtesy a rare faux pass by Sporting custodian Nasibul Haq. The goalkeeper failed to hold on to a floater from the left and Ranti moved in a flash to put the ball home.