Defending champions East Bengal moved a step closer towards retaining their crown when they beat Vasco 1-0 in an eighth National Football League match in Kolkata on Thursday.

Prolific Brazilian scorer Christiano Junior scored the all-important goal in the 43rd minute in a not-too-impressive match at the Salt Lake stadium.

The red and gold brigade thus consolidated their position at the top with 30 points from 14 matches, three ahead of second placed Dempo Sports Club, who they meet next.

Vasco, going through a lean patch this season, remained with 17 points from 14 matches.

The performance of the defending champions, however, was far from impressive, particularly in comparison with their fine display against formidable Mahindra United and Salgaocar.

With an off-colour Baichung Bhutia failing to deliver the goods upfront, Junior came to the rescue of his side as he brilliantly headed home a curling free-kick by Mike Okoro barely two minutes before the breather.

Junior thus took his personal goal tally to nine goals from 11 NFL matches -- a shade below Yusif Yakubu (Churchill Brothers), who tops the list of scorers with 11 goals.

Vasco, who had apparently aimed for a draw from the away match, made a last-ditch effort in the dying minutes, but failed to break the ice mainly due to a resolute display by East Bengal skipper Sangram Mukherjee under the bar.

The Kolkata giants showed clear domination throughout the opening half, but failed to convert the chances that came their way.

Bhutia wasted an easy chance in the 35th minute when he lost balance and let go a fine pass from Alvito D'Cunha inside the rival box.

A goal up at the breather, East Bengal seemed to have lost their tempo in the second session when Vasco, taking advantage of the situation, tried to stage a comeback into the game.

East Bengal coach Subhas Bhowmick, sensing danger, tried to strengthen the defence and replaced Bhutia with Debjit Ghosh.

The strategy, however, was not enough to resist the visitors, who intensified their attack as time wore on.

In the 86th minute, a goal-bound shot by substitute Denis Cabral was brilliantly saved by Sangram for a corner. Two minutes later, Marcos Pereira and Cabral set up a chance for

Vinu Jose, whose power-packed shot was luckily deflected by a rival defender.

One high point for East Bengal, however, was the return of reliable Brazilian medio Douglas da Silva to the field after a prolonged injury-led lay off.