Edmilson Marques scored twice as former champions East Bengal beat JCT 2-1 in a 11th National Football League match at Guru Nanak stadium, in Ludhiana, on Monday.

The newly-recruited Brazilian striker, who was adjudged man of the match, gave the Kolkata giants the lead in the 14th minute when he single-handedly breached the JCT defence and sent the ball crashing into the net.

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He scored again with another fine strike to consolidate the lead in the 32nd minute.

Early in the match JCT had two good chances to score but they were wasted by Chidi Edeh.

In the second session, JCT intensified their attacks but with little success.

In the opening minutes of the half they had two good attempts at goal but East Bengal keeper Rajat Ghosh was hard to beat.

Within less the five minutes left, JCT pulled a goal back when Baldeep Singh (Sr) scored with a header.

The victory took East Bengal to third place in the ten-team league table, behind leaders Dempo and Air-India. They have ten points from five matches.

JCT are in sixth place with five points.