JCT's title hopes suffered a serious jolt when they lost 1-3 to Dempo Sports Club, Goa, in a crucial 20th round match in the seventh National Football League in Ludhiana on Sunday.

Though JCT were billed favourites in the tie, Dempo scored two goals in the second-half, after both teams had scored a goal each in the first session, to put paid to their opponent's hopes of collecting full points from the match.

Rattan Singh opened the account for Dempo in the 25th minute with an excellent strike, but JCT equalised 15 minutes later through Hardip Gill, whose gentle push beat custodian Francis Fernandes.

Dempo dominated the proceedings in the first-half with some fine play as their rivals struggled to take possession of the ball. JCT's dependable goalkeeper Mansur Mohd. was also not up to the mark.

The first 20 minutes of the second-half saw both sides trying hard to snatch the lead. But it was Dempo which pumped in two goals in quick succession through E B Chenna, in 65th minute, and Bijen Singh, in the 71st, to put the issue beyond JCT.

Today's win took Dempo's points tally to 29 while JCT remained on 34 points.