Nigerian Mike Okoro slammed a fine hat-trick as East Bengal humbled Railway FC 4-0 to maintain their all-win record in the Kolkata Super division football league on Monday.
ASEAN Cup winners East Bengal rode on a spectacular first half blitz to put it across the railwaymen and take their points tally to 30 from ten games.
Malsawmtluanga netted the fourth goal for the winners in the one-sided match on their home ground. They play Kolkata Port Trust in their last outing in the preliminary phase of the league before vying for the honours in the elite super six round.
Okoro, who has been in fine form in the tournament, drew first blood as early as the third minute. An Alvito D'Cunha corner went to Suley Musah, and the Ghanaian passed on to Okoro, who headed in.
The scoreline became 2-0 in the 14th minute, as Okoro executed another fine header to land the ball into the net.
However, the Railway FC defenders were to be blamed, as they remained stranded, thinking that it was an offside situation.
Ten minutes later, receiving a ball from D'Cunha, the Nigerian striker unleashed a rasping 35-yard right footer which was banged into the goal to the left of rival custodian Sandipan Maitra.
The East Bengal onslaught continued and in the 32nd minute, Suryabikash Chakraborty overlapped up the right flank to essay a through to Malsawmtluanga, who dodged past a defender and put in from close.