East Bengal reigned supreme in a thriller to outclass Dempo SC, Goa 5-3 in an ONGC Cup 10th National Football League match in Kolkata on Sunday.
Foreign recruit Endem Guy opened the flood gate for the hosts in the 13th minute before Bhaichung Bhutia and Syed Rahim Nabi scored one apiece and substitute Debabrata Roy struck a brace to complete the tally in the highest scoring game this season that could be termed as strikers' delight and goalkeepers' nightmare.
Dempo, missing for long stalwarts like Climax Lawrence and Sameer Naik due to injury blues, narrowed the margin through a first-half strike by skipper Majeck Bolaji and two goals by top scorer Ranti Martins.
The victory at home turf Salt Lake stadium took East Bengal to the second place in the league table with 18 points from nine outings.
The Goans, one the other hand, remained on 10 points from nine matches.
Youngster Debabrata Roy, who pumped in two quality goals one with great timing and the other with a cracker of a shot - took away the man of the match award.