East Bengal rode on a Baichung Bhutia strike to prevail over Tollygunge Agragami 1-0 on Monday and strengthen their position atop the table in the eighth National Football League.
The local giants, looking for their third league title, are now on 37 points from 17 matches, five clear of nearest challengers Dempo Sports Club, Goa, who have so far culled 32 points.
The lone goal in the one-sided game was scored in the 32nd minute of the opening session when Alvito D'Cunha, who had joined the action only moments earlier replacing an off-colour Kulothungon, centred for Bhutia and the lethal striker showed his class by flicking the ball into the net with a snap header.
The entire Tollygunge defence, including goalkeeper Chinmoy Banerjee, was left stranded by the promptness of Bhutia's action as around 30,000 spectators in the giant Salt Lake staidum burst into thunderous applause following the spectacular goal.
The result worsened the position of Tollygunge Agragami, who are deeply in the relegation zone with only 17 points from as many encounters.
The Tollygunge boys tried to match their famed opponents in the first half, but seemed nowhere in the picture after the breather, as East Bengal literally toyed with them