Bhaichung Bhutia rolled back the years with a memorable hat-trick as Federation Cup winners Mohun Bagan thrashed NFL champions Dempo Sports Club 4-0 in the Super Cup in Gurgaon on Sunday.
Veteran striker Bhutia was the star of the day as he scored a first half hat-trick, while talented teenager P C Lalwmpuia also found the net in the traditional season finale between the national league champions and the Federation Cup champions.
Bhutia scored in the eighth, 19th and 39th minutes while the Mizo player got on the scoresheet in the 38th as Bagan's big win made up somewhat for a disappointing league campaign.
Bagan, who finished a lowly eighth in the NFL, took the match more seriously than their opponents who had admitted that they had spent most of their time celebrating since securing their second league title in three years.
The Kolkata giants got off the blocks in a flash and Lalkamal Bhowmick fed Brazilian star striker Jose Ramirez Barreto who failed to beat V P Satish Kumar in the Dempo goal.
Barreto looked a bit slow on his feet and regularly failed to get the better of the defenders.
But they were ahead two minutes later when Douglas Dos Santos sent a defence splitting overhead pass to Bhutia and a rasping right-footer from the Sikkimese forward from the edge of the box gave no chance to the Dempo custodian.
The Goan side tried to reply immediately and won several corners in succession but the Bagan defence held firm.
Bagan doubled their lead when Bhowmick sent a probing centre from the right flank and Bhutia outjumped two defenders to head the ball home.
The closest Dempo came to getting a goal back was when Jerry Zirsanga's attempt from just outside the area went wide.
The Kolkata team, coached by Nigerian Bernard Operanozie put the issue beyond doubt with two strikes in quick succession.
From a corner taken by Manas Das from the left flag, Baretto cushioned the ball to an totally unmarked Lalwmpuia who found the target from close range.
Bhutia got his third when when he latched on to a through ball from the defence and shot past Satish Kumar.
It was some consolation for the star striker who had struggled throughout the league campaign scoring only five goals.
With the issue more or less decided, the match slowed down in the second period and there was hardly any goalmouth action to speak of.
Bagan, who won the Super Cup for the first time, were richer by Rs 10 lakh.
Dempo, however, received the NFL trophy at the end of the match along with other team and individual awards.
