A hat-trick by Brazilian striker Eduardo de’Silva guided JCT Fagwara to a 3-1 win over three-time champions East Bengal in the National I-league Football Championship here on Friday night.

Eduwardo scored in the 43rd, 67th and 82nd minutes while East Bengal struck once in the 50th minute through Edmilson, also a Brazilian, to draw level for sometime. Only four days ago the visitors had beaten another strong contender and former champions Mohun Bagan 2-1 in their first encounter in this professional league.
East Bengal tried to make some moves early in the first half but the Punjab outfit wrested the initiative and took the lead two minutes before the half-time.

Following a freekick, JCT livewire in the midfield Marcos Periera sent the ball into the rival box and Eduardo placed the ball home neatly (1-0). But the lead was short-lived as East Bengal went all out and drew level through a penalty, given when striker Edmilson was roughly tackled by Jaspal Singh inside the box. Edmilson made no mistake to convert (1-1).

JCT snatched the lead again in the 67th minute when unmarked Eduardo headed home a flag kick taken by Periera (2-1). The Punjab team scored an insurance goal when Eduardo completed his hat-trick eight minutes before the long whistle. Striker Sunil Chhetri dribbled past two defenders and gave the ball to an advancing Eduardo who scored with a rasping right footer. After two games, JCT lead the table with six points. East Bengal remain on three.