Dipanda Dicka scored a hat-trick to help Punjab FC register a 3-2 win over Neroca FC in a I-League match here on Wednesday.
Dicka fired home in the 27th, 43rd and 89th minutes after Varun Thokchom (4th) Philip Teteh (20th) handed Neroca a two-goal cushion early in the first half.
Punjab, who are now on a nine-game winning streak, have garnered 17 points from 10 matches, and are three points behind league leaders Mohun Bagan, who also have a game in hand.
Neroca will remain on eighth place with eight points from nine games. Cameroonian striker Dicka is also now the sole top scorer of the league with eight goals.