Diego Forlan scored an emphatic hat-trick in a 5-0 win over Kerala Blasters on Saturday to fire Mumbai City FC to the top of the Indian Super League (ISL) standings.
The former Manchester United striker has had a modest start to life in Indian football but burst into life with his latest performance.
.@MumbaiCityFC racked up the goals in fine fashion, defeating Kerala Blasters FC 5-0 in Mumbai! #ISLRecap #MUMvKER #LetsFootball pic.twitter.com/8qHwi6Q0kJ
— Indian Super League (@IndSuperLeague) November 19, 2016
The 37 year-old now has five goals in nine appearances for the Mumbai franchise.
Forlan made the breakthrough in the fifth minute, latching onto a throughball and holding off a defender before tucking away his finish. A sumptuous free-kick followed in the 14th minute before tapping home just beyond the hour mark to complete his hat-trick.
The Uruguayan has excelled as the team’s marquee player, taking over from Nicolas Anelka last season.
It was coming. And when it came, it was a storm. @DiegoForlan7 1st hattrick this season! 5-0. Let's keep going @MumbaiCityFC 👊🏽👊🏽👊🏽
— Indranil Das Blah (@indranildasblah) November 19, 2016
.@DiegoForlan7 feels it doesn't matter who scores, as long as it benefits @MumbaiCityFC in the #HeroISL! #MUMvKER #LetsFootball pic.twitter.com/wttv8O8bLm
— Indian Super League (@IndSuperLeague) November 19, 2016
Take a look at @MumbaiCityFC's impressive numbers from their clash against @KeralaBlasters. #MUMvKER #LetsFootball pic.twitter.com/RsefHvn3ef
— Indian Super League (@IndSuperLeague) November 19, 2016
What a performance from this man, @DiegoForlan7. Got a selfie with him and his match ball! #HatTrickHero #MUMvKER #LetsFootball pic.twitter.com/y4XbBObF80
— Amrinder Singh (@Amrinder_1) November 19, 2016
Tremendous team performance leading by D Forlan last night x Kerala. One more step... Next Wednesday, Chennaiyin! pic.twitter.com/hrvg0zRizi
— Alexandre Guimaraes (@alexguimaborges) November 19, 2016
.@MumbaiCityFC's hat-trick hero, @DiegoForlan7, put up a lethal display in Mumbai!
— Indian Super League (@IndSuperLeague) November 20, 2016
Read: https://t.co/ZWvE3r5zxI #LetsFootball pic.twitter.com/KF0jfHsyoj
.@DiegoForlan7 entertained us with his flawless performance as he scored the 1st hat-trick of the #HeroISL season 3. #BoleTohMCFC pic.twitter.com/9qqut3UiIO
— Mumbai City FC (@MumbaiCityFC) November 20, 2016