LAHORE, Dec 3: Four-goal Taimur Mawaz Khan stole the show as Lotto Carpets Singapore annexed Toyo Nasic Polo Cup crushing Hattaf Securities 7- 4 1/ 2 in a one-sided final on Sunday.
The winners were mainly relying on key player Shah Qubilai Alam, who contributed two goals, but Taimur excelled throughout the final to give a facile victory to his team.
The winners led the first chukker 2-1 1/2 as Qubilai drew first blood scoring a field goal.
Hamza Mawaz Khan struck second goal of the winners, converting a fine cross pass from Qubilai. In the dying minutes, Asad Nadir reduced the margin for Hattaf Securities, who had half-goal handicap. Asad cashed in on a fine pass from Agha Murtaza and tapping the ball twice found the target.
Lotto maintained the half-goal lead in the second chukker, as either side blasted home once. Taimur fired his first goal, converting a 30-yard penalty hit to make the score 3- 1 1/2. But soon Mian Khurram Munir brought Hattaf Securities closer (3- 2 1/2) scoring a spectacular goal after receiving an angular pass from Hassan Ali.
The third chukker saw the winners consolidate their control as Taimur added two more and increased the lead to 5-3 1/2. Taimur first capitalised a 30-yard penalty hit with a rolling shot and then successfully converted a spot penalty near the goalpost. Asad scored his second to reduce the lead for the losers.
Khurram managed to enliven Hattaf hopes for a comeback, finding the target for second time in the beginning of the fourth chukker, which had made the score 5- 4 1/2. But Qubilai and Taimur's combination made the affairs beyond their reach as they hit one more each to seal the fate of the match.
A decisive field goal in the extra fifth chukker by Syed Mohamamd Raza enabled Karachi's riders seize third place, carving out an exciting 5-4 win against Limited Editions in subsidiary final.
During the stipulated four chukkers, three goals by Kashif Jamal and one by Syed Mohammad Raza helped Karachi level the score 4-4. For Limited Editions a seasoned Asif Tiwana struck all four goals to leave the results to a fifth chukker. Raza scored the winner after receiving a fine pass from Abdul Haseeb Mehta.