Toba Tek Singh 6 Bahawalpur 0

LAHORE, Jan 31: Reigning champions Okara, and last year runners-up, Toba Tek Singh, made it through to the semifinals of the fourth Punjab Under-16 Inter-District Hockey Championship on Friday.

Okara defeated Muzaffargarh 2-0 in the first quarterfinal while five goals by Muhammad Usman enabled Toba Tek Singh crush Bahawalpur 6-0.

Okara drew first blood through Muhammad Ramzan in the 19th minute.

Half time score was l-0.

The losers, missed a chance to equalize in the 45th minute when Nazir Yaseen’s push going straight into the cage was timely deflected by Mohammad Afzal.

The winners finally doubled the lead in the 54th minute when Afzal converted the fourth short corner on an indirect try to make the tally.

Okara got five short corners and converted only one. Muzaffargarh got two short-corner but all went in vain.

Toba Tek Singh, who have almost all players in their rank from Gojra tehsil, a main nursery for producing international players, showed no mercy to Bahawalpur.

Usman was in superb form who did not miss out, on any opportunity

Toba Tek Singh led 1-0 up to the 23rd minute when it seemed that the losers would present a strong challenge, however four goals in seven minutes before the interval made it a one-sided affair.

Usman opened the account with a third minute field goal scored by him on solo effort. Toba Tek Singh opened the barrage of goals with Usman doubling the lead in the 23rd minute when he scored another field goal after receiving a pass from Irfan Aslam.

Four minutes later, Singh Inyatullah , made it 3-0 by scoring a field goal.

From there onwards, Usman scored three goals to complete his hat trick and team’s tally.

Saturday’s fixtures (quarterfinals):

Lahore vs Sargodha at 10.30am; Vehari vs Faisalabad at 12.15pm.