SPORTS REPORTER
JAMMU: The ongoing XXII State Football Championship witnessed a major upset when defending champion, Jammu and Kashmir Police lost to the professional side of Lone Star Kashmir in the quarter-finals at GGM Science College Hostel Ground, here on Sunday.
Besides Lone Star, last year’s runners-up J&K Bank and District Football Association (DFA) Srinagar also qualified for the semi-finals.
Earlier, in the quarter-finals, J and K Police defended well before they lost in the tie-breaker. In the stipulated time, the match ended in a goalless draw. In the penalty shoot out, Police could not do well and suffered 2-4 defeat.
For Lone Star, Farhan, Wasiq, Amir and Faisal successfully converted the penalties while Ajay and Bandral netted the ball for J and K Police.
In another quarterfinal, J&K Bank trounced DFA Baramulla by three goals to nil thereby qualified for the semi-finals. Toufeeq (28th), Umer (50th) and Aman Thapa (66th) were the scorers.
The DFA Srinagar also won their tie against Accountant General’s (AG’s) Office XI making it 4-3 in the sudden death. Earlier, the match remained goalless in the stipulated time followed by the unchanged results in extra time.
Later, in tie-breaker, the game could not be decided with 3-3 result on the board. Irfan, Shayik and Feroz netted the ball for DFA Srinagar while Khalid, Qasir and Bilal were the scorers for AGs Office. However, in sudden death, Amir brought in the all important goal.
Meanwhile, the fourth quarter-final of the tournament between J and K Forests and Young Rovers has been scheduled for Monday at 3:00 PM at the same venue. The semi-finals shall be played a day later on 6th January.