Showing good understanding in both attack and defence, Mumbai rode roughshod against Andhra Pradesh to post a convincing 7-0 victory in a boys' Pool 'B' league match in the 35th Junior (under-20) National Hockey Championship for boys and girls, at the Major Dhyanchand ground, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Nehrunagar, on Thursday evening.
The tournament is being organized by the Pune District Hockey Association, under the auspices of the Indian Hockey Federation.
Mumbai, with an all-win record in the four-team pool, qualified for the pre-quarter-finals.
Andhra, who started the match also with six points, the same as Mumbai, but with an inferior goal-difference, required a win at all cost to stay in the competition but they were unable to match the superior display of the Mumbai lads and bowed out.
In this crucial encounter, the youngsters from Mumbai made their intentions clear from the start as they went on the offensive and drew first blood in the first minute through Narad Bahadhur's penalty-corner conversion. Three minutes later Bahadur was again on target before Ved Prakash and Mohd Irfan scored a goal each to give Mumbai a commanding 4-0 lead at the end of the first-half.
On resumption, Mumbai continued to call the shots but could manage only three more goals. Anup Valmiki, Vikram yadav and Irfan got them.
Mumbai will meet Karnataka in the next round on Saturday, after earning a much-needed rest day on Friday.
Mahrashtra conceded three goals in the final 15 minutes, after enjoying a 2-0 cushion, and paid dearly as they lost 2-3 to Madhya Bharat in a Pool 'D' match.
In a girls' match, hosts Pune District Hockey Association (PDHA) maintained their superb winning form as they outplayed Orissa 3-0 to record their third successive win in Pool D and storm into the quarter-finals.
