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Faridabad, Sep 22 (UNI) Ishfaq Ahmed scored a brilliant hat-trick as Jammu and Kashmir stunned Delhi 3-1 in a Cluster VII match of the 61st National Football Championship here today.

In a fast-paced game that saw players getting physical at times, J and K dominated the proceedings right from the word go and took an early lead in the ninth minute when from the right flank Sheikh Rizwan set a perfect ball and Ishfaq Ahmed made no mistake.

Stirred by the goal, Delhi pressed for the equaliser and were rewarded in the 41st minute when an unmarked Trilok Singh Bisht simply put the ball past the J and K custodian.

However, their joy was shortlived and J and K regained the lead just before the breather when Ishfaq lobbed the ball beating Delhi Goal keeper Ujjwal Barua.

J and K skipper and international Mehrajuddin Wadoo, who was forced to move back to defence after Arun Malhotra was injured in the 57th minute, did well to keep Delhi captain and star striker Sunil Chetri at bay.

Delhi made few attempts to draw level but failed to convert half chances that came their way. And their hopes to salvage any point from the game went up in smoke when Pushpendra Kudu handled the ball off a indirect kick in the closing moments and referee Raghu Nath Gosavi awarded a spot kick to J and K. Ishfaq, who took the penalty, calmly put the ball behind the net to complete his hat-trick.

The high-adrenalin match saw as many as five J and K players being shown the yellow card while two Delhi players were also cautioned by the referee.

Delhi Physio Krishan Avtar was also sent off by the referee for miss behaviour.

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