DHARAMSHALA, June 2: In a repeat of the first match of the 18th Gyalyum Chemo Gold Cup football tournament, Dhondupling FC (Clementown) took on Tashi Phalkhiel Sports Club (Pokhara) for the first quarterfinals in Dharamshala today.

But unlike the goalless draw in their earlier encounter, the match produced five goals with Pokhara getting the better of Clementown. The star of the match for Pokhara was clearly Norbu Dorjee, jersey number 7, who netted a hatrick of goals and in the process emerged as favourites for claiming the golden boot of the tournament.

Clementown drew first blood in the match with Lobsang Wangyal driving the ball past the keeper in the sixth minute. But by the time Tenzin Choesang, with the help of a penalty kick, scored Clementown's second and last goal in the 16th minute of the second half, the match was all but over.

Norbu Dorjee’s brilliant footwork and scoring abilities not only produced three goals but also dented the spirit of the opponent. Scoring the first goal for his team in the 18th minute, Dorjee then made good use of the goalpost to register his second.

On a day when it seemed that he could do nothing wrong, the number 7 then converted an indirect free kick to a goal in the ninth minute of the second half, taking his team to the semi-finals of the tournament.

In the second quarterfinals of the day, TCV United, a team of school children from the Tibetan Children’s Village schools, romped past Delhi United for a berth in the semifinals.

The school children scored three goals while Delhi United failed to bother the scorekeepers.

TCV made good use of both halves of the ground; scoring three goals, without letting the Delhi strikers disturb their net.

Tsering Tashi, jersey number 8, Ngawang Topgyal, and Tsering Tashi, jersey number 10 scored a goal each for TCV.

Tashi Phalkhiel Sports Club (Pokhara) will now square off with TCV United for the first semi finals on Monday, June 4.

Tomorrow, Phuntsokling (Orissa) will play Goa Tibetan FC and Ghangjong FC (Shillong) will face Phakshing FC (KTM) for a place in the semis.

All through the tournament, which began May 26, players have been wearing black arm bands in a show of “support and solidarity with Tibetans inside Tibet."