Inter-school football

MADHYAPUR: Vinayak Sikchhya Niketan and Bhaktapur English School entered the quarter-finals of the first Inter-school Invitational Football Tournament, organised by Madhyapur Youth Association, here on Saturday. Ravi Prajapati scored a hat-trick as Vinayak Sikchhya thrashed Bhanubhakta Memorial 4-0. Dinesh Shrestha scored the other goal. In another match, Bhaktapur School edged past Simphony Academy 7-6 on sudden death after a goalless draw in the regular time. The match went into sudden death after both the team scored four goals each on penalties. Bhaktapur goalkeeper Bikash Shrestha was named the man of the match. On Sunday, Deep Jyoti will take on Rose Bud School. — HNS

England beat Austria

VIENNA: England’s chances of qualifying for next year’s European Championship sustained a blow on Friday when Michael Owen was injured in a 1-0 exhibition win over Austria. Owen will miss England’s final qualifier at home against Croatia on Wednesday. Peter Crouch scored in the 44th minute heading in a David Beckham corner kick. In Saint-Denis, Youssef Mokhtari scored a late equaliser and Morocco held France to a 2-2 draw in another friendly. Mokhtari struck in the 84th after Samir Nasri had scored one and created the other for Sidney Govou to give France a 2-1 lead. Tarik Sektioui had put Morocco ahead in the eighth minute. — AP