World number seven China beat the world’s 11th-ranked Investec South Africa women’s hockey team 4-3 in a heart-stopping World Cup Group B match in the Hague Sunday, after the score was 2-0 to the Asians at half-time.
Click to watch the FIH post-match interview with Investec South Africa’s Benradette Conston and skipper Marsha Cox, following SA’s 3-4 loss to world no. 7 China, in their fourth FIH Rabobank Hockey World Cup 2014 tie
On balance SA could have won the match, but it was not to be.
In the fifth minute the Chinese forwards found a way through and their second penalty corner saw keeper Anelle van Deventer make a fine reflex save but the ball somehow dribbled over the goalline from Mengrong Wu and it was 1-0 after six minutes.
Nicolene Terblanche got in for in a shot at the other end before Dirkie Chamberlain’s effort forced SA’s first PC but Pietie Coetzee’s conventional beat flashed past the post. In the 11th another chance came SA’s way but Chamberlain’s great ball from the right evaded sticks when a goal seemed almost certain.
Coetzee then made a superb tackle as did left half Quanita Bobbs to keep the tricky Chinese attackers from making goalshots. The pace continued unabated and a Damons deflection looped over the crossbar.
Disaster struck SA in the 125th when a defensive lapse let in Meiyu Liang and her pass to Wu was duly converted (2-0).
Lisa Deetlefs’ PC slapshot was blocked by a Chinese defender and then it was the fast-breaking Chinese to win two consecutive PCs, the first stopped on the line by captain Marsha Cox, the second saved by the keeper.
A great counter resulted in SA earning another PC and Coetzee’s drag-flick was palmed away by keeper Dongxiao Li. SA made several more strike-zone entries until three consecutive PCs went their way following excellent build-up, but the Chinese survived.
With two minutes left Damons’ extreme pace outflanked the China defence but her superb flat cross at full stretch from the right wing found no SA attackers on hand to deflect home.
Turning around 2-0 down, SA had a mountain to climb in keeping their chance of going into third place in Group B alive, with one round still to play.
Sanani Mangisa had replaced Van Deventer in goal and SA started well, making several strike zone entries and getting in a couple of shots, and finally there was joy in the 42nd minute for SA when Tarryn Bright’s pinpoint pass found Kelly Madsen who made no mistake (2-1).
SA continued the pressure but it was China who broke down the left to set up Wang Na for a superb strike and the Asians had restored their two-goal cushion after 53 minutes. (3-1).
With 11 minutes left the stats reflected that SA had dominated the game and six PCs to four was just one in the African champions’ favour.
Coston hit the post from field play with nine left and got her goal when she tapped-in in the 62nd minute following Kathleen Taylor’s shot for the score to go to 3-2.
Click to watch the Bernadette Conston’s goal
An on-fire SA then forced a PC in the 66th minute (four minutes left) and world record goalscorer Coetzee made it 3-3 for her 281st goal in her 285th Test match.
Click to watch the Pietie Coetzee’s goal
But the joy was short-lived as Mengyu Wang made the score 4-3 with a pinpoint PC strike in the 68th for the 4-3 final score to China.
SA appealed for a PC with 45 seconds left but to no avail.
Watch the Mengyu Wang goal that won China the tie 4-3
Now SA need to beat log leaders the USA in their final Group B match at 2.30pm Tuesday and hope that bottom-placed England overcome Germany’s challenge, for the South Africans to finish fourth in the Group and have a shot at an unprecedented seventh place in the classification matches.
FIH Rabobank Hockey World Cup Logs as at 8 June, 2014 (All played 4): Group A: 1. Holland 13GD 12pts 2. Australia 1GD 9pts 3. South Korea 2GD 7pts 4. New Zealand 1GD 6pts 5. Japan -9GD 1pt 6. Belgium -8GD 0pts Group B: 1. USA 9GD 10pts 2. Argentina 7GD 10pts 3. China -1GD 7pts 4. Germany -4GD 4pts 5. South Africa -3GD 3pts 6. England -8GD 0pts The Investec SA Team for the FIH Rabobank Hockey World Cup, from 31 May – 15 June, 2014: Goalkeepers: Anelle van Deventer (North West); Sanani Mangisa (Southern Gauteng) Defenders: Lisa Deetlefs (Southern Gauteng), Marcelle Manson (Border), Nicolene Terblanche (Northern Blues), Quanita Bobbs (Western Province) Midfielders: Marsha Cox, Bernie Coston (both Southern Gauteng); Shelley Russell, Tarryn Bright, Ilse Davids (all Western Province), Kelly Madsen (KZN Coastal Raiders) Strikers: Dirkie Chamberlain (Northern Blues); Kathleen Taylor (Western Province); Celia Evans, Sulette Damons (both North West); Lilian du Plessis (Southern Gauteng); Pietie Coetzee (Southern Gauteng) Investec South Africa Group-Stage Matches: Sunday 1 June: South Africa 1-4 Argentina Tue 3 June: South Africa 1-3 Germany Fri 6 June: South Africa 4-1 England Click to read the match report on gsport Sun 8 June: South Africa 3-4 China Tue 10 June: South Africa vs the USA
Main Photo Caption: Pietie Coetzee scores Investec South Africa’s third goal to briefly draw level with China in their fourth FIH Rabobank Hockey World Cup tie in the Hague on Sunday. It was heart-break for the South Africans, who came back from 3-1 to agonisingly lose the match in the final minutes, when China scored their fourth to secure their third place on Group B’s log, with 1 final fixture to play. Photo: FIH
Photo 2 Caption: SA striker Sulette Damons in the thick of things with China goalkeeper Dongxiao Li and defender Mengyu Wang, during the Asians’ 4-3 victory in Holland on Sunday. Photo: Stanislas Brochier
Video Credits: All videos courtesy FIH hosted on Youtube
(With editing by gsport)
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