The SPAR South African women’s hockey team turned in a breathtaking performance to hold defending champions and world number two, Argentina, to a 2-2 draw amid a carnival atmosphere at the Samsung Hockey World Cup in Spain.
Jen Wilson had a storming game, scoring South Africa’s first goal from a penalty corner four minutes in the second half, and earning a penalty stroke five minutes later, converted by Taryn Bright.
Argentina scored first, from their third penalty corner of the game; Mercedes Margalot slamming the ball into the bottom left corner of the net.
It could have been 2-nil to the defending champs at that stage, had their effort in the 10th minute not been penalized for being too high.
Trailing by one goal to nil, South Africa piled on the pressure, tackling hard and doing their best to keep possession, as they were urged on by coach, Jenny King.
Argentina soaked up the pressure and held onto the one-nil lead until halftime.
South Africa’s two goals in the second half rattled Argentina, who came within three minutes of losing the match, until Rosario Lucetti scored from Argentina’s 9th penalty corner.
Both teams pressed hard for the winning goal, with Caroline Jack simply awesome in goals keeping out an effort from Argentina, and South Africa missing from a penalty corner with just over a minute to go.
It was undoubtedly South Africa’s best performance of the tournament, and they will take great confidence into their remaining matches.
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