Team South Africa completed their FIH Hockey Women’s Junior World Cup with a 3-2 win over to finish in 7th place on Tuesday, 12 April 2022.
South Africa were desperate to complete their campaign on a high as it was the first ever African hosted FIH Hockey Women’s Junior World Cup.
The South Africans started the match with great intensity winning an early penalty corner but continued with a poor execution rate as their chances went abegging.
The early pressure and possession paid dividends though as the South Africans scored the opening goal. Kayla de Waal worked the ball into the circle as Bianca Wood showed class to create space and finish into the bottom corner.
USA almost pulled level from their opening penalty corner and were made to pay when Jean-Leigh Du Toit produced a world class drag flick into the side netting to lead 2-0.
Edith Molikoe created a chance that was inches away from Thati Zulu turning it in for a third at the end of the quarter.
Early in the second quarter, USA gained a foothold in the game and strived forward with pressure building and Ellis was forced into a save from Hope Rose before Ashley Sessa fired the ball over the top of the goal.
The South Africans had retreated in the competition allowing pressure, but on the counter won a penalty corner. However, the chance was not converted.
The third quarter saw South Africa come out swinging with renewed intensity. A penalty corner variation from Penalty Corner number 5 for the South Africans almost resulted in a goal. Hanrie Louw picked out Molikoe superbly who deflected the ball just inches wide of the post.
But the goal would come for the South Africans – a wonderful piece of work from Tamlyn Kock on the baseline was expertly deflected in by Mikkela le Roux.
But that deficit was reduced out of nowhere when Varney drove into the South African circle and fired home hard and low. USA then had a penalty corner and a chance to reduce the lead again, but it was superbly run down by Thati Zulu, which brought an end to the third quarter.
South Africa created the best early chance of the fourth quarter when Kayla de Waal lifted it through and Mikkela le Roux powered the ball in, only to see it lodged in the goalkeeper’s glove. The resultant penalty corner was routine for USA to defend, and they used that moment to turn the pressure up on the South Africans.
They pulled a second goal back to reduce the deficit with Tamer reacting to good work from Ashley Sessa and firing it into the bottom corner under Amelie Claasen. It set up a massive final ten minutes as the hosts held on to secure a 7th place finish.
SA Junior Women’s Team:
Angela Welham
Mikkel Le Roux
Jacolene McLaren
Kayla de Waal
Hanrie Louw
Tamlyn Kock
Edith Molikoe
Onthatile Zulu
Mishka Ellis
Jean-Leah du Toit
Substitutes:
Mathapelo Ramasimong
Bianca Wood
Jeanri Thomas
Caylin Maree
Cailyn den Bakker
Amelie Claasen
Laylaa Davids
Photo 1 Caption: Team South Africa completed their FIH Hockey Women’s Junior World Cup with a 3-2 win over to finish in 7th place on Tuesday, 12 April 2022. Photo: SA Hockey (Instagram)
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