South Africa defeats Ireland by 2-1 in FIH Champions Challenge I
The Investec South Africa women’s national hockey team defeated the hosts, Ireland, by 2-1 in the play-off match for the 5th and 6th spots in ESB Electric FIH Champions Challenge I event that recently concluded at University College
Dublin (UCD) in Ireland on June 26. The Investec South Africa women team remained at the top of placement group at the 5th position in the tournament, while Ireland finished at 6th, India at 7th and Azerbaijan in the last.
The match proved a nerve-racking fight between both opponents, but it was South Africa who held their nerves until the end and snatched a close victory. Living down by one goal to nil in the first half, the Irish women scored the equaliser early in the second
half, but the Investec South Africa women scored the deciding goal of the match in the mid-way of the second half and topped the placement group with 5th place in the event.
The match started in a tight mode as both teams clearly showed their intensions that they will not let each other to an easy win. Although both teams had a prestigious place in world rankings, yet they were defeated surprisingly in the knock-out stage of
the event.
The first half remained in the control of South Africa, despite some beautiful efforts from the Irish women, who remained unlucky on a few occasions. The Investec South African women’s real effort came into play in the 17th minute of the first
half, when Sulette Damons scored a beautiful opening field goal for South Africa. The Irish also had their opportunities, but could not convert those into scores and remained goal-less during the first half, which finished at 1-0 to Investec South African
women.
The second half was even more balanced as compared to the first half, in fact the Irish women were the first to break the deadlock in the 47th minute and equalised the score, when Nikki Symmons scored the first goal for Ireland with the help of
a drag flick. Unfortunately for the Irish women the match remained at the same level only for six minutes, when Pietie Coetzee converted a penalty corner into the deciding goal of the match in 53rd minute and put her team once again ahead with 22
minutes to finish the match. The score stood at the same until the end and South Africa won by 2-1.
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