South Africa surge past Japan by 5-1 in ESB Electric Ireland FIH Champions Challenge I
In a quite one-side game, the Women’s hockey team of South Africa trounced Japan by four goals, 5-1 in the Day II game of the ESB Electric Ireland FIH Champions Challenge I was contested on June 19, 2011 in Dublin, Ireland.
In a bid to strengthen the squad, the African squad called back Marsha Marescia, the seasoned player, along with Marcelle Keet. On the other hands, they dropped two players, namely Jen Wilson and Sanani Mangisa, who were part of the first game of the Champions
Challenge I.
Regardless the importance of the game, the Japanese women opened the game quite slowly and showed cautious passing in the early period. The slow game turned them down as they failed to display outstanding defence against African strikers. The African strikers
including Shelley Russell, Pietee Coetzee and Sulette Damons were at their best and made plenty of penetrations into Japan’s defensive circle.
It is vital to mention here that Pietee Coetzee added 218th goal of her international career and is only three goals far away to beat the world record of Russian Natella Krasnikova. She is likely to break the 20-year-old record in the ongoing
event.
With two minutes into the game, Shelley Russell intercepted a pass from her team-mate and comfortably chipped into the Japanese goal, opening the score at 1-0. The South African women started more offensive style of play in order to establish their early
dominance into the game. In a matter of eight minutes, the legendary hockey pro of South Africa, Tarryn Bright, converted a short-corner and doubled the tally.
After conceding a couple of goals, the Japanese women came into action and started attacking African goal. The hit that sailed into the goal by Mie Nakashima in the 23rd minute was not considered goal due to height of the ball. In a matter of
five minutes, Rika Komazawa converted a short-corner and made a cut in the two-goal edge of South Africa. However, it was the only offence from Japanese side throughout the two halves. The first half action concluded with Japan trailing by a single goal, 1-2.
Though both the squads started the second half quite maturely, it was South Africa that dominated the field with the ball possession. However, they failed to break the defence-line of Japan in the first 20 minutes of the second half. In the 57th
minute of the game, Coetzee managed to steal the ball away and unleashed a low-flying shot into the corner of the Japanese goal, increasing the lead up to two goals, 3-1.
In the later time, Kim Hubach and her team-mate, Dirkie Chamberlain, scored off one short-corner each respectively, in the 60th and 67th minutes of the match and sealed a commanding 5-1 victory.
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