India continues their charge against South Africa at FIH Hockey Nations Cup 2022

The South African and Indian Women’s Hockey Teams met today in Spain. The two teams already knew their fate from the pool stage with India advancing to top 4 while South Africa would progress to the 5-8 bracket. The two teams last met at the Olympic Games in Tokyo in a thrilling 4-3 encounter that was shaded by India.

India was the team dictating the play and largely offering the bigger threat with the South Africans having to face a mammoth amount of pressure and waiting for opportunities to counter. The South Africans were showing great resolve in defense but had to face the first penalty corner of the game 13 minutes in. Unfortunately for the South Africans the Indians executed perfectly and took a 1-0 lead through Grace and they held that lead at the end of the first quarter.

The second quarter continued much in the same vein as India surged forward continually with Anelle van Deventer having to make a good save with the glove early on. It was however a story that continued to play as van Deventer made several saves in the next exchanges to keep the deficit down.

Despite showing some signs of attacking life in the game, the South Africans conceded another penalty corner, but Erin Christie charged it down superbly. The African Champions were somewhat guilty of turning the ball over far too easily after great work to win it off the Indians. But despite the dominance in possession at the half-time break it remained 1-0 to India.

Early in the second half India were awarded a penalty stroke and Anelle van Deventer produced an incredible save to keep the score line at just the odd goal. It was a truly wonderful save from the player making her return to international hockey after a number of years away. That save lifted the South Africans who continued to show belief that they could get a result while defending gainfully and it ended 1-0 at the end of the quarter.

South Africa continued to frustrate the Indians, but they did manage a second with a late penalty corner from Gurjit to add gloss to a frustrating night for them. India finishes the pool stage with 3 out of 3 while South Africa now looks ahead to the 5-8 playoffs where they will play Italy.

FIH Hockey Nations Cup 2022 – Day 3 Results

Ireland 2-2 Korea
Spain 0-0 Italy
India 2-0 South Africa
LATER: Chile vs. Japan