Publications
Partners
London - The South Africa women’s hockey team dominated the Investec World League Pool B match against Spain at the University of Westminster in Chiswick, London on Sunday night but had to be content with sharing the spoils 2-2.
South Africa had more than double the number of goal shots in the first half but Spain led 1-0 at the break thanks to a cracking strike from Carlota Petchame in the 31st minute, just four minutes before half-time.
Spain felt they had scored another goal a minute after the changeover when a cracking shot from Berta Bonastre on the reverse-stick slammed into the backboard but the umpires disallowed the effort for deliberate shielding of the ball.
SA hit back in the second half when Tarryn Bright stroked in the equaliser from a penalty corner in the 50th minute (1-1).
In the 54th minute of the second half Pietie Coetzee hit the post with a deflection shot off Nicolene Terblanche’s long slap-pass.
SA again had the lion’s share of shots on goal in the second half, and in the 61st minute it was Coetzee who scored her 274th goal in 268 Test matches, this time from a penalty stroke after captain Marsha Cox’s rebound effort hit a defender’s foot on the goalline.
However, the 2-1 lead became 2-2 just two minutes later when Maria Romagosa smashed in the equaliser in the 63rd minute.
Cox, in the left channel, and Shelley Russell, on the right-hand touchline, were constant threats as the Spaniards battled to stay the pace.
In the dying minutes there was much drama, and a penalty stroke award to Spain was turned down while SA also repelled two controversially awarded penalty corners.
The South Africans meet leaders Australia on Tuesday (18:30 SA time) in their final Pool B match and are likely to meet China in the quarter-finals on Thursday, this format giving every team a second crack at getting amongst the medals.
Pool B log: Australia goal difference +5, points 4; England GD +3, pts 4; South Africa GD -3, pts 1; Spain GD -5, pts 1.
Pool A: Argentina GD +2 pts 6; China GD 0, pts 3; Italy GD 0 3 pts; USA GD -2, pts 0.
South Africa had more than double the number of goal shots in the first half but Spain led 1-0 at the break thanks to a cracking strike from Carlota Petchame in the 31st minute, just four minutes before half-time.
Spain felt they had scored another goal a minute after the changeover when a cracking shot from Berta Bonastre on the reverse-stick slammed into the backboard but the umpires disallowed the effort for deliberate shielding of the ball.
SA hit back in the second half when Tarryn Bright stroked in the equaliser from a penalty corner in the 50th minute (1-1).
In the 54th minute of the second half Pietie Coetzee hit the post with a deflection shot off Nicolene Terblanche’s long slap-pass.
SA again had the lion’s share of shots on goal in the second half, and in the 61st minute it was Coetzee who scored her 274th goal in 268 Test matches, this time from a penalty stroke after captain Marsha Cox’s rebound effort hit a defender’s foot on the goalline.
However, the 2-1 lead became 2-2 just two minutes later when Maria Romagosa smashed in the equaliser in the 63rd minute.
Cox, in the left channel, and Shelley Russell, on the right-hand touchline, were constant threats as the Spaniards battled to stay the pace.
In the dying minutes there was much drama, and a penalty stroke award to Spain was turned down while SA also repelled two controversially awarded penalty corners.
The South Africans meet leaders Australia on Tuesday (18:30 SA time) in their final Pool B match and are likely to meet China in the quarter-finals on Thursday, this format giving every team a second crack at getting amongst the medals.
Pool B log: Australia goal difference +5, points 4; England GD +3, pts 4; South Africa GD -3, pts 1; Spain GD -5, pts 1.
Pool A: Argentina GD +2 pts 6; China GD 0, pts 3; Italy GD 0 3 pts; USA GD -2, pts 0.
