South Africa’s search for a victory at the 2022 FIH Hockey World Cup continues after succumbing to a last-gasp winner from Chile in a tight match on Monday.
The South Africans started strong, applying heaps of pressure on the Chileans, and the breakthrough came in the second quarter when Ntsopa Mokoena scored her fourth in as many test matches to hand the South Africans the lead.
Young @SA_Hockey star, Ntsopa Mokoena, who put in another fantastic performance in her team’s tough final minute loss to Chile, discusses what her team will look to improve upon in their final pool game against India. pic.twitter.com/FnzEW7N6xx
— International Hockey Federation (@FIH_Hockey) December 12, 2022
Their joy would be short-lived as Chile’s Urroz Manuela’s deflection fired past South Africa’s Anelle van Deventer, making it 1-1 heading into the break.
Despite creating numerous chances in the third and fourth quarter, Chile’s Villagran Fernanda scored the winner with just forty seconds remaining on the clock, handing the South Africans their second loss of the World Cup after going down 2-1 to Japan on Day 1 of the competition.
They face India next, with the match set to get underway on 14 December at 4:15pm.