South Africa’s Indoor Women’s hockey team began their Indoor World Cup journey on Monday in Poreč with a 4-4 draw against Thailand in the first-ever indoor meeting between the two countries. In the other Pool game, Poland and Austria also drew.
Thailand made an immediate impact opening the scoring after 40 seconds, capitalizing on a
defensive error from the South Africans. To their credit the African champions fought back and were awarded a penalty corner which Malikah Hamza converted to level the score line at 1-1.
After defending a promising Thailand attack South Africa broke quickly and a lovely team
move between Cailynn den Bakker and Laylaa Davids set up the former to give the Africans
a 2-1 lead at the end of the first quarter.
South Africa made it 3-1 through a penalty stroke by Tegan Fourie. Thailand pulled a second back just before the half-time break from a penalty corner to make it 3-2.
Early in the second half South Africa gave away a penalty stroke. Sarah Paget guessed the
right way but the finish was too strong and parity was restored at 3-3.
South Africa regained the lead when Hamza saw her penalty corner flick just do
enough to get through the keeper. Early in the final quarter South Africa gave away a second penalty stroke and like the first time, Paget went the right way but, it was converted to make it 4-4.