Both South Africa and Great Britain had started the 2024 Paris Games with back-to-back defeats as they met on Wednesday morning in the hope of igniting their Olympic challenge. At the Tokyo Games, Great Britain had prevailed 4-1 and here they again tasted victory, winning 2-1.
The result left Team SA at the bottom of Pool B, having played three, lost three, while both Australia and Argentina have 100 percent winning records.
Great Britain had the first opportunity to strike, winning a penalty corner, but they failed to execute a shot on target. South Africa had the next chance, also from a penalty corner. South Africa capitalised as Quanita Bobbs’ shot was deflected in by Kayla de Waal for her third goal in the tournament. Without further convertable opportunities, the opening quarter ended with South Africa leading 1-0.
The second quarter was first scrappy. Great Britain had the first opportunity to strike and won a penalty corner. Amy Costello fired in a low, hard shot that deflected off a South African stick and into the back of the net to make it 1-1, which it remained until the half-time break.
The second half saw South Africa produce a counter-attack with Ntsopa Mokoena and De Waal combining, only for the former to be denied by a ball-and-all save. Great Britain thought they had found the go-ahead goal when they beat Anelle Lloyd, but they struck the upright. A penalty corner was given to Great Britain, but South Africa reviewed and lost the referral. Although they didn’t make the penalty corner count, Great Britain produced a moment of quality to take the lead. An aerial ball into the circle was collected by Hannah French, who made it 2-1.
South Africa should have found themselves level when Thati Zulu effected a turnover and set it through to Celia Seerane, whose shot was inches wide of restoring parity.
Team SA were guilty of giving the ball away too easily when they were looking to counter, making the task a little easier for the 2016 gold medallists. Thati Zulu drove hard into the circle, but her shot was over the top. Despite their best efforts, the African champions were unable to find a goal, and the game ended 2-1 in favor of Great Britain.
Edith Molikoe shared her thoughts post-game: “It was another tough game. We really put in our all. It’s a game we wanted to get a result from so we are disappointed with the result. We are excited with the style of hockey we are playing and we hope that we can add the result in the final two games.”
Photo: ROGER SEDRES/Team SA