Australia came from behind to beat South Africa 2-1 in the southern hemisphere’s teams’ opening matches at the Yves-du-Manoir Stadium hosting the hockey matches at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, France, on Sunday, 28 July, 2024.
The South Africans knew the challenge that lay ahead, facing the world number 5, a team they had never scored against in Olympic history, despite three previous meetings.
After successfully appealing an early penalty corner, the South Africans created the best opportunity when they countered superbly and almost tapped in at the back post through Ongeziwe Mali. South Africa then produced a brilliant move from a free hit, with Celia Seerane crossing for Dirkie Chamberlain, whose goal-bound deflection was sensationally stopped by Jocelyn Bartram.
“We are disappointed to not have earned the result. We fought hard and put in a massive performance. We put out a marker and we competed with a very good side. I am very proud of my team and we will go work on the points that we need to ahead of the next game.”
SA Captain Erin Christie
The balance of play was in favour of the South Africans, and they were duly rewarded as Kristen Paton fed Kayla de Waal, who, after rounding Bartram, put it into the back of the net to give the Africans the lead, for the first goal by a South African woman against Australia at an Olympic Games.
Australia had their first chance of the quarter at the hooter, but Anelle Lloyd made the save to take SA into a 1-0 lead at the first break.
Australia must have received a rollicking at the first interval as they levelled matters just 15 seconds into the second quarter. A good run down the left saw Stephanie Kershaw get the deflection just ahead of Anelle Lloyd to restore parity. Australia won the game’s opening penalty corner, but it was easily defended.
Australia broke again with a one-on-one opportunity, but it was brilliantly saved by Lloyd with her stick to deny the Hockeyroos in a quarter where they were asking questions. Half-time in Paris ended 1-1.
The second half started with a successful referral for the South Africans, overturning a penalty corner. Thati Zulu produced a wonderful tackle to deny an Australian attack, much to the delight of the crowd, as South Africa won a penalty corner up the other end. Despite two re-awards, the South Africans were unable to make it count and very quickly found themselves defending a penalty corner.
Australia made it count from the penalty corner with a deflected effort into the roof from Tatum Stewart to give Australia the lead for the first time. Thati Zulu then created her own chance with tenacity but saw it saved well at the near post, marking the last meaningful chance of the quarter, with 15 minutes remaining.
It was a cagey final quarter, with neither team wanting to make a mistake in the quest for points. Australia were not creating anything of substance, but a yellow card for the South Africans meant they would have to cope with a player short in the final exchanges.
Nevertheless, the South Africans continued to press for an equalizer. Despite a tremendous effort from the team, they were unable to create the game-defining moment and, unfortunately, had to settle for an opening game defeat.
South Africa’s next game is against Argentina, on Monday at 17:30.
South Africa Pool B Group Stage Fixtures and Results
Sun 28 Jul – Australia 2-1 South Africa
Mon 29 Jul – South Africa v Argentina
Wed 31 Jul – South Africa v Great Britain
Thu 1 Aug – South Africa v Spain
Sat 3 Aug – South Africa v United States of America
Team South Africa’s Women’s Hockey Squad at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games
Anelle Lloyd
Celia Seerane
Stephanie Botha
Edith Molikoe
Kristen Paton
Onthatile Zulu
Dirkie Chamberlain
Paris-Gail Isaacs
Taheera Augousti
Erin Christie
Ntsopa Mokoena
Hannah Pearce
Ongeziwe Mali
Marie Louw
Kayla de Waal
Quanita Bobbs
Original Copy: Hockey South Africa, with editing by gsport
Photo Caption: The balance of early play was in favour of the South Africans, and they were rewarded when Kristen Paton fed Kayla de Waal, who, after rounding Australian goalkeeper Jocelyn Bartram, put it into the back of the net to give the Africans the lead, and the first-ever goal by a South African woman against Australia at an Olympic Games, at the Yves-du-Manoir Stadium in Paris, France, on Sunday, 28 July, 2024. All Photos: FIH
