5.46 PM Friday, 29 March 2024
  • City Fajr Shuruq Duhr Asr Magrib Isha
  • Dubai 04:56 06:10 12:26 15:53 18:37 19:52
29 March 2024

South Africa edge out India for semi-final spot

India's goalkeeper Dipika Murty Gongala (C) tries to stop the ball as teammates Deepika Thakur (4th L), Binita Toppo (4th R) defend while South African players Marsha Mareschia (L), Lesle-ann George (2nd L) and Kelly Madesn (3rd L) watch during their women's hockey group match at the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi. (REUTERS)

Published
By AFP

Favourites Australia and England were joined by New Zealand and South Africa in the semi-finals of the Commonwealth Games women's hockey tournament in New Delhi on Saturday.

Three-time winners Australia scripted a 5-2 victory against Scotland to top Pool A with 10 points and will take on England, who finished second in Pool B after a 3-0 win over Malaysia.

New Zealand, the dark horses of the tournament, finished with the highest 12 points with four wins out of four and meet second-placed South Africa who lost to India 3-1 but sneaked past on goal difference.

The Black Sticks won their last league match against Canada 3-1.

Australia, who finished fifth at last month's World Cup in Argentina, took an early lead and succeeded in holding off a late charge from the Scots in a thrilling tie at the Major Dhyan Chand stadium.

Midfielder Kate Hollywood was the first to strike for Australia, scoring off a field goal in the 3rd minute.

Forward Megan Rivers slammed in her fourth goal of the tournament in the 12th before Nicole Jessica Arrold scored the first of her two goals in the match five minutes from the breather.

The Aussies made it 4-0 after Jayde Taylor's pass was picked deftly by Ashleigh Nelson in the 43rd.

Scotland fought back to pull back one in the 50th minute through Samantha Judge who was set up by forward Holly Cram. The Scots were on target again four minutes later with Alisa Robertson converting a short corner.

But the Aussies snuffed off the stiff Scot challenge with Arrold scoring off a penalty four minutes from the final hooter.

Malaysia did well to hold England for most part of the first-half. Nicola White went close to scoring but she put the ball wide just minutes before the break.

White however made up for the lapse in the 33rd minute when she slotted the ball home for a 1-0 lead.

England controlled the tempo of the game in the second-half with Alex Danson scoring a field goal in the 40th minute. Georgie Twigg's penalty corner goal in the 46th sealed the victory and the semi-final spot for England.

England captain Kate Walsh said the team had a long chat after the 4-1 defeat to New Zealand on Friday.

"We had to play disciplined today. We didn't play well against New Zealand and we had a long debrief yesterday. We knew we had to pick up the three points.

"We just had to believe in ourselves. We were very negative, so we had to turn that around into a positive outlook. Normally we play an attacking game, but we didn't do that against New Zealand."

The Indians, silver medallists in the 2006 Melbourne Games, started out aggressively before nearly 15,000 fans in the key clash and showed a marked improvement in their game from earlier matches.

They earned a penalty corner in the 11th minute which was converted by midfielder Deepika Thakur after receiving a pass from Jasjeet Kaur Handa.

Thakur was on target once again with her powerful drive zipping past South African goalkeeper Vuyisanani Mangisa in the 21st.

The Indians, ranked one rung over South Africa at 11, made it 3-0 after Surinder Kaur exploited a defensive lapse to score a goal at the half-time hooter.

South Africa fought back in the second half with veteran player Pietie Coetzee netting her 200th goal in her 200th international, prompting a special jig from her team-mates.