The SPAR South African Indoor Women’s Team and Thailand began their Indoor World Cup journey on Monday in Poreč facing off in their first ever indoor hockey meeting. Having seen the other Pool game between Poland and Austria end in a draw, the winner would top the pool in the early stages.
Thailand made an immediate impact opening the scoring after 40 seconds, capitalizing on a defensive error from the South Africans as Tongkham fired home. To their credit the African champions fought back immediately and Malikah Hamza forced a fine save as the ladies in green searched to regain parity. The South Africans were then 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 had a golden opportunity to make it 3-1 but Hamza saw her chance snuffed out. They were given another went a poor challenge from the keeper saw a Penalty stroke awarded and Tegan Fourie made no mistake. Sarah Paget made a good save when called upon as South Africa narrowly missed a fourth by Davids. Thailand pulled a second back just before the half time break from a penalty corner to make it 3-2 at the half time break.
Early in the second half South Africa gave away a penalty stroke. Sarah Paget guessed the right way but Todkaew’s finish was too strong and parity was restored. 3-3. South Africa had an immediate penalty corner but Kayla de Waal saw her shot charged down. The quality of chances being created weren’t of the highest quality and the game was getting scrappy as the third quarter neared its conclusion.
South Africa regained the lead when Malikah Hamza saw her penalty corner flick just do enough to get through the keeper. With 10 minutes remaining South Africa led 4-3.
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.
With 150 seconds on the clock SA won a penalty corner and a golden chance to re-establish the lead, but the chance was not converted. Kayla de Waal used a pocket of space superbly but struck the upright as the Africans desperately searched for a winner but were unable to find it and it ended 4-4, sharing the points.
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