Women's hockey: India beat South Africa 3-1 but still crash out of medal contention

India put up a lion-hearted performance to beat South Africa 3-1 in their final Pool A match in New Delhi today but it was not enough to guarantee the home team a place in the semifinals as the reigning silver medalist crashed out of the women’s hockey event of the Commonwealth Games on goal difference.

South Africa joined Australia in the last four stage from Pool A on better goal difference.

Against South Africa, India needed to win by a four goal margin to progress to the semis but in the end they could only manage a 3-1 win.

With both teams tied at seven points each after their pool fixtures, South Africa edged past India into the semifinals by a lone goal difference.

India will now play the third place holder from Pool B for the fifth-sixth position.

Deepika Thakur (11th, 21st minute) and captain Surinder Kaur (35th) scored for India while Pietie Coetzee (45th) was the lone goal-getter for South Africa.

But inspite of the result, the Indian displayed a valiant performance before a capacity crowd at the Major Dhyan Chanda Stadium.

Knowing that only a four goal difference can save them from elimination, the Indian eves came out all out attacking against South Africa and pumped in as many three goals in the opening half.

Interestingly, India scored the first two goals from penalty corners, which has always been a thorn in the flesh for the home team.

Thakur opened the scoring for India in the 11th minute converting their first short corner from a variation.

Thakur’s strike seemed to have pumped the Indians as they mounted attack after attack on the South African goal.

Their persistent efforts turned into results in the 21st minute when Thakur doubled the lead from India’s second penalty corner, once again with a fierce ground hit after she was served by the stopper.

With a packed vociferous crowd backing them, the Indian eves raised their performance to a different level and took a 3-0 lead at the stroke of the opening half through Surinder and went into breather knowing that they need only one more goal to make it to the semis. 

But South Africa broke the hearts of the thousands of Indian supporters present in the ground when veteran Coetzee reduced the margin in the 45th minute from their second penalty corner.

From there on, the Indian eves tried their best to score goals but luck did not favour them as they failed to break the stubborn South African defence.

After the change of ends the South Africans displayed tactical hockey as they slowed down the pace of the match and kept the ball more in their possession with some negative tactics, which did not go down well with the crowd which booed them for their unsporting strategies.

But the Indian eves did not give up as they went for the ball and in their effort earned a short cornerin the 65th minute but Jasjeet Kaur Handa’s flick did not have the power to beat South African custodian Vuyisanani Mangisa, which more or less summed up India’s day.