African Hockey Federation | FIH Indoor Hockey World Cup | Austria Edge World Cup Opener

February 5, 2023

The historic FIH indoor Hockey World Cup, presented by SPAR, got started at the Heartfelt Arena in South Africa. An almost capacity crowd created a cauldron of noise as the South Africans and Austrians locked horns at a World Cup for the first time since 2007.

It was the SPAR South African Women who got the game to a raucous start and rewarded through for their efforts with an opening goal from captain Jess O’Connor. Playing in her 125^th test cap the South African captain fired home from the Penalty Corner to send the crowd into a frenzy.

The hosts had a couple of half chances but were disappointed that they couldn’t add to the score line as the Europeans gained in confidence in the game and produced and spirited fightback to level before the half time break. A penalty corner was fired home from a tight angle by Buchta and the scores were level at the break.

Marta Laginja gave the Austrians their first lead of the game in the 25^th minute with a penalty corner goal. Her first shot was well saved by Cheree Greyvenstein before the second nestled its way into the back of the net on the far post.

But the South Africans showed characteristic fighting spirit pulling level through a piece of brilliance from Kayla de Waal. Her individual run saw the keeper sent the wrong way before her finish lifted the roof off the Heartfelt Arena.

Despite their best efforts the South Africans were trailing again. Laginja fired in another blistering strike and the disappointed was etched on the crowd with two minutes remaining in the game. The South Africans though continued to fight and thought they had levelled through Kayla de Waal. Unfortunately the ball had been lifted and the goal was rightfully chalked off.

South Africa were given the golden opportunity to level with a penalty stroke awarded after the hooter. Tegan Fourie’s shot was strong but was brilliantly saved to secure a victory for the Austrians and disappointment for the South Africans.

Source: SAHockey.co.za