The SPAR South African Indoor Hockey side had captivated their fans throughout the FIH Indoor Hockey World Cup in a march to the semi-finals. They had a packed crowd at the Hearfelt Arena in their corner as they sought to sink the unsinkable ship in the Netherlands.

The South African women had returned to the World Cup having missed the 2018 edition and have shown the journey they have been on has been an incredible journey full of heart, courage and inspiration.

The juggernaut that is the Dutch though was near impossible to stop and they rocked their way to an early lead. Pam Imhof and a stroke from Lieke van Wijk earned the team a credible 2-0 lead.

Showing characteristic South African fight the hosts pulled a goal back through a superbly taken penalty corner from Danny de Oliviera. They were being spurred on by an incredible performance in goals by Cheree Greyvenstein

The Dutch though continued to show their class and extended their lead to three goals with Donja Zwinkels scoring before another stroke stretched the lead.

South Africa pulled their keeper and continued to fight for a result but conceded two late goals to inflate the result. The team would not have long to lick their wounds as the bronze medal match takes place at 18:30 against a wounded Czech Republic.