SA beaten in dying seconds
2004-08-17 18:50
Athens - South Africa's men's hockey team let in two goals in the dying seconds to lose 4-2 to India in a thrilling encounter at the Athens Olympics on Tuesday.
The teams had been deadlocked at 2-2 (South Africa led 2-0 after 12 minutes) with just seconds on the clock when Indian captain Dilip Tirky smashed the ball into the corner from a penalty corner.
With South Africa pushing for a last-ditch equaliser they were caught on the counter-attack and conceded the fourth with less than 30 seconds remaining.
South Africa led 2-1 at the interval.
The eight-time former Olympic champions were given precious little to work with in the midfield during the first 20 minutes that saw the South Africans dominate most phases of play.
South Africa deservedly went ahead when ace striker Greg Nicol combined superbly with Steve Evans at a penalty corner to flummox the Indian defence before slamming the ball high into the net in the seventh minute.
It was his third goal in only two matches so far in the tournament.
And SA went further ahead when midfielder Craig Fulton latched onto a loose ball in the circle to make it 2-0 five minutes later.
Back into the game
It was a half in which the Indians had just one shot at goal, but that was enough to get them back into the game before the break when veteran playmaker Dhanraj Pillay scored from a penalty corner rebound five minutes before halftime.
The former hockey powerhouse slowly started to gain the ascendancy as the half wore on with some enterprising play. SA though finished the stanza strongly with Nicol putting a difficult chance just wide moments later.
India continued to threaten after the restart and pulled level when Baljit Singh put a fierce shot past Chris Hibbert in goal in the 40th minute.
Gregg Clark, playing in his 245th match for his country - a South African record - was superb as he controlled the midfield, but SA could not find a way past the stoic Indian defence as they pushed for the winner.
Matters were made even more difficult when Ryan Ravenscroft was sin-binned for an injudicious tackle with a little more than 10 minutes remaining.
South Africa's line held while down to ten men only to concede the two late goals in the last 90 seconds for a heartbreaking loss.
SA face The Netherlands in their next encounter on Thursday morning.
- SAPA