SA hockey men push world No.1 team in Paris opener

THE South African men’s hockey team delivered a spirited performance, but ultimately went down 5-3 to the Netherlands, the World No.1 side, in their Olympic Games opener in Paris on Saturday afternoon.

It was the identical scoreline to their Olympic tie in Tokyo three years ago. But unlike in Japan when the South Africans raced into a 3-0 lead and ultimately let their advantage slip, Cheslyn Gie’s team were forced to play catch-up in France.

Gie had promised in the build-up that South Africa “would give as good as they get”, and they certainly did despite trailing 4-1 at half-time.

Dutch defender Jip Janssen shocked the South Africans by slotting home a penalty stroke in just the second minute. However, the South Africans struck back four minutes later when the talented Mustapha Cassiem found himself in the Dutch circle with enough time to unleash a thunderous reverse strike that gave goalkeeper Primin Blaak no chance.

But the South Africans failed to maintain their discipline towards the end of the first quarter, with centre link Nicholas Spooner yellow-carded for dangerous play.

The Dutch utilised the one-man advantage and forced a short corner, from where Jonas de Geus tucked the ball home from close range after a mêlée on the South African goal line.

The South Africans vehemently protested the second Dutch goal and called for a review, but all they earned for their efforts was a further green card for Sam Mvimbi.

The Oranje’s class showed in the second quarter through their slick passing and clinical transitions as they delivered two sucker-punches after the restart and on the half-time hooter through Tjep Hoedemakers and Janssen again.

Duco Telgenkamp then scored shortly into the third quarter, extending the Dutch lead to 5-1.

The floodgates could easily have opened at that stage, but the boys in green-and-gold showed that they may yet cause a few upsets at these Games.

Ryan Julius, who plays his club hockey for Dutch team Almeerse HC, delivered an inch-perfect pass to an unmarked Michael Kok, who had the presence of mind to see the advancing Blaak before elegantly chipping with his reverse stick over the goalkeeper into the roof of the net.

The South Africans were galvanised by Kok’s piece of individual brilliance and launched an avalanche of attacks. They were rewarded for the sustained pressure exerted when umpire Lim Hong-Zhen awarded a penalty stroke after two successive short corners.

Matthew Guise-Brown slotted home the stroke, drilling a powerful flick underneath the diving Blaak, and the South Africans were filled with belief that they could close out the remaining two-goal deficit.

Gie’s men poured forward, but their failure to convert any of their six short corners – compared to the Dutch boasting a 50% success rate from their four – and the brilliance of goalkeeper Blaak ensured the European champions would take all three points from the encounter.

South Africa will hope to build on Saturday’s performance when they face Great Britain on Sunday at 8.15pm at the Stade Yves-du-Manoir.

“Obviously a tough one against the World No 1, but the turnaround time, for us, is very quick before we play Great Britain,” goalscorer Cassiem said.

“Offensively, we are always going to score goals. We made lots of mistakes, but we’re learning. Lots of guys debuted today, and I am really looking forward to the tournament ahead. Tough outing, but we are South African. We will bounce back.”