Photo Hockey India
Harpal Singh Bedi / Bhubaneswar
Fighting to stay alive in the tournament, Canada and South Africa battled it out for a 1-1 draw which left Red Caribous better placed and Proteas vulnerable in Pool C of the 14th World Cup Hockey at Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar on Sunday.
Both teams have a point each after two matches but Canada have better goal difference two scored three conceded, hile South Africa have scored one and conceded six.
Canada faces India and South Africa will play Belgium in their last league matches
Having lost their opening matches, it was a battle for survival for both the teams and they showed sign of nervousness .
After a slow start the match picked up the pace with South Africans going all out for a goal. Surprisingly Canada who had given fancied Belgium run for their money in the opener were subdued and were mostly defensive in first half.
South Africa, who had lost 0-5 to India, were more aggressive and should taken a two- goal lead but for the missed chance. They muffed three open chances. First came in the 11th minute when on rushing Nqobile Ntuli failed to intercept a cross in front of an open goal with custodian out of position.
Three minutes later Julian Hykes had an open goal before him but his shot was wide off the mark. The Africans forced two quick penalty corners but first was cleared by the goalkeeper David Carter and next Austin Smith’s powerful flick hit the post.
The Canadians retaliated and made few incisive counter moves and in the 19th a minute James Walles had a golden chance to score but he fumbled in the circle and hit the ball wide off the target .
They kept the pressure on but Balraj Panesar’s effort was blocked by goal keeper Rassie Pieterse and later they failed to convert a penalty corner that came their way.
The South African then hit back forcing three penalty corners in a row, but they failed to convert any of them but a minute later Keenan Horne in tandem with Tim Drummond created an opening for Nqobile Ntuli who made no mistake by sending ball home (1-0).
However the lead lasted barely two minutes as Canadian countered which fetched them there second penalty corner and following a goal mouth melee led to a stroke which skipper Scott Tupper converted.(1-1)
Both the teams failed to score after that