Match between South Africa and USA ends in a 5-5 draw
Pietee Coetzee scored five goals in the group match of the ESB Electric Ireland FIH Champions Challenge I between South Africa and USA, which ended in a 5-5 draw.
It was an historic day for former one that not only clinched the top position at the point chart, but their striker also broke the world highest goal-scoring record.
The African team was looking completely different, as they failed to show impressive performance and could only manage a draw.
In spite of the previous two performances, it was not a good start from the South African side. In the first match of the Champion Challenge, the South African side thrashed Japan at 5-1, while managed a draw at 2-2 against Scotland.
Coetzee was at her best during the competition and marked a hat-trick in the first 35 minutes of the play. Both the teams started the game quite brilliantly, but it was USA that drew the first blood in the 3rd minute of the game and established
their dominance on the field.
The maiden goal was enough to ignite the strike of South Africa. Coetzee, the legendary player from South Africa, scored three goals and took the game into their favour. With three goals, she also broke the highest goal-scoring record of Russian Natella
Krasnikova of 226 goals and added a new chapter in the sport history of South Africa. However, the joys were short lived, as the US team obtained another goal in the 35th minute and reduced the lead down to a single goal.
South Africa and US opened the second half with the same energy and carried out back-to-back attacks. South Africa extended its lead through a short-corner in the 39th minute. However, the remaining period belonged to the US team which made the
game more interesting. Katie O’Donnell and her team-mate, Paige Salenski, scored two and one goal respectively and established a one goal advantage. However, Coetzee scored another goal to tie the knots at 5-5 and closed the game with a draw.
The South Africa with one victory and two draws is sitting at the top with five points, while Scotland is holding the second position with the same five points, but with less conversation rate. On the other hand, the teams of Japan and United States are
holding third and fourth with four and one point, respectively.
It is vital to mention here that the South African were required only a single point to top the Pool-A which they obtained with a draw. However, plenty of missing chances will be a matter of concern for Gils Bonnet, the head coach of the African side. The
tournament has progressed into the knockout stage.
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