Ntsopa Mokoena’s rebound finish proved the turning point at Wagener Hockey Stadium on Saturday, as South Africa’s women converted a one-goal deficit into a 3-2 victory over Chile, their first win of the tournament’s classification phase. Across town at the Belfius Hockey Arena in Wavre, the men’s side came agonizingly close to a second consecutive victory before Malaysia’s Faizal Saari pounced on a loose ball in the final seconds to force a 3-3 draw.
For the women, the win demanded composure from the first whistle. Chile’s captain Manuela Urroz gave the visitors an early advantage with a penalty-corner conversion in the 13th minute. South Africa’s captain Edith Molikoe responded with purpose, winning possession with sharp awareness before finishing cleanly in the 22nd minute to level the match heading into halftime.
Additional reference context is available at https://www.ofm.co.za/article/other-news/342914/south-africa-shine-in-hockey-world-cup-classification-battles.
The decisive shift came 10 minutes into the second half. Kayla de Waal’s initial shot was blocked, and Mokoena was quickest to react, converting the rebound for her second goal across consecutive matches. Three minutes into the final quarter, Caylin Maree extended the lead to 3-1, finishing off a well-constructed attacking sequence that again involved de Waal. Chile’s Simone Avelli pulled one back in the 51st minute, but South Africa’s defensive discipline held through the closing stages.
The women now carry genuine momentum into their final match. They remain unbeaten in the classification phase, having drawn 1-1 with Japan before this victory. Their ultimate tournament placement, including their likely position in the 13th-place playoff, will depend on results from other ongoing matches.
The men’s contest at Wavre unfolded as a tighter, more unsettled affair. Abu Kamal Azrai gave Malaysia the lead in the 14th minute. Luke Wynford equalized just three minutes after halftime, only for Azrai to restore Malaysia’s advantage with a spectacular penalty-corner deflection. Nic Spooner leveled again in the 28th minute through an individual display of skill, keeping the match finely balanced.
Mustapha Cassiem then produced the moment that looked to settle it. His finish in the 43rd minute put South Africa ahead 3-2, building on the confidence of their earlier 3-1 win over France. The team defended that lead through the entire final quarter, seemingly positioned to claim maximum points.
It slipped away in the 60th minute. Saari found a loose ball in the South African circle and finished without hesitation. The men remain unbeaten in the classification phase with four points from their matches, but the late concession will sting. Whether that dropped point costs them in the final standings is a question the remaining results will answer.
More on South Africa’s performance across the classification battles can be found at www.ofm.co.za/article/other-news/342914/south-africa-shine-in-hockey-world-cup-classification-battles.