Proteas impress but Germany edge a seven-goal hockey thriller

MISSED opportunities in the first half and conceding three goals in the second period led to South Africa’s second defeat in the World League Hockey League Semi-Finals in Johannesburg, by four goals to three.

The Proteas yesterday bossed Germany, the world’s third-ranked team early on, and launched an impressive fightback in the final quarter of the match as they scored two goals and threatened to claim a fourth to level the scores.

The home side would have been satisfied with their showing in the opening and closing quarters of the game, which they dominated. It was not enough to claim a famous victory over the Germans, who scored three goals in the third quarter.

After South Africa squandered four penalty-corners, the Germans took the lead courtesy of Moritz Trompertz.

The second half got off to a disappointing start for South Africa with Niklas Wellen producing some individual brilliance to sneak the ball past keeper Rassie Pieterse.

Germany added their third only two minutes later with Pieterse managing to defend the onslaught twice from a penalty-corner, only for Mats Grambusch to land the telling blow.

At this stage the match seemed to completely unravel for South Africa but the Proteas launched a gutsy fightback.

Playing in his 150th international for South Africa, Austin Smith finally hit a shot into the top of the net from a penalty corner in the 37th minute.

Germany immediately stretched their lead to three goals with Timm Herzbruch getting onto the scoresheet.

The final quarter belonged to the South Africans as they dominated proceedings. Smith got his second from another penalty corner in the 50th minute, and Jonty Robinson slid across to get the ball into the box to narrow the deficit to one goal with less than five minutes left on the clock.

Getting a sniff of a morale-boosting draw, South Africa camped out in the German half.

With less than a minute left in the match the Proteas were awarded a penalty corner which the visitors’ keeper Mark Appel saved to make sure of a hard-fought victory for Germany.

Lying fourth in their Pool B, South Africa will be hoping to finally capitalise on their opportunities when they go up against Egypt tomorrow.