South Africa's Hopes Dashed By Austria In Indoor Hockey World Cup

The 2023 Indoor Hockey World Cup womens semi-finalists South Africa were taught a harsh lesson by Austria at this years edition in Croatia on Tuesday.

The beaten finalists from the last tournament in Pretoria put 10 goals past the hapless South Africans at the Zatika Sports Centre in Porec without conceding.

They scored three goals in the first quarter, two goals in the second and two in the third. A further three goals were scored in the fourth, including a penalty stroke, as the South Africans sacrificed their goalkeeper for an outfield player as they chased the game.

The South African team had come into the tournament with high hopes of improving on their performance at home two years ago. But the warning signs were there in the laboured 4-all draw with Malaysia in Mondays opening match.

While the Asian champions sat back and allowed SA to come onto them, pouncing on their mistakes, the Austrians played a high-intensity pressing game from the start and never allowed them to settle. They were also ruthless in punishing any lapses by the SA players.