Ireland hit four against South Africa in stunning Hockey World Cup comeback
Lee Cole scored twice for Ireland in their Hockey World Cup victory over South Africa. Pic: Ben McShane/Sportsfile
Ireland survived a tidal wave of South African pressure to win their first Men’s World Cup group stage game for nearly 50 years following a breathless 4-1 victory on Tuesday in Wavre.
Mark Tumilty’s side came from a goal down to score four times in 17 second-half minutes, including a fine Lee Cole penalty corner double, to set up a winner-takes-all battle with Spain on Thursday. It will determine a path to the final eight phase or an unwanted set of lower classification matches.
Drag flicks aside, Cole also “defended like an animal” according to goalkeeper and room-mate Jamie Carr, who made several key saves of his own to stifle the dangerous Cassiem brothers - and even overturn a penalty stroke decision which ultimately turned the game.
“It’s an unbelievable feeling to work so hard to get here and then play in a game needing to win to stay in,” said Carr, who overcame injury at the Belgian club championships to make the starting squad.
“We weathered their storm and to bounce back and score four was something special. It was a relief to see Lee defend like an animal and then to get the reward on the other side was special to watch. It was pretty emotional actually.”
This victory was Ireland's first in the main group stages since beating Italy at the 1978 World Cup. The pace has gone up considerably in today’s game, as Ireland frantically tried to contain Dayaan and Mustapha Cassiem.
“They are two of the best players in the world, credit that we slowed them down but you can only do so much,” Carr said later. “It was an unbelievably good performance to silence them.”
In a largely forgettable opening quarter, Louis Rowe won Ireland's first penalty corner which yielded a double save from Cullin De Jager and a palmed clearance with the next.
Samkelo Mvimbi then struck the umpire, unintentionally, with his penalty corner body protection.
It resulted in a five-minute yellow under world hockey rules, but Ireland couldn't make the extra player count as they tentatively held out until the first quarter hooter.
South Africa’s compact and tight man-to-man tactics also left Ireland with little space to set up attacks. Not so for Dayaan, their captain, who was now beginning to cause havoc with his mazy runs on the right.
Mustapha then unleashed a fizzing third quarter corner chance. Carr was equal to it with a right-handed pick save. Post man Cole then picked off the line to his left with South Africa's next set piece chance.
Pressure then told as Kenton Melville, with his back to the net, clipped the ball over Carr with a superb overhead as he fell to the turf. A wonderful goal.
Late in the third quarter, Ireland equalised after fine baseline work from Fergus Gibson. Whipped across goal, Ben Walker was credited with the finish.
Ireland then successfully overturned a penalty stroke decision as Carr saved and held his position as Carlon Mentoor clattered into him.
The match was now end-to-end. With the next move, Ireland won their fourth corner and Cole flicked past an unsighted De Jager.
Seven minutes later, Cole was on hand again with a decisive flick to finally give some breathing space to this hectic encounter.
Sam Hyland added gloss with a diving tip-in with seconds left. It was a goal which could play a major hand against Spain, as it left Ireland ahead of Max Caldas’ side on goal difference ahead of their match with Australia last night.
“We started slow, we got better and then found ourselves behind,” said a relieved Cole. “But everyone in the back four was unbelievable.”
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