Coach Ros Howell was upbeat on Tuesday after South Africa’s hockey women drew 2-2 against Spain in a warm-up friendly for their vital opening Olympic match against Holland on Saturday.
”This was a good effort,” said Howell after the game. ”The Spanish are always a tough nut to crack. I’m very excited that we are injury free, but we still have to hit a patch where every player is on track at the same time.
”This time we conceded only two short corners, but they scored on both occasions. That has to be sorted out before Saturday.”
Pietie Coetzee was red-hot in front of the goal once again, scoring a superb drag flick from a short corner that whipped the net in the 15th minute — this after an earlier, short-corner flick cracked against the cross bar.
The South Africans were sharp up front and very busy in midfield with Kerry Bee solid in defence, bolstered by the experienced Lindsey Carlisle.
But the Spaniards exploited the only chink in their armour when they scored in the 20th and 26th minutes from the only two short corners awarded to them and the defence failed to clear blocks by goalkeeper Caroline Birt.
Spain’s Maider Telleria equalised, then they followed up with a carbon copy by Esther Termes and they held their lead to half-time.
The South Africans, rallied by captain Susan Webber who had a superb game, took total control in the second half to force two extra corners to the four they had in the first.
The skipper led from the front when she cracked a short corner into the board to equalise in the 16th minute.
The defence was tighter than their 3-0 win against New Zealand when they conceded nine short corners.
”When they scored, our defenders were not prepared to commit themselves in that awkward area of the circle for risk of injury, but that will be a different story when our Olympic Games happen,” said Howell.
The coach quickly took Johke Koornhof off after a rough altercation with the fiery and very big Spanish goalkeeper in front of goal.
”I didn’t want to risk anything in this friendly. Jo was very much in that ‘keeper’s face.
”And goals will happen on both sides in this game. There’s no ascendancy. It’s just a matter of who controls the scoring.”
Howell spoke as Argentina, winners of the 2002 World Cup and silver medallists behind Australia in Sydney in 2000, warmed up for their friendly.
”Look at these guys,” she said. ”They’ve got 11 players here who won the silver in Sydney. They showed that if it all comes right on the day, you can beat anybody and we are showing that kind of form right now. I was happy with the performance. We just have to sort out a few problems.” — Sapa