/ 1 October 2012

US come back to beat SA in Dublin

Katie O'Donnell of the United States.
Katie O'Donnell of the United States.

The US won the match 4-2.

The US scored three goals in the second half of their Champions Challenge in Dublin on Sunday to overturn Investec South Africa's 2-1 halftime lead. the United States won the match 4-2.

Katie O'Donnell opened the scoring 14 minutes from half-time before Nicolene Terblanche equalised and Izelle Lategan took South Africa into the break 2-1 up. But Shannon Taylor's field goal and penalty corner successes by O'Donnell and Torrie Albini gave the US victory in a productive final quarter of an action-packed match played at frenetic pace.

In the second minute pacy Sulette Damons made ground on a turnover and fed Lategan, whose shot was saved by US keeper Jackie Kintzer to set the tone for a high-octane clash.

The teams traded chances, keeping both keepers busy, but the Americans were not to be denied in the 21st minute when Lauren Pfeiffer made inroads down the right before laying off for O'Donnell to slap home.

Three minutes later a deep-lying Tarryn Bright's visionary long ball to Shelley Russell was then fed to Illse Davids who swapped passes with Terblanche before the latter smashed a reverse-stick rocket from the edge of the strike zone into the net. Damons' pass led to Lategan's fine goal a minute from half-time and South Africa went into the changeover 2-1 up.

South Africa captain Lenise Marais was coolness personified with a crucial tackle as the USA strove for the equaliser but the Americans' endeavour earned reward when Taylor made it 2-2 with 17 left on the clock.

South Africa went behind when O'Donnell finished off a neat PC variation for a 3-2 US lead with 10 minutes left before Kelly Madsen's deflection was parried by keeper Kintzer. Bright then came close from a PC, after which Mangisa made a fine double save before Damons was unlucky at the other end. Another PC gave the US the killer blow when Albini smashed into the backboard with two minutes left (4-2).

South Africa's 7-0 whitewash of the US at London 2012 meant nothing in the context of the extensive changes both sides made for this tournament with the Africans missing seven of their Olympic 16 plus reserve Lauren Penny (shoulder) whose place was taken at the 11th hour by Celia Evans (injured for first two games in Dublin). – Sapa