South Africa’s pursuit of a stronger finish at the inaugural FIH Nations Cup 2 was dealt a blow on Saturday morning as they went down 1-0 to Czechia in the 5–8th place playoff in Walcz. It was a match marked by frustration for the South Africans, who dominated the second half but were left to rue missed opportunities and the brilliance of Czech goalkeeper Anna Linkova.
It was Czechia who made the early breakthrough in the seventh minute of the match. A well-worked penalty corner routine found Linda Nova at the near post, and she managed to get the faintest of touches to redirect the ball past Marlise van Tonder and into the net. The early goal gave Czechia something to protect, and they did so with discipline and resilience.
South Africa, shaken by the early setback, worked to regain control of the game but created only a few half chances in the first half. Marlise van Tonder was called into action with a sharp save to prevent the deficit from growing, while South Africa looked disjointed in the final third, struggling to turn possession into penetration.
After the break, the South African team returned to the turf with renewed intent. Thati Zulu almost provided the moment of inspiration with a fantastic turn and shot, but Linkova denied her with a brilliant reflex stop. Ntsopa Mokoena’s low shot was also parried away, and a fierce strike from Kayla de Waal took a deflection that shaved the wrong side of the post.
Ongi Mali, who had been lively throughout, continued to stretch the Czech defence with her pace and skill. One of South Africa’s best chances came when she was set free by a clever ball from Zulu, but she fired over the top with the goal at her mercy—a moment that summed up the day for the African side.
As the clock ticked down, South Africa poured forward. The final quarter saw wave after wave of attack, and they were rewarded with a succession of five penalty corners. Despite their best efforts and some promising setups, they couldn’t convert, with Linkova once again standing tall as Czechia clung on.
Ultimately, it was a case of missed chances and a lack of clinical edge that cost South Africa, as Czechia defended bravely and took their one clear opportunity. The 1-0 result sends South Africa into the 7th/8th place playoff, where they will look to end the tournament on a positive note.
