The SPAR South African Women’s Indoor Hockey team kept the five-match series alive with a hard-earned 2–1 victory over Namibia in the third Test in Windhoek on Saturday evening.
Goals from Anja Tromp and Cerian Fourie overturned a halftime deficit, while a crucial penalty-stroke save from Manisha Desai helped South Africa secure their first victory of the weekend. Namibia now lead the series 2–1 heading into Sunday’s final two Tests.
The evening marked a special milestone for Namibia’s Azaylee Philander, who made her 50th international indoor appearance. But a match that began with celebration for the hosts would ultimately turn on missed opportunities and costly disciplinary setbacks.
After a goalless opening quarter, Namibia took the lead through Abigail Rowles in the 15th minute. The goal came with controversy, as the ball appeared not to have fully crossed the line, but umpire Siyabonga Martins awarded it and the hosts carried a 1–0 advantage into halftime.
South Africa continued to create opportunities from penalty corners but initially struggled to find the finish. The breakthrough eventually arrived in the 24th minute, when Tromp converted a penalty corner for her first international indoor goal, bringing the visitors level at 1–1.
Desai then delivered a pivotal intervention. Namibia were awarded a penalty stroke, but the South African goalkeeper kept out Philander’s effort to preserve parity and deny the hosts a route back into the lead.
Discipline increasingly undermined Namibia’s challenge. The hosts accumulated five yellow cards, including two for Jahntwa Kruger, leaving them repeatedly short of players during a decisive second half. South Africa also had Tromp temporarily suspended, but Namibia’s repeated infringements proved particularly costly.
With the match still level late in the final quarter, South Africa moved the ball quickly and worked it to Cerian Fourie, who supplied the finish in the 37th minute to put the visitors ahead for the first time.
Namibia withdrew their goalkeeper for the final two minutes in pursuit of an equaliser. Neither side could add to the score, and South Africa held on to complete the comeback.
After the disappointment of the opening two Tests, this was an important response from Calvin Price’s team. Tromp’s breakthrough, Desai’s penalty-stroke save and Fourie’s late winner ensured that the series remains alive going into the final day.
