CWG 2022: India men’s hockey team enter final with 3-2 win over South Africa, assures medal

The Indian men’s team secured their passage into the final of hockey at the Commonwealth Games 2022 on Saturday with a 3-2 win over South Africa.

Abhishek, Mandeep Singh and Jugraj Singh were on the scoresheet for India, while Mustapha Cassiem and Ryan Julius got the goals for South Africa.

India got off to a strong start and got their first PC in the third minute. But Harmanpreet’s shot was saved brilliantly by the South African keeper, Gowan Jones. He was called into action once again with a double save in the fourth minute.

But then South Africa started pushing and had two good chances.

The Indian forwards picked up the game once again and kept applying the pressure, but the South African keeper, Jones, was once again present to make a world-class save. He was proving to be a wall in goal, stopping India single-handedly at times.

In the second quarter, India once again started off strong but a counter-attack from South Africa earned them two PCs. The second one was expertly saved by Krishan Pathak. A third PC almost a minute later for South Africa was once again stopped by the Indian defence to ensure the danger was thwarted.

In the 20th minute, Abhishek finally broke the deadlock. The Indian youngster scored with an incredible effort to put the ball in the net. India kept on probing to score the second but Jones once again denied them, this time in the 25th minute.

However, in the 28th minute, the South African goal was breached once again as Mandeep Singh scored with a fine effort to double India’s advantage.

After the restart, the Indian players looked to extend their lead and got many chances to do so. South Africa but kept themselves in the game and got two back-to-back PCs. The second one was saved by Sreejesh but the deflection was bundled in by Julius to half the deficit in the 33rd minute.

Jones continued his fine form on goal as he saved an effort by Vivek Sagar Prasad. The match started to get physical and South Africa seemed to be enjoying a good time in the quarter.

But a PC variation in the 41st minute almost restored India’s two-goal advantage. Once again, Jones came to the rescue.

In the fourth quarter, it was a truly a battle of wits between both teams. The Indian midfielders started making silly errors, but thankfully for Graham Reid’s side, they weren’t punished.

In the final moments of the game, South Africa decided to take Jones off and go for a flying goalkeeper. But a counter-attack from India in the 57th minute became the South African team’s undoing as they lost a man and conceded a PC. Jugraj scored with his dragflick to restore India’s two-goal lead.

But we were in for a photo finish as South Africa got a goal in the last minute through Cassiem. But India held on to ensure their passage into the final.

India will play either Australia or England on 8th August.

— ENDS —