FIH: Eire And South Africa To Face Off In The Finals Of The Inaugural FIH Hockey Males’s Nations Cup South Africa 2022

Prime quality hockey in each semi-finals have been settled with moments of brilliance as Eire and South Africa booked their spots within the first ever finals of the FIH Hockey Males’s Nations Cup South Africa 2022, with the profitable staff incomes a promotion into the FIH Hockey Professional League for the 2023-24 season. 

Each semi-finals have been extraordinarily tactical with the groups going into the half at 0-0. The impasse was damaged for Eire by Benjamin Walker and Jeremy Duncan then utilized the house behind the Malaysian protection to attain twice to proceed Eire’s good match, making it 4 wins in 4 video games. 

Within the second semi-finals, it was Tevin Kok, who has been South Africa’s greatest attacking outlet up to now, who scored first for the hosts, however Korea leveled from their third penalty nook, with Jonghyun Jang scoring his sixth objective of the match. Neither staff may discover a winner and the groups headed for the primary shoot-out of the occasion. South Africa made a keeper change for the shoot-out and Anton van Loggerenberg justified the change saving three makes an attempt, together with a recreation profitable save in opposition to Jonghyun Jang’s penalty stroke from Korea’s fifth try, securing the win for South Africa.

Earlier within the day France put in an offensive masterclass to trounce Canada 7-1, with Blaise Rogeau scoring the primary hat-trick of the occasion and captain Victor Charlet scoring twice, whereas Japan received the higher of Pakistan in a intently fought encounter. Pakistan and Canada will now play within the seventh place playoff tomorrow, whereas France and Japan will play for fifth. 

The complete schedule of the video games tomorrow on the FIH Hockey Males’s Nations Cup, together with the finals, might be seen right here. 

Match 1 – France vs Canada 7-1

France got here into the FIH Hockey Males’s Nations Cup as robust favorites however up to now had flattered to deceive, with losses in opposition to Eire and South Africa adopted by a draw in opposition to Pakistan. Their protection had completed moderately effectively by way of many of the three matches, barring an errant 2nd half show in opposition to Pakistan, however their assault, which boasts of some actual stars, by no means received going within the pool stage. 

Issues rotated huge time at this time, as France met Canada within the 5-8 classification match. It took France quarter-hour to open the scoring by way of captain Victor Charlet, however that objective opened the floodgates and France scored 6 extra targets over the course of the match. Blaise Rogeau was the choose of the gamers scoring the primary hat-trick of the Nations Cup. Canada scored a cracking objective of their very own by way of a Matthew Sarmento tomahawk shot from the sting of the circle, but it surely was little greater than a comfort as the sport ended 7-1 in favor of France. 

Hat-trick hero Blaise Rogeau was awarded the participant of the match and mentioned: “We have been disenchanted that we didn’t qualify for the semi-finals, so it was necessary to point out enhancements on the sphere and we did that at this time, now we are going to watch the Japan vs Pakistan recreation to know who we play tomorrow and we are going to attempt to end the match on a excessive.”

Match 2 – Japan vs Pakistan 3-1 

Pakistan’s greatest efficiency within the Nations Cup results in a loss, as their failure to transform possibilities, and Japan’s  helps Japan earn a victory and the chance to face France within the fifth place playoff. Pakistan will play Canada within the seventh place playoff match, within the first match tomorrow. 

Pakistan appeared threatening by way of the primary three quarters of the sport, typically moving into the Japanese circle with possibilities to attain, however for all their attacking intent and alternatives, the ultimate contact was lacking. Their protection lived dangerously too, conceding far too many penalty corners, and Japan lastly broke the impasse proper earlier than half-time, by way of their sixth alternative from the set piece. As Pakistan’s appeared to mount a comeback, they overcommitted on assault, and Japan uncovered the house behind the Pakistani protection with two targets on the counter-attack. Pakistan scored one objective of their very own within the 4th quarter by way of the spectacular Rooman, but it surely wasn’t sufficient, as Pakistan will now face Canada within the seventh place play-off, whereas Japan will face France within the battle for fifth place. 

Japanese goalkeeper Takashi Yoshikawa was awarded participant of the match for his stellar efforts in holding Pakistan from scoring by way of the primary three quarters, and mentioned: “We just lately misplaced to Pakistan within the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, within the third place playoff, so it’s good to get one again in opposition to them at this time. We’ll look to hold the momentum from this recreation and end the match on a excessive tomorrow in opposition to France.”

Match 3 – Eire vs Malaysia 3-0

Two moments of pure magic from Eire within the third quarter broke a stalemate main them to a win and a spot within the finals of the inaugural FIH Hockey Males’s Nations Cup 2022, in a tricky, tactical battle in opposition to Malaysia. 

In a tense and pretty even recreation, the momentum swung from one staff to a different, however neither staff may discover a breakthrough till the forty first minute, when an excellent piece of management by Benjamin Walker within the Malaysian circle allowed him to swivel and smash a shot previous the Malaysian keeper to offer Eire the lead. Two minutes later, one more Irish assault from the left noticed the ball move round superbly, permitting Jeremy Duncan to move the ball into an empty objective. And whereas Malaysia looked for a method again into the sport within the remaining quarter, it was Eire by way of Duncan once more, who created an exquisite 3-on-1 alternative and scored the objective that sealed Malaysia’s destiny. 

Captain Sean Murray was awarded the participant of the match for one more excellent managed efficiency within the midfield, shielding the watertight Irish protection, and mentioned: “Actually good job by our forwards scoring three lovely targets. It was a tricky match however we edged the massive moments and we’re thrilled to have the prospect to play within the finals tomorrow.”

Match 4 – Korea vs South Africa 1-1 (2-3 shootout)

Korea and South Africa met within the second semi-finals which proved to be one other cagey affair with neither staff in a position to produce a objective within the first half. However very similar to the primary semi-final, a second of brilliance broke the impasse. For South Africa it was 25 year-old Tevin Kok, who has scored some belters already within the Nations Cup, developing huge as soon as once more, with a smashing reverse shot to open the scoring. 

Jonghyun Jang, the main scorer of the Nations Cup stepped up as soon as once more from the penalty nook, to get his sixth objective, to stage the rating for Korea and the match headed right into a shoot-out. The shoot-outs are at all times a nervous affair, however that was not the case for South African keeper Anton van Loggerenberg, who was substituted in for the shoot-out, and confirmed no nerves as he confirmed outstanding composure within the objective all through the shoot-outs. Of the 5 makes an attempt he confronted, he managed to save lots of 3, together with a save from the penalty stroke on Korea’s fifth shoot-out try, by the lethal Joghyun Jang, taking South Africa to the finals in opposition to Eire tomorrow! 

It was the opposite South African keeper, Hendrik Kreik who was awarded the participant of the match, for his good string of saves in opposition to Korea within the regulation time. Upon receiving the award Kreik mentioned: “This win is all concerning the staff. It was such an excellent total efficiency, and the holding from Anton within the shoot-outs was simply unbelievable. I’m standing alone right here to obtain the award, however the entire staff deserves this, little doubt in my thoughts.”

FIH Hockey Males’s Nations Cup South Africa 2022 – Day 4 (3 December 2022)

Consequence: Match 1

France 7-1 Canada

Participant of the Recreation: Blaise Rogeau (FRA)

Umpires: Aziz Adimah (GHA), Hideki Kinoshita (JPN),  Gabriel Labate (ARG-video), Tim Meissner (GER-reserve)

Consequence: Match 2

Japan 3-1 Pakistan

Participant of the Recreation: Takashi Yoshikawa (JPN)

Umpires: Benjamin Peters (USA), Bevan Nichol (NZL),  Zeke Newman (AUS-reserve), Nazmi Kamaruddin (MAS-video)

Consequence: Match 3

Eire 3-0 Malaysia

Participant of the Recreation: Sean Murray (IRL)

Umpires: Ayden Shrives (RSA), Tim Meissner (GER), Sébastien Michielsen (BEL-reserve), Hideki Kinoshita (JPN-video)

Consequence: Match 4

Korea 1-1 South Africa (2-3 shoot-out)

Participant of the Recreation: Hendrik Kreik (RSA)

Umpires: Nazmi Kamaruddin (MAS), Zeke Newman (AUS), Gabriel Labate (ARG-reserve), Bevan Nichol (NZLvideo)