A Dayaan Cassiem masterclass leads South Africa to victory over Eire within the thrilling ultimate of the inaugural FIH Hockey Males’s Nations Cup South Africa 2022, securing qualification into the FIH Hockey Professional League 2023/24 season for the hosts.
The packed crowd in Potchefstroom was handled to an end-to-end show of attacking hockey in a carefully fought match that resulted in a 4-3 win in favor of South Africa. The attacking stars from each groups confirmed up within the large finals with Dayaan Cassiem and Shane O’Donoghue scoring twice, whereas Tevin Kok, Mustaphaa Cassiem and John McKee additionally getting on the scorecard. Dayaan Cassiem was particularly sensible, scoring two unbelievable targets for the hosts within the first half earlier than profitable the penalty stroke, scored by youthful brother Mustaphaa, that gave South Africa the win within the ultimate quarter.
Eire piled the stress on the South African purpose in quest of a late equalizer, however the skilled heads of Jethro Eustice, Keenan Horne and goalkeeper Hendrik Kriek stored the Irish at bay and sealed a historic win for South Africa in entrance of a raucous house crowd.
Earlier within the day Korea obtained the higher of Malaysia within the all-Asian affair within the bronze medal match. Korea have been dominant from begin to end, not permitting Malaysia any alternative to get within the recreation, scoring twice within the first half and twice once more within the second. Jonghyun Jang continued his purple streak from the penalty corners, scoring his seventh purpose of the marketing campaign to complete as the highest scorer of the match.
France completed their marketing campaign within the fifth place, edging Japan within the shoot-outs after a carefully contested match the place France scored two first quarter targets, however Japan got here again to stage the scores and had nice possibilities within the dying moments of the ultimate quarter to say a win. French captain Victor Charlet scored two penalty strokes within the shoot-out and French keeper Arthur Thieffry saved two Japanese shoot-out makes an attempt to seal the win for the European workforce.
Within the seventh place playoff Canada and Pakistan performed a 9-goal thriller, that swung a number of occasions and was lastly settled by way of a 58th minute purpose by Usama Bashir to earn Pakistan their first win within the match.
seventh Place Match: Canada vs Pakistan 4-5
Pakistan began the seventh place playoff recreation on the assault, scoring two targets inside the primary 6 minutes of the sport. Canada didn’t let Pakistan run away with the sport, and located two targets of their very own to finish the primary half on stage phrases. Each groups scored a purpose every from penalty corners and open play.
The second half continued to observe a forwards and backwards sample. Pakistan struck first within the 4th quarter after a scoreless third, however Canada answered again inside a minute. Canada then took the lead for the primary time within the recreation with 6 minutes left, by way of a second Sean Murray purpose, from a penalty nook. Pakistan responded immediately as a superb transfer from the appropriate by Abdul Rana cut up the protection and allowed him to elevate the ball over the keeper, into the online. Pakistan carried the momentum into the ultimate minutes and a superb counter attacking transfer resulted in a purpose scored by a diving Usama Bashir, to provide Pakistan the lead with 3 minutes left to play that they carried to the top.
Usama Bashir, the profitable purpose scorer for Pakistan, was awarded the participant of the match and mentioned: “It got here a bit late however because the match went on we began implementing the plan that coach Aikman had devised for us. That’s what has obtained us the win immediately and we are going to enhance additional sooner or later.”
fifth Place Match: France vs Japan 2-2 (Shoot-out: 4-2)
The French resurgence on the FIH Hockey Males’s Nations Cup continued as they completed their marketing campaign on a excessive with a shoot-out win in opposition to Japan to say the fifth place. Japan end within the sixth place on the finish of an excellent marketing campaign that would’ve ended very in another way had a number of key moments gone their manner.
France have been faster off the block and threatened to run away with the sport, scoring twice within the first quarter. Captain Victor Charlet added the fifth purpose of his marketing campaign from a thundering penalty nook and Timothée Clément scored his first purpose, diving throughout the purpose to deflect a cross despatched in by Gaspard Xavier.
Japan dismissed the primary quarter and confirmed improved efficiency within the ultimate three quarters to finish the regulation time tied at 2 targets apiece. Kentaro Fukuda obtained the primary purpose for Japan and Ken Nagayoshi added a second from a penalty nook.
France have been excellent from the shoot-out, scoring from their 4 makes an attempt, of which two have been awarded as penalty strokes, which captain Victor Charlet dispatched with unimaginable ease. Arthur Thieffry, taking part in in his one hundredth recreation for France made 2 nice saves on the third and 4th Japanese makes an attempt, with the second save profitable the sport for France.
Corentin Sellier was awarded the participant of the match, and talking of his workforce’s total marketing campaign mentioned: “We had a sluggish begin to the match with a number of members of our workforce carrying accidents, so we couldn’t make the semi-finals. However it’s good to point out what we are able to do at full energy and end at the absolute best place exterior of the highest 4 spots.”
Bronze medal match: Malaysia vs Korea 0-4
The Bronze medal match set-up a replay of the opening day match between Korea and Malaysia, the place Korea had edged Malaysia in a slim 1-0 win. Whereas Korea as soon as once more emerged victors within the repeat contest, the margin between the 2 groups was a lot wider this time, because of the offensive masterclass the Korean assault put in.
After a goalless first quarter, Korea added two targets that gave them a lead they totally deserved. Web optimization Inwoo scored the opener earlier than captain Namyong Lee doubled the lead with an amazing deflection on the again submit. If Malaysia have been in search of a reset on the interval, they didn’t get one. It was all Korea once more within the 2nd half they usually additional added to their lead from a thirty ninth minute penalty nook. The Malaysian rushers went straight for Jonghyun Jang, the highest scorer on the Nations Cup, however Korea went for a variation with Jang passing it off to Jeon, and his go to the far submit was deflected in by Taeil Hwang. Jang nonetheless managed to get his seventh purpose of the match although, with Korea profitable a penalty nook within the 59th minute that Jang dispatched into the underside left nook of the purpose placing a cherry on prime of the Korean win.
Korea keeper Jaehan Kim was awarded the participant of the match. Korea captain Namyong Lee, who scored his forty ninth purpose for Korea immediately, discussing his workforce’s efficiency, mentioned: “We promised to provide it our all immediately and we did that. We modified some issues from the final recreation and obtained the win and extra importantly we overtake Malaysia on this planet rankings with this win, in order that was actually necessary for us as nicely.”
Gold medal match: Eire vs South Africa 3-4
South African coach Cheslyn Gie mentioned earlier than the sport that his workforce had a number of methods left up their sleeve that they’d be taking part in within the finals and his workforce delivered on his promise nearly immediately. South Africa got here flying out of the gate, and blitzed the Irish protection that had confirmed itself to be one of the best within the match. It was captain unbelievable Dayaan Cassiem who scored the opening purpose inside 4 minutes with a unbelievable solo run and hit. The ever dependable Shane O’Dnoghue pulled Eire again stage within the nineteenth minute by way of a penalty nook, however Cassiem wasn’t completed, giving South Africa the lead proper on the finish of the primary half with one other rollicking shot from the sting of the circle.
South Africa began the second half strongly as soon as once more, and doubled their lead within the opening minute by way of a bit of particular person brilliance by Tevin Kok who discovered the ball in a crowded house contained in the circle, however calmly tapped it up, on to his stick, and lifted it over the keeper to double South Africa’s lead. South Africa may have sealed the win with one other purpose, nevertheless it was the Irish who scored the following purpose of the sport, with Shane O’Donoghue scoring his fifth purpose of the marketing campaign.
John McKee then introduced Eire stage with a purpose proper on the stroke of the third quarter buzzer, that took a deflection off Keenan Horne’s stick and sailed over the top of Kriek who was left stranded by the deflection.
With quarter-hour left for each groups to search for a winner, Eire dedicated too many gamers ahead and an errant again go was intercepted by the sharp Dayaan Cassiem who charged on the Irish purpose with simply the keeper to beat, however was introduced down by O’Donoghue, leading to a penalty stroke.
It was Dayaan’s youthful brother, Mustaphaa Cassiem who stepped as much as take the penalty stroke and calmly slotted the ball previous David Fitzgerald to get the lead again for South Africa.
Eire threw the whole lot that they had in quest of an equalizer, however South Africa’s protection, led by veteran Jethro Eustice and keeper Hendrik Kriek pulled off sensible blocks and saves to carry on to the lead and safe a well-known victory and qualification to the FIH Hockey Professional League 2023-24 for South Africa.
Captain Dayaan Cassiem was extraordinarily emotional after the massive win as he obtained the participant of the match award and mentioned: “I’m extraordinarily emotional as you’ll be able to see. This can be a enormous win for us, giving us the chance to qualify for the Professional League. I’m so grateful to the followers who got here out in such enormous numbers to help us. It’s nice for South African hockey to get the help of so many followers and all I can say is, if you happen to preserve supporting us like this it’s going to encourage us to even higher heights sooner or later, so thanks to all of the followers.”
FIH Hockey Males’s Nations Cup South Africa 2022
Particular person Awards
Finest Participant: Dayaan Cassiem (RSA)
Finest Junior Participant: Corentin Sellier (FRA)
Finest Goalkeeper: Kim Jaehyeon (KOR)
Hero Prime Scorer: Jang Jonghyun (KOR)
4 December 2022 Outcomes
End result: Match 1
Canada 4-5 Pakistan
Participant of the Sport: Usama Bashir (PAK)
Umpires: Aziz Adimah (GHA), Ayden Shrives (RSA), Hideki Kinoshita (JPN-reserve), Tim Meissner (GER-video)
End result: Match 2
France 2-2 Japan (shoot-out: 4-2)
Participant of the Sport: Corentin Sellier (FRA)
Umpires: Zeke Newman (AUS), Benjamin Peters (USA), Nazmi Kamaruddin (MAS-reserve), Aziz Adimah (GHA-video)
End result: Match 3
Malaysia 0-4 Korea
Participant of the Sport: Jaehan Kim (KOR)
Umpires: Hideki Kinoshita (JPN), Bevan Nichol (NZL), Tim Meissner (GER-reserve), Ayden Shrives (RSA-video)
End result: Match 4
Eire 3-4 South Africa
Participant of the Sport: Dayaan Cassiem (RSA)
Umpires: Gabriel Labate (ARG), Sébastien Michielsen (BEL), Nazmi Kamaruddin (MAS-reserve), Benjamin Peters (USA-video)
