Clinical goal by Rani Rampal leads Indian team to defeat South Africa in #GoldCoastCommonwealthGames

Gold Coast, April 11: Skipper Rani Rampal’s lone goal leads the Indian women's hockey team to defeat South Africa in its final Pool A game on Tuesday of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games. After winning the match, Indian team remained on the second spot in the Pool A with nine points while England remains on top.

 

The Indian team, who earlier defeated England and Malaysia consecutively began the match with high confidence and immediately started to attack African goalposts. However, South Africa also matched up with the opposition and strong defence thwarted several attempts made by the Indian team.

In the first two quarters, India earned a couple of penalty corners but Gurjit Kaur and Captain Rani Rampal failed to capitalize it in terms of the goal. In the third quarter, Africans came back strongly and asked questions to Indian defence which reacted strongly and resisted few attempts successfully.

India then took the lead of 1-0 over South Africa after Navneet Kaur led the counter-attack, before passing it onto the Vandana Katariya who was positioned at the top of the circle. Vandana passed the ball to Rampal, who made an outstanding turn immediately after receiving the ball, holding off the goalkeeper and a defender, to roll the ball in the goalpost.

 

After taking the lead, Indian team boosted its defensive structure to register a comprehensive victory over South Africa. Third-placed South Africa have four points with a match left. They will meet fourth-placed Wales, who have three points. The Indian team will take on Australia on the final day of pool stages.