South Africa finished their campaign in ninth position after two-goal win over Cherry Blossoms

Result 9/10 classification: Japan v South Africa 0-0 (0-2)

While the result was important for both teams, with Japan wanting to cement their spot as ninth-ranked team in the FIH World Rankings and South Africa seeking to rise as high up the finishing places as possible, in fact this game was all about one person. Pietie Coetzee was called into the South African squad at the last moment to replace the inured Lenise Marias, and it was the world's leading goal scorer who put the ball away in her last international to win the game for South Africa. This means that Coetzee finishes her international career with 282 goals from 287 international matches – a record that is unmatched in women's hockey.

In a press conference after the game, Coetzee said: "During the national anthem I had a million flashbacks and memories of to some good times but during the match my focus was on the game, I really thought nothing about it being my last international. Now, my immediate goal is to have two weeks off doing nothing. Long term I want to stay involved in hockey. I am already in coaching and I want to take that further."

Marsha Cox, who has played alongside Coetzee for nearly two decades paid tribute to Coetzee: "I still have a picture of us together before I got in the team. Everyone knows Pietie in world hockey and every young player who is 16 years old hears about Pietie Coetzee who played her first game for South Africa at that age. So there is huge respect for her from players and from young people. Having an opportunity to play for so many years with Pietie has been fantastic. She is a good player, but also she is a good friend. When you get to know her, you learn she is a really special person. It has been amazing - that is the only word I can use to describe her."

The game itself was notable for the hard-work of both teams and the athleticism of the 'keepers at both ends of the pitch – Anelle van Deventer for South Africa and Yuka Yoshikawa for Japan. The game opened with South Africa making bright and energetic forays into the Japanese circle but as the game wore on, both teams looked as if they were suffering in the heat of The Hague. 

Just 10 minutes into the game Hazuki Nagai was stretchered from the pitch with a leg injury and Japan had to refocus. South Africa then had a period of sustained pressure with Dirkie Chamberlain, Bernadette Coston and Shelley Russell among those running at the Japanese define. Yoshikawa was called into action time and again, with the highlight of a series of acrobatic saves being the double save from Lisa-Marie Deetlef and Celia Evans.

As the South Africa goal refused to come, so Japan came back into the game, with Akane Shibata coming close and then a shot from Hazuki Yuda hitting the post.

The second half began in much the same fashion – a lot of hard work but no goal to reward either side's efforts. South Africa had plenty of chances to break the deadlock, but some poor trapping at penalty corners meant that neither Deetlefs or Coetzee were able to get clear shots away. The breakthrough finally came in the 49th minute from none other than Coetzee herself. The goal was a rebound from a penalty corner shot by Deetlefs, and the number 15 put the ball away with a natural goal-scorers instinct.

This was not the end of Japan, with just 10 minutes left on the clock Yuda had another chance to get on the score-sheet; the ball flew through the South Africa defence and found Yuda alone in the circle with only Deventer to beat. Her shot flew over the net, and South Africa breathed a collective sigh of relief.

The game was finally put out of Japan's reach when Dirkie Chamberlain (68'), who had a very busy second half, won a penalty stroke and then stepped up to slot the ball home.

Captain Marsha Cox said:"Our goal was to finish in the top eight, so ninth was next best. We started the game well and dominated the first half but failed to convert our chances. For the first time we came out in the second half with composure and that was a big plus and we will take that forward to the Commonwealth Games."