Team USA top Pool B but wait on China v Argentina to discover semi-final fate

Much was resting on this game, with South Africa desperate to finish the pool round in fifth place or higher to give themselves a chance to contest positions well above their current FIH World Ranking (12). The USA, by contrast, were seeking three points to cement their place at the top of the table and put pressure on Argentina in the later pool B game this afternoon. Whoever finishes second in the pool will face the Netherlands, while the pool winner will face Australia.

For the first 15 minutes it was South Africa who seized the initiative, with Bernadette Coston, Shelley Russell and the pacy Sulette Damons putting the USA defence under pressure. Unfortunately for the South Africa team, the resulting penalty corners were not put away and gradually the USA began to work their way into the game. As is the USA way, this was a workmanlike performance, on a day that they weren't firing on all cylinders, they still performed when it counted – in front of goal.

On the 35th minute of the game, Melissa Gonzalez ran at the South Africa defence and won a penalty corner. Caroline Nichols swept the ball in towards the left-hand post and the ball struck Celia Evans on the foot. The ensuing penalty stroke was calmly converted by Nichols, who has not put a foot wrong in this tournament so far.

After the break, South Africa again came out firing on all cylinders and it was captain Marsha Cox (36') who levelled the score, with a tap in after good build-up play from Dirkie Chamberlain and Damons. The South African's joy turned to dismay three minutes alter as Katie Reinprecht again gave the USA the lead as she swept in a, now trademark, Nichol's penalty corner.

The USA's captain Lauren Crandall got onto the score-sheet for the first time this tournament when she converted a penalty stroke in the 45th minute to give her team a 3-1 cushion, but again the South African's came back fighting and Dirkie Chamberlain's relentless running at the USA defence resulted in a penalty corner. Lisa-Marie Deetlefs' shot was deflected by Chamberlain (47') into the goal past Jackie Kintzer. 

The loss of the speedy Damons through injury set the South Africa team back and the game was sealed for the USA when Rachel Dawson shot home with a drag flick at the penalty corner to make it 4-2.

Speaking after the game, Lauren Crandall admitted that there was "less intensity" to their performance today. "All we could do was keep going and hope that we regained our intensity through hard work." 

Dirkie Chamberlain said: "Well done to America but well done to my team. We had some chances we should have put away, but we worked hard. We came out hard in the second half and put them under pressure, but it didn't go our way."